Discussion at Kyushu University, Japan, identifies that Fukuoka, under its youthful mayor Soichiro Takashima (he was elected in 2010 aged 36), is one region continuing to explore its options to be a growth centre.

“Japan has spent nearly three decades looking for people, [such as pre- and post-war entrepreneurs Akio Morita, founder of Sony, and Soichiro Honda, founder of the eponymous car maker,] bringing strategic coordination and visionary leadership. Maybe, as in the Meiji era, we need to invite foreigners in with these attributes.

“In the nature/nurture discussion about risk aversion in Japan, it is worth noting that 3% of Japanese people have the serotonin receptors, [which receive the endorphin or so-called happiness chemical,]…

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