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The 39th Salon de CEO: Insights from Junichi Hasegawa

On September 2, 2026, the 39th Salon de CEO brought together a selective group of top executives and business leaders, with a special guest appearance by Junichi Hasegawa, the former president of Amazon Japan. This exclusive community, hosted by DYM Corporation, serves to foster discussions among esteemed business leaders and to share insights that can propel growth and innovation.

During his keynote speech, Hasegawa recounted his journey of launching Amazon.co.jp back in 2000, when the concept of online shopping was still gaining traction in Japan. He emphasized the significance of understanding customer pain points, such as the frustrations of not finding desired books, inadequate stock in physical stores, and the inconvenience of time constraints. Hasegawa explained that even in a market already populated by established online bookstores, he and his team focused on improving customer experiences and addressing their needs through enhanced product offerings, convenience, and competitive pricing.

A key theme of Hasegawa’s talk was the transition of Amazon from merely an online bookstore to a comprehensive platform. He illustrated how improving product selection and convenience enhanced the customer experience, ultimately attracting more traffic and sellers to the platform. This outside-in approach created a cyclical pattern of growth—the “flywheel effect”—where each increment of traffic and engagement expanded product offerings and created even more value for customers.

Hasegawa also spotlighted the traits of successful entrepreneurs, specifically their capacity for rapid learning and adaptability to feedback, even when it’s hard to digest. He stressed the importance of clarity in identifying whom a business aims to help and the types of problems it intends to solve. According to him, as the customer base grows, the value created by the business should also increase through an intricately designed growth mechanism.

The event also featured an engaging Q&A session where attendees posed questions related to recognizing customer challenges, the timing for transitioning to a platform business model, and strategies entrepreneurs can use to update their hypotheses effectively. Hasegawa shared anecdotes from his own experiences and provided actionable insights, leading to energetic exchanges between him and the participants.

Junichi Hasegawa’s Background

Having first led the launch of Amazon.co.jp, Hasegawa has since held various management roles in renowned companies, including PeopleSoft and Oracle Japan. Currently, he is engaged in supporting startups in both Japan and the U.S. and serves as the chairman of the Japan-MIT Venture Forum, promoting entrepreneurship education.

About Salon de CEO

Salon de CEO is an exclusive community limited to CEOs, business owners, and decision-makers from publicly listed companies. Each gathering accommodates around 20 firms in a small, intimate setting, providing a space where meaningful business decisions can be made that go beyond simple networking.

For inquiries about joining the Salon de CEO or for interview requests, please contact:
Salon de CEO
Attn: Kosuke Tachibana
E-mail: [email protected]

Note that participation in Salon de CEO is by invitation only, and potential members may need to undergo a pre-screening process.

DYM Corporation Overview

• - Company Name: DYM Corporation
• - CEO: Yuki Mizutani
• - Founded: August 2003
• - Capital: 500 million yen
• - Revenue: 32.46 billion yen (FY22), 40.17 billion yen (FY23)
• - Headquarters: 10th Floor, Gate City Osaki East Tower, 1-11-2 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032, Japan
• - Employees: Consolidated total of 3,039 (as of April 1, 2026)
• - Business Segments: Web services, HR, HR Tech, M&A, overseas medical business, sports, dining, and medical solution ventures, among others.
• - Website: DYM Corporation