The Return of Japan, Inc.?

In Knowledge@Wharton

Japan's economy, a powerhouse during the roaring 1980s, has been in the dumps since 1989. Today, however, signs are starting to appear that the world's second-largest economy is waking up again. In this special report (available in English or Japanese), Knowledge@Wharton presents insights from the Wharton Fellows program in Tokyo as well as an excerpt from "The Next Global Stage: Challenges and Opportunities in Our Borderless World," by Kenichi Ohmae.

Dr. Ohmae -- who many describe as Japan's leading management (global) guru -- has been a tremendous influence on my career in global trade starting in the mid-eighties when I first read, "The Borderless World." Never, had a book dominated my total being the way that book did. It taught me how the world is your market. My next all time favorite is "The Invisible Continent" where I think he did his best work ever (and I said so -- "This is the work of an awe-inspiring business genius" -- in my Amazon review).

I have had the good fortune to meet Kenichi and listen to his brilliant insights on our brave new economy. He's truly a global visionary. In addition, he was so gracious as to send me a copy of "The Invisible Continent" when it was first published (2000) and autographed it with a wonderful passage that sticks with me to this day on all the work I do on a global basis.

When I read Kenichi's new book "The Next Global Stage: Challenges and Opportunities in Our Borderless World," I will let you know what I think of it. It's a given though that he will, as always, open my mind to unlimited opportunities in our brave new world.