- 20.10.2026 - 13:51
From 4 to 10 October 2026, the St.Gallen Institute of Management in Asia organized the Business Study Mission (BSM) Japan 2026 for 28 undergraduate students from Singapore Management University and the University of St.Gallen. The study mission was led by Prof. Dr. Max von Zedtwitz, with Ralf Mischkowski serving as Teaching Assistant.
In Tokyo, the CEOs of the start-ups Xcoo and Provigate shared insights into their entrepreneurial journeys and experiences in Japan. This was followed by an interactive workshop on AI in marketing, hosted by HSG alumnus Gregory Glanzmann at Deloitte Tohmatsu’s AI Experience Center, and an evening dinner with HSG alumni based in Tokyo. The following day, Kajima Corporation guided the group through Haneda Innovation City, before a hands-on stock investment experience at the Tokyo Stock Exchange and a team scavenger hunt across the city rounded off the day.
En route to Kyoto, the students were welcomed by Mayor Sakae Saito at Atami City Hall for a discussion on tourism and local development. In Kyoto, OMRON opened the doors of its headquarters to its interactive museum tour featuring its table-tennis robot FORPHEUS, followed by an engaging Q&A session with internationally experienced managers. A day trip to Osaka further enriched the programme with visits to Swissnex in Japan and the Osaka Innovation Hub, offering insights into the region’s innovation ecosystem.
Complementing the company visits and discussions, cultural highlights such as visits to Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera, along with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, offered students a deeper appreciation of Japan’s rich cultural heritage. The study mission concluded with a final debrief featuring guest speaker Makoto Oka, a former executive at Kubota, who shared his insights and reflections. We extend our sincere thanks to all our hosts and partners for making this experience possible and look forward to seeing the students’ key takeaways and reflections in their final reports!
