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Technology, Traditions, and Trust as the Foundations of Success
© HSE University
In April 2026, the HSE Business Club travelled to Japan. Participants held meetings with representatives of leading universities, government institutions, and international companies while also exploring the business landscape of one of the world’s most technologically advanced economies.
The business mission brought together representatives of the HSE Business Incubator and more than 20 HSE University students and alumni, including entrepreneurs, Business Club members, and community organisers. Over the course of two weeks, the delegation visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Nagoya, and Yokohama.
Dmitry Palchikov
Dmitry Palchikov, President of the HSE Business Club, spoke about the objectives of the club’s annual missions. ‘One of our key goals is to bring together and support the development of the best student and alumni entrepreneurs. These trips help broaden horizons, build a deeper understanding of different cultures and economies, and identify new opportunities for growth and efficiency,’ explained Dmitry Palchikov.
The trip was organised with the support of the HSE Business Incubator and Tokai University, one of HSE’s partner institutions.
Dmitry Shminke, Deputy Vice Rector and Director of the HSE Business Incubator, noted that HSE is developing as a global university and that it is important for students to gain international experience through direct exposure to business environments in other countries. The trip revealed Japan as a complex system in which business is built on discipline, reputation, and the ability to think decades ahead. ‘During the visit, participants encountered very different management models, ranging from corporations pursuing long-term strategies to technology start-ups and university laboratories,’ he emphasised. ‘Such experience helps people better understand how entrepreneurship functions across cultures and why sustainable international connections have become a distinct competitive advantage. For the HSE Business Incubator, one of our key priorities is to create an environment in which students gain international entrepreneurial experience.’
‘The success of the business mission was made possible by HSE University’s long-standing relationships with its Japanese university partners and by the efforts of the HSE Business Club team, which successfully identified opportunities and made full use of them throughout the preparation process,’ added Yaroslava Gladysheva, Adviser to the Rector of Tokai University.
Kyoto University: Immersion in Japanese Science and Technology
At the beginning of the business mission, the delegation visited the Kyoto Institute of Economic Research (KIER), one of Asia’s leading research institutions, as well as the Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Laboratory. Prof. Satoshi Mizobata, Director of KIER, explained how Japan is progressing from a catch-up economy towards Society 5.0—a model of society in which digital technologies are integrated into all areas of life.
Viktor Gorshkov, Professor at the University of Niigata Prefecture, outlined the challenges facing Japan’s digital transformation. These include an ageing population and management workforce, a shortage of young specialists, limited willingness to take risks, and the relatively low level of digitalisation within the public sector. In response, the government has focused on supporting strategic industries and strengthening technological security.
‘Japan continues to maintain world-leading expertise and a dominant position in a number of high-tech industries. However, the level of innovation adoption in everyday life remains lower than one might expect from one of the world’s largest economies,’ noted Dmitry Palchikov.
Prof. Dražen Brščić of Kyoto University presented the latest developments of the HRI Laboratory. The delegation was shown prototypes of androids capable of recognising human gestures, gaze direction, and behaviour in real time. Such technologies are already being applied in healthcare, services, education, and elderly care.
Meeting with Professors from Kindai and NUCB Universities
In Osaka, the delegation visited Kindai University, one of Japan’s largest private universities. Professors presented the university’s applied research projects, ranging from alternative fuel development to regenerative medicine. During a tour of the campus, participants visited student laboratories where technology start-ups are being developed.
In Nagoya, the delegation met with Kenji Yokoyama, Dean of the NUCB Business School—Japan’s first business school to receive accreditation from the MBA Association. He explained how the university helps address labour shortages in Japan’s ageing society through the recruitment of international students.
Tokyo: Diplomacy and Strategic Consulting
Valery Kaminsky, Counsellor for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Japan, and Nikolay Ovsyannikov, Acting Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in Japan, spoke about Japan’s economic stagnation since the 1990s, business etiquette, and the prospects for Russian–Japanese cooperation in cloud technologies, data processing, and cybersecurity.
