Bengaluru's Newest Resident Japanese CEO Praises Indian Leadership; Here’s What He Said

Naotaka Nishiyama, the founder and CEO of Tech Japan, shared his thoughts on the social networking platform LinkedIn, highlighting the current chaotic state of the world

He emphasised the need for India to assume a leading role in navigating world's turbulence

Source : LinkedIn

The CEO of a Japanese firm made the decision to relocate to Bengaluru in April to immerse himself in the culture and intricacies of India. He aimed to better understand India's rich cultural tapestry and societal nuances. Recently, he articulated his belief in the necessity of Indian leadership on a global scale and conveyed his profound admiration for the diversity and values inherent in Indian society.

Naotaka Nishiyama, the founder and CEO of Tech Japan, shared his thoughts on the social networking platform LinkedIn, highlighting the current chaotic state of the world. He emphasised the need for India to assume a leading role in navigating this turbulence, citing the nation's extensive domestic experiences as a crucial asset in this endeavour.

Nishiyama wrote, “World needs Indian leadership. It has been a month since I moved to India, and once again, I am amazed at the diversity of values in India. It is a miracle that India is one country despite being a large country with various religions, races, and values. It is a good opportunity to think about leadership, as India is in the election season now.”

“In socialist countries and military-like organizations, the traditional top-down approach has been effective. However, in today's unstable and uncertain society, it is necessary to move forward in a collaborative manner, taking advantage of diverse ideas. When a top-down approach is based solely on the ideas of a dictator, many blind spots occur,” he added.

“I came from Japan. Japan is an island nation, and invasion from the surroundings could be prevented to some extent because of the sea, which allowed for the formation of similar values and races. This is why there is even a business practice called "Aun no Kokyu," in which it is possible to know what the other party is thinking without uttering a word in Japan. It is considered a virtue not to say anything unnecessary to the other person once you have guessed what he or she is thinking. Under the circumstances, it is difficult to express different opinions,” he highlighted in his post.

He further wrote, “As a result, similar opinions are formed. And "management" in Japan has a nuanced connotation of locking other people into their own way of thinking and controlling them. Keep within the same one small framework.”

Talking further about diversity in India, he wrote, “On the other hand, what about India? India is a large country with issues with neighbouring countries, a history of independence, and a variety of religions, races, and values. Trying to confine ourselves to only one set of values will not work here. That is why they try to create a big framework that can include all things as much as possible, instead of fitting different things into their one small framework. And each of them is able to move forward utilizing differences, although they are different individually.”

“Japan: From a homogeneous environment, confine and control within a small framework of homogeneous values. India: From a diverse environment, move forward by creating a large framework that can encompass heterogeneous values. The India way’s leadership the world needs today. The world is a chaotic place with a diverse mix of values and power balance. It is definitely India that can move this forward. Because India has already experienced a lot of such things domestically,” he said.

Speaking on how Indians are leading big business today, he wrote, “In the business field, Neither Sundar Pichai nor Satya Nadella are second-generation Americans. They were born in India, educated in India, and then went to the US for graduate school. In other words, it is only because India embodies both competition and collaboration that it is capable of leadership in a global organization. I myself will learn from this Indian leadership and apply it to the fullest in the management of our own organization.”