Low-Cost Strategy

By | 未分類

In August 1945, Mr. Isao Nakauchi, then a Japanese military officer, witnessed the end of World War II. Solely surviving the devastating losses his unit suffered against the United States, he carried the burden of being the lone survivor, a catalyst that inspired him to revolutionize the retail industry.

Nakauchi’s philosophy was grounded in the belief that consumers, not manufacturers, should determine product prices. This principle led him to implement an aggressive low-cost strategy, sparking a retail revolution in Japan and reflecting a significant shift in post-war societal values.

Nakauchi’s former residence in Ashiya (ASHYA ROYAL HOMES) , Hyogo Prefecture, was transformed into a luxury housing area for expatriates, a location I frequently facilitated for foreign rental clients.

Mr. Suzuki, the dedicated property manager, devoted his life to Mr. Nakauchi. Even after Nakauchi’s passing, Suzuki meticulously maintained the property, providing exceptional service in English to foreign residents. He continued this dedication until his retirement.

The journey of Mr. Nakauchi, from a military officer to a business magnate, illustrates the profound impact war veterans had on Japan’s post-war economy. His enterprise, Daiei Supermarkets, known as “Housewives’ Friend Daiei”, garnered immense support from Japanese housewives eager to minimize household expenses.

As we approach Expo2025, we at Dios are re-evaluating our supply chain to provide our international clientele with the highest quality at the most affordable prices. Our strategy is to offer services with a dual approach of high value and low cost.

#WWII #PostWarJapan #RetailRevolution #Daiei #JapaneseEconomy #BusinessInnovation #ConsumerEmpowerment #LegacyOfIsaoNakauchi #HistoricalImpact #TransformationalLeadership #Expo2025 #AffordableSolutions #SupplyChainInnovation

The Hidden Challenges in Pavilion Construction for Expo 2025: Intermediary Brokers

By | 未分類

As we approach the festive season, the Ritz-Carlton Osaka has once again adorned its lobby with a magnificent Christmas tree. However, the festive atmosphere contrasts sharply with the current status of foreign pavilions for Expo 2025. As of Christmas 2023, not a single foreign pavilion has commenced construction.

The delay in construction of foreign pavilions has been attributed to several factors:

1. Rising costs of building materials.
2. Shortage of skilled labor.
3. Language barriers between Japanese and foreign teams.

Yet, construction experts point out another critical issue that has not been widely acknowledged:

4. The presence of numerous intermediaries between foreign governments and Japanese general contractors, hindering direct communication.

This last point is particularly troubling. It appears that multiple brokers are involved, creating a bottleneck in the construction process.

From my experience, this is not limited to construction. Similar intermediary dynamics are observed in other aspects of Expo preparations. These brokers, hailing from both Japan and abroad, often lack the necessary expertise and seem more focused on their commissions than facilitating the construction process.

If these intermediaries are not acting as catalysts but rather as obstacles, delaying the construction, it raises a significant concern. Shouldn’t we consider removing these brokers to streamline the process? The situation calls for direct and efficient communication channels, eliminating unnecessary middlemen to ensure timely construction and preparation for the Expo.

#Expo2025 #ConstructionDelays #IntermediaryChallenges #DirectCommunication #PavilionConstruction #GlobalCollaboration #EfficientManagement

Building Challenges at Sakurajima Construction Site vs. Expo 2025 Site

By | Expo Osaka 2025

The photo featured here was taken at my construction site in Sakurajima, where I am working as a carpenter. Purchasing building materials and transporting them to the site is a laborious task. Reducing the distance even by 10 meters significantly eases the burden of carrying heavy loads.

To facilitate this, we try to bring the material-laden trucks as close to the site as possible. As you can see in the photo, there is a wide road in front of my construction site, which is immensely helpful.

Contrastingly, the situation at the Expo venue in Yumeshima is quite different. The roads there are yet to be fully developed. Moreover, essential infrastructure like sewage pipes appears to be still in the process of being laid out. Since sewage pipes are typically buried under the roads, paving cannot commence until this pipework is complete. Transporting heavy construction materials over an unpaved, uneven surface would be extremely challenging.

Therefore, it’s not just construction work that’s lagging behind at Yumeshima but the creation of an environment conducive to construction activities. The lack of proper infrastructure significantly impacts the pace and efficiency of building work, a challenge we fortunately do not face at our well-equipped Sakurajima site.

#ConstructionChallenges #SakurajimaSite #Expo2025 #InfrastructureDevelopment #HeavyLabor

A Chronological Perspective on Japan’s Political Situation Related to Expo 2025

By | Expo Osaka 2025

I wish to share a chronological perspective on the political situation in Japan related to Expo 2025.

In 2018, Osaka’s political party, Osaka Ishin no Kai, aimed to attract a casino to Yumeshima and therefore decided to host Expo 2025 there as a prelude to the casino. This plan involved using national funds to develop infrastructures like subways and other facilities for the casino in Yumeshima.

By 2022, the chairman of the Japan Construction Association, Yoichi Miyamoto, pointed out that construction would not be completed in time if things continued as they were. At this point, Osaka Ishin no Kai was fully aware of the issues surrounding the Expo and casino plans.

In April 2023, Osaka Ishin no Kai won a landslide victory in the local elections in Osaka. However, they did not disclose the problems with the Yumeshima plan to voters, instead promoting the success of attracting the Expo. This could be seen as a fraudulent tactic to win the election.

In May 2023, after their electoral victory, Osaka Ishin no Kai sought help from Prime Minister Kishida with the Expo, to which he readily agreed. His reasoning was to ensure that Osaka Ishin no Kai wouldn’t oppose the Liberal Democratic Party during elections or in parliament.

In August 2023, the second Kishida cabinet was formed, and Hanako Jijimi was appointed as the Minister for the Expo. However, she lacked the necessary leadership experience for this role.

Moreover, Prime Minister Kishida’s plan to send a top bureaucrat from the Ministry of Finance to Osaka was not suitable for the actual operation, as finance bureaucrats are accustomed to allocating budgets, not managing operations.

By September 2023, there were reports of blame-shifting between Osaka Ishin no Kai and Prime Minister Kishida. It seems that Kishida might have learned a bit about the issues in Yumeshima.

Prime Minister Kishida’s approval ratings continue to plummet, and his resignation seems only a matter of time.

In conclusion, the political situation in Japan related to Expo 2025 is disappointing. Both the local government of Osaka and the central government of Japan have shown poor management skills and a lack of capability in handling the situation.

As a Japanese citizen, I feel deeply apologetic towards our international guests for this inadequate political reception in Japan. The extent of embarrassment felt over this political failure is beyond words, and I sincerely apologize to all foreign visitors.

#Expo2025Osaka #JapanesePolitics #OsakaIshinNoKai #InfrastructureDevelopment #ElectionStrategy #GovernmentAccountability #PoliticalDynamics #ExpoPreparations #LeadershipChallenges #YumeshimaProject #PoliticalIssues #GovernmentIncompetence #KishidaCabinet #PoliticalResponsibility