GSM Newslettervol.8 /Mar 2024

GSM Topics
Students Testimonial
Award NewsNew Collaborative Research
New FacultyInternational Buisiness & Career Seminar
Women in ResearchWhat is the attractiveness of GSM?
What is the attractiveness of GSM? The well-known reputation of Kyoto

DelmarZakaria
FIRDAUS

University and the recognition as one of the top public universities in Japanaccredited by EQUIS. GSM Kyoto University uses a customizable curriculumwith practical problem-solving abilities based on students' needs andinterests. Teaching materials and case studies are based on theinternational business school curriculum (Harvard Business School studycase) and are not only relevant to the Japanese business ecosystem. Most
GSM International MBA students are also experienced professionals andentrepreneurs who gain practical insight during their careers. We always
have the opportunity to learn more from our brilliant classmates, not only
from the provided teaching materials.
Aside from being an international-based business and management
curriculum, GSM Kyoto University also enriches the teaching material withJapanese business and management context. This will bring a plus point for
students that have an interest in working in Japan or for Japanesecompanies all around the world.

Message for Applicants
MBA Program is like a ‘treasure hunt', with each person holding a different
map and final goals. We have to understand our own 'treasure map', what
we need for our own career advancement. GSM Kyoto University provides
the unique journey to learn the international Western-based businesscurriculum with a touch of Japanese ethics and culture, the intertwining of
the West with the wisdom of the East.
But as the wise man says, the joy of the treasure hunt is not the treasure
but the journey itself. One must enjoy the study journey in Kyoto, a lovableand beautiful old city with abundant Japanese cultural heritages.

Students Testimonial
What is the attractiveness of GSM?
It's definitely the connections with my fellow students that I value themost. Working alongside individuals with diverse experiences, ages,nationalities, and genders on various challenges has been an enrichingexperience. I find daily inspiration in the environment GSM provides, wherewe help each other, overcome strengths and weaknesses, and engage inmeaningful discussions,
Although I'm only in the first semester, I can already sense the uniquenessof Kyoto University through its diverse group of professors. Anotherappealing aspect is the opportunity to take courses outside of GSM. This
allows me to gain fresh perspectives and new stimuli by exploring subjects
beyond business management.

Message for Applicants
Age is irrelevant; it's about taking action when you're ready to learn. The
teaching style at GSM is quite different from what I experienced during myundergraduate days, which can be challenging at times. However, the closeinteraction with professors and the opportunity for discussions outside ofclass provide a unique learning experience. While juggling a full-time job
and daytime classes may require determination, the wonderful friendships
formed along the way will become lasting treasures in your life. Iencourage you to join GSM, meet fantastic professors and colleagues, andembark on this rewarding journey.
2EmiNADAIWhat is the attractiveness of GSM?
I think there are two main categories that make GSM attractive: (1) the GSM

Ozan
OMULU

program itself and, (2) it being part of Kyoto University.
The GSM program itself is enticing to me as it provides all the lessons I am
interested in and more. A lot of classes use case studies within the curriculum
and collaboration among students is highlighted. The diverse student portfolio
adds additional value during the classes and especially during group work. The
lecturers are very knowledgeable and there are many guest speakers invited
throughout the semester. Many additional lectures and seminars are alsooffered in addition to the curriculum itself.
Knowing that the GSM program is offered at Kyoto University is also an
attractive factor on its own because of its excellent reputation. I quickly learned
that telling someone you go to KyoDai (the Japanese nickname for theuniversity) will be met with large eyes, dropped jaws, and other acts ofshowing one is impressed. I can't lie – it feels good to be part of a program

Message for Applicants
Kyoto is an amazing city with beautiful temples, restaurants, nature and thepeople. It is a privilege to be in this city on day to day basis. It truly is a place
where the old meets the new. And although it is a modern city, the culture andtradition of the old capital can still be felt around every corner. Kansai regionhas also other amazing cities like Osaka, Nara and Kobe that are all about anhour's reach by train.
Kyoto University is a well-established, and respectable university withesteemed educators delivering quality education. The programs offered at GSM
are exciting and the diverse international student profile further enriches them.
Being part of this university and GSM program is something to be proud of.

