TOP MBAs / EMBAs with strong network in Japan

Question

Hello to all the members and visitors of this great forum,

We always talk about MBAs/EMBAs in order to enter into the American/European job markets and almost never for Asian markets and more specifically Japanese job market.

Since MBAs in Japan are not well ranked in international rankings, is there somebody who knows which BSchools have a strong network in Japan ?

Thanks in advance for your help

Seb

togafoot · Answer

That's more due to the nature of the Japanese market.

To get into Japan, you will need to be almost fluent in Japanese. Most MBA recruiting companies require you to have excellent spoken and written Japanese. The market here is mostly domestically focused. The Regional offices of multi-nationals are usually based in Hong Kong and Singapore.

SebZen · Answer

Hello Togafoot

First of all, thank you for your reply.

I totally agree with and that s why I moved to move to Japan 9 months ago in order to learn the language and get professional experience in this country.

Does it mean that the MBA is "useless" in Japan ????

togafoot · Answer

Not useless. If you target International investment Banks, Japanese is not a requirement. Other multi-national companies usually have a Japanese language requirement (e.g. consulting, energy etc.)

For conventional Japanese companies, it's pretty useless as promotion is done from within.

SebZen · Answer

Dear togafoot,

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me.

Actually, before starting my japanese lessons in Tokyo, I wanted to apply to a japanese MBA (Hitotsubashi ICS) but the reputation is .....how could I say.......There is simply no reputation from an international point of view since it could be regarded as a "local MBA".

I target international companies in the wine business (champagne for example) or luxury goods market.I do not have any experience in finance or IT.As a consequence, the japanese language ability is a must.

Do you know which MBAs have strong reputation for foreign companies located in Japan ?

Since I want to apply around the age or 38-40 yo, EMBA could be a wiser solution.So bye bye Harvard or Stanford....

togafoot · Answer

Japan has strong connections with the USA, so a lot of foreign companies are American so most of the brand name b-schools in the USA would be the ones to go for. But if you intend to work in Japan, Keio University`s MBA is worth looking at. However the MBA is taught in Japanese and there is a language proficiency test as part of the entrance exam.

Even companies like Google, Apple, McKinsey, BCG, GE etc, require Japanese capability. You will be working in an office were quite a few of your colleagues may not know any English at all.

SebZen · Answer

KEIO MBA looks interesting and challenging even if the requirements to enter are less selective than the US MBAs (elite business school).

However, it has 2 weak points.First, it is a japanese MBA and I do not have the level to apply now (JLPT 1 I guess). Second, it is a 2 year program.

The more it comes, the more I think that the Exec MBA will suit me.Indeed, I already planned to study during 12 / 18 months japanese language so I can not have another pause in my professionnal life in few years in order to join a full time program.Especially around the around the age of 40, critical point for job I think.

Thus, I made a quick investigation and thanks to the Financial Times rankings, I read that Chicago GSB has a campus in Singapore.Then I checked on Chicago GSB alumni website and..."With more than 500 GSB Alumni in Japan, the University of Chicago Business School Club of Japan is one of the most active business school alumni organizations in Japan."

= plus 1 point !

= plus 1 point !

togafoot · Answer

One thing to check... See how many of the alumni are non-Japanese. Outside of Finance, I have yet to meet anyone with an MBA who is not Japanese. I have been in Japan for 5 years.

SebZen · Answer

OK I will keep your advice as a main criteria. Thanks.

Outside of finance and IT, do you mean that " just " being fluent in japanese your friends who are not japanese found an attractive job (in terms of responsabilities and salary) ?

togafoot · Answer

Of all my friends who are fluent in japanese, none of them have an MBA, and most work in a technical role where an MBA is not as valued. Fluency is a must because your customers will be Japanese.

GMATBLACKBELT · Answer

Your better off going to an ivy leauge here in the US or Europe. Take the National Japanese proficiency exams and find a job that way.

If you really want a Japanese University: Tokyo U., Sophia Univ., Keo Univ. and I can't remember the other one, but its something like Meiji (thats not right but its close).

SebZen · Answer

Dear GMATBLACKBELT and togafoot,

Thank you for your help.

Indeed, I plan to take the JLPT this year (2kyuu) and then look for a job here in Tokyo.

Actually, I am not so motivated to apply to a MBA taught in Japan.I think the ROI will not reach my hopes. I think US and Europe will suit more my ambitions.........I will have to win vs GMAT in order to reach around 680 or even 700 (magic step!)I will not forget to keep in mind togafoot advice concerning the nationality of the MBA holders and their field of activity.

Thanks again

Seb

togafoot · Answer

The main reason is because management education is done on the job in Japan. There is no better alternative to it because it means the managers are educated within the culture of the company, understands the products being made, how they are made, who is making them. New recruits do not understand the culture in the comnpany which can take a long time to understand.

The MBA is generally an American solution for management education, and not all countries conform to this solution (and in fact many countries haven`t and are doing well). End of the day, in Japan, they value skills, loyalty and experience more than academic knowledge when management is concerned.

SebZen · Answer

Hello Togafoot

Thank for your last message.

You perfectly explained from inside how the Japanese market works.

Have a nice sunday

Seb

ArtEast · Answer

I think the best solution here in to study in Europe or USA and come back to Japan for work. Studying in Japan is waste of time and money.

I used to study for an Master's program in Japan at one of most famous Universities here, and I just quit it. Some lectures and seminars were tought by nice professors, but most were run by one-track minded Japanese.

Japanese people are really strange actually, despite the fact that they behave friendly and kind. Most of them are narrow minded and most they know comes from the same people. How disgusting and stupid their tv shows and political views.

You can see many foreign people in Japan, especially Tokyo/Osaka, but living here is just like living in two separate worlds. Of course, you interact with Japanese, but they won't let you come closer. Moreover, the better you know Japanese language, the farther you become from this society.

So my advice to you - learn Japanese, but never apply to any MBA program here. Foreign companies working in Japan need good broad managers, and leave the everyday tasks to Japanese people.

I do not want to say that Japanese people are bad, they are good, but very different, too far from westerners.

And my personal point of view after 8 years in Japan - economy here sucks not only because of some global issues, but far more because of the people living here. They are not adaptive, not able to invent and one track minded. Most of them know only what they know, believing only same people near them. And most their characteristics are developed through education.

ArtEast · Answer

Instead of JPLT, you can consider a Business Japanese Language Test run by JETRO. I haven't taken it yet, but planning this year.

nanodearokane · Answer

if you take a look at this page (and can read japanese), you'll find that they have degrees from MIT, Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg, Chicago, and IMD.

https://www.bain.co.jp/wwwtok/aboutbain.html <-----click on the 'management member' link.

Nobody from INSEAD, but I know (after interning at a similar firm) that it's really well regarded in Japanese consulting as well. Basically, they all stumped for the usual suspects (and definitely not hitotsubashi, waseda, or keio). That probably says something.

Also, given Bain's private equity work there, it's probably not as essential that you speak japanese in that firm post-mba. BCG requires fluency, and I dunno about McK.

SebZen · Answer

ArtEast, thanks for confirming my point of view about American and European MBAs.

I recently thought about the BJT but I heard the reputation was not as good as the JLPT.That s why I only considered taking the JLPT this year.

nanodearokane, thank you very much for your comments.I went to Bain Japan website (english version) from bain.com but I haven t found so many details about the management member.

I am not so surprised to see MIT, Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg, Chicago but IMD..........interesting

I consider the Japanese language as a strong tool to enter into the market and also as an added value to apply to a MBA in the future.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

MBAbot · Answer

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