Unlocking New Business Opportunities Through Future Insights in Uncertain Times

In a world characterized by rapid changes, the importance of recognizing subtle shifts early cannot be overstated. The Japan Management Association Research Institute (JMAR) is hosting a free online seminar titled "Unlocking New Business Opportunities Through Future Insights in Uncertain Times" on November 11, 2026, aimed at helping businesses navigate this evolving landscape.

The Current Landscape

As trends become more apparent, many companies have already started to act on them. The challenge lies in anticipating what will happen next from the tiny signs that often go unnoticed. This seminar addresses these challenges,
providing participants with techniques to decipher these subtle indications of change before they bloom into larger trends.

Seminar Highlights

Led by Masaaki Ito, head of the Knowledge Business Promotion Department at JMAR, the seminar will offer insights on future forecasting and its shortcomings. Here’s what the program includes:

1. Why New Businesses Fail to Emerge from Future Forecasts: Understanding the pitfalls in traditional forecasting methods.
2. Eight Areas of Insight for Future Readers: Explore the realms successful futurists monitor.
3. The Importance of Small Signs: Practical ways to identify the little indicators that could potentially lead to significant industry shifts.
4. Information Gathering Techniques for the Future: Learn how to formulate the right questions to uncover new opportunities.

Who Should Attend?

This seminar is designed for:

- Individuals involved in exploring new business opportunities or research and development themes;
- Those wishing to translate future predictions and trend information into real business opportunities;
- Participants contemplating medium- to long-term business strategies;
- Anyone interested in enhancing their ability to detect the next significant shift through daily information collection.

Event Details

The live session will take place on November 11, 2026, at 2:00 PM (JST) and will last approximately 70 minutes, streamed via Zoom. A recorded version will subsequently be available on YouTube from November 18 to November 26, 2026.

- Registration Deadline: November 2, 2026
- Cost: Free
- Registration Link: JMAR Seminar Registration

Note: Participation may be restricted for individuals from competing companies.

About the Instructor

Masaaki Ito has extensive experience providing research support and strategic development consultancy across various sectors, helping organizations harness future insights for better decision-making. He leads programs in foresight training, business strategy workshops, and career design through future insights, focusing on empowering businesses for long-term sustainability.

About MDB

MDB (Marketing Data Bank) is hosted by the Japan Management Association Research Institute, offering comprehensive marketing support services powered by unparalleled information resources. By combining training, research, and consultancy services, MDB assists organizations in addressing their challenges effectively with data-driven strategies. Interested individuals can find further details regarding MDB services at MDB Service Overview.