About First Wednesday

First Wednesday is a place of creation and harmony for managers with a spirit of challenge and commitment to innovation. Through open and vigorous dialogue without any discernment, members, who are responsible for top-level corporate management in Japan and abroad, share and put into practice high-level, realistic management-related learning, thereby contributing to the development of Japan and Japanese industry.

First Wednesday” is a members-only management club for people in charge of corporate management.

The themes of “First Wednesday” are carefully selected based on “what should be done by those in charge of global management,” such as global strategy and practical management strategy (case studies). Speeches on each theme will be given by speakers representing the business and academic worlds.

First Wednesday Speakers

Mr. Yoshimitsu Kobayashi
Chairman of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation

Mr.Shuzo Sumi
Chairman of the Board of Tokio Marine & Nichido.

Mr. Masatoshi Ito
Honorary Chairman, Seven & I Holdings

Mr. Shinjiro Sato
CEO of Terumo corporation

Mr. SEN Genshitsu
15th in a series of Japanese tea masters of the Urasenke family

Mr. Werner Geissler
Vice Chairman of P&G

*Stated corporate title as at when they made speech

First Wednesday Characteristics

1. It is a management club with a 23-year history of membership.

2. It is for corporate executives who intend to lead their industries in the global marketplace.

3. The objective is for members to learn from each other about real-life management cases and put them into practice in actual management through honest (off-the-record) dialogue in a small group setting.

4. As individuals become more empowered, and as companies become more empowered, this will create a cycle that leads to the empowerment of Japan, and as a result, contributes to the development of Japan and Japanese industry.