BM Faculty: Dong Seminar holds public lecture on "Influencer Business - Focusing on the Characteristics of the US, China, and Japan"

On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, College of Business Management To's seminar hosted a public lecture titled "Influencer Business ~Focusing on the Characteristics of the US, China, and Japan~" at our university's Shinjuku campus.

We invited Mr. Mashiro Otani, President and CEO of PFC Inc., who has long been involved in the practical aspects of influencer business and influencer development and education, as our lecturers.

In the lecture, he explained the development and characteristics of influencer businesses in the US, China, and Japan, drawing on extensive practical experience. In particular, he compared three key features: the US-style model emphasizing 'creativity,' the Chinese model emphasizing 'expansion,' and the 'trust-oriented' Japanese model, and explained the differences in market environments, cultural backgrounds, and business strategies using concrete examples.

In a message to students, he stated, "In the coming era, the ability to create value through self-expression and communicate it to many people will be important. I hope you will continually hone your communication and planning abilities and aim to become individuals who can generate value unique to themselves."

On the day, not only students from Dong's seminar but also many Japanese students, international students, and graduate students from the academic department participated. During the Q&A session, participants asked many questions such as, "What is the most important element in the influencer business?", "With the rapid development of AI technology, is it possible for AI to replace influencers?", and "How can influencers enhance their expertise in products and services?"

Through this lecture, participants gained a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of the latest knowledge about influencer business and the characteristics of markets around the world, as well as to learn about the importance of communication capabilities and value creation required in the digital society, making it a highly meaningful event.