Suntory Holdings, marking a century of whisky-making, faces challenges in Japan due to a declining population and reduced alcohol consumption. The company, with ¥2.7 trillion in 2022 revenue, is the No. 3 spirits maker globally. CEO Takeshi Niinami and potential successor Nobuhiro Torii are focusing on innovation and global expansion, including potential acquisitions in tequila and India. Suntory aims for ¥3 trillion in revenue by 2030 and plans to remain privately held. The company has a history of strategic acquisitions and is known for its iconic whisky brands like Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Hibiki.

The article discusses the centennial celebration of Suntory Holdings, a Japanese beverage company known for its whisky. Suntory, a private company with ¥2.7 trillion in revenue in 2022, is globally ranked third in spirits after Diageo and Pernod Ricard. Despite a decline in alcohol consumption in Japan, Suntory has maintained a strong domestic market presence and has expanded internationally, notably with the acquisition of U.S. bourbon distiller Beam in 2014. The company faces challenges such as Japan's aging population and changing drinking habits. Leadership is expected to transition back to the founding family, with Nobuhiro Torii, the great-grandson of the founder, being groomed for the CEO position. Suntory aims to innovate and diversify, with plans to invest in tequila and expand in India. The article also touches on Suntory's history, marketing campaigns, and philanthropic activities.

The upcoming U.S. midterm elections on November 8th are expected to see the Republican Party potentially regaining a majority in the House and possibly gaining an advantage in the Senate. A Republican majority could lead to a 'gridlocked' Congress, affecting the Biden administration's ability to pass legislation, including bills related to the debt ceiling and budgets. Skepticism among Republican members regarding U.S. security policies, including support for Ukraine, Japan, and NATO allies, may increase. The possibility of Biden's impeachment is also discussed, though it is deemed unlikely to lead to a conviction due to the requirement of a two-thirds Senate majority. Opinion polls indicate that inflation and the economy are the main concerns for voters, followed by crime, abortion, and threats to democracy, with the first three topics seen as advantageous for the Republican Party.

The article discusses the transformation of Teshima Island and its neighboring islands in Japan's Seto Inland Sea into a global art destination, thanks to the vision and investments of Soichiro Fukutake, former chairman of Benesse Holdings. Over three decades, Fukutake and his family have spent $250 million to revitalize the region through art, architecture, and museums, attracting tourists and boosting the local economy. The Setouchi Triennale, an international arts festival, has become a significant event, drawing visitors and contributing to the economy. Despite challenges from the pandemic, Fukutake remains optimistic about the future of tourism and the ongoing impact of art on rural rejuvenation. The article also touches on the family's future plans for the Triennale and the sustainability of the Fukutake Foundation.

Akio Nitori, founder and CEO of Nitori Holdings, is expanding the company to become a one-stop shop for home needs. Nitori Holdings took a 10% stake in Edion and acquired Shimachu in a hostile takeover. The company is opening new stores, including in Southeast Asia, and aims to increase sales and store numbers significantly by 2032. Despite challenges, Nitori Holdings reported its 35th year of record revenue and profit, although Akio Nitori's net worth dropped 44% due to a broader stock market decline.

The article discusses Aizu Electric Power, a renewable energy firm in Fukushima, founded as a response to the 2011 nuclear disaster. The company, started by Yauemon Sato, aims to shift the region's energy reliance from nuclear and fossil fuels to renewables and keep local electricity revenues within the region. Despite facing grid access challenges and the slow progress of Japan in diversifying its energy sources, Aizu Electric powers about 1,800 households. Japan's energy policy has been influenced by international pressure to adopt greener policies, with the government announcing plans to expand renewables. The article also touches on the broader context of Japan's energy landscape, including the slow liberalization of the electricity market, bureaucratic inertia, and the impact of international moves towards zero-carbon emissions. Aizu Electric, while small, represents a push towards local energy production and consumption, with Sato advocating for renewable energy from Fukushima.

