#Japan #Tokyo #AI Strategies #WorkX #Mitsubishi Material

An Insightful Seminar on Japan's IT Strategies

On August 7, 2026, WorkX, a company located in Shibuya, Tokyo, held a special seminar for its employees featuring Norihiro Itano, the president of Mitsubishi Material IT Solutions. The seminar was centered around the theme of "Japan's Winning Strategies through Human-Centric IT/DX/AI Strategies." Itano's extensive experience in the IT sector and the material manufacturing industry made for a compelling presentation.

Speaker Profile

• - Norihiro Itano

President, Mitsubishi Material IT Solutions
Itano joined Mitsubishi Kasei (now Mitsubishi Chemical) in 1989. His career spans various roles, including a stint in Silicon Valley, where he focused on e-business. He has excelled as the head of the information systems department and as a leader in digital transformation (DX). In 2021, he became the CIO of Mitsubishi Material and received the prestigious "Nikkei Cross-Tech CIO/CDO of the Year 2025" award. He assumed his current position in 2026.

Key Takeaways from the Seminar

In a time when generative AI is gaining prominence, Itano shed light on the challenges that Japan faces and his vision for the country's future. He first addressed the difficulties Japan has in adopting global standards, particularly in the automotive industry. For instance, while a single car model may be sold with about 100 variations overseas based on color and options, Japan has been known to offer millions of variations. This discrepancy highlights the challenges that arise when companies attempt to apply overseas solutions without considering the unique operational context of Japan.

Furthermore, Itano examined the often-discussed notion that Japan's labor productivity is the lowest among developed countries. He provided a fresh perspective, suggesting that a more positive understanding of Japan's productivity could yield useful insights, especially for companies like WorkX, which aspire to promote productivity on a global scale.

One interesting point he raised was the strong purchasing power exhibited by consumers in Japan compared to other countries. Itano emphasized that a deep understanding of Japan’s unique market characteristics—beyond language and international knowledge—is crucial for global talent in the future.

Towards the end of his talk, Itano highlighted two key concepts critical for improving Japan's future: Awareness and Compassion. He elaborated on awareness as a product of interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, combined with mindfulness—a personal experience he shared from his training sessions. Regarding compassion, he drew from traditional Jomon-era philosophies of coexisting with nature and shared insights from his volunteer experiences during disaster relief efforts, reflecting on how these values shape Japan’s strengths.

The seminar concluded with Itano providing messages specifically tailored to WorkX employees, encouraging them to harness these insights as they navigate their roles in consulting and beyond. The discussion served as an invaluable opportunity for attendees to reflect on themes that WorkX frequently engages with, such as the gap between global standards and Japanese enterprises and the evolving role of humans in an AI-driven future.

About WorkX

WorkX operates with a vision of "Transforming into a Professional Economy," offering services that provide innovative solutions to corporate challenges. The company showcases two service series: a matching platform for freelance consultants and companies called "ProConnect," and a new DX/AI consulting service called "LeanX." By accelerating innovation through effective talent acquisition, WorkX aims to improve productivity within Japan's workforce.

Company Overview

• - Name: WorkX, Inc.
• - CEO: Tomoharu Higashino
• - Established: October 2018
• - Location: 14th and 20th floors, Ebisu Garden Place Tower, 4-20-3 Ebisu, Shibuya, Tokyo
• - Business: Development and operation of the