Makana 2.0 · Issue 03 · April 2025
HR, Leadership & Technology Shaping Asia's Future
Makana 2.0, Issue 3: 11 pieces from the Makana Partners network.
In this issue
The third issue of Makana 2.0 opens with a letter from the editor, followed by four articles: Francis Fung on how underprivileged groups can help solve Japan's workforce shortage, Hiroyuki Nagashima on organizational development with MVRV thinking (in English and Japanese), Naotake Momiyama on the ultimate roles of an HRBP, and Yan Sen Lu on bridging cultures in senior leadership hires in Japan.
The issue also features the Makana Podcast with five guests from the recruitment and HR world, a note celebrating Makana Partners' 6th anniversary, a Market Trends summary on bilingual executives in Japan, and a list of recent placements.
Table of contents
- Letter from the Editorp. 5By Yan Sen Lu · Letter from the Editor
Yan Sen Lu welcomes readers to the third issue of Makana 2.0 and introduces the four articles in it, from Japan's labour shortage to hiring leadership talent.
- How Underprivileged Groups Can Solve Japan's Workforce Shortagepp. 6–9By Francis Fung · Feature
Francis Fung argues that single mothers, women wanting to return to work and youth in poverty are an untapped answer to Japan's labour shortage, and sets out steps HR and leaders can take.
- Organizational Development in the Age of Division with MVRV Thinkingpp. 10–12By Hiroyuki Nagashima · Feature
Hiroyuki Nagashima proposes MVRV (Mission, Vision, Relationship, Value), adding relationships to the usual MVV framework, and argues dialogue and technology improve relationship quality in an age of division.
- 「分断の時代」はMVRV思考で組織開発を進めるpp. 13–15By Hiroyuki Nagashima · Feature
長島宏之氏が、MVVに「関係性(Relationship)」を加えたMVRVを提唱し、分断の時代には対話とテクノロジーで関係性の質を高める組織開発が必要だと論じる。
- Defining the Ultimate Roles of an HRBPpp. 16–19By Naotake Momiyama · Feature
Naotake Momiyama names three ultimate roles of an HR Business Partner: contributing to business strategy, leading organizational structure design, and leading assignment of the right talent to each role.
- Bridging the Gap: The Key to Unlocking Japan's Business Potentialpp. 20–21By Yan Sen Lu · Feature
Yan Sen Lu argues that the most critical attribute of a senior leader at a multinational in Japan is the ability to bridge cultural divides between Japanese corporate culture and global headquarters.
- The Makana Podcast: Conversations Shaping the Future of Recruitmentpp. 22–25By Makana Partners · Podcast
A guide to five Makana Podcast episodes hosted by Yan Sen Lu, with guests from Adecco, Recruiting Brainfood, Adobe, Dialectica and Cathay Pacific, plus how to contribute or sponsor.
- Celebrating Makana Partners' 6th Anniversaryp. 26By Makana Partners · News
Makana Partners marks its 6th anniversary with thanks to clients, bilingual candidates, its All-Star team and vendors, and says this is just the beginning of the journey.
- マカナ・パートナーズ 6周年のご挨拶p. 26By Makana Partners · News
マカナ・パートナーズが創業6周年にあたり、クライアント、バイリンガルの候補者、ベンダーへの感謝を述べ、これからの旅の始まりに過ぎないと結ぶ。
- Market Trends: Bilingual Executives in Japanp. 27By Makana Partners · Market Trends
Demand for bilingual executives in Japan is rising with globalization, but talent scarcity, weak foreign-talent integration and the weak yen pose challenges for employers.
- Recent Placementsp. 27By Makana Partners · Placements
A list of nine recent Makana Partners placements by role and industry, spanning technology, healthcare, manufacturing and financial services.
Read the issue as printed
Swipe or use the arrows to turn the pages. Each page links to its article, which is also available as plain text with the key points.
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Editor and contributors
Editor-in-Chief: Yan Sen Lu
Francis Fung
Francis Fung brings over 20 years of international experience across Retail, Branding, UX Research, Advertising, and Education. Passionate about social impact, he volunteers with YouMeWe in Tokyo to support orphans and works towards SDG goals. As an adjunct professor at Temple University Japan and Director at Sloane Japan, Francis is dedicated to empowering students and driving educational content. Based in Tokyo for 15 years, he also supports new grads and early-career professionals through his YouTube channel, "Lemons Into Helicopters."
Hiroyuki Nagashima
As the CEO of ToiToi LLC, Hiroyuki Nagashima leads a wide range of consulting services, including the development of MVV, HR strategy, recruitment strategy, organizational strengthening, and alumni building. His goal is to foster an environment that emphasizes learning and growth by promoting active questioning and dialogue within organizations. Additionally, as a visiting researcher at Chuo University, Hiroyuki leverages his expertise in Marketing Communications to collaborate closely with client companies, supporting them from strategy formulation to execution.
Naotake Momiyama
Naotake Momiyama is the Group Country Head of HR, Japan at The Adecco Group, leading transformative HR initiatives and driving record-breaking results. With extensive experience across industries, he specializes in HR transformation, workforce strategy, and organizational excellence. Naotake has played a key role in shifting HR from an operational function to a strategic business driver, leveraging AI and technology to optimize workforce management. Passionate about leadership and adaptability, he explores the evolving role of HR, the challenges of Japan’s changing labor market, and the future of work in an increasingly digital world.
