Longevity of Family Business: The Japanese Way explores a question of vital importance to every family business owner: Why have some Japanese enterprises survived for centuries, while others disappear within a generation or two, and what can family businesses around the world learn from their experience?
Japan is considered as the home to the world's oldest family business and has more than one-third of the world's enterprises that have operated continuously for a century or more.

Drawing on research that began in 1999 and extensive study of Japan's long-lived enterprises, this book presents valuable insights into long-term value creation, governance, succession, and sustainable growth. At its core is the concept of Ethical Capital-the accumulated trust, legitimacy, stakeholder relationships, and commitment to employees, customers, communities, and future generations that businesses build through responsible leadership over time.
The book brings together insights from the resource-based view, patient capital, socioemotional wealth, stewardship, and stakeholder embeddedness, connecting them with Japan's centuries-old tradition of altruistic management. It highlights practical principles that family business leaders can apply, including long-term orientation, controlled growth, continuous development of core capabilities, strong stakeholder relationships, prudent risk management, innovation, and effective succession.