Abstract

Forty years later, in a world where one-quarter of "excellent companies" have gone bankrupt, why does this company continue to shine? How did it recover from rock bottom? Keyence, Rohm, Mabuchi Motor, Hirose Electric, J&J, A-One Precision, MinebeaMitsumi, Renesas Electronics... Clues are derived from the words of their top executives, interviewed one-on-one.

This book focuses on the managers I have come into direct contact with as an analyst, who have demonstrated outstanding skills through their unique thinking, which could be described as "contrary." It introduces their thoughts and philosophies along with their honest opinions, and draws lessons for management.

"In a recession, it's better to be weeding."
"A recession is precisely when opportunities arise."
"It's not how you make something, but what you make."
"An operating rate of 70 to 80% is ideal."
"Even if you know it will be profitable, don't commercialize anything unless it's highly profitable."
"Create a system that will make money even when your employees are asleep."
"We've stopped creating medium-term plans."
"We don't accept requests for discounts."
"Don't make too much profit."
"Management is a performance."

These are the words of Japanese managers who continue to keep the growth cycle going, and they illustrate universal truths that are needed now more than ever.

Author’s Information

He is an executive officer at Frontier Management Co., Ltd., a director at Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd., and a director at Hakuto Co., Ltd.

He was born in 1968 and graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo. He worked as an analyst at Daiwa Securities, Daiwa Institute of Research, and Morgan Stanley Securities (ranked No. 1 in the 2001 Nikkei Analyst Ranking for Electronic Components and Semiconductors). At Frontier Management, he primarily provides management support to the manufacturing industry.

His publications include "Why Are Electronic Components the Only Strong?" (Nikkei Publishing, 2011), "Increasing Salaries in a Management Crisis" (Nikkei Publishing, 2013), "Electronic Components: A Business Model for a 20% Operating Profit Margin" (Nikkei Publishing, 2018), "Don't Die Without Reading This Book! - 15 Gems That Will Change Your Life" (Seizando Publishing, 2018), and the poetry collection "Nami Hoshi Kokoro" (Nami Hoshi Kokoro, 2019).