Japan Corporate History & Strategy

This category encompasses diverse manufacturers that don't fit neatly into existing industry classifications. Printing giants Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) and Toppan have expanded from paper printing into photomasks, semiconductor packaging, and OLED display materials—transforming far beyond what 'printing company' suggests. In glass, AGC (formerly Asahi Glass) holds the world's No. 1 position in architectural, automotive, and display glass while commanding a dominant position in EUV photomask blanks for cutting-edge semiconductors. What these companies share is a 'metamorphic management' approach—leveraging technological capabilities to pioneer new domains as core businesses mature, with success depending on the courage to venture into territories far removed from their original business.