MBA in Japan : any recent feedback ?

Question

I am planning to do my MBA in Japan for many different reasons, even though I am aware that it's not the best place to do it.

I've read the following threads in this forum :

TOP MBAs / EMBAs with strong network in Japan
Asian MBA in JAPAN
(it seems that I am not allowed to post the links, sorry about that)

and I understand and mostly agree with what is being said.

As the last comments in these threads were posted almost 2 years ago, I am looking for more recent information. I would like to know if anyone has any experience or story to share about doing a MBA in Japan, or if you heard anything from people who did it. I am currently hesitating between schools and I am looking for more recent feedback. Any piece of information is welcome !

Thanks in advance !

⚠ This discussion has been closed due to inactivity. Please start a new topic in the Business School Applications Forum if you have a similar question or a comment.

Thank you,
GMAT Club Moderator Team.

Tokyo2020 · Answer

If you are looking to work in Japan or for a Japanese business expanding abroad - getting your MBA in Japan makes a lot of sense. In my opinion the best program and the most difficult to get into is Hitotsubashi's ICS. Hitotsubashi is basically the London School of Economics of Japan, the university has a long history of teaching commerce in Japan.

To understand ICS, take a look at the founder Hiro Takeuchi (Hitotsubashi Grad then became a Harvard MBA professor in the 1970's) - he basically transplanted Harvard's case study method of teaching business to Tokyo in 2000. The head finance professor - Tom Ito - is a Harvard MBA and just retired in 2012 as head of Investment Banking (for Japan) at UBS. The head marketing professor - Yoshi Fujikawa - is also a Harvard MBA and successful consultant. The Strategy professor - Ken Kusunoki - is a Hitotsubashi alum and a famous author on strategy in Japan (his books are top-sellers on Amazon JAPAN). I researched all of these schools but found the quality of the faculty at Hitotsubashi to be world class. Please check it out for yourself and look at the background info of the faculty.

I looked at IUJ and it's beautifully located in Niigata but you are very far from the action in Tokyo. Almost all of the jobs will be found in Tokyo so it helps to be in the city (also top talent for professors and guest lectures are largely in Tokyo).

Now if you want to work in Europe or the US you are better off getting an MBA there. That being said I know folks who have interviewed in Tokyo and were hired under the understanding that after a year in the Tokyo headquarters they would be sent to the U.S., Europe, etc to help run the business there.

As has been mentioned, Japanese is a huge plus. They have Japanese language classes at ICS but don't expect fluency within a year. Now - having said that - I also know several guys from India that spoke very limited Japanese and were hired into the Japanese IT and Pharma industry.

Good luck to you on your MBA journey!

Hinotori · Answer

Thank you for your comment ! I already almost completed my MBA and started working in Japan, but the details you provided will certainly help people who are still unsure if they should try Japan or not !

Oliber · Answer

Hinotori :
What is the MBA in Japan you have chosen to go for? What is your view about it?
I am considering to study for a MBA in Japan. I am looking for the best executive (1year or so) MBA program in English. Any practical feedback and experience welcome!

Hinotori · Answer

Oliber, I don't know if I can be of much help.

I completed my MBA at Waseda University and will officially graduate in a few days. Although they are aiming for a world-class MBA, I'm afraid they are not there yet. I've had some good classes and good professors, but many were not so good.

Most (98%) of my classmates were Asian students, and through them I learned that in their country Waseda University is highly considered. Therefore, for them, getting this MBA makes a lot of sense as it will improve greatly their career possibilities when they go back in their country.

I don't know where you are from and what are your future plans, but I doubt a Japanese MBA would be highly regarded in North America or in Europe. The reason I chose this one is because my objective is to work in Japan, and in Japan, the name Waseda is huge.

However, getting a job in Japan after an MBA is much harder that I thought. I've been doing job hunting for a few months already, both Japanese style and Western style, and I realize that traditional Japanese companies don't really know what an MBA is and don't really care about it.

There are two official ways to apply for a job in Japan : apply as a new graduate or apply as mid-career. I quickly understood that if you have work experience and are over 30, you can forget about new graduate offers. Mid-career is tricky as most companies are looking with someone with the exact experience they are requiring - basically you need to have done the job before.

I am over 30, my work experience is all over the place, so you can guess where this is going... really, really difficult.

University professors and recruiters can help, but you need to meet the right people at the right time.

You say you are looking for an executive MBA, so I guess you have relevant experience, and mid-career job hunting could work for you.

