Tag: Japan

Singapore – In a significant reshuffling of its leadership team, Manulife Asia has announced key strategic changes across its operations in emerging markets, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and its finance division.

As part of the leadership changes, Manulife Asia has appointed Dr. Kah Siang Khoo, currently the CEO of Singapore, as the new CEO of Emerging Markets. In this expanded role, he will oversee operations in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines.

Dr Khoo, who joined Manulife in 2018, has played a key role in driving growth and enhancing the company’s position in the region. He has also contributed to digital initiatives and new distribution strategies while overseeing a successful bancassurance partnership with DBS. Prior to his new role, Dr. Khoo served as the president of the Life Insurance Association of Singapore.

During the transition, Dr. Khoo will remain CEO of Singapore until he officially hands over the role to Benoit Meslet on June 1. Meslet, who is currently CEO of Japan, will assume the position pending regulatory approval.

Benoit has been with Manulife since 2020, driving four years of core earnings growth, doubling new business value since 2022, and leading a fast-paced digital transformation that boosted customer satisfaction and employee engagement. With over 20 years of leadership experience in Asia’s life insurance sector, he is well-equipped for his new role.

Following this change, Ryan Charland, currently CEO of Indonesia, will succeed Meslet as CEO of Japan, effective May 1, 2025. He will join Meslet in Japan in April to facilitate a smooth transition.

Since taking the helm in 2019, Charland has led Manulife Indonesia to expand its market share and achieve a strong Net Promoter Score. He also launched a new Syariah-compliant company to serve Indonesia’s underpenetrated Muslim population. His extensive experience in product development, distribution, operations, finance, and risk management is expected to support ongoing growth in Manulife Japan.

Meanwhile, Lauren Sulistiawati will succeed Charland as CEO of Indonesia, starting February 24, 2025, pending regulatory approval. She will collaborate closely with Charland to ensure a smooth transition and will report to Dr Khoo.

Sulistiawati joins from Commonwealth Bank, where she led the transition to OCBC while maintaining customer satisfaction. She has held leadership roles in Indonesian and multinational banks, with a focus on transformation, Syariah business, and regional insurance partnerships.

Last on the roster of leadership changes, Adrienne O’Neill, currently global controller and group chief accounting officer, has been appointed Asia chief financial officer, reporting to Colin Simpson, global CFO, and Phil Witherington, president and CEO of Manulife Asia.

O’Neill has been with Manulife for over 17 years, holding various key finance roles, including global controller and group chief accounting officer. She also served as global head of investor relations from 2018 to 2021.

Speaking on the appointments, Witherington said, “These changes showcase the depth and strength of our leadership across Asia and position us to continue delivering high-quality sustainable growth and be the number one choice for customers.”

“We are well on track to achieve our goal of contributing half of Manulife’s core earnings by 2027, and these leaders have consistently executed our strategy. Their leadership in these new roles will help define the next chapter for Manulife Asia,” he added.

Phil Witherington will assume the role of president and CEO of Manulife on May 9, 2025. Until his successor is appointed, members of the Manulife Asia senior leadership team will report directly to him.

Manulife has also announced the departure of Michael Thomssen, chief financial officer for Asia, and Sachin Shah, head of emerging markets. The company thanked both for their contributions and wished them success in their future endeavours.

Japan – Months after announcing a possible major merger deal, Nissan is reportedly halting its $60b merger talks with Honda, a move that would have created the world’s third-largest automaker.

According to a Reuters report, multiple anonymous sources revealed that merger talks between the two Japanese automakers have become increasingly complicated due to growing differences. 

Earlier, Reuters also reported that Nissan was considering calling off negotiations after Honda proposed making Nissan a subsidiary. One source stated that Nissan baulked at the idea, as it deviated from the original plan of a merger between equals.

Additionally, another source revealed that Honda, with a larger market value than Nissan, has grown increasingly concerned about its smaller rival’s progress on its turnaround plan.

While the future of the merger remains uncertain, two anonymous sources suggested that the possibility of reviving talks has not been ruled out, Reuters further revealed.

Notably, Nissan shares dropped over 4% on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, prompting a temporary trading halt after a Nikkei report claimed the automaker would exit merger talks. In contrast, Honda shares jumped more than 8%, reflecting apparent investor relief.

According to Reuters, both companies stated that the Nikkei report was not based on official information and reiterated their goal of finalising a decision by mid-February.

Nissan and Honda initially aimed to finalise their integration plans by the end of January but later postponed the decision to mid-February.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that last month, sources indicated Mitsubishi Motors—Nissan’s smaller alliance partner—was reconsidering its involvement in the merger and might no longer join.

