Hello, this is TJ, Founder of Alpha Advisors.

The Nikkei Index has surpassed 50,000 yen (about 33,000 dollars), marking a historic milestone. The market is lively, and news outlets are reporting this as the “highest level in 34 years.” Many investors must be celebrating strong returns.

However, when it comes to your career, this may not be such a positive development. Wage growth remains limited, while individuals face serious headwinds such as AI disruption, global investment pressure, and early retirement schemes.

Even highly profitable manufacturers have begun large-scale layoffs. Some major corporations, such as Takeda Pharmaceutical, have effectively become global entities.

In this environment, how should you navigate your career?
Today, I will explain what lies behind the Nikkei’s 50,000 milestone and discuss the strategies you need to build a sustainable future.

Why You Shouldn’t Celebrate: Global Investors See Japan as an “Undervalued Market”

The main buyers of Japanese equities today are global institutional investors. From their perspective, Japanese companies are undervalued assets—organizations with great potential but burdened by inefficiency and outdated structures.

・More than half of domestic employees are in their 50s (as seen in Panasonic’s case)
・There is a shortage of executives who understand global management and AI
・Seniority-based systems continue to protect non-core employees

These inefficiencies create what investors call “room for improvement,” which translates into investment opportunity.

As stock prices rise, corporate pressure intensifies. Shareholders demand one thing above all: to raise corporate value through higher profits, stronger performance, and increased shareholder returns.

This means that even profitable but “non-essential” employees are being laid off to cut costs and improve margins. The targets of restructuring now include professionals in their 40s and even 30s.

Layoffs Are No Longer an Exception—They Are Inevitable

Global funds act decisively to enhance corporate value. Their methods are clear:

・Sell non-core business units
・Eliminate non-core personnel
・Restructure management according to global standards

As a result, Japanese corporations are becoming increasingly globalized.
More firms will follow the path of Takeda, shifting headquarters or strategic functions abroad. Naturally, hiring and promotion criteria will align with global benchmarks.

In such a landscape, managers without MBAs or global leadership experience—those who rely solely on tenure or domestic assignments—will quickly be deemed unnecessary.

There Is Only One Path to Survival: Become a Global Business Leader

An MBA is the modern-day license to drive in management.
Without it, global companies will not entrust you with the wheel. But with it, you can acquire the skills, frameworks, and mindset to lead effectively—experience will build the rest.

・Global executives typically earn between 130,000 and 260,000 dollars per year
・Offers exceeding 400,000 dollars are increasingly common at multinational firms
・Opportunities expand in strategy consulting, private equity, CXO positions, and international leadership roles

At Alpha Advisors, we see this transformation every year:

・A 39-year-old engineer at a major electronics manufacturer → transitioned to a global tech company as a management-track leader
・A 40-year-old corporate employee → earned an Executive MBA and secured a leadership role overseas
・A domestic sales professional earning under 70,000 dollars → completed a U.S. MBA and joined a global investment bank

These are not rare cases—they happen continuously.
An MBA is not the goal; it is the new starting line. From there, you can build leadership experience, increase your market value, and secure long-term career growth.

The Crossroad of Survival: Will You Be Laid Off or Rise to Lead?

The Nikkei Index has surpassed 50,000 yen (about 33,000 dollars), and while companies appear to be thriving, the harsh truth is that you could be next in line for restructuring. As global investors continue buying Japanese corporations viewed as “undervalued,” the real question becomes whether you can evolve into a leader who can compete on a global stage.

・Layoffs for professionals in their 40s are already happening, and those in their 30s have little time left
・Earning an MBA is the passport to executive leadership
・Global management professionals now commonly earn 130,000 to 260,000 dollars annually
・Opportunities are rapidly expanding in consulting, private equity, and executive positions worldwide
・Act now

Those who stay still are not maintaining the status quo; they are slowly disappearing. In contrast, those who act decisively are being promoted into future leadership roles.

If you have even the slightest anxiety about your current position, it means you have already sensed that the wave of restructuring is approaching you.

If this resonates with you, it is time to reach out to Alpha Advisors’ one-on-one coaching.
With 18 years of proven success, Alpha’s founder TJ, formerly at Sumitomo Corporation, Chicago Booth MBA, and Goldman Sachs IBD, will train you rigorously to become a true global executive.

The time to act is now. Move before you are restructured and join the winning side.
Contact Alpha anytime for a consultation.

Free Consultation Here! ＞ Free Consultation

Explore Our Most Popular One-on-One Programs for Career Success

・【Career Strategy Advisory】Job Change? MBA? Promotion? Entrepreneurship? A highly popular program to design your career strategy in 2 weeks!
・【Alpha Advisors Job Hunting Support to succeed in your job hunting at McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, P&G, and Apple!】

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【Recommended Articles】If You’re Considering a Career Change, These Are a Must-Read!

・【International Students Job Hunting in Japan】How to Prepare and Succeed in October Winter Internships!
・【Roadmap for International Students Job Hunting in Japan】The Fastest Track to Landing Offers from Top Global and Japanese Companies!
・【For Career Changers: How to Build a Winning Transition Plan】The Key Difference Between Those Who Fail at Career Changes and Those Who Earn Over $200K

Recommended Video: Why You Should Not Celebrate Japan’s 50,000 Nikkei: Mid-Career Professionals Must Act Before the Layoffs Begin!

TJ Profile

TJ: Formerly with Sumitomo Corporation, where he worked in the Corporate Accounting Department overseeing budgeting, financial reporting, and performance management for over 800 domestic and overseas group companies, as well as IR (Investor Relations) activities. Selected as the youngest trainee for Sumitomo Corporation of America (New York), where he contributed to the restructuring of a U.S. electric arc furnace steel business invested in by Sumitomo. Later joined the Project Finance Department, where he was engaged in arranging large-scale financings for infrastructure projects in developing countries and financing for Jupiter Telecommunications. Selected as a company-sponsored candidate for overseas MBA programs.

Earned his MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, with concentrations in Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Organizational Management. Founder of the University of Chicago Japanese Association. Initiated and executed the school’s first-ever “Japan Trip”, which has since become an annual tradition.

Subsequently joined Goldman Sachs Japan’s Investment Banking Division, where he advised on numerous M&A transactions in the media and consumer sectors, supported capital raising including IPOs, and worked on private equity investments and corporate restructuring assignments.

Selected as one of only six fellows (out of over 200 applicants) for the 4th Entrepreneurial Leadership Program of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), where he received mentorship from leading entrepreneurs including Hideo Sawada, Chairman of H.I.S.

Served as President of the Chicago Booth Alumni Association in Japan (2006–2010). Has guided numerous candidates to admission at top MBA programs (Harvard, Stanford, and other leading schools in the U.S., Europe, and Asia), graduate schools, universities, and boarding schools. Track record of placing students at leading global firms including Mitsubishi Corporation, McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Google, Big 4 consulting/FAS, Dentsu, Toyota, MUFG Bank, Nomura Securities, among others.

Renowned for his rigorous one-on-one coaching for TOEFL, GMAT, IELTS, and GRE, with a reputation for pushing candidates to fully complete their preparation. Highly regarded for his ability to design and achieve career and academic goals with unmatched quality and precision. As a result, he is in high demand as an advisor, with numerous requests to work directly under his guidance.