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Day 2: May 23
Japan-America Societye-commerce Delegation Report
Also view our slide presentation:
7:30-9:30 am
E-commerce in Japan: Business-to-Consumer and Business-to-Business IssuesThe Day in Tokyo - May 23. Link after daily report below. 
The delegation began its second full day with an American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) breakfast briefing at the ANA Hotel. The ACCJ e-commerce panel was moderated by David Satterwhite, Managing Director Japan, The Economist Conferences. Panelists included John F. Barber, President, AOL Japan; Sidney C. Cooke, Senior Manager, Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting; and Jim Weisser, Chief Technical Rainmaker, eCrossing KK.
Satterwhite of The Economist began the session with an overview of the current state of the Japanese economy. He elaborated on the key issues to watch in 2000 and beyond, notably the absolute necessity of the restructuring of the Japanese economy. In addition, he discussed transportation, accountability, efficiency, excess capacity, labor, and indebtedness issues as they relate to recovery. Satterwhite also discussed several demographic realities, most notably the ageing of Japanese society and the shrinking labor force. He next pointed out several key political issues for 2000-01. He concluded his talk by pointing out several hopeful signs for recovery. Satterwhite announced an upcoming Economist conference of interest to the delegation, New Japan Leadership Roundtable on E-Business.
Barber of AOL Japan spoke primarily about B2C (Business-to-Consumer) issues and the very competitive B2C market in Japan, while Weisser of eCrossing spoke primarily about B2B (Business-to-Business) and technology issues. Cooke of Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting spoke primarily about business practices and labor availability issues. A lively question-and-answer period followed.
For information on the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, please visit: www.accj.or.jp.
10:00-11:00am Convenience Store Marketing and the Internet 
After a short break, the delegation next heard from Shinichi Hayahara, Web Group Leader for FamilyMart, one of the Big 3 convenience stores in Japan.
Hayahara led the delegation through a step-by-step explanation of the e-commerce strategy FamilyMart is using to increase its market share in the very competitive convenience store marketplace. Stating that "Convenience stores are the bridge that connects the real with the virtual," he stressed that FamilyMart's strategy is meeting customer needs by being environmentally friendly, delivering goods just in time, assuring safe payment and delivery, and providing local selection.
For further information, please visit the FamilyMart website: www.famima.com.
11:45am-1:30pm The B2C e-commerce Environment: Solutions for Security, Taxation, and Translation Issues. 
After a short walk from the ANA Hotel Tokyo, the delegation had a luncheon briefing at the IBM Building hosted by Marketing Intelligence Corp. (MiC) and IBM Japan Ltd..
After a brief description of MiC's marketing research work tracking consumer behavior and its Cyber Business Initiative by Yushi Sakuragi, Group-Business Development Manager, Cyber Business Initiative Office, the delegation heard a detailed explanation of an APEC-sponsored e-commerce cross-border study by Yoshikazu Kobayashi, Program Manager, Telecommunications Relations, IBM Japan Ltd.
For additional information on Marketing Intelligence Corp., visit MiC's website: www.mictokyo.co.jp/mic.
2:30-3:30 pm NTT Communications Technical Tour Journeying to the Otemachi area by limousine bus, the delegation received a tour of the new NTT Communications Data Center, led by Mitsuaki Nagai, Senior Manager, Global Value Development Office, Solution Business Division, and Norifumi Egi, Manager Global IP Business Section, International Network Service Department, Corporate Users Business Division, NTT. 3:30-5:00pm Payment Systems and Processes 
The day's briefings concluded with a panel discussion of various payment systems at NTT featuring Dr. Masahiro Kawahata Chairman and CEO of eCHARGE Japan, Douglas Lorentz, Senior Vice President, MasterCard International Japan, and Sosuke Suzuki, Senior Manager, Business Integration Group, Solution Business Division at NTT Communications.
Suzuki of NTT Communications compared payment systems in Japan and the U.S., while Lorentz of MasterCard International Japan discussed increased Japanese credit card usage and consumer issues. Dr. Kawahata of eCharge Japan gave a market overview of B2C and B2B business, discussed government regulations in Japan, and spoke of his company's products for the internet.
7:00-9:00pm Dinner at Tohenboku Restaurant The delegation concluded its second day in Tokyo with a dinner at Tohenboku hosted by Bill Attridge of High Technology Management. |
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