Former Sony CEO Idei Making Big Moves
June 28, 2007
By Ken Worsley
On the train this afternoon I was reading a Japan Times article focusing on Nobuyuki Idei, the former CEO of Sony. The piece came via Kyodo News, and the original reporter had spoken with Idei on Monday of this week. Idei had much to say concerning the current state of innovation in Japan’s technology sectors. Here are some bits:
Sadly, Japan was unable to lead the information technology industry…At present, there is no world-class brand from Japan that does Net business. There is no new Sony on the Net…By using IT more and more, I hope one day there will be a new world-class company from Japan.
We’ve lamented this situation before, as have many others. But that’s not what we’re here to dwell on. What he said next in the interview struck me: According to Idei, Japanese Internet companies have not shown enough innovation and remain “localized” because they are overly dependent on imitating US-style business models. He then asserted that he has seen more promising innovation amongst Internet firms happening in China and other parts of Asia.
In 2006, in order to provide a “value creation catalyst” for young Internet workers in Japan, Idei set up a consultancy called Quantum Leaps.
Then, when I got home tonight, this headline was waiting for me: Aiming For Japan, Baidu Names Ex-Sony CEO To Board
The first two paragraphs:
Chinese Web search leader Baidu.com Inc., which is seeking to expand into the Japanese Web search market, said Tuesday it had named ex-Sony Chief Executive Nobuyuki Idei as a company director.
Idei, one of Japan’s most famous corporate executives, is widely blamed for missteps at Sony, the world’s largest consumer electronics company, where he was forced out as leader in 2005. He is the founder and chief executive of Quantum Leaps Corp., a technology consulting practice he currently runs.
I’m not sure how I missed the story before, but I’m glad I got them in reverse order, since the Japan Times/Kyodo piece makes no mention of Idei’s new post at Baidu. Isn’t context refreshing?
Filed Under China, IT, Internet, Interviews, Technology
Social Bookmarks:
Related Posts:
Sony to stop making cellular phone handsets for DoCoMo
Nintendo passes Sony in market value?
PlayStation 3 not game? Nintendo’s Wii is outselling it two to one
No Acura for Japan (yet), as Honda announces moves overseas
BizCast Japan #17 released at Trans-Pacific Radio
Comments
2 Responses to “Former Sony CEO Idei Making Big Moves”
Got something to say?
Social Media
On Twitter: JapaneconomynewMost Popular Categories
1. Real Estate2. Economics
3. Economic Reports
4. Business
5. Import/Export
Last Month's Top 5 Stories
1. Japan must shake off US-style globalization2. Public pension fund lost a record 10.17 trillion yen in fiscal 2008
3. NTT and McDonald’s release results
4. GDP up on Government Spending
5. Economy Watchers Survey up for seventh straight month in July
Upcoming Economic Reports
15 SeptemberAugust Machine Tool Orders
Jobs in Japan
From the Blogosphere
Japanese Wages Fall Again In June at Japan Economy Watch
Members of a Nation State at Neojaponisme
More Comments on Wai-Wai at Let's Japan
Will the real Ozawa please stand up? at Observing Japan
Posts on Recent Economic Reports
April 14March corporate goods price index down 2.2%
March 31
Japan household spending down 3.5% in February
March 25
Restaurant sales fall for third straight month in February
March 17
New condo offerings in Tokyo and Osaka down in February
March 10
Tokyo vacancy rates up for seventh straight month in February
View more economic reports »
Our Links
- Asia Business Intelligence
- Bank of Japan Statictics
- Cabinet Office English Homepage
- Center for Strategic and International Studies: Audio, Video & Transcripts
- China Business Daily
- Claus Vistesen’s Blog
- Columbia University Center on Japanese Economy and Business
- Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy
- Economic and Social Research Institute
- From the inside, looking in
- Global Talk 21
- Japan Business Federation - Nippon Keidanren
- Japan Considered
- Japan Economy Watch
- Japan Forum on International Relations
- Japan Inc
- Japan Labour Force Survey
- Japan Law Blog
- Japan Marketing News
- Japan News Review
- Japan Productivity Center
- JETRO - Japan External Trade Organization
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry - Online Statistics
- Ministry of Finance
- Ministry of Finance - Policy Research Institute
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Economic Affairs Page
- Mortgage News
- Nikkei Real Estate Market Report
- NYU - Center for Japan-US Business and Economic Studies
- Observing Japan
- OECD - Japan Page
- Prime Minister and his Cabinet
- Seeking Alpha
- Small and Medium Enterprise Agency
- Steven Towns’ Blog
- Tokyo Stock Exchange
- Trans-Pacific Radio
- What Japan Thinks
- World Federation of Exchanges
Archives
- March 2010
- February 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
Build the Network!
“In 2006, in order to provide a ‘value creation catalyst’ for young Internet workers in Japan, Idei set up a consultancy called Quantum Leaps.”
So what part of Idei joining Baidu’s board helps “value creation’ for young Internet workers in Japan?
Not much, I don’t think, unless he plans to find out what Baidu’s going to do and then dispenses that information on the Japan end through Quantum Leaps. But that would probably be in violation of his agreement with Baidu, right?