Layers Consulting to Hold Free Online Seminar on "New Pricing Strategies to Win in the Inflationary Era"

Layers Consulting Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Hisashi Sugino; hereinafter: Layers) announced that it will hold an online seminar titled "New Pricing Strategies Required for Japanese Companies ~The Power of Price as a Key to Maximizing Profits and Growth in the Inflationary Era~" on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

View Details

Japanese companies, which have long been in a deflationary environment, are now facing a major change in their business environment: a shift to an inflationary phase. With traditional "cost-plus" or convention-dependent pricing, it is becoming difficult to secure profitability and achieve sustainable growth.

In this seminar, we will invite Mr. Takeshi Abe, former CMO of Yokogawa Electric, who has been involved in marketing reforms at Yokogawa Electric and has led corporate value improvement and pioneering organizational design. He will clarify the pricing strategy challenges faced by Japanese companies and give a lecture on the key points for fostering "pricing power" to maximize profits.

From Layers Consulting, we will organize the concepts and practical methods of strategic pricing required in the inflationary era, and explain approaches to convert value into profit. We will also introduce mechanisms for achieving high profitability in after-sales businesses and practical points for utilizing digital technologies, including AI.

Online Seminar Overview

Date and Time: Thursday, May 21, 2026, 15:00-16:45

Venue: Online format

Content:

● Opening

Introduction to Layers Consulting

Importance of Pricing Strategy as a Growth Strategy

Hisashi Sugino (Representative Director and CEO, Layers Consulting Co., Ltd., Certified Public Accountant)

● Keynote Speech

Fostering Pricing Power Strategy

The Origin of Price

What is Pricing Power? "Pricing Strategy" + "Value Strategy"

Current Status and Challenges of Japanese Companies' Pricing Power Strategy

Seven Pricing Strategies

Pricing Policy in the 4P Mix

Mr. Takeshi Abe (Former CMO, Yokogawa Electric Corporation; Representative Partner, Office Abetsuma LLC; Doctor of Technology Management)

● Lecture II

Evolution of Pricing Strategy by Breaking Away from "Black Box Pricing"

Farewell! "Hands-off" Pricing Management

To Create "Living Prices"

Price Control of Winning Companies

Ryuta Sato (Head of Marketing & Logistics Strategy BU, Business Strategy Division, Layers Consulting Co., Ltd.)

● Lecture III

Pricing Strategy for the Aftermarket that Generates Overwhelming Profits

Aftermarket as a Source of Profit

Organic Linkage of Service and Parts Pricing Strategy

AI-driven Pricing Optimization for Aftermarket Parts

Tomoha Ishiwata (Manager, Marketing & Logistics Strategy BU, Business Strategy Division, Layers Consulting Co., Ltd.)

● Q&A Session

Participation Fee: Free (Pre-registration required)

Target Audience: Top management/CxOs, corporate planning, marketing, and practical managers of service/aftermarket divisions.

*Applications from consulting firms and other competitors are not accepted.

*Applications from individuals and students are not accepted.

Organizer: Layers Consulting Co., Ltd.

Details and Application: https://www.layers.co.jp/seminar/s20260521/

About the Speakers

Mr. Takeshi Abe

Former CMO, Yokogawa Electric Corporation

Representative Partner, Office Abetsuma LLC

Doctor of Technology Management

Joined Intel Corporation (now Intel K.K.) in 1985. Served as Head of Intel Architecture Technology Division, Head of Marketing Division, and Head of Technology Development and Manufacturing Technology Division. Appointed Director and Executive Vice President in 2009. Joined Yokogawa Electric Corporation in 2016 and oversaw the Marketing Division, which included digital marketing, market communication, market intelligence, branding, business planning (mid-to-long-term plan formulation), R&D, M&A (strategic alliances), intellectual property, new business development, business planning, standardization strategy, open innovation, industrial design, and government affairs. Served as Managing Executive Officer and Head of Marketing Division, CMO until March 2025. Thereafter, he became independent as a management & marketing advisor to further his research in marketing for Japanese companies, establishing "Office Abetsuma LLC." Appointed advisor to Layers Consulting from October 2025.

Hisashi Sugino

Representative Director and CEO, Layers Consulting Co., Ltd.

Certified Public Accountant

After working at Arthur Andersen (now Accenture), established Layers Consulting Co., Ltd. in 1983. Currently serves as Representative Director and CEO of this Japanese-born consulting firm with 555 consulting staff. Supports listed companies in promoting cost reduction and developing/implementing cost management systems, and growth.