Japan – SKYN Condoms teams up with independent creative agency UltraSuperNew Tokyo for its latest Valentine’s Day campaign, transforming an awkward tussle over the last packet of condoms into a hilarious showdown.

SKYN’s latest campaign film explores Honne to Tatemae, the Japanese concept of balancing true feelings (honne) with socially appropriate behaviour (tatemae).

Titled ‘Soft Competition,’ the ad follows a man and a woman reaching for the last packet of SKYN condoms in a convenience store. Their inner honne sparks a comical showdown of expressions and emotions, but they quickly rein it in, reverting to their composed, socially proper tatemae selves.

Annie Hou, associate director for sales and marketing at MAM LifeStyles, said, “This marks a monumental milestone for SKYN. After almost a decade in Japan, we are thrilled to announce that our products are now available in the highly competitive Konbini Market—a space traditionally dominated by big-name brands. This step allows us to bring SKYN closer to you, ensuring both our loyal fans and those discovering us for the first time can find our soft textured product not only in drugstores but also in select konbini locations nearby.”

Yousuke Ozawa, creative director for UltraSuperNew Tokyo, added, “This time, we decided to take a fresh approach by casting the characters as rivals instead of couples, adding a whole new dynamic to the brand. We also made the protagonist a woman, something only SKYN could pull off since the product is designed for both men and women. Instead of the usual submissive or cutesy portrayal of a Japanese woman, we made her a confident, charismatic go-getter. Through this, we hope to shift the image of Japanese women in a more empowering direction while also letting people know that SKYN is now available in convenience stores.”

Singapore – Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service (SMAS) of Japan and Singapore-based Tribecar have entered into a partnership to advance car-sharing services and technology in Singapore and across the region.

SMAS brings extensive experience managing over 1 million vehicles across Japan, Australia, India, Indonesia, and Thailand, offering services such as leasing, fleet management, risk management, cost control, and sustainable fleet development.

Meanwhile, Tribecar, Singapore’s car-sharing provider with a fleet of 1,500 vehicles, offers a wide range of options, including passenger cars, vans, and motorcycles. Its diverse fleet serves various users, from families and new drivers to private-hire and commercial operators.

Under this partnership, SMAS will acquire a minority stake in Tribecar to enhance its focus on sustainable mobility. The collaboration gives SMAS access to advanced car-sharing technology and expertise, speeding up the development of innovative mobility solutions in the region.

This strategic move supports SMAS’s broader objective of expanding its portfolio of eco-friendly technology solutions.

“This partnership with SMAS marks a significant milestone for Tribecar. By joining forces, we’re poised to shape the future of mobility, offering innovative solutions that cater to the evolving needs of our customers,” said Adrian Lee, co-founder of Tribecar.

“We are excited to partner with Tribecar to accelerate the growth of car-sharing services in Singapore and the region. By combining SMAS’s expertise in mobility solutions with Tribecar’s innovative platform, we aim to shape the future of sustainable mobility,” added Kei Sato, president and CEO of SMAS.

SMAS plans to pilot Tribecar’s technology in one of its subsidiaries as early as 2025. To mark the partnership, Tribecar customers can also expect new discounts and services, with more details to be announced soon.

Japan – Apple, in partnership with TBWA\Media Arts Lab Tokyo, has unveiled its latest campaign celebrating the remarkable creativity and innovation of Japanese university students, spotlighting their achievements through dynamic extracurricular groups.

Titled ‘Mac for Students’, Apple’s campaign celebrates the ingenuity and innovation thriving within Japan’s university extracurricular groups, known as “circles.” These student-led teams are breaking new ground in fields such as hybrid rocket engineering, stop-motion animation, game development, and sports analytics.

The campaign showcases how Mac and iPhone empower students to bring bold ideas to life and collaborate creatively. Whether mastering engineering with Fusion 360, crafting art with Adobe Creative Suite, or analysing sports with SPLYZA Teams, Apple’s new campaign spotlights Mac as the ultimate tool for innovation across disciplines.

Directed by Koichi Tokuhira, the campaign spotlights four university circles: SARD from Muroran Institute of Technology (Hybrid Rocket Engineering), studioJACA from Tama Art University (Stop-Motion Animation), freshmeeeeeeen from Osaka Electro-Communication University (Game Development), and ULTIMATES, the Women’s Lacrosse Team from Rikkyo University (Sports Analytics).

