The size of the retail shoe market in Japan (excluding slippers and sandals) is at around 1.6 trillion yen, with 400 million or so pairs being sold. This comes after a slump from the late 1990s to the early 2000s during a lengthy economic slowdown, when the market shrank to 1.49 trillion yen in 2002, a year in which over...
Stand Out to Compete in Developing Markets—Mitsuboshi Belting
New Year’s Top Interview: Mitsuboshi Belting President Hajime Kakiuchi Speaking with Japan Rubber Weekly in an interview, Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd. (TYO:5192) President Hajime Kakiuchi said he believes difficulties await this year if the current economic slump persists. The company has invested in upgrading its capabilities in Japan, and its ability to continue doing so will help adapt in the future...
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Inner Branding Creates New Value—Nitta
New Year’s Top Interview: Nitta President Mototsune Nitta In 2015, Nitta Corp. (TYO:5186) marked 130 years of business. Today, only those companies that continue to create value survive, said Nitta President Mototsune Nitta in an interview with Japan Rubber Weekly. Over the next 50 to 100 years, the company’s three main aspirations are to create new businesses and new products,...
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Reaching 110th Anniversary Since Founding—Bando Chemical
New Year’s Top Interview: Bando Chemical President Mitsutaka Yoshii Mitsutaka Yoshii, president of Bando Chemical Industries Ltd. (TYO:5195), said in an interview with Japan Rubber Weekly that his firm’s research and development efforts have yielded the seeds of growth into new markets. He added that this year’s work will include the cultivation of business operations based on the resulting new...
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Onward With Operational Globalization—Sumitomo Riko
New Year’s Top Interview: Sumitomo Riko President Tetsu Matsui In an interview with Japan Rubber Weekly, Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) President Tetsu Matsui talked about his background as well as his and the company’s present situation. He said he assumed his post in June 2015 after spending seven years in North America. Since Matsui’s previous work experience was in...
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Focus on Global OE & Maintenance Market—Yokohama Rubber
New Year’s Top Interview: Yokohama Rubber President Hikomitsu Noji 2015 was a very difficult year, but in 2016, Yokohama Rubber plans to recover by improving sales in Russia and Japan—markets where the company is strong—in addition to meeting strong demand in North America, Europe and China, said Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) President Hikomitsu Noji in an interview with Japan...
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