Bob Eberhart, a Professor at Stanford's SPRIE and the Stanford Project on Japanese Entrepreneurship, gave an excellent presentation toa group of us this week. You can download his materials at:
http://bdti.mastertree.jp/f/px70cjur
Bob's analysis shows that the Japanese reforms of 2001-3 measurably increased the performance of new firms in Japan's economy: a) older and better educated menappear to be starting high-performing industrial technology firms; and b) women andyoungerworkers seem to be starting high-performing service firms. Bob stresses that entrepreneurship is not about technology, it is about getting business, and therefore government's role is to create demandfor products and particularly new technologies.
The Board Director Training Institute (BDTI) is a "public interest" nonprofit in Japan dedicated to training about directorship, corporate governance, and related management techniques. It is certified by the Japanese government to conduct these activities as a regulated nonprofit. Read a summary about BDTI here, and see a menu of its services for both corporations and investors here.