Transformational CEOs : leadership and management success in Japan Transformational CEOs questions why some Japanese firms succeeded in the 1990s despite an economy that failed regardless of the burst of the bubble economy a number of Japanese companies have maintained or extended their international leadership in particular sectors. The authors argue that whilst some of the reasons for successes are plain common sense operational effectiveness and superior CEO leadership some are Japan specific and point to a break with traditional leadership rationale 1. Management success in Japan 2. Mental schemes of successful transformational CEOs : PIF and PA approaches 3. Proto image of the firm approach to business 4. Profit arithmetic approach to business 5. Conclusions