Executive Impact
Hilton Niseko Village: Room at the top
If you’re looking to beat the heat of summer in Japan, the Hilton Niseko Village in Hokkaido is the perfect place to go. The hotel, which has 506 rooms, has magnificent views of Mount Yotei and a rich and varied choice of seasonal attractions from skiing and snowboarding on world-class… Read
Preferred Hotels & Resorts helping guests enjoy new and unique travel experiences
As the travel industry recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, travelers are looking for unique experiences, high quality accommodation and the finest service. U.S.-based Preferred Hotels & Resorts is an independent hotel brand, representing more than 600 hotels, resorts and residences in 80 countries. The company partners with a diverse global portfolio… Read
FOPE creates unforgettable memories with elegant jewelry collection
Established in 1929 in Vicenza, FOPE is one of the most beloved jewelry brands in Italy. Their innovative creations such as the FLEX'It line, have combined original, modern technology with bold stunning design. In 2023 the brand launched its first flagship store in Ginza, Tokyo. We caught up with Country… Read
Rebecca Thorn’s rise from fish and chips to general manager of Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya
Rebecca Thorn’s venture into hospitality all started at a local fish and chip shop which eventually evolved into an impressive 17-year tenure with the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). From her New Zealand homeland’s Queenstown to the Australian cities of Adelaide and Melbourne, as well as time in the UK and… Read
Going global: A new platform launches Japanese startups into U.S.
When serial entrepreneurs Satoshi Miyagawa and Kenny Lum met in 2020, it wasn’t long before they clicked, realizing that they had more in common than met the eye. At the heart of what drew them together was a passion for innovation and cross-border collaboration — and a drive to inspire… Read
Entrepreneur Mariko Nishimura bridges tech and culture
Mariko Nishimura wears many hats: programmer, marketer, media creator, businesswoman and entrepreneur. She makes them all look good, combining a high-energy, outgoing personality with a deep-seated curiosity about the world. After coming up through corporate giants like IBM and Adobe, Mariko Nishimura has been running a two-person creative consulting firm Heart… Read
Buying a home in Japan: What you should consider
With the dollar currently so strong against the yen, many people abroad are looking at the Japanese real estate market as an attractive investment. But understanding the basics of buying a home in Japan is important before making a decision. Prospective buyers living overseas need to be aware of real… Read
Melissa Uchiyama: Sparking creativity in young minds
American writer and Tokyo resident Melissa Uchiyama realized the importance of encouragement from an early age. As a child growing up in Arizona and Florida, Uchiyama loved music, lyrics, nature, dance and art. By fifth grade, however, she knew that she was a “word person” and decided that she would… Read
Gakken sets the pace in education, welfare for Japan’s future
When Hiroaki Miyahara was managing the Kobe branch of Gakken Classroom (a division of education and welfare services provider Gakken Holdings), in January 1995, he learned a valuable lesson that has remained with him ever since. The earthquake that devastated the city left the business in a precarious position. Yet… Read
PIE VAT: U.S.-originated startup carves out niche in tourism industry
When Pie Systems was launched in 2018, international tourist arrivals had grown by 5% to reach 1.4 billion and export earnings in the industry had reached $1.7 trillion. But by 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic raging and borders closing, that changed. For Pie Systems, a startup with a mobile app… Read
