CATEGORY

Members’ Messages

First Wednesday is a place for intellectual sparring among business leaders. It is an opportunity for members who are involved in global management to have an honest discussion with each other. We contribute to solving social issues by sharing management knowledge.

First Wednesday is a place for intellectual sparring among business leaders.
It is an opportunity for members who are involved in global management to have an honest discussion with each other.

We contribute to solving social issues by sharing management knowledge.

  • 2022年6月12日
  • 2023年3月10日

Mr. Junro Ito, Director, Managing Executive Officer Seven & i Holdings Co.

I remember when Mr. Kishi, the leader of First Wednesday, and Mr. Kishi's father, Mr. Momose, came to me through an introduction by Mr. Hatakeyama, a former Nikkei Newspaper alumnus of Mr. Kishi and myself, and asked me if I would be interested in joining their study group. It seems like only a few days ago that Mr. Momose asked me to become a member of his study group. From the beginning, Mr. Momose invited excellent business leaders as speakers through his personal connections, and I remember it was a very stimulating study group where members could ask questions and express their opinions, rather than just listening to the lecturers one-sidedly. I also have a good memory that in the early days of the meeting, I was invited to give a lecture on "7-Eleven's Business Model" and my father (Mr. Masatoshi Ito, Honorary Chairman of Seven & i HD) also gave a lecture. Since then, First Wednesday has continued to invite excellent speakers not only from the business world but also from the political, government, and academic worlds through the personal connections of Mr. Momose, Mr. Kishi, and all the members, and has continued to provide interactive and richly contented meetings. I would like to congratulate you on your 20th anniversary.

  • 2022年6月3日
  • 2023年3月10日

Mr. Hisaoki Kamei, Former Director General, National Land Agency

The advancement and development of information and communication technologies such as 5G, IoT, AI, and blockchain have changed social life considerably. True information is not something that can be obtained only through information and communication technology, but rather, it is something that can be conveyed when people meet each other. I believe that meeting people is the most important thing when considering "intelligence" rather than mere "information. First Wednesday is a time for people who are active in various fields to exchange information and opinions, and I believe that this will not only be useful for work, but will also lead to the development of society as a whole. I sincerely hope that First Wednesday will become more and more popular in order for Japanese society to definitely move in the right direction.

  • 2022年5月20日
  • 2023年3月10日

Mr. Osamu Tosaka, Outside Director, Kureha Corporation, Former Executive Vice President and Representative Director, Ajinomoto Co.

I learned at First Wednesday that the rise and fall of an organization depends solely on the development of its people. I would like to learn what real leaders have gone through to get to where they are today, and I would like to get as close to them as possible. Through First Wednesday, I would also like to pursue what Japanese-style management is all about. I am convinced that Japan has the wisdom to create a world where various countries and ethnic groups can coexist in harmony in the midst of globalization. As a Japanese citizen, I would like to contribute to the peace and prosperity of the world in any way I can.

  • 2022年5月19日
  • 2022年10月16日

Mr. Tatsuo Tanaka, Former Chairman of the Board, Current Senior Advisor, Citigroup Japan Holdings LLC, Former Executive Vice President, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

First Wednesday, I have spoken twice and I think it is a really fun and wonderful meeting. A limited number of leaders discuss freely, seriously, and honestly, and get to the heart of the matter. This is very valuable in many Japanese gatherings that tend to fall into formalism. The agenda setting is also excellent. Mr. Kishi, please continue your cheerful and enjoyable efforts with the high pride of "changing the course of Japan."

  • 2022年5月3日
  • 2023年3月10日

Mr. Kazuyuki Tanaka, Honorary Senior Advisor, Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd. (Former CEO and Chairman of the Board, Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.)

The greatest attraction of "First Wednesday" is the opportunity to hear from a wide variety of speakers from politics, academia, and the business world, and to engage in frank discussions. The lecturers provided us with new perspectives and high-level opinions, and we were able to apply the hints we gained from them to our actual business management.

  • 2022年5月3日
  • 2023年3月10日

Mr. Raizo Sakoda, President, Hitachi Academy Co., Ltd.

In a world where "society," "politics," and "technology" will continue to change dramatically, it is important for business managers to acquire knowledge and constantly relearn. "First Wednesday" is a valuable opportunity to hear from business leaders and experts in a live setting.

  • 2022年5月2日
  • 2023年3月10日

Dr. Tatsuya Nishida, Dean, Tokai University School of Political Science and Economics

First Wednesday's speakers and members include business executives, ambassadors, diplomats and government officials, prominent journalists and professors, and renowned artists. Participants from different backgrounds will share their opinions and constructive criticism on political, economic, and social issues from a global perspective, and I strongly recommend attending if you want to learn more about Japan's future and what is happening in Japan today.

  • 2022年5月1日
  • 2023年3月10日

Yutaka Kobayashi, President Chief Executive Officer, KUREHA CORPORATION

My connection with First Wednesday began through a speaking engagement through an acquaintance. Ten years have passed since I became president, and as I take the helm of the company on a daily basis, I realize that I am fully aware of what is going on outside the company. In this context, the level of change in politics, economics, and society in the world is unimaginable. In this sense, First Wednesday invites top leaders from various fields and spends more time for question-and-answer sessions, which I find most attractive. I have learned a lot since I joined. I highly recommend that you join.

  • 2022年5月1日
  • 2023年3月10日

Mr. Jun Furuta, Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Chief Sustainability Officer, Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.

Congratulations on the 20th anniversary of First Wednesday. First Wednesday is a very attractive and high-level meeting, and I find it very useful because the discussions are not only about one company, but also about the nation and the world. My hope for First Wednesday is that it will create a cycle of increased power for individuals and companies. Recently, it is said that Japan's national power is declining. There are many ways to look at this, but I believe that a major factor is the decline in the power of Japanese companies. Whether the metaphor is correct or not, there was the Shoukasonjuku of Yoshida Shouin, which produced many great men during the Meiji era. My expectation is that First Wednesday will become a modern-day Shoukasonjuku. In other words, I hope that the people who give speeches here and the members will engage in mutual efforts to improve themselves, thereby creating a cycle in which each individual becomes more powerful and the company becomes even more powerful.

  • 2022年5月1日
  • 2023年3月10日

Mr. Yoshinori Komiya, Managing Executive Officer and General Manager, Advanced Information Management Division, IHI Corporation

I find the meetings where the executives of the companies have honest discussions very informative and educational. I originally worked at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, including as Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office, but in some ways it is difficult to make new horizontal connections with people in the private sector, so I feel that joining First Wednesday will be an asset for me.