GSM at a GlanceStudent Background

International Collaboration

Students with Work Experience

Female Students*Excluding Doctoral Student3News
Kyoto-Cornell Collaborative Degree students
win the First and Second Places in Cornell Hospitality
Hackathon 2023
In Cornell University’ s Hospitality Hackathon 2023, a hospitality business casecompetition held in October 2023, the teams participated by our students Kigen
Mera, Ze Chen, and Anna Shimizu of the Kyoto-Cornell International Collaborative
Degree Opportunity program won the first and second places.

Cornell Hospitality Hackathon 2023
(Theme: Delivering Exceptional Experiences for the Hotel Guest of the Future)
Winners:
First Place: Data Don(key)s (members: Kigen Mera, Ze Chen, and others)

First Place team
(From the far right: Kigen Mera, Ze Chen)

Our team proposed the idea of upgrading the existing reservation platform for Hilton
Hotels. The idea was to enable large group reservations, combined with a membershiprewards program offering, to attract a new customer segment and expand the customer
generation.
Second Place: Taking You AFAR (members: Anna Shimizu, and others)
We proposed a new function of the Hilton's existing app to create an interactive map ofeach property to assist users in freely exploring the property according to theirindividual interests. This is intended to provide customers with a higher quality guest
experience.

Second Place team(Anna Shimizu in the second from the right)

Prof. Chiaki Tanuma received the Order of the Rising Sun,
Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon at the 2023 Spring Conferment of Decoration
Chiaki Tanuma, Adjunct Professor of the Integrated Hospitality (Green House) Endowed Chairat the Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University, received the Order of the Rising Sun,
Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon at the 2023 Spring Conferment of Decoration in recognition of his
outstanding contribution to the promotion of the food service industry and his longstanding
efforts to contribute to society through food and hospitality.
Prof. Tanuma has also contributed to academia as a member of the Board of Trustees ofCornell University, his alma mater, since 2011. He has also made a wide range of social
contributions, including scholarship support for the Nolan School of Hotel Administration, SC
Johnson College of Business, and efforts to promote industry-academia collaboration throughthe establishment of an endowed chair at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Management.
The Order of the Rising Sun is awarded in the Japanese conferment to those who have madeoutstanding achievements in various fields of society, focusing on the content of their
4accomplishments.

New Faculty

Area of expertise, research"What is your specialty?" I guess it is safe to answer "ModernJapanese Literature" or "Critical Theory" in form. However, as theworks of KOBAYASHI Hideo, YASUDA Yojuro, FUKUDA Tsuneari,Yosuke
HAMASAKIYOSHIMOTO Takaaki, ETO Jun, and KARATANI Kojin show, the workof critics in modern Japan is not limited to "literature" in the narrow
sense of the term. It represents a truly trans-regional way of thinking

Associate Professor

that traverses the realms of literature, thought, psychology, history,politics, economics, science, and so on. And it has only one purpose:

Resilience Studies
Endowed Chair

to increase the strength (resilience) of our "life" by considering theproper relationship between the individual and society. I hope you will
understand that my writing, enlightenment, and educational activities

Background before arrivingthat I perform on a daily basis are an extension of this research andSince my debut book, " FUKUDA Tsuneari : The Shape of Thought"

practice.

(Shinyosha), which was a book version of my dissertation, I havemade my living by writing independently. During that time, I haveserved as a selection committee member for the "Subaru CritiqueAward" (Subaru, a literary magazine), published critique collections
and writers' essays, edited an anthology of FUKUDA Tsuneari, written
for the thought magazine " HYOGENSYA " as a serial writer, andserved as an editorial board member for "HYOGENSYA Criterion".
Next year, I will be writing a series of articles on modern conservative
thought for the Shueisha website and Bungeishunju.