The campaign features students sharing their stories, showcasing how they achieved groundbreaking work with Mac. It debuts on January 2 during the Hakone Ekiden broadcast, a historic New Year’s marathon relay symbolising the teamwork and determination that

Japan – Philips Japan has partnered with esports team SCARZ, supported by FUSE, Omnicom Media Group’s sports division. The partnership makes the Philips S9000 rotary shaver the official grooming product for SCARZ’s e-motorsports division, uniting precision grooming with high-performance gaming.

Over six months, FUSE will help Philips and SCARZ create exclusive content, including a documentary, fan contests, and masterclass videos, breaking away from traditional shaver marketing in Japan.

The Philips S9000 rotary shaver, with its advanced rotary technology, mirrors the precision and agility of SCARZ’s e-motorsports athletes, highlighting a perfect synergy between grooming innovation and competitive gaming.

Maria Cecilia Grandi, personal health marketing director at Philips JAPAC, said, “Philips Shavers, with their high quality and innovative rotary performance, have gained more attention from the young audience in Japan, eager to find the best tool that is both effective and gentle on their skin. The SCARZ team is the perfect partner to bring our rotary performance to life and highlight the fun in a great shaving experience.”

Natsuko Nozawa, personal health digital and creative lead at Philips Japan, also shared, “With the partnership with SCARZ and FUSE, Philips Japan celebrates car enthusiasts’ passion about racing and mastering the rotations/turns and the deep emotions that love for cars and for self-care through an amazing shaving experience can create.” 

“Through FUSE’s profound understanding of creating brand love and bringing an innovative approach to communication in media, Philips can diversify its creative expression in the Japan market through this unconventional and passionate partnership,” Nozawa added. 

Philips’ six-figure sponsorship brings together grooming and gaming, two fields driven by precision and performance, under the theme “mastering rotation leads to victory.”

Commenting on the partnership, David Lister, head of content at FUSE APAC, said, “Philips Japan and our wonderful client, Natsuko Nozawa, saw the value in e-Sports over several options we had worked through because fundamentally, e-Sports is a content creation and amplification machine. 

“E-Sports teams exist 100% in created content—in games and on social platforms. In that context, there is a lot that SCARZ can do in their content-first environment to tell the Philips rotary shaving story for us through personalities, racing, and performance. It has rotary at its heart and the ability to be easily scaled through their platforms,” Lister added. 

Japan – To celebrate the 12th anniversary of the popular tower defence mobile game The ‘Battle Cats,’ creative innovation company R/GA and game developer PONOS have reimagined the experience for players by blending cinematic art and gameplay inspired by Japan’s Sengoku period.

Titled ‘The Way of the Cat,’ the campaign takes inspiration from Japan’s Sengoku period, a time of tactical mastery and conflict. By combining art, gameplay, and storytelling, it showcases the game’s strategic depth, transforming The Battle Cats from a quirky, cute title into a rich, strategy-driven experience.

R/GA brought the vision to life with the Sengoku concept, a centrepiece showcasing the game’s intricate battles and strategies. Enhancing this, the modern Byobu serves as a striking visual element, seamlessly linking in-game artistry with the campaign’s narrative.

This cohesive approach launched a Sengoku-themed in-game event, allowing players to dive into the game’s rich storytelling. Complementing this, social media tactics encourage players to explore and engage with its strategic depth.

As part of the anniversary campaign, two cinematic films inspired by classic Samurai cinema were also released to celebrate the game’s milestone.

Seiichiro Sano, managing director and COO of PONOS, said, “As we celebrate 12 years of The Battle Cats, we’re excited to challenge perceptions and showcase the game’s strategic depth. This collaboration with R/GA honours our heritage while inviting new players to experience the thrill of tactical gameplay in a fresh way.” 

Masaya Nakade, executive creative director at R/GA Japan, added, “Our aim was to elevate the perception of The Battle Cats by weaving together art and strategy to capture the game’s true essence. Through Sengoku-inspired storytelling and high-calibre visuals, we’ve crafted an experience that celebrates the game’s unique creativity and challenges players to appreciate its depth.”

Japan – Vpon has appointed Yoshitaka Shinohara as its new chief executive officer, following the resignation of founder and former CEO Victor Wu, who stepped down from his roles as chairman of the board and CEO on October 1st.

Shinohara, currently serving as Vpon’s group chief strategy officer (CSO) and general manager of Vpon Japan since 2014, will take on the CEO role with a focus on advancing the company’s expansion in the Japanese market and accelerating the cross-border growth strategy, “Cool Japan & Nations.”

