PLAID Translates and Supervises Japanese Edition of Wharton Professor Peter Fader's 'Customer Centricity'

PLAID Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kenta Kurahashi) has planned and supervised the Japanese translation of the book 'Customer Centricity' by Professor Peter Fader of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The Japanese edition, titled 'Customer Centricity: A Management Strategy Focused on the Right Customers,' will be released by Diamond Inc. on June 16. PLAID CEO Kenta Kurahashi served as the translation supervisor and included an original dialogue between Professor Fader and himself as exclusive content for the Japanese edition.

Background: Why do Japanese companies need 'Customer Centricity' now? Many Japanese companies have deeply ingrained 'customer first' philosophies. However, there remains a significant gap between this spirit and the strategic decision-making required to assess future customer value and allocate management resources accordingly.

While many companies now use customer data, only a few use that data to predict 'which customers will bring the greatest value to the company in the future' and place this at the center of their management. This challenge is becoming increasingly severe in the Japanese market due to population decline and market maturation.

Author Professor Peter Fader specializes in consumer purchase behavior data analysis at the Wharton School and is a pioneer in systematizing 'Customer Centricity'—a management strategy centered on 'Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)' that predicts individual economic value. Instead of looking at past purchase records, this approach statistically predicts the value each customer will bring in the future and makes management decisions based on that prediction. This approach has been adopted by organizations worldwide, and the book's 3rd edition (2020) serves as the basis for this translation.

The 'Customer Centricity' proposed by this book is a theoretical framework for making management judgments based on the future value of customers. This translation aims to deliver this theory to Japan in a form that businesses can implement—that is, 'Customer-Centric Management.'

Book Information Title: Customer Centricity: A Management Strategy Focused on the Right Customers Author: Peter Fader (Professor, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania) Supervisor: Kenta Kurahashi (CEO, PLAID Inc.) Translator: Ryo Sambongi Publisher: Diamond Inc. Release Date: June 16, 2026 Price: 2,420 yen (2,200 yen + 10% tax) Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4478123985

Original Dialogue Included The original dialogue features a discussion between Professor Fader and Kurahashi on the core of Customer Centricity. It covers why this theory is important in the age of rapidly advancing AI and data utilization, identifies companies already practicing customer-centric management, and provides concrete proposals for how companies should begin implementