[FULLY BOOKED] Running the Tokyo Yakult Swallows: How to Successfully Lead a Storied Japanese Baseball Team

Date: Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Time: 12:00–14:00
Venue: Tokyo American Club, Brooklyn Suite
Speaker: Tsuyoshi Kinugasa, President, Tokyo Yakult Swallows Baseball Club
Hosting Committee: ACCJ Olympics and Sports Business, Special Events
Member Fee: ¥3,900
Guest Fee: ¥7,300
Meal: Plated Lunch
Registration/Cancellation Deadline: Friday, August 30, 12:00 Noon

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Note: This session will be conducted in Japanese with simultaneous English interpretation.
日本語でのイベント情報については、こちらをクリックしてください。

Event Overview:

Fans of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, are used to riding the emotional roller coaster of winning streaks and losing slumps. In fact, after a great 2018 campaign, when the team finished second in the Central League of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), they are now experiencing a relatively disappointing 2019 season.

But as Mr. Tsuyoshi Kinugasa knows well, the president and acting owner of a professional baseball team needs to look beyond the day-to-day win-loss record of the team and work towards building a successful business for the long term. 

As President of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Mr. Kinugasa has to balance the desire to win a Japan series while ensuring his players do their best, fans have a memorable experience, and the Swallows organization maintains the creativity and drive to continue on for at least another 50 years. 

Mr. Kinugasa will discuss:
●    The critical success factors for a professional sports team like the Tokyo Yakult Swallows
●    The leadership qualities he cultivated having worked in sales, overseas operations, and public relations before his role as President
●    The issues facing baseball in Japan and the Swallows team
●    The expectations for a new stadium planned to replace Jingu Stadium in 2027

Hear about this and more in a special interview led by Aiko Okada, Senior Manager of Government Affairs at Qualcomm Japan and Vice-Chair of the ACCJ Olympics and Sports Business Committee, and please come prepared to ask questions of your own.

Please stay-tuned for information regarding a special post-event activity. Once confirmed, the details will be sent to those registered for the main event!

David Hackett, Naoki Matsumura , Roy Tomizawa, Co-Chairs
Aiko Okada, Sam Pearson, David Wouters, Vice-Chairs
ACCJ Olympics and Sports Business Committee

Timothy Connor, Lori Hewlett, Robert Melson, Jr., Co-chairs
ACCJ Special Events Committee
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NOTE 1: This event is OFF THE RECORD.

NOTE 2: If you cancel after the stated deadline, the full meeting fee will be charged to your account. All guests must be accompanied by an ACCJ member. Sorry, no substitutions or walk-ins.

NOTE 3: If you are driving to the Tokyo American Club, please inform the ACCJ of the make, model, color and plate of the vehicle, by the registration deadline, as arrangements must be made. A 2,200 yen parking fee will apply.