This week, Professor Akira Iriyama of Waseda Business School will be discussing the issue with management theory as the axis of his thinking.Global standard management theory” However, this series can be easily read without this book.
Will the use of ships as a means of transportation increase in the future? Professor Iriyama explains, “The development of water transportation will become even more important in Japan from now on. At that time, the key will be emotion, or emotional value. For example, Hong Kong and Paris make great use of their waterfronts.”
[Listen to the audio version here](Playback time: 17 minutes 45 seconds) *Click to listen to the audio
Tokyo, a city of water transport. Ships have value because of their “emotional” qualities.
Hello, my name is Akira Iriyama.
What I’m interested in now is “ships” such as cruisers. I watch videos of ships on YouTube and sigh, thinking “that’s so cool” (laughs).
Then, news about the ship came in.
BIJ Editorial Department, Arahata
Starting in June, a limited-time ferry called “TRY! Commuting Boat Trip” will be operating between Toyosu and Nihonbashi. It reminded me of my beloved Hong Kong Star Ferry, and I thought, “This is so emotional.”
Speaking of the Star Ferry, it is a means of transportation for locals that connects Hong Kong Island and costs about 100 yen. It was also made famous by Kotaro Sawaki in his famous book “Midnight Express.”
I’ve taken the Star Ferry many times. I can actually get to Kowloon by subway, but for some reason I always choose to take the ferry.
BIJ Editorial Department, Arahata
Boats are great! Plus, you can carry your bike on the “TRY! Commuting by Boat” which is also appealing to me as I often cycle.
Tokyo faces Tokyo Bay and has several large rivers, so ships were the main means of transportation up until around the Edo period. I think we should make more use of these means, but what do you think, Professor Iriyama?
Yes, I also think that up until now Tokyo has not made good use of its rivers, seas and waterways.I think there should be more use of boats in various parts of Japan, but especially in Tokyo.
As Arahata-san says, historically, Tokyo (Edo) developed as a “city of water transportation.” However, in the process of modernization, the city did not build new facilities that could utilize ships.
For example, if you go to Nihonbashi, you can see that the Metropolitan Expressway is built over the river. I heard that this was done as a last resort, because they had to rush to build the expressway before the Tokyo Olympics in the Showa era, and they didn’t have to negotiate with landowners about relocation if they built the road over the river.
However, this still doesn’t look good, so there have been recent plans to move the Metropolitan Expressway underground.
Edo was originally a city that relied on water transportation, so it would be entirely possible to revive that quality. For example, Paris makes excellent use of the Seine River.
I don’t know how it is now, but at least until recently, in the summer there was a sandy beach along the Seine where people could sunbathe and get tanned. Since Tokyo faces the sea, it’s a shame that there aren’t any places like that.
Edited by Ogura
If we made greater use of water transportation, perhaps we could alleviate crowded trains and congestion on the roads, and make traffic more smooth.
I think there is that aspect to it. Tokyo is not as far apart as Hong Kong and Kowloon, so it’s true that trains are more advantageous. But from now on, I think there will be a lot of possibilities if we make the effort to use rivers.
To begin with, the current Kanda River and Edo River banks are lined with continuous concrete banks, making for a rather dull landscape. I suspect this is probably because the local government was not very good at sorting out land ownership.
But originallyWe should plant more trees near the river, build more restaurants by the river, and create more places for people to relax.However, with a bit of ingenuity you can make it even better.
Rich people are interested in operating a ship.
I think that in the future, not just rivers, but water transport will become very important. This is not just about commuting to work or school, but about the “emotional” that Arahata-san spoke about. In other words, the emotional value lies in waterside areas and boats.
To be honest, if you just think of it as a means of transportation, trains and cars are faster.
On the other hand, the good thing about ships lies in what Arahata calls their “emotional quality.”The appeal of the ship is its “emotional” quality.We are now living in an age where emotional value will be even more important, so ships are bound to be important.
In fact, all the successful entrepreneurs and people with a bit of cash around me want to get a boat license and operate their own boats on the sea.
I don’t have as much money as those people, but I am still interested. Because, in the future, cars will become self-driving. Then, you won’t be able to drive them yourself.
Moreover, even now in Tokyo, cars are often stopped during traffic jams, so the feeling of “driving” is weak. I think that at least some people have a desire to be able to control their own vehicles.
On the other hand, a car would not be suitable, but if you drive a boat on the sea, you can go wherever you want, making a lot of splash.
Considering this, when I look at the photos on the “TRY! Commuting by Boat” website, I wonder why the ship doesn’t have much of an emotional impact. The deck is narrow, and it looks like the ship is designed to be spent mostly in the cabin.
The design of the ship looks like it can go very fast, but I think it would be better if the design was more geared towards people who are not commuting to work or school, as they are more interested in emotion than speed. That’s why people take the Star Ferry in Hong Kong.
BIJ Editorial Department, Arahata
When you think about it, even though they’re both forms of transportation, boats have an analog appeal to them.
That’s right. Ships are expensive to maintain, and the ships themselves are expensive. For example, Toyota also builds ships, and the “PONAM” is famous. There is also a “Lexus” branded ship.
BIJ Editorial Department, Arahata
Is there such a thing as a Lexus boat?
Of course, I can’t afford it, since it costs hundreds of millions of yen, but I still look at it and think, “That looks nice.” So, from now on, there will be business opportunities in sea and river leisure, targeting those who have the financial means.
With that in mind, it might be a good idea to create more harbors in Tokyo Bay, and to develop Toyosu and Nihonbashi in that way.
BIJ Editorial Department, Arahata
Houseboats have been around for a long time.
That’s right. Tokyo only has houseboats (laughs). I rode a houseboat a few years ago, but it was a bit lame (whisper).
You could say it has an old-fashioned feel to it, but the scenery you can see from the boat isn’t particularly exciting. After about two hours on the boat, there’s nothing to do in the second half, so it turns into a karaoke contest (laughs).
BIJ Editorial Department, Arahata
There’s no point in being on a ship.
That’s right. It’s not emotional. That’s why rich people want to operate their own cruise ships and have things like champagne parties on the sea, rather than going on houseboats.
BIJ Editorial Department, Arahata
Indeed, when you’re on the Star Ferry in Hong Kong, you can see wealthy boats passing by smoothly amongst cruise ships.
I think so. If it can be done in Hong Kong, it can be done in Tokyo too. It would be a real shame not to improve things there.
BIJ Editorial Department, Arahata
If shipping becomes more advanced, the scenery along Tokyo’s riverside will surely be even more beautiful.
Over the river as a drone route
There is another important use of rivers and oceans that is not talked about much in the public eye, but that we really need to discuss seriously: drones.
BIJ Editorial Department, Arahata
Drone?
The reason is that drones will likely be put to practical use in the future. However, if drones were to fly over our heads, it would be quite scary. So we can’t just suddenly start flying them over densely populated residential areas.
But if it crashes on a river, the damage won’t be that bad.Until drone safety can be fully assured, they will likely continue to fly over rivers.We can say that.
BIJ Editorial Department, Arahata
That’s interesting. If you go to the river during cherry blossom season, you might see a drone flying behind the cherry blossoms.
This “TRY! Commuting by Boat” initiative is only available for a limited time, but we’re excited to see how it will help people living in Tokyo rediscover the potential of “Tokyo, the city of water transportation,” which could lead to even more new uses for the service.
Akira IriyamaProfessor at Waseda Business School (Graduate School of Business and Commerce). Graduated from Keio University Faculty of Economics and completed a Master’s course at the Graduate School of Economics at the same university. After working at Mitsubishi Research Institute, he obtained a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Business in 2008. In the same year, he became an assistant professor at the University at Buffalo Business School, State University of New York. In 2013, he became an associate professor at Waseda Business School (Graduate School of Business and Commerce). He has held his current position since 2019. His books include “What are the world’s business scholars thinking now?”, “The world’s most cutting-edge business management that you can’t learn in business school” and “Global standard business theory”.
(Written by Kiyoko Nagayama, edited by Hiroya Ogura, series logo design by Mio Hoshino)
Source: BusinessInsider
Emma Warren is a well-known author and market analyst who writes for 24 news breaker. She is an expert in her field and her articles provide readers with insightful and informative analysis on the latest market trends and developments. With a keen understanding of the economy and a talent for explaining complex issues in an easy-to-understand manner, Emma’s writing is a must-read for anyone interested in staying up-to-date on the latest market news.