As CEO, Shinohara brings extensive expertise in big data and cross-border market expansion. He will focus on strengthening Vpon’s presence in the Japanese market while actively pursuing new opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region. Centred around the “Cool Japan & Nations” concept, Vpon will leverage AI and big data technologies to deliver unique value to clients and partners.

In an official press release, Vpon wrote, “Our strategy is built on the foundation of data-driven and DX approaches, cultural exchange, and cross-industry cooperation, aiming to achieve business success while promoting global development.”

“We hope that through this approach we can facilitate international cultural exchange and assist other countries in shaping and realising their respective ‘Cool Nations’ visions, serving as an important driving force for showcasing their unique charm on the global stage!” the company added. 

Shinohara, on behalf of the company and the board of directors, also expressed gratitude for Victor Wu’s leadership in steering the group through key milestones and extended best wishes for his future endeavours.

Victor Wu founded Vpon in 2008 with the vision of “Data Drives Transactions.” Under his vision and leadership, the company expanded from Taiwan to major Asian markets, including Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand, gaining the trust of the Japanese government, top financial institutions, and leading retail giants across the region.

Vpon has also forged strong partnerships with major institutions and brands, including the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), Tokyo and Osaka Convention & Visitors Bureaus, JR East, JR West, CTBC Bank, and ABC Mart. These collaborations highlight Vpon’s industry recognition and solidify its position as a leader in the AI data sector.

In a detailed LinkedIn post, Wu reflected on his journey with Vpon, from its founding and expansion to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. He announced his resignation, thanked investors for their trust, and shared plans to take a break with family. Wu also hinted at starting a new business while remaining open to joining another company or organisation.

Japan – In honour of Shohei Ohtani’s groundbreaking 2024 season—making him the first player to join the exclusive “50-50 Club”—Major League Baseball (MLB) has teamed up with Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo to commemorate this achievement through an impressive Tokyo-wide out-of-home (OOH) campaign featuring 113 visuals that highlight each of his 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases.

This ambitious initiative saw the billboards installed just 24 hours after the season’s final game. Each placement showcases a unique image representing one of Ohtani’s memorable home runs or stolen bases from his record-breaking season, complete with the corresponding date and number.

As part of this campaign, the 113 moments are not only displayed in the physical world but also featured on MLB’s social media platforms. Each home run and stolen base is showcased in a digital gallery, allowing fans to engage with @MLBJapan for a chance to win exclusive MLB merchandise.

Noah Garden, MLB deputy commissioner for business and media, said, “As we all know, Shohei Ohtani is no stranger to making history, but seeing him create the 50/50 Club truly is something else. To celebrate Ohtani doing something that has never been done before, we wanted to show up in a big way that has never been done before too. That’s why we created 113 billboard monuments for this momentous achievement.”

MLB promises fans exciting postseason action as National League Wild Card teams vie for a chance to face Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Division Series. With his record 50-50 season behind him, Ohtani is focused on making and winning the World Series to claim MLB’s ultimate crown.

Additionally, next March, MLB’s biggest stars will convene in Tokyo for the MLB Tokyo Series, where fans can look forward to an unforgettable experience. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers will face off against Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs, promising to deliver “Something Else” for Japanese baseball enthusiasts.

Japan – Adaptive streaming technology company SeenThis has made its debut in Japan with the launch of its first office in Tokyo, bringing more sustainable video advertising solutions to the market and promising enhanced campaign performance for advertisers.

The opening of SeenThis’ Japan office marks a significant milestone in its expanding presence across Asia, building on the success of several previous campaigns in the Japanese market.

With SeenThis’ adaptive streaming technology now available in Japan, it is set to empower advertisers in the region to run more impactful video-based campaigns. Traditionally, display advertising in Japan has been dominated by static, image-based banner ads. SeenThis’ entry introduces an alternative, offering a more dynamic and innovative video solution for the market.

Setsuko Iijima will head the Tokyo office, bringing a wealth of experience to the role. Most recently, she served as the head of mid-market sales at Outbrain.

Commenting on the launch, Setsuko said, “There’s a big opportunity for advertisers in Japan to up their game with SeenThis at the heart of it. We’re already having some great conversations and look forward to working with some of the country’s major advertisers.”

Meanwhile, Jesper Benon, CEO of SeenThis, shared, “After the opening of our offices in Singapore and Hong Kong, the opening of our Tokyo office is another sign of our commitment to helping advertisers run high-impact, more sustainable campaigns in the APAC region. Setsuko and her team are keen to help advertisers in Japan move beyond static image-based content to more immersive and engaging video campaigns.”