Well, I got away from the question... regarding the school, it really depends what your plans are. As someone said before, Hitotsubashi has a good reputation. (although the reputation is not as strong as Waseda - but remember that reputation does not equal quality) A friend of mine just started his MBA in Rikkyo University. I can ask him for some feedback if you'd like.

Anyway, give me more details if you want and I'll try to give you as much information as I can.

priyankasrdhrn · Answer

Hi,

I'm planning to do MBA in Japan. I'm considering applying to Waseda, NUCB and Doshisha Univeristy. Can you give me your feedback about these three? I am in my early 20s and am learning Japanese. I would like to work in Japan after graduation.

maitrangbui96 · Answer

Waseda and Doshisha are both private uni, while NUCS is a public one.

In terms of reputation, Waseda always comes first, then NUCS and Doshisha. Actually, I was planning to apply to Doshisha last year ( I studied undergrad in Japan) but soon changed my mind. 
You can also consider the graduate program offered by Kyoto University Graduate school of Management. They have two graduate English-taught programs and you will graduate with an MBA degree.

According to the QS employability ranking, in Japan, the ranking is Tokyo -> Waseda -> Keio > Kyoto -> TIT -> Osaka.
However, as I am living in Japan now, I know the fact that Japanese people consider both Todai ( Tokyo U) and Kyodai ( Kyoto U) as the highest stronghold for higher education.

Hope it helps.

DeepikaAmberkar · Answer

Hello ,
I am a third year engineering student and I want to join Waseda Business School after my graduation.
Please suggest me what to do.I do not want to do a job for prior experience and want to do MBA in Waseda Business School.And please suggest me good MBA college in Japan for international students as a second choice.

saishogun · Answer

The WBS admissions page states: "Three years of work experience is preferable but not required. If you apply for International MBA program with less than three years of work experience, you need to fill in the designated essay." In fact, most MBA programs require their students to have some prior work experience. This makes sense because without that prior experience, students would find it difficult to relate to a lot of the topics discussed. I suggest you spend at least a year (or better still, 2 years) getting some work experience after you graduate and during that time, study for the GMAT and get a good score with which you will be able to apply for the MBA program of your choice. Don't rush into things when waiting an extra year or two would only improve your chances of admission and help you succeed during the program and your career beyond. All the best! P.S.: Since you asked about other MBA programs in Japan for international students, here is my list of Top 3 Business Schools in Japan (QS MBA rankings for reference https://www.topuniversities.com/univers ... /asia/2019): (#1) Hitotsubashi ICS ( https://www.ics.hub.hit-u.ac.jp/admissions/mba/apply.html ) (#2) Waseda Business School ( https://www.waseda.jp/fcom/wbs/en/applicants/admission ) (#3) Nagoya University of Commerce and Business ( https://mba.nucba.ac.jp/en/ )

DeepikaAmberkar · Answer

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. 
But will it be hard for me to get into Waseda Business School without prior experience? I plan on taking the GMAT exam in the fourth year of my engineering course. And I really want to join Waseda Business School and don't want to work before doing MBA.

Posted from my mobile device

saishogun · Answer

I can't comment on whether or not it will be hard for you to get into Waseda, but in my opinion  work experience absolutely helps . I do know some people who went on to do a Masters immediately after getting their undergraduate degree, but almost all of them applied for an MS or an M.Tech, not an MBA.

As the Admissions page states, you will have to compensate for that lack of work experience by convincing them to admit you through that additional essay you will have to write.

And, of course, a good GMAT score and good grades in school / college. Also essays that clearly showcase your strengths, your dream career path and your reasons for pursuing an MBA. And recommendation letters from your professors (can't be employer since you won't have one). But you should already be prepared for these by the time you start your application.

DeepikaAmberkar · Answer

Thank you very much for the suggestions.

tulgahero · Answer

Hello all,
Even though Waseda International MBA program is 2 years, can somebody complete it within one year? Or does the university requires that a student must spend 2 years fully to get the degree?

Posted from my mobile device

msy9000 · Answer

Hi all,

Has anyone heard of any feedback on MSc. in Finance Program at Waseda?
Or, if you are familiar with finance degrees, can you take a look at the curriculum to see whether it's actually good? (can't post the link here but you'll find if you google it)

Understand that it's a new program which just started in 2016, so I can't seem to find any external information on it. Also I am not extremely familiar with finance - took my bachelor in Eng. and worked as consultant for 3 years, thinking to take this to deepen my knowledge and explore possible career switch to finance

Advice?

bb · Answer

MBA in Japan : any recent feedback ?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards