What's Holding Japan Back? Rethinking Japan’s Global Standing and the Keys to Economic Growth

The Nikkei Stock Average has reached an all-time high, and macroeconomic indicators suggest that Japan may finally be emerging from its “lost three decades.” Yet, those of us on the frontlines of growth industries still feel a disconnect — a sense that Japan remains out of step with global standards, marked by slow decision-making and a cautious, risk-averse mindset that lingers in society. In this session, we will confront head-on the structural distortions and peculiarities unique to Japan — the very forces that create the gap between macro-level optimism and on-the-ground reality. Through a lively debate among thought leaders who view Japan from the perspectives of the global stage, corporate management, and the frontlines of industry, we will explore the idea that within Japan’s “oddities” — its singularities — lie vast, untapped business and market opportunities. Together, we will search for the mental frameworks and guiding lines of thought that can help transform these anomalies into the driving energy for Japan’s next wave of growth.