Hey guys,
my trip to Japan is from May 14th - 28th. The group I am going with consists of Dr. Ross from the Supply Chain Management Dept., Dr. Londo from the Asian Studies Center, and 20 other students. The purpose of our trip is to study supply chain management firsthand by touring the factories, corporate headquarters, and shipping centers of some of Japan's finest food manufacturers. For those of you who don't know, supply chain is the study of transferring a product from one business or business segment to another until it is finally ready for purchase by an end customer. We'll be touring the factory headquarters of Kikkoman Corporation and the Tsukiji Fish Market (where some of the finest sushi fish is sold), as well as discussing transportation logistics with Japanese academicians and businessmen.


Our trip will take us to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. Interestingly, at various times throughout the trip we will meet up with MSU alumni who are currently living in Japan so they can give us greater insights into how Japanese business styles differ from those in America. Our cultural experiences will include a Japanese tea ceremony, a few visits to some temples and shrines, getting canned coffee from street vending machines, and, more relevant to us as Americans, a visit to Hiroshima, where we will tour the memorials dedicated to those who lost their lives during the atomic bombing. Look for more to come...