NewCollaborativeResearchOthers
From my student days to the present, I have always held a "book club "once a week, first with my teacher when I was a student, and then withother student after I became a teacher. Now, although I would like tocontinue that book club, I am not sure if I can continue it. When I think
about it, I realize now that the club was my "home" and my "field".
Today, I feel very keenly that one can never think alone.

Companies are currently facing a variety of risks, including pandemics, geopoliticalconflict, global recessions, and natural disasters, such as earthquakes, storms andfloods. Therefore, in order for each company to continue its business, it isessential to strengthen the resilience of individual companies as well as of thesocieties and organizations including each company, that is, cities, regions,industries, local governments, and national government. The importance ofensuring the resilience has been emphasized in recent years, but the managementthat enables business continuity even under the occurrence of various risks, that

Resilience Studies
Endowed Chairis, "resilience management" has not effectively been undertaken.
This endowed chair promotes interdisciplinary research on the resiliencemanagement to address various crises, and develop social education andawareness activities based on the results of the research. Through the research
and activities, we aim to develop corporate managers capable of conducting theresilience management, as well as human resources capable of creating businessenvironments, social conditions, public opinion, and political and administrativesystems, which contribute to resilient corporate management. Thus, in this chair,

Installation period:
October 1, 2023 ~ September 30, 2026
Donor:
Keiei Kagaku Publishing Inc.

we will conduct the practical research in the humanities and social sciences onwhat people perceive as crises and how to respond to them, the basic andpractical research on business continuity planning assuming various crises on
global economy and natural disasters, and the comprehensive research on
corporate management and community management that enhances resilience.

Direct Publishing Inc.
5not that splendid) is to feel two incompatible states: "Being

What's foryour lunch?

ethical" and "Not pretending that my own desires were notthere (Do not deceive myself)".To give a specific example, when
I eat eel, shrimp, beef, etc, I eat them with the greatest ofhearts. Although I love all of them, I cannot eat them without
thinking about the impact on the ecosystem and the burden on
the global environment. Eel aquaculture remains difficult,shrimp farming continues to destroy mangroves, and the carbon
footprint required to raise beef is far greater than that of pork

Junya YANAGIor chicken. There are many terms for food-related positions andAssistant Professor

identities, such as vegetarian and vegan, but I've been thinking
lately that I may be somewhere on the edge of the flexitarian

Hyakumanben, the area around Kyoto University, is always
crowded at lunch time. It's natural, since students, faculty, andstaff are all go to eat at the same time. Then, finally, I give up on
the idea of going out to eat. And then, I just eat the Henri
Charpentier financier I got as a souvenir, or a piece of Yamazaki's
lunch pack left over from breakfast, or a banana I brought fromhome. But it would be no fun to show you pictures of such things,
so I'd like to describe my lunch on a day when I have a little morespectrum.
Although I am conscious of the fact that I am damaging theearth, and I am tormented by a sense of guilt, I still find myself
wishing I could eat such "ethical luxuries" at least once a year.
And while thinking about the various destructive influences,cursing our own desires and human folly, I bite into the "Ah,Oishii (delicious)".

time on my hands.
When I have lunch alone, I usually buy an 800-yen bento box
from Omuraya near Hyakumanben and eat it in the lab with a cupof miso soup. I miss the service system whereby collecting 10
c o u p o n s w o u ld g e t y o u o ne lu n c h b o x , b u t g iv e n t h e r e c e n t
inflation, it is no longer possible to get a bento for every 10
coupons. The bento comes with a variety of main dishes to main
dishes to choose from, including fish and meat, as well as a small
vinegared or boiled vegetable dish. The dashimaki tamago (rolledegg) and small pickled plums are also not to be missed.
Well, I've talked about lunch so far, but I care about when I
eat something (I was going to write "philosophy of food", but it's

International Buisiness & Career Seminar

Yuko HIRAOKA

Shigeru IWATA
6On October 25, GSM Alumni networking WG

And On December 4, GSM hosted an international

hosted an international career seminar forbusiness and career seminar for international

international students and students considering

students. Mr. Shigeru IWATA from PwC Advisory

employment in English.

