What do emojis, QR codes, hybrid vehicles, anime and video games have in common? They are all products of Japan’s unique approach to creativity and innovation.
While Japan is often recognized for refining existing technologies, it has also produced many groundbreaking ideas of its own that have gone on to redefine entire industries. What enables this kind of innovation — and can it be replicated elsewhere?
In this talk, Hiroaki Niihara — who played a key role in the national government to develop Japan’s modern approaches to economics — shares insights from decades of experience in government and industry. Through examples of pioneering technologies produced in Japan will highlight how the country’s trends in organizational structure, talent development and creative thinking drive innovation. But beyond stating what has worked in Japan, Niihara will share what global audiences can learn from it.
With a career spanning over 40 years, including leadership roles at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Hiro Niihara played a leading role in formulating Japan’s growth and distribution policies—including “Abenomics” and “New Capitalism”—under the Abe and Kishida administrations.
This public lecture series is organized by the Peter F. Cowhey Center on Global Transformation at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS). For more information on center activities, please visit ccgt.ucsd.edu.
If you have any questions, please contact GPS Events Coordinator April Hickman.
