Challenges in a Developing Nation

The 1st President of AIESEC in Japan, Masato Kaneko, is currently the adviser of Kanebo.

After graduating Keio University in1963, he started out working in Mitsui Bank, and then became Vice Chairman of Kanebo in1998.

From the past 40 years, he says the four years as Bangkok branch chief ('88-92) was the most challenging.

“I was terribly busy for Thai had been growing rapidly then, during the four years." claims Masato. There, he was in position of managing 200 employees. "6 of us Japanese workers were desperate to be appreciated by the local citizens."

After the Plaza agreement in 1985, Japanese enterprises rushed to Thailand to lower costs by producing abroad. We wanted to increase the number of Japanese employees but the working permit wasn’t issued easily in the banking business.

So we established a new consulting company, “Bangkok Mitsui Consulting Service” which deals with the job before bank. In this way, we increased the number of permits while at the same time provided a much needed service. IT had been acknowledged then so we introduced IT into banks to correspond with IT savvy.”

Indeed, the founder of AIESEC in Japanhas inestimable ability to create new things.

“Other than in Thai, I worked in the United States. In total, that makes 13 years of working abroad. I kept the sayings, ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’ and ‘live in harmony but don’t assimilate.’ to myself.

“I tried to adapt to the local culture, communicate and collaborate with them but never forgot my mission.” It is difficult not to forget one’s mission and collaborate with the local people at the same time under diverse value.

“You need to tolerate where you can. We can help the hardships in communication by respecting others. We need to valuate thing both spiritually and substantially.”

According to Mr Kaneko, the leadership we need today is ability to clarify things and activate commitment into it.

“We need to assure value to make one move. They won’t just move towards a vision. And you can’t achieve anything without having others commit to it,” says Masato Kaneko, who himself values something that succeeds.

“It makes me feel great when you go over challenge to change the current state.”

"What everyone else could do won’t be praised. That’s same in AIESEC” It’s a deep message to us juniors.

During his AIESEC experience, Mr. Kaneko, was neutral in policy. “I wasn’t involved in campus activism or political actions at that time,” he explains. “Student like me were rare then where campus activism was strong and political movements was popular.

When I was proclaiming how I was going to spend my four years in University, as a president of the self-government, Mr. Thomas got in contact with me.” After I heard his idea, I was convinced to work more internationally. I was majoring International Economy and Japan was shifting to open systems after joining IMF.”

The activity accelerated since then. He gathered core local committees and worked hard to organize them. “I memorized the names of all the members to raise the morale and show leadership. “Back in 1962, going on a traineeship abroad and working in a company was impressive so people with spirit gathered.”

The moment of foundation is the most impressive memory, according to Masato. It was July30th, 1962 when members from four Universities got together, got themselves titles and finally, “began” AIESEC!

Mr Kaneko went on a traineeship in a paint manufacturing company in Illinois, USA for two months. “I recall the employee being really nice to me. It was easy for me to get into the environment with his help. My traineeship was even covered by the local press." Masato says, he often remembered this warm consideration even after his graduation.

Today, Masato dedicates to AIESEC as the man who created the first values in AIESEC by working as the president of AIESEC-Alumni in Japan and often interacts with the current members.

Mr. Masato Kaneko is in the AIESEC Alumni Hall of Fame