Interview with Professor Yasushi Umeda of the University of Tokyo: "Business Opportunities in the Circular Economy Era"

Bizcube Consulting Inc. has released an interview video featuring Professor Yasushi Umeda of the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering as a guest on its official YouTube channel "GX Biz / Business Opportunities in the Circular Economy Era" starting March 13, 2026. This video is structured in two parts: part one and part two.

[Part 1 Video] Japanese Industry Reaches a Turning Point. The World is Scrambling for Resources ▼Click here to watch the video (Official YouTube channel "GX Biz") https://youtu.be/6CoaasN0F9Y

### [Commentary by a UTokyo Professor] Global Resource Strategy and the Future of Japanese Industry In this video, experts deeply analyze and explain the massive game-changing impact brought about by the currently highly-focused "Circular Economy," and the survival strategies that Japanese companies must adopt.

### Video Table of Contents (Chapters) 00:00 Opening / Introduction of performers 04:15 [Theme 1] On the changes in the circular economy 08:30 [Theme 2] On the trends in the European market 14:02 [Theme 3] The significance of the circular economy for Japan 18:17 Next time preview

### Highlights of the Part 1 Video [TOPIC 1] The Transformation from Environmental Issues to "Economic Security" Amid global circumstances advancing toward economic bloc-building, such as risks of resources becoming unavailable and technological fragmentation, this topic unravels why the circular economy has become a "weapon to protect and self-supply resources in one's own country."

[TOPIC 2] The Reality of the European Market Where "Circulating Brings Profit and Safety" This section explains the trends in Europe, which has turned the circular economy into a main battleground for business by leading rule-making and certification systems. It delves into the mechanisms of highly efficient resource procurement driven by digital technology.

[TOPIC 3] The Value-Add Shift from "Products to Services" That Japanese Companies Should Aim For It proposes a strategy for resource-poor Japan to break away from the "mass production" business model. Under the keywords "securing resources and breaking away from mass production" by Professor Umeda, and "highly efficient resource procurement" by Fujisaki, it outlines a future vision of maximizing value across the entire lifecycle by keeping products fully operational.