Redefining Sufficiency: An 'Indigenous' Economy for 100 Million People
While the term 'global market' has become a sacred banner, and chasing the massive markets of the US and China is considered the righteous path, have we not been discarding the richness right under our feet? In an era exhausted by endless global competition and the 'vanity' of stock price figures, we are now called upon to shift toward a business model that sincerely faces the 'scale of Japan'.
Japan's population is approximately 100 million. The future of a company depends on whether this is viewed pessimistically as a 'shrinking market' or as a 'mature community.' Models that rely on overseas resources or cheap labor are constantly exposed to geopolitical risks and a weak yen. Conversely, the perspective of redefining Japan's unused domestic resources and unique, pressing social issues as 'assets' is what will generate true independence.
Optimization in the Name of 'Galapagosization'
Take, for example, the issue of mobility in rural areas where there is a critical shortage of drivers. What is needed here is not general-purpose autonomous driving designed for the hegemony struggle between the US and China. It is a thorough 'Galapagos-like evolution' specialized for Japan's narrow roads, unique traffic regulations, and the urgent needs of depopulated areas.
We should abandon the vanity of trying to 'sell this to the world.' Instead, we should discard perfectionism and decisively launch products into the market with 'low' quality that fits the scale of Japan's rural areas, such as systems that move 'slowly but safely' under specific conditions. This approach of stripping away excessive specifications and adapting to the realities on the ground is the key to breaking through the 'innovator's dilemma' bound by past success.
The 'Base of the Pyramid' Sleeping Within Japan
The perspective of 'BOP (Base of the Pyramid)' business, which has until now been considered for emerging countries, is now applicable to Japan's rural areas. Building low-cost, sustainable infrastructure using domestic resources is a form of substantive value creation that stands at the opposite pole from the vanity economy of chasing stock prices.
Thorough Domestic Procurement: Promote the use of technology that is completed within the region, without relying on external energy or operating systems.
Commercialization of Problem Solving: Solve the pain points faced by 100 million people, such as mobility support and disaster prevention, with down-to-earth technology.
The 'Commercialization of Regional Activities' as a Sign
This change has already begun among highly sensitive young people. For them, labor for the sake of intangible numerical targets is no longer attractive. Instead, they find 'fulfillment' in solving immediate regional issues and revitalizing communities by utilizing tangible resources.
Rather than being swayed by external evaluations like stock prices, we must root ourselves deeply in the climate of Japan and the lives of its 100 million people. That is the form of Japan's new 'seriousness' that will come after the fever of globalization. It is within our own borders that the untapped frontier lies dormant.