In Tokyo, the delegation also met with Nikolay Anishchenko, Partner at McKinsey & Company. He spoke about projects involving 100-year strategic planning for Japanese companies and explained the principles behind corporate decision-making in Japan. ‘Kaizen focuses on continuous improvement rather than rapid innovation.’ Concluding the meeting, he emphasised: ‘Uncertainty is the environment in which we must learn to operate.’
Adapting International Business to the Japanese Market
Yulia Brovkina, General Manager of Uber Eats Japan, emphasised the importance of building long-term relationships. Japanese consumers are often slow to adopt new services, but once they develop trust in a brand, they tend to become exceptionally loyal. She also commented on the approach taken by the participants of the business mission: ‘The most valuable quality is the desire to understand details through full immersion and direct engagement with the environment.’
A Japanese Approach to Efficiency
In Yokohama, the delegation visited Nissan’s headquarters. Olga Filippova, Divisional General Manager at Nissan and former Managing Director of Infiniti Russia, together with senior managers Kirill Atanov and Tamara Martynova, spoke about the company’s global matrix structure and the challenges posed by Chinese automotive manufacturers. The participants noted the high level of international diversity within Nissan’s leadership team, which includes representatives of 15 nationalities.
Olga Filippova highlighted the importance of reputation in Japanese business culture: ‘Your brand is what customers say about it. It is not what you claim about yourself, but what remains in people’s minds after they have interacted with your product.’
Polina Negrobova, a member of the organising team for the HSE Business Club’s trip to Japan, added: ‘Respect for partners, responsibility, and attention to detail form the foundation of long-term trust.’
People First, Numbers Second: Japanese Management in the Russian Market
The meeting with Tomoaki Nishitani, former President of Toyota Russia, focused on managing a company during the 2008 financial crisis. At the time, he invested his own funds in the Russian subsidiary. ‘I was thinking about ensuring that people remained motivated, that the business prospered and that it could provide them with a decent livelihood.’ Concluding the discussion, he remarked: ‘Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.’
Tokai University, Startale Group, and Kanagawa Science Park: Entrepreneurship in Japan
At Tokai University, participants discussed the characteristics of entrepreneurship in Japan and the challenges faced by foreign entrepreneurs entering the Japanese market. Grigory Shabalov, a member of the HSE Business Club’s closed community, observed: ‘Japan has no culture of accepting mistakes—perfectionism is everywhere. This slows innovation and discourages people from starting businesses.’
On the final day of the trip, the delegation met with the team from Startale Group, a Japanese blockchain venture backed by investment from Sony. The company’s founder, Sota Watanabe, who was included in the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list, spoke about the development of Web3 infrastructure in Japan.
Participants also visited Kanagawa Science Park, Japan’s first business incubator, established more than 40 years ago. The park’s team explained how start-ups are supported through venture capital funding and infrastructure development programmes.
Cultural Programme
Alongside the business agenda, participants had the opportunity to explore Japan’s rich cultural heritage. The delegation visited Katsuo-ji Temple in Osaka, the iconic red torii gates of Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine and the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto, Tōdai-ji Temple in Nara, as well as the Shibuya district, Tokyo Tower and Sensō-ji Temple in Tokyo. The programme concluded with a visit to the foot of Mount Fuji.
The visit to Japan was an important milestone in the series of annual business missions organised by the HSE Business Club. Participants noted that successful cooperation with Japan requires a deep understanding of the country’s cultural code, a willingness to build trust, and respect for long-standing traditions.
Each year, the HSE Business Club organises business trips for its members across Russia and around the world. Notable destinations within Russia have included Vladivostok for the 2022 Eastern Economic Forum, St Petersburg for a series of visits to the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, an industrial business mission to Krasnodar Krai in 2022, and business trips to Dobrograd in 2021 and 2023. International destinations have included a business mission to China in 2025.
