“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.

In today’s mature markets, growth no longer comes from following established rules but from designing new markets and creating original value.

This session brings together leaders from diverse fields—including lifestyle and culture, entertainment, character business, and financial infrastructure—to discuss how global demand and sensibilities can be redefined.

Crossing traditional boundaries of industry and sector, the speakers will share how they are shaping markets themselves and advancing strategies that enable sustainable growth on the global stage.

What is considered “common sense” in Japan may already be outdated elsewhere. Companies that remain focused solely on the domestic market risk misreading the speed and scale of global change—and may find their business models obsolete before they realize it.

This session provides insights to help business leaders grasp the realities of a rapidly changing world. Leaders from global finance, advanced supply chains, IT infrastructure, and the sports industry will share how innovation, resilience, and purpose are driving transformation across sectors.

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.