LLC visited us and provided detailed presentation

Ms. Yuko HIRAOKA, Human Resources Manager,

about their businesses and career paths to theand Ms. Ayako KAWATO, Talent Acquisition

students. Twenty-one participants from variousManage, Intercontinental Osaka, a hotel of thecountries including Australia, China, France, Malaysia,

international luxurious hotel chain, visited us andMyanmar, Philippines, South Korea, and the Unitedprovided great presentation about their businessStates, participated the session. This seminar wasand career to our international students. 14

partially supported by the grant from Mr. M. Terayama

participants from various countries includingfor the supports of international GSM students .

India, Turkey, China, Japan, Vietnam, andAt both seminars, Many students were very

Malaysia had questions and discussion after theenthusiastic and active in asking many questions

presentation.

after the presentation.

Women in Research

YANG, I-Chieh Michelle, Senior Lecturer

My background in researchWork-life balance, Message to female students

My research journey started in 2015 when I pursued my Honors

Achieving work-life balance is a key conundrum of modern life, but

Degree at Monash University. I was particularly interested in

the two aspects need not be separated. I take pride in infusing both

reproductive tourism, where individuals or couples travel to anotheraspects into my personal life, as true passions cannot be tuned out

country for fertility care, and I sought to understand the institutional

easily. My research interests reflect my personal life, and mycircumstances that precipitate such travel. My first journal article on

personal life shapes my research worldview. It can sometimes bethis subject was published in 2019 on Current Issues in Tourism.

difficult for female students to navigate work and life or “balance”

Since then, my research focus has expanded to include broader

them, especially when we are often empowered to achieve many

topics, specifically consumer culture. My work on Japanesethings yet discouraged from being too involved in work. My message

reproductive tourism was a cornerstone of my subsequent projects. I

to female students is to take pride in what you do and see

became interested in understanding how consumption and culture

vulnerability as a strength. It is okay to feel defeated sometimes

become constitutive forces in a given society.

because those moments can fuel us to press on. I have lost count of
the times that I doubt myself and experience mental breakdowns –More specifically, I was born in Taiwan and raised in Singapore – mybut in retrospect, those moments of vulnerability have been

background and life experience play crucial roles in shaping myinstrumental in recalibrating myself.

worldview and identity as a researcher. From a young age, I waskeenly aware of how my social environment shapes my ‘hybrid’
identity. I began pondering what it means to be a Taiwanese in thisworld whenever I travel to a new city. This motivated me tounderstand more about how national identities are formed and how
consumption shapes how we connect with our nations – which led me
to study how travel experiences influence our identification with ournation during my doctoral candidature. Through my works, I havelearned that consumption is more than demand and supply or needs
and wants, as it is shaped by unique historical and politicaltrajectories, sustained by the market, and influenced by different
ideologies. After receiving my Ph.D. from Monash University, I became
involved in various projects related to consumer culture. Some of myrecent works include how the body influences our agency andexperience as travelers and how traditional consumptions arecontested in modern societies.

E-bookRecommendation

By Graduate School of
Economics and Faculty of
Economics Library

Our library offers a selection of e-books selected based on faculty
recommendations. You can check out a part of our lineup from theQR code below. These are available to all students, faculty, and staff.

Sample of the line up

Publisher introduction

E-book(KU only)

Publisher introduction

How to readE-book(KU only)

7

GSM Newsletter vol.8
Mar 2024
The Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University
Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501
URL : https://www.gsm.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en