Welcome to News and Views and Podcast
We are hoping you will share your ideas and perspectives on the Third Way, as well as what you are experiencing.
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[TWF White paper] Third Way Forum Insight 2021
- 2022/08/04 <Discussion #4>Managing wellness at work in the face of existential challenges threatening our society.
- 2022/07/28 <Discussion #3>Managing wellness at work in the face of existential challenges threatening our society.
- 2022/07/21 <Discussion #2>Managing wellness at work in the face of existential challenges threatening our society.
- 2022/07/14 <Discussion #1>Challenges of Transition to the Post-Covid Japan: Retention Issues and Generational Gaps
- 2022/07/07 <Discussion #3>The Tenkin (The Relocation Practice in Japan)
- 2022/06/30 <Discussion #2>The Tenkin (The Relocation Practice in Japan)

Still many Japanese companies have been stagnant due to their long lasting hierarchical corporate culture. As it does not go away anytime soon, we at Third Way Forum discussed how we can navigate the Japanese hierarchy in order to create a work environment that could overcome the pressure of hierarchy and get things done and move forward.
What is the "Third Way"
The 1st Way
Japanese Company Culture
The 2nd Way
Foreign Company Culture
The 3rd Way
Japanese Global Company Culture
What is "Third Way Forum"
A platform for international business leaders whose talents and ideas may be underutilized in Japanese companies to develop a collective voice to shape the future of “Japanese Global” companies.
Third Way Forum Charter
Background
With growing overseas business and a rapid increase of foreign employees, many Japanese and non-Japanese companies are still striving to globalize. Many highly skilled professionals are still underutilized, under-represented and under-supported. For a long time, there has been an “us vs them” mentality between the Japanese corporate culture and the foreign company’s global corporate culture.
Now more than ever, we need to seek a Third Way Corporate Culture that makes sense both in Japan and globally, benefiting both Japanese and foreign business professionals alike, and making all companies in Japan more successful globally.
Mission
To shape a new corporate culture (the Third Way) that makes companies more competitive globally by developing a solution-oriented, collective voice of international business professionals, and helps their successful inclusion into the Japanese business society.
To improve the working environment for all professionals accompanied by their sense of fulfillment with work in Japan.
Activities
Regular Forum Sessions, Roundtable Discussions, Sub-Forum Activities, Surveys & Reports, Online Community, Advisory Support, etc.
Third Way Forum Meeting
A forum to discuss issues and propose solutions to achieve the new hybrid corporate culture in Japan
Every Thursday 12:30 – 13:30
Blogs and Articles from Thrid Way Forum Members
- A Global Market requires New Global Expertise
- Yuki Sakuragi answered questions
- The Third-Way Two-Pronged Approach
Blogs from David W. Fingerote - 99.996%
Blogs from Gary Vierheller - Coexistence Between Japanese and Non-Japanese Workers
Blogs from Ms. Ayu Sakai - Does Japan’s deteriorating film industry offer lessons for Japanese companies?
Blogs from Satoshi Ishizaka - Change in Japan in the age of COVID-19
Blogs from Third Way Forum - Transformation challenges
Blogs from Stefan Jansche - [Video]What Third Way Forum means to you? #2
Video from Forum members - [Video]What Third Way Forum means to you? #1
Video from Forum members - Three Initial Committees Launched
Blogs from Satoshi Ishizaka, Chief Director of Third Way Forum
Upcoming Events
"How should Japanese leaders manage non-Japanese team?" Online Event
Three Japanese leaders who are successfully managing international teams will share their insight.
Shuichi Sakamoto, Director of the Board, Executive Officer, AsahiKASEI, has been successfully managing a group of acquired US companies and continuously increasing the value of AkahiKasei’s pharmaceutical business.
Kozo Hanada, APAC Director, WCG Clinical Endpoint Solutions, has been successfully managing a group of international members in Japan and establishing a strong project management business team of WCG’s APAC business.
Julian Fogarty, Chief Product Officer, IDOM Innovations, has been successfully driving a IDOM’s venture business in Australia.
The discussions will be moderated by Satoshi Ishizaka, Chief Director, Third Way Forum.
Bring your colleagues!
Let’s grow the Third Way Forum to be a voice noticed in Japan!
- Date and time
- - May 16th Monday 2022 17:00 – 19:00
- Location
- - Online event(ZOOM)
- Fee
- - Free
Event ends
Members
Chairman

Reiji Shibata
Indigo Blue Co.,Ltd.
Representative director & Chairman
Chief Director

Satoshi Ishizaka
Asian Caesars
Chief Executive Officer
Deputy Chief Director

Gary Vierheller
Inspir
President
Associate Director

Stefan Jansche
Reiwa Advisors K.K.
Chief Executive Officer
Public Relation

Adam Kassab
TERUMO Corporation
Human Resource Development Leader
Project Office
Dean Weston
Stefan Jansche
Vladimyr Cessant
Yuki Sakuragi
Kazumi Sasaki
Toshiki Otsu