Exhibition "18th HR EXPO" Introduces Services for HR, Labor, and Management; "JMA Booth" Attracted 430 Visitors During the Event

The Japan Management Association (JMA, Chairman: Masami Nakamura) exhibited its "JMA (Japan Management Association) Booth" for the third time at the "18th HR EXPO [Spring]" (Organizer: RX Japan Co., Ltd.), an exhibition introducing services for HR, labor, and management, held from June 17 (Fri) to 19 (Sun), 2026, at Tokyo Big Sight (Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo).

The purpose of this exhibition was to widely disseminate JMA's diverse initiatives, to directly hear the challenges of visitors such as HR and management personnel and reflect them in our business, and to create opportunities for staff members participating as support personnel to relearn.

At the booth, we introduced initiatives addressing the latest challenges in corporate human resource and organizational development, with themes such as "Solving HR Challenges Using Art Thinking" and "Developing Self-Directed and Self-Motivated Human Resources."

Following up on the previous exhibition, we introduced "Developing Self-Directed and Self-Motivated Human Resources," which is key to corporate growth. For the first time this year, we focused on "Art Thinking," which involves looking at the essence of things without being bound by precedent and generating one's own questions, and also held workshops where participants could experience "Art Thinking."

During the event, approximately 10 staff members from various departments of our association were stationed at the booth each day, and we responded to approximately 430 visitors over the three days.

Visitors consulted us on issues such as, "How can we resolve the increased burden on managers due to young employees leaving the company and their tendency to wait for instructions?" and "How can we foster self-directed and self-motivated human resources?" We shared the latest challenges in the human resource and organizational domain and individually presented directions for support that our association can provide.

Furthermore, by hearing these challenges, we gained a deeper understanding of the "essential resolution" of the issues faced by HR and management.

Staff members conducting a survey of visitors to the JMA booth.

Our association plans to utilize the feedback from visitors obtained through this exhibition in future program development and improvements. We will continue to support sustainable corporate growth and human resource development through educational programs, including "Art Thinking" and "Developing Self-Directed and Self-Motivated Human Resources."

Key Topics

Introduction to "Developing Self-Directed and Self-Motivated Human Resources," Key to Corporate Growth

In today's rapidly changing environment, it is essential to foster "self-directed and self-motivated human resources" who can identify issues, make decisions, take action, and achieve results without waiting for instructions. It is no exaggeration to say that human resource development strategies that enable each employee to flexibly adapt to change and continuously grow on their own are indispensable for corporate growth and survival.

As in the previous year, our booth introduced "Developing Self-Directed and Self-Motivated Human Resources," which is key to corporate growth, and we received consultations from visitors struggling with issues such as "high turnover rate among young employees" and "many young employees wait for instructions, increasing the burden on managers."

Our association recognizes the need to develop individuals who can generate intrinsic motivation to learn and take action, as well as managers and executives who can foster intrinsic motivation in young employees. In response to these concerns, we shared the latest challenges in the human resource and organizational domain at the booth and individually presented directions for support that our association can provide.

Introduction to "Solving HR Challenges Using Art Thinking," Essential in the AI Era

Visitors listening to an explanation of "Developing Self-Directed and Self-Motivated Human Resources."

This was our association's first exhibition to prominently feature "Art Thinking." "Art Thinking" is a thinking method that involves looking at the essence of things without being bound by precedent and "generating one's own questions." Unlike logical thinking, which efficiently leads to correct answers, "Art Thinking" involves creating "questions that no one has asked yet."

In our survey of 530 executives, "Management Challenges in Japan," we asked about "abilities whose decline is feared due to the spread of AI" and "abilities whose importance will increase due to the spread of AI." In both cases, "creative thinking (creating new things)" was ranked highly.

In an era where AI is becoming more advanced and "homogenization" is progressing, leading to the same answers for everyone, differentiation based solely on past data and logic is no longer possible.

This is where "Art Thinking," which involves creating like "an artist creating a work of art," becomes important. The booth introduced "Art Thinking" from various perspectives.

Visitors who received an explanation of "Art Thinking" commented, "A new way of thinking I've never encountered before" and "Innovative," indicating that the concepts of "Art Thinking" were fresh and stimulating.

Popular "Art Thinking" Experiential Workshop

At our association's booth, we held workshops four times each day for visitors to experience "Art Thinking."

The instructor was Emi Asayama, who holds Master's degrees in Engineering and Design and a Doctorate, and is in charge of "Art Thinking" courses in our association's seminars.

In this workshop, participants use paper, pens, and their hands, and their bodies to understand "Art Thinking." Faced with the challenge of embodying their thoughts, participants struggled to bring their ideas into form, moving their minds and hands. Ms. Asayama stated, "The ability to give form to what one is thinking is important in the coming era." She also mentioned that this "Art Thinking" can bring innovation to business.

Many participants commented, "By actually moving my body, I was able to understand what Art Thinking is," and the workshop was well-received.

A scene from the popular "Art Thinking" workshop.

To address the difficulty of understanding "Art Thinking" through words alone, our association will launch the "Creative Leadership Development Program Through Art" (8 sessions, Lead Instructor: Emi Asayama) as a systematic training program starting this July.

"Creative Leadership Development Program Through Art"

URL: https://cla.jma.or.jp/

[Contact Information for This Matter]

Japan Management Association, Management and Human Resource Innovation Center Representatives: Kawaguchi, Saito, Hikita, Kawamura

3-1-22 Shiba Park, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8522

TEL: 03-3434-1955 (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)

E-mail: jma-kyouiku@jma.or.jp