Dialogue with Professor Yasushi Umeda of the University of Tokyo: "Business Opportunities in the Era of the Circular Economy"
BizCube Consulting Co., Ltd. has released a two-part dialogue video featuring Professor Yasushi Umeda of the University of Tokyo on their official YouTube channel, "GX Biz." The discussion explores the shift of the circular economy from an environmental concept to a critical strategy for economic security and business growth in Japan.
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- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 21:30
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BizCube Consulting Co., Ltd. released a dialogue video featuring Professor Yasushi Umeda of the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo on its official YouTube channel, "GX Biz / Business Opportunities in the Era of the Circular Economy," on March 13, 2026. This video is presented in two parts: Part 1 and Part 2.
[Part 1 Video] Japanese Industry at a Turning Point: The World is Fighting Over Resources
[Video Link: https://youtu.be/6CoaasN0F9Y]
[Explained by a UTokyo Professor] Global Resource Strategy and the Future of Japanese Industry
In this video, experts delve deep into the massive game-changing impact of the increasingly prominent "circular economy" and the survival strategies that Japanese companies must adopt.
Video Chapters:
00:00 Opening & Introduction of Guests
04:15 [Theme 1] Changes in the Circular Economy
08:30 [Theme 2] Trends in the European Market
14:02 [Theme 3] The Significance of the Circular Economy for Japan
18:17 Next Episode Preview
Highlights of Part 1:
[TOPIC 1] The Shift from Environmental Issues to "Economic Security"
We unravel why the circular economy has become a "weapon for protecting and self-supplying resources" in a global landscape marked by block economies, risks of resource shortages, and technological fragmentation.
[TOPIC 2] The Reality of the European Market: "Circulation is Profitable and Secure"
We explain the trends in Europe, which has led the way in rule-making and certification systems, turning the circular economy into a primary business battlefield. We explore the mechanisms that utilize digital technology to increase the efficiency of resource procurement.
[TOPIC 3] The "Value-Added Shift from Products to Services" for Japanese Companies
We propose strategies for resource-poor Japan to break away from "mass production" business models. Guided by Professor Umeda’s keywords of "resource security and post-mass production" and Fujisaki’s "high-efficiency resource procurement," we discuss a future vision where products are fully utilized to maximize value across their entire lifecycle.
[Part 2 Video] Companies Are Secretly Starting This: A Business More Profitable Than Selling
[Video Link: https://youtu.be/Va8z-LhdrEs]
New Business Models in an Era Where Maintenance Generates Profit
In this video, we analyze Japanese policy trends, the concept of "CE (Circular Economy) Commerce," and success stories from leading companies. We explain concrete methods for transitioning from "selling products outright" to "servitization with maintenance as a revenue pillar," along with tips for overcoming challenges.
Video Chapters:
00:00 Opening: What is the Core of the Circular Economy?
01:47 Japan's Circular Economy Policy (Revision of the Act on the Effective Utilization of Resources)
05:51 About CE Commerce (Sharing, Repair, and Other Long-term Usage Businesses)
07:20 Potential of Maintenance Businesses (e.g., Aircraft Engine Cases)
09:39 Challenges of Maintenance Businesses (Structures Premised on Outright Sales and Barriers of Business Customs)
12:38 Concrete Examples and Success Points (Case Studies, Changes in Sales Styles)
20:13 Summary & Book Introduction
Highlights of Part 2:
[TOPIC 1] The Rise of "CE Commerce" and Policy Support
Against the backdrop of the revision of Japan's "Act on the Effective Utilization of Resources," we explain the expansion of a new business domain called "CE Commerce." This shifts from an era of mass production and disposal to one that generates profit by "increasing product utilization rates and extending lifespans" through repair, remanufacturing, and sharing.
[TOPIC 2] Learning from Success Stories: Evolving from "Begging Sales" to "Consultant"
We discuss cases like GE for aircraft engines and Komatsu for construction machinery. By using IoT to grasp operational status and making proposals to "improve fuel efficiency" or "prevent breakdowns before they happen," we talk about the dynamism of shifting from traditional "please buy this" sales to becoming a "consultant" that solves customer problems.
[TOPIC 3] Digital Strategy to Overcome the "Ownership Barrier"
We address the difficulty of realizing a "product-less" service model—similar to AWS (cloud services)—with physical products. We explain that to overcome this barrier and convince customers of the value (added value) of maintenance, "digital theoretical armament (accountability)" based on evidence such as operational data is essential.
Guest/Cast Introduction:
■ Guest: Yasushi Umeda (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)
Specializes in precision mechanical engineering and contributes deeply to the promotion of the circular economy in policy. Currently serves as the chair of the Information Distribution Platform Construction Working Group at the "Circular Partners" initiative hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Author of "Circular Economy: How the Circular Economy Changes Business" (Keiso Shobo).
■ Moderator: Jun Nishida (Circular Economy Consultant)
A leading expert in methodologies for making money through decarbonization and the circular economy. Worked for 16 years at UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization), involved in numerous technical cooperation projects related to multilateral environmental agreements, and experienced the realities of environmental cooperation through the UN. UNIDO-certified feasibility study trainer.
■ Organizer: Kenichi Fujisaki (Director, BizCube Consulting Co., Ltd.)
Promotes the circular economy from the front lines of business. Provides SaaS and BPO services with a mission of "preventive maintenance" and "extending product life" in the manufacturing and equipment industries.
Background of Filming:
The "circular economy," which spread from Europe around 2015, was initially perceived as a peaceful concept aimed at a sustainable society. However, in recent years, due to rising geopolitical risks and supply chain fragmentation, its meaning has shifted significantly toward a severe struggle for economic and business hegemony under the banner of "resource and energy security."
Amidst this global paradigm shift (game change), we filmed this video to widely share hints on how Japan's manufacturing and equipment industries can create new added value and seize business opportunities, bringing together experts at the forefront of both academia and business.
About the Circular Economy-Specialized YouTube Channel "GX Biz"
How to turn sustainable mechanisms themselves into a business, rather than just environmental volunteerism.
"GX Biz" focuses on how companies can create value and succeed in business within the "circular society" that will become the mainstream of the future. We provide practical themes—from basic concepts of the circular economy to the latest case studies and strategies that Japanese companies should adopt—for corporate management, project managers, business professionals interested in sustainability, and those who want to learn about next-generation economic systems.
YouTube Channel Information:
Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@cebc2025_ch
Channel Name: GX Biz / Business Opportunities in the Era of the Circular Economy
Operating Company Information:
Company Name: BizCube Consulting Co., Ltd.
Address: 18F Estec Information Building, 1-24-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023
Inquiries:
Inquiry form regarding this matter and the videos: https://willap.jp/p/dcube/lc_cube/
[Part 1 Video] Japanese Industry at a Turning Point: The World is Fighting Over Resources
[Video Link: https://youtu.be/6CoaasN0F9Y]
[Explained by a UTokyo Professor] Global Resource Strategy and the Future of Japanese Industry
In this video, experts delve deep into the massive game-changing impact of the increasingly prominent "circular economy" and the survival strategies that Japanese companies must adopt.
Video Chapters:
00:00 Opening & Introduction of Guests
04:15 [Theme 1] Changes in the Circular Economy
08:30 [Theme 2] Trends in the European Market
14:02 [Theme 3] The Significance of the Circular Economy for Japan
18:17 Next Episode Preview
Highlights of Part 1:
[TOPIC 1] The Shift from Environmental Issues to "Economic Security"
We unravel why the circular economy has become a "weapon for protecting and self-supplying resources" in a global landscape marked by block economies, risks of resource shortages, and technological fragmentation.
[TOPIC 2] The Reality of the European Market: "Circulation is Profitable and Secure"
We explain the trends in Europe, which has led the way in rule-making and certification systems, turning the circular economy into a primary business battlefield. We explore the mechanisms that utilize digital technology to increase the efficiency of resource procurement.
[TOPIC 3] The "Value-Added Shift from Products to Services" for Japanese Companies
We propose strategies for resource-poor Japan to break away from "mass production" business models. Guided by Professor Umeda’s keywords of "resource security and post-mass production" and Fujisaki’s "high-efficiency resource procurement," we discuss a future vision where products are fully utilized to maximize value across their entire lifecycle.
[Part 2 Video] Companies Are Secretly Starting This: A Business More Profitable Than Selling
[Video Link: https://youtu.be/Va8z-LhdrEs]
New Business Models in an Era Where Maintenance Generates Profit
In this video, we analyze Japanese policy trends, the concept of "CE (Circular Economy) Commerce," and success stories from leading companies. We explain concrete methods for transitioning from "selling products outright" to "servitization with maintenance as a revenue pillar," along with tips for overcoming challenges.
Video Chapters:
00:00 Opening: What is the Core of the Circular Economy?
01:47 Japan's Circular Economy Policy (Revision of the Act on the Effective Utilization of Resources)
05:51 About CE Commerce (Sharing, Repair, and Other Long-term Usage Businesses)
07:20 Potential of Maintenance Businesses (e.g., Aircraft Engine Cases)
09:39 Challenges of Maintenance Businesses (Structures Premised on Outright Sales and Barriers of Business Customs)
12:38 Concrete Examples and Success Points (Case Studies, Changes in Sales Styles)
20:13 Summary & Book Introduction
Highlights of Part 2:
[TOPIC 1] The Rise of "CE Commerce" and Policy Support
Against the backdrop of the revision of Japan's "Act on the Effective Utilization of Resources," we explain the expansion of a new business domain called "CE Commerce." This shifts from an era of mass production and disposal to one that generates profit by "increasing product utilization rates and extending lifespans" through repair, remanufacturing, and sharing.
[TOPIC 2] Learning from Success Stories: Evolving from "Begging Sales" to "Consultant"
We discuss cases like GE for aircraft engines and Komatsu for construction machinery. By using IoT to grasp operational status and making proposals to "improve fuel efficiency" or "prevent breakdowns before they happen," we talk about the dynamism of shifting from traditional "please buy this" sales to becoming a "consultant" that solves customer problems.
[TOPIC 3] Digital Strategy to Overcome the "Ownership Barrier"
We address the difficulty of realizing a "product-less" service model—similar to AWS (cloud services)—with physical products. We explain that to overcome this barrier and convince customers of the value (added value) of maintenance, "digital theoretical armament (accountability)" based on evidence such as operational data is essential.
Guest/Cast Introduction:
■ Guest: Yasushi Umeda (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)
Specializes in precision mechanical engineering and contributes deeply to the promotion of the circular economy in policy. Currently serves as the chair of the Information Distribution Platform Construction Working Group at the "Circular Partners" initiative hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Author of "Circular Economy: How the Circular Economy Changes Business" (Keiso Shobo).
■ Moderator: Jun Nishida (Circular Economy Consultant)
A leading expert in methodologies for making money through decarbonization and the circular economy. Worked for 16 years at UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization), involved in numerous technical cooperation projects related to multilateral environmental agreements, and experienced the realities of environmental cooperation through the UN. UNIDO-certified feasibility study trainer.
■ Organizer: Kenichi Fujisaki (Director, BizCube Consulting Co., Ltd.)
Promotes the circular economy from the front lines of business. Provides SaaS and BPO services with a mission of "preventive maintenance" and "extending product life" in the manufacturing and equipment industries.
Background of Filming:
The "circular economy," which spread from Europe around 2015, was initially perceived as a peaceful concept aimed at a sustainable society. However, in recent years, due to rising geopolitical risks and supply chain fragmentation, its meaning has shifted significantly toward a severe struggle for economic and business hegemony under the banner of "resource and energy security."
Amidst this global paradigm shift (game change), we filmed this video to widely share hints on how Japan's manufacturing and equipment industries can create new added value and seize business opportunities, bringing together experts at the forefront of both academia and business.
About the Circular Economy-Specialized YouTube Channel "GX Biz"
How to turn sustainable mechanisms themselves into a business, rather than just environmental volunteerism.
"GX Biz" focuses on how companies can create value and succeed in business within the "circular society" that will become the mainstream of the future. We provide practical themes—from basic concepts of the circular economy to the latest case studies and strategies that Japanese companies should adopt—for corporate management, project managers, business professionals interested in sustainability, and those who want to learn about next-generation economic systems.
YouTube Channel Information:
Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@cebc2025_ch
Channel Name: GX Biz / Business Opportunities in the Era of the Circular Economy
Operating Company Information:
Company Name: BizCube Consulting Co., Ltd.
Address: 18F Estec Information Building, 1-24-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023
Inquiries:
Inquiry form regarding this matter and the videos: https://willap.jp/p/dcube/lc_cube/