MBA Chinese Culture & Cuisines Club’s Trip to Japan

Earlier, our MBA Chinese Culture & Cuisines Club organized an enriching trip to Japan. Accompanied by Professor Wan Wongsunwai, the MBA Associate Dean, the group embarked on a week-long journey, visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and delving deep into Japan’s university and businesses.

In 2024, Japan’s economy continues to thrive, propelled by its resilience, innovation, and strategic partnerships, solidifying its position as a global economic powerhouse. The visiting MBAers paid a visit to the University of Tokyo and met Professors Tomoyoshi Noda and Katsuhiko Yoshikawa, President and Vice President of Shizenkan University. Professor Noda delivered a captivating talk on “Japanese Culture and its Business Influence,” offering insightful comparisons between Western and Japanese cultures.

During the trip, the CUHK MBA group also had the privilege of visiting several notable Japanese companies. They explored GI Capital Management (GICAM), an asset management firm focused on alternative investments, NETSTARS, a leading fintech company known for its aggregation payment services, and REMOW, a cultural distribution company. The students had the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with the founders and senior executives of these organizations.

The global alumni network of CUHK MBA played a pivotal role during this trip. For instance, Hitoshi Sakaguchi (MBA 1996), a partner at GICAM, is an alumnus from the 1996 batch of CUHK MBA and previously served as a Vice President at Goldman Sachs.

NETSTARS Co., Ltd, the leading QR payment company in Japan, successfully went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2023. During the visit to NETSTARS, CUHK MBA students had fruitful exchanges with the CEO, Mr Tsuyoshi Ri. Notably, Jack, Yi X. (BBA 2004), who facilitated the visit to NETSTARS, is an alumnus of CUHK Business School.

At the final stop of the trip, Kanna Inada, the President of the Waseda Business School Alumni Association, hosted a networking party. CUHK MBA students gathered with alumni and MBA students from the Waseda Business School, fostering a warm and engaging atmosphere. Kanna Inada herself is an alumna of CUHK MBA and participated in an exchange programmes at CUHK in 2016. As the Japan trip concluded, CUHK MBA students expressed profound insights.

The president of MBA Chinese Culture & Cuisines Club Mr Bril HEUNG shared, “During this journey, I realized that the Japanese people have great respect for rules. Everything in Japan operates with clear guidelines, from their punctuality to the cleanliness of their city streets. There is a strong sense of order and organization in both corporate and city management.”