“Transformation” has become a familiar term, yet its meaning has grown increasingly diffuse. In reality, the pressures and upheavals facing companies are far from uniform.

For firms with long histories, transformation often means structural renewal to survive repeated crises. For fast-growing technology companies, it demands bold shifts in business focus as the AI era unfolds. For those exposed to rapid swings in customers and markets, flexibility itself becomes the essence of competitiveness.

This opening session frames the diverse forms of transformation. Beyond operational improvement, it highlights the deeper reinventions that shape a company’s very foundation.

With the domestic market in decline, companies must seek new paths for growth. Many hesitate to expand abroad for fear of competing head-on with global giants. Yet adaptation is not the only option: creating entirely new markets and value propositions is another.

This session explores cases of companies that challenge industry structures worldwide or draw on Japan’s strengths to offer new lifestyles and experiences. The discussion will probe how firms can elevate their technologies and cultural assets into genuine global competitiveness. The focus is not on following markets, but on shaping those where they can shine.

What is assumed to be “common sense” in Japan may already be obsolete elsewhere. Companies that remain inward-looking risk underestimating the speed and scale of global shifts—only to find their business models outdated.

This session provides a vantage point for executives to grasp today’s realities. Leaders from global finance, advanced supply chains, cross-border entertainment, and IT infrastructure will share perspectives that cannot be gleaned from domestic news alone.

Amid globalization and the AI revolution, the sources of true competitive advantage are not always distant. Often, the richest opportunities lie close at hand—in a firm’s own capabilities and in Japan’s mature yet still fertile market.

This session highlights how companies are turning this “nearest frontier” into value. Strategies include mastering niche technologies to dominate global markets, designing businesses that integrate AI-driven personalization with the enduring demand for real experiences, and re-examining Japan’s R&D strength as a renewed destination for global investment.