Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
51452:[2025 Spring]Special Topics on Business Management β (XD) § 51453:Special Topics on Organization and Management β (XD) § 51454:Special Topics on International Business β (XD) § 51455:Special Topics on Strategy and Marketing β (XD) § 51456:Special Topics on Accounting and Finance β (XD) 2025 Spring Wed4 College　Of　Business　Administration KUROKI MASAKI 2

Campus

OIC

Class Venue

AS368

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

This course intends to deepen the understanding of its students regarding the business environments and cultures of Japanese society. Through the lectures and the case analyses, students will explore the historical and cultural contexts of the leading Japanese new venture companies.

Student Attainment Objectives

Expand the knowledge and deepening understanding on the Japanese companies’ business approaches and their cultures. The students will learn the key business terminology and events in the Japanese society.

Recommended Preparatory Course

This course targets students who have a minimum TOEFL®-ITP score of 520, TOEFL®-iBT score of 68 or TOEIC® score of 620 or equivalent.

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1 April 7

Course Outline and Introduction

Basic discussion about Japan and the Japanese business environment　①
Have a voluntary student make a presentation about his or her country and university for the second week of the lecture.　"[+R Class] For details, would you check manaba+R."

2 April 14

International students and Japanese students make a presentation about his or her country and university. For example, the US and UC Davis, Hungary, and a university.　Organizing a group: each group consists of 3~4 people

Basic discussion about Japan　②. The instructor presents one social problem in Nagahama City, the northern part of Biwako Lake. Each team must create solutions, which they will analyze and present at the last lecture. Presentations will be held in the last class.

3　April 21

What is an entrepreneur (NHK Video Silicon Valley)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIDm2F4CY44

Wideing entrepreneurial knowledge based on American cases and video materials

4 April 28

Evaluating Your Understanding of an Entrepreneur

Exercises to identify appropriate entrepreneurial traits

5 May7

First Guest speaker

An International Entrepreneur in Japan

6 May 14

Case 1: Kazuo Inamori, the founder of Kyoto Ceramic

Japanese Entrepreneur & his philosophy.Kazuo Inamori was a renowned Japanese entrepreneur and philanthropist, best known for founding Kyoto Ceramic Co., Ltd., which is now known as Kyocera Corporation 　
QUIZ①

7 May 21

Case 2: SOFTBANK's CEO, Masayoshi Son

2000s Japanese-Style Entrepreneurship:
Masayoshi Son is the founder and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp. Born on August 11, 1957, in Tosu, Saga Prefecture, Japan, he is a prominent entrepreneur and investor 1 2. Son founded SoftBank in 1981 and has been instrumental in its growth, transforming it from a software distributor into a global technology conglomerate.
Quiz②

8 May 28

Case 3: Cyberdyne

Cyberdyne Inc. is a Japanese robotics and technology company, best known for its development of the HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) robotic exoskeleton suit 1 2. Founded in 2004 by Professor Yoshiyuki Sankai from the University of Tsukuba, Cyberdyne focuses on "Cybernics," which integrates human, robotic, and information systems. Quiz③

9 June 4

Case 4: Strategic Innovation: Park 24 reinventing the parking business

Park 24 Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive transportation infrastructure company based in Japan. They offer a variety of services including parking, car rentals, car sharing, membership services, and payment solutions. The company was established in 1971 and has grown significantly, now operating in multiple countries and providing a wide range of services.
Quiz④

10 June 11

Case 5:Mixi A&B Japanese SNS ⇒　SNS game maker

"Originally founded as a company operating the social networking service (SNS) mixi, by the fiscal year 2020, more than 80% of its revenue came from its digital entertainment business, including 'Monster Strike' (commonly known as 'Monst')."
Quiz⑤

11 June 18

Case6: teamLab-Ultra-technologist-Group

teamLab is a Japanese art collective known as the "Ultra-technologist Group." Founded in 2001 by Toshiyuki Inoko, teamLab combines art, technology, and creativity to create immersive and interactive digital art experiences.
Quiz⑥

12 June 25

Second Guest Speaker

Consaltant in the Sllicon Valley

13 July 2

Case 7：entrepreneur to face social problems＆Social Entrepreneurial Challenges

Discussion of issues faced by social entrepreneurs based on the course materials and lecture contents of guest speakers
QUIZ⑦

14 July 9

Final Presentation & Summarizing the lecture

the final assignment presentation

Class Format

The lecture will be held in a face-to-face manner.

Recommendations for Private Study

 In this class, we will take an active learning approach which requires students to prepare for the class EVERY time. In other words, you should do the assigned readings (on average I chapter of assigned book per week), think about the issues discussed in the assigned readings, and be prepared to contribute to the class discussion.
 The main mode of learning is through some formal lectures, analysis of selected cases and articles and work on assignments.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

Activity Evaluation Criteria % of Grading
Attendance All classes 15%
Quizzes Every Case Study 30%
Group Presentation of Assigned Case Analysis:20%
Final Presentations: 2 solutions of three social problems: 35%

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

Formal lectures
The objective of formal lecture classes is to understand main issues related to Management styles and issues in various cultural contexts, through comparative reading and lecturer insights.

Cases
The objective of case studies is to develop the abilities to apply previously acquired concepts to specific situations. The case studies help the students perceive various contexts through the lens of a decision maker. The student is required to perform the appropriate analysis and then make a report and recommendations.

Group assignment and presentation
During the course, you will be required to analyze two problems out of 3 problems in the Japanese communities. At the final presentation, you will be expected to provide the solutions and make a presentation of your findings & problem solving approaches.
The aim of group discussion and analysis is to
- Allow you to draw on the concepts covered in class and apply them to practical situations
- Developing your analytical skills
- Encourage you to learn how to make recommendations and how to justify your opinions
- Improve you group working skills and give you an opportunity to improve spoken English in front of relatively friendly audience.

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Copies of some text books and Case studies will be provided by the lecture on the first day of the class.

Reference Books

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Communication Paper,Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students

Other Comments

"Assignments for returning students (students whose study abroad & whose the completion notification was accepted between the start of spring semester classes and the end of April)”

The instructor in charge of this course reserves the right to change the syllabus case content and lecture content after giving advanced explanations to the students.
Absences due to club activities (national competition, submission of certificates for managers or coaches), illness, etc., will be considered. Please note that late arrivals to the class without considerable reasons cannot be considered.

Active class participation is the responsibility of the student. As a clear distinction from classes just for credit, an absence from the first class counts as two absences. Students absent four times or more will automatically receive an F grade.

For returnees from studying abroad: After returning to Japan, take a quiz on the theme posted in the syllabus. The quiz is based on the content that ordinary students have already taken. It is clearly stated in the syllabus.
The professor will propose a quiz until the student requests to take the quiz. In addition, this special consideration is for up to 3 weeks after each return home.
【留学帰国者（「留学終了届」が春学期授業開始日から4月末までに受理された学生）への課題】
出席できなかった授業回の授業内容を確認し、自学自習を行ってください。そのうえで、欠席1回について1つの課題が課されますので、それぞれA4用紙1枚以上にまとめて、5月末までに担当教員へ提出して下さい。課題については、担当教員に直接問い合わせてください。
【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/