Yuta Tsuruoka, the founder of Base, has successfully expanded his e-commerce platform to serve 900,000 merchants and over 6 million customers. Base recently went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, raising $26 million. The company has diversified into fintech with the creation of Yell Bank, which offers accounts receivable financing to Base merchants using AI to assess creditworthiness. Despite a loss in 2019, Base's revenue is growing, and it's projected to turn a profit in 2021. Tsuruoka, inspired by his mother's difficulty in setting up an online shop, has developed Base to cater to small businesses, offering services like easy payment systems and low-cost shipping. The company is now looking to expand globally and has already made its app available to international shoppers.

The article discusses the career of Akiko Naka, CEO of Wantedly, a job-search site that has revolutionized the recruitment process in Japan. Wantedly's platform, which includes Wantedly Visit and Wantedly People apps, focuses on matching employers and job seekers based on corporate philosophy rather than salary details. With Japan's labor market tightening, Wantedly has become a significant player, competing with LinkedIn in Japan and expanding to other Asian markets. Naka's journey from Kyoto University to founding Wantedly, after stints at Goldman Sachs and Facebook, reflects her entrepreneurial spirit and her views on women in the workplace, preferring to be recognized for her achievements rather than her gender.

Tadashi Yanai, founder of Fast Retailing and parent of Uniqlo, tops Forbes Japan Rich List in 2019, reclaiming the position he last held in 2016. Despite the Nikkei index rising by 5%, the net worth of 31 out of the 50 listees declined, with the total wealth of the top 50 being $178 billion, down from $186 billion the previous year. Yanai's net worth increased to $24.9 billion, making him the biggest gainer. Masayoshi Son of SoftBank is second with $24 billion. Other notable individuals include Takemitsu Takizaki of Keyence, Nobutada Saji of Suntory, and Hiroshi Mikitani of Rakuten. The article also mentions newcomers to the list and those who have dropped off. The minimum net worth to make the list decreased to $900 million from $960 million last year. Forbes compiled the list using various sources, valuing private companies by financial ratios and comparisons with similar public companies.

The article discusses Rakuten's ambitious project to disrupt Japan's mobile phone industry by building a new telecom network using virtualized radio access network (vRAN) technology. Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani has invested $5.5 billion in the venture, aiming to offer a cheaper, faster, and more reliable network to attract millions of customers. The company plans to leverage its existing customer base from its e-commerce and other services. Despite skepticism from investors and the challenges of competing with established carriers like NTT Docomo, KDDI, and SoftBank, Rakuten is optimistic about its commercial launch in October. The article also touches on Mikitani's background, Rakuten's corporate culture, and its positioning against e-commerce rival Amazon.

Journalist James Simms reports on the ongoing cleanup efforts at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, six years after the meltdown. Progress includes the construction of an underground ice wall and the reduction of groundwater contamination. However, unforeseen issues may extend the cleanup timeline. The Tokyo Electric Power Company continues to cool reactors with water, which is then stored in tanks, but space for these tanks is running out. There is a proposal to release treated water with tritium into the ocean, which is met with concern from the fisheries cooperative. Public distrust in nuclear power remains high in Japan.

Miwako Date, the president of Mori Trust, is innovating the Japanese real estate and hotel industry, traditionally conservative and male-dominated. She focuses on luxury lodging and has partnered with Marriott International and Ian Schrager to open two Edition hotels in Tokyo by 2020. Mori Trust's revenue is mainly from office and condo development, but with tourism booming in Japan, the hotel sector is a growing focus. The company aims to match hotel revenue with office-leasing revenue by 2027 through 17 projects. Mori Trust also listed a hotel REIT last year to highlight the investment value of hotels. Date discusses the challenges and opportunities of family-run businesses and outlines the 'Advance 27' strategic plan, which includes significant overseas investments, particularly in the U.S. and ASEAN, despite the uncertainties in Europe.