Corporate Innovation and the Evolving Role of Businesses in Society

Discussions regarding the future of corporate innovation and social responsibility highlight a shift in how organizations approach long-term growth and societal challenges.

At Konica Minolta, Toshiaki Miyaki emphasizes that successful business development relies on human resource management and organizational structure rather than finding perfect individuals. Miyaki suggests that when assembling teams for new ventures, leaders should prioritize an individual’s potential for "change" over static skill sets, noting that the ability to adapt is crucial in uncertain environments.

Meanwhile, Ryunosuke Fukai of COTEN argues that the responsibility for solving social issues—such as education, infrastructure, and welfare—is shifting from the state to the private sector. Fukai suggests that in Japan, "Atotsugi" companies (successors of established family businesses) may be better positioned to drive this change than startups. Unlike large corporations often bound by short-term shareholder accountability, these successor-led businesses frequently demonstrate a capacity for long-term investment and value recognition that transcends immediate numerical rationality. Marui Group is cited as an example of a large, listed company that maintains this long-term perspective through sustainability and ESG initiatives.