Kyushu Headquarters Facing Globalization and the Importance of English (A case study of a Firm Where English is Spoken, Headquartered in Fukuoka)

Abstract

Kyushu’s proximity to other East Asian countries affords it the potential to be a gateway to other Asian countries and positions the region as a place to carry out international business. However, many Japanese companies face linguistic barriers. In particular, ability in English is a necessary condition for functioning as global talents. If companies do not address this issue, they are handicapped in global competition. The author presents a case study of a company headquartered in Fukuoka where English is spoken in order to examine the importance of English for the development of global talents.