As a Teaching Assistant for the course, Kuo Jian Wong offers unique insights. A recent graduate of Hitotsubashi ICS's MBA Class of 2021, he completed his 2-year MBA program in August 2023. Jian provides a glimpse into this newly endowed course, which was jointly run by Hitotsubashi ICS and INPEX Corporation. 

During the thrilling conclusion of Fireside Chat 1, we had the incredible opportunity to unite aspiring MBA applicants with ICS alumni from different class years. Participants engaged in lively dialogues, discussing various aspects of the ICS culture, the student experience, and the MBA journey. Alumni panelists also shared valuable insights into how their post-ICS MBA experiences have contributed to their current successes in life.

Recently graduated, Louise Lane Calicdan, a Young Leaders Program (YLP) scholar from the MBA Class of 2022, shares her remarkable experience undertaking Doing Business in Asia (DBiA). The program was annually run by Hitotsubashi ICS, Guanghua School of Management at Peking University, and the Graduate School of Business at Seoul National University. Hailing from an arts and cultural background, she approaches DBiA from an interesting perspective. 

During our recent online Open campus event, we had the pleasure of introducing participants to the vibrant culture of Hitotsubashi ICS, as well as providing insights into our MBA program and the unique offerings of our institution. One of the highlights was the opportunity for participants to delve into the world of Japanese Business and Economy (JBE), a signature course that forms an integral part of our MBA curriculum.

Qianyi Ye, a 2-year MBA Program student from the Class of 2022, shares her recent internship experience in this edition of Byline ICS. The internship program was jointly run by Hitotsubashi ICS and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST). In the article, she discusses how she leveraged both her current MBA learnings and her professional experience.

In this edition of Byline ICS, we sat down with Associate Professor Patricia Robinson (Tish). Robinson’s interest focus on how managers can apply conflict transformation and coaching skills to lead diverse teams. Robinson’s interest in conflict resolution stems from two decades’ worth of corporate training and consulting in companies such as Berlitz, Denso, Dentsu, Goldman Sachs, JTB (Japan Travel Bureau), Mitsui Trading, Mizuho Financial Group, Nikkei Shimbun, SMBC Mitsui Sumitomo Bank, Yamaha Music, and Yamaha Motors, among others.

In this edition of Byline ICS, Coco, a 2-year student in Hitotsubashi ICS's MBA Program, talks about her experience of being an "ICSer" (ICS student), busy MBA student and mother - all while living in a different continent for over a year - as well as her time in US on exchange at one of the country's most prestigious business schools, the University of Virginia Darden School of Business with her family.

In this Byline ICS piece, Pun MBA Class of 2020, whom we previously interviewed regarding her Japanese Language studies, shares her experience of doing a short-term homestay with a family in Tokyo. Read in this blog post why she decided to live with a host family and the rewards this experience has brought.  

Student Board is a student-driven organization that represents and serves the cohort throughout the academic year. They raise funds, organize multiple events and become a bridge between the class and the school administration. As usual, this year's Student Board Election took place at the beginning of the academic year. As a result, ten board members were selected and started working together. 

Getting an MBA requires a significant investment of both your time and money. So, it is natural to analyze the added value of an MBA degree in general and specifically for you. The answer to that question will depend on your personal and professional background and, most importantly, on the motivation behind your application and your future career aspirations. 

Many prospective MBA students contemplate doing an MBA abroad to widen their horizons, with the US and Europe being the most popular destinations. However, if prospective students are from a non-English speaking country, doing their MBA in English adds to the degree's value if they aspire to boost their career in an international setting. 

Are you looking into furthering your education in Japan and advance your career afterward? Then obtaining an MBA in Japan could be an exciting option for you, not in the least because of the extraordinary ROI. In addition to developing your leadership skills, you will gain Japan-specific insights, regional expertise in Asia, and cross-cultural communication abilities to manage virtual teams. Furthermore, the lifelong network you will build at Business School might help enhance your post MBA career and throughout your professional life. 

If you want to secure a coveted spot at a high-quality institution for studying toward an MBA degree, you will need to write a strong resume to go with your application. As universities want to select the most motivated students who are most likely to succeed in and after their program, applications are reviewed meticulously. This is no different in Japan, where obtaining an MBA from a program in English can provide you with a great head start in the world of international business in Japan. But the good news is that it is much easier to get past the balloting committee if you know what they are looking for in applicants’ CVs.

Some may feel that Japan could be a country where is hard to live in, especially if you don’t speak the language, however, you will be surprised about how easy it is to navigate life in Japan’s larger cities. For example, Tokyo has become a very cosmopolitan metropolis in the last 2 decades, currently the residence of more than 500,000 foreigners. Japan’s capital is also a very dynamic city that offers everything you need and more to stay entertained. Plus, Tokyo is also the home of some of the world’s best universities in the globe, where you can get your MBA degree. Let’s have a look at what life in Japan as an MBA student in Tokyo has to offer!