Japan Research Institute Appoints Professor Hugh Whittaker as External Advisor to Centre for Advanced Corporate Strategy
The Japan Research Institute (JRI) announced that Hugh Whittaker, a professor at the University of Oxford and a leading scholar on the Japanese economy, has been appointed as an external advisor to its Centre for Advanced Corporate Strategy as of May 2026. JRI aims to enhance its corporate transformation support system by integrating his academic insights.
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- 📰 Published: May 26, 2026 at 00:00
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The Japan Research Institute (JRI; Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Jun Uchikawa) is pleased to announce that Hugh Whittaker, Professor at the University of Oxford and a specialist in the Japanese economy, has been appointed as an external advisor to its Centre for Advanced Corporate Strategy as of May 2026.
In the face of increasing geopolitical and economic uncertainty, the Centre supports top management in anticipating the future, building effective scenarios, and driving corporate transformation to adapt quickly and flexibly to rapidly changing business environments. By adding an external expert perspective, JRI aims to make these initiatives more essential and effective. We have appointed Professor Whittaker, who possesses deep knowledge of the Japanese economy and a broad track record in researching Japanese companies, as an external advisor. Going forward, Professor Whittaker will provide regular advice on the Centre's activities and is scheduled to participate in various events hosted by the Centre.
About Hugh Whittaker
Field of Specialization: Japanese economy and comparative economic sociology
Biographical Highlights:
- Graduated from International Christian University, obtained a PhD from Imperial College London (Industrial Sociology)
- Postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University, then taught at Cambridge University, Doshisha University, and the University of Auckland (New Zealand)
- Professor at the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies at Oxford University, Director of the MSc and DPhil programs in Japanese Studies, Fellow at St Antony’s College, Oxford
Recent Publications:
- "Building a New Economy: Japan's Digital and Green Transformation" (Oxford University Press, May 2024)
- "New Ways of Creating Economy: Toward 'Human-Centric' Japanese Capitalism" (Toyo Keizai Inc., October 2025)
Comment from Professor Hugh Whittaker:
"I am pleased and honored to be working with JRI’s Centre for Advanced Corporate Strategy, which places emphasis on combining Intelligence, Strategy, and Corporate Transformation. In a turbulent geopolitical environment, the ability to recognize—and where possible anticipate—external threats as well as opportunities, and to respond strategically and operationally, is vital. The same applies to rapid changes in technologies, and physical and social environments. The new centre will provide a great venue to bring together leading corporate clients to examine these issues, and to operationalize the findings."
(Reference) About the Centre for Advanced Corporate Strategy
Established in October 2025 to support corporate transformation, enabling firms to respond quickly and flexibly to rapidly changing business environments as global political, economic, and technological innovations (typified by IT) have significant impacts on business and management. The Centre focuses on Strategy, Transformation, and identifying and analyzing starting points for structural industrial and corporate shifts, as well as scenario planning.
In the face of increasing geopolitical and economic uncertainty, the Centre supports top management in anticipating the future, building effective scenarios, and driving corporate transformation to adapt quickly and flexibly to rapidly changing business environments. By adding an external expert perspective, JRI aims to make these initiatives more essential and effective. We have appointed Professor Whittaker, who possesses deep knowledge of the Japanese economy and a broad track record in researching Japanese companies, as an external advisor. Going forward, Professor Whittaker will provide regular advice on the Centre's activities and is scheduled to participate in various events hosted by the Centre.
About Hugh Whittaker
Field of Specialization: Japanese economy and comparative economic sociology
Biographical Highlights:
- Graduated from International Christian University, obtained a PhD from Imperial College London (Industrial Sociology)
- Postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University, then taught at Cambridge University, Doshisha University, and the University of Auckland (New Zealand)
- Professor at the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies at Oxford University, Director of the MSc and DPhil programs in Japanese Studies, Fellow at St Antony’s College, Oxford
Recent Publications:
- "Building a New Economy: Japan's Digital and Green Transformation" (Oxford University Press, May 2024)
- "New Ways of Creating Economy: Toward 'Human-Centric' Japanese Capitalism" (Toyo Keizai Inc., October 2025)
Comment from Professor Hugh Whittaker:
"I am pleased and honored to be working with JRI’s Centre for Advanced Corporate Strategy, which places emphasis on combining Intelligence, Strategy, and Corporate Transformation. In a turbulent geopolitical environment, the ability to recognize—and where possible anticipate—external threats as well as opportunities, and to respond strategically and operationally, is vital. The same applies to rapid changes in technologies, and physical and social environments. The new centre will provide a great venue to bring together leading corporate clients to examine these issues, and to operationalize the findings."
(Reference) About the Centre for Advanced Corporate Strategy
Established in October 2025 to support corporate transformation, enabling firms to respond quickly and flexibly to rapidly changing business environments as global political, economic, and technological innovations (typified by IT) have significant impacts on business and management. The Centre focuses on Strategy, Transformation, and identifying and analyzing starting points for structural industrial and corporate shifts, as well as scenario planning.
FAQ
ヒュー・ウィッタカー氏が就任した役職は何ですか？
株式会社日本総合研究所の「経営研究センター」におけるエクスターナル・アドバイザーです。
ヒュー・ウィッタカー氏はどのような専門分野を持っていますか？
日本経済および比較経済社会学を専門としています。
経営研究センターの目的は何ですか？
グローバルな政治・経済の変容やテクノロジー革新の影響を受け、加速度的に変化する経営環境に対し、トップマネジメントの時代の先読みと有効なシナリオ構築、および企業変革を支援することを目的としています。
経営研究センターはいつ設立されましたか？
2025年10月に設立されました。
ウィッタカー氏の近著にはどのようなものがありますか？
『新しい経済のつくり方: 「人間中心」の日本型資本主義へ』（2025年10月）や『Building a New Economy: Japan's Digital and Green Transformation』（2024年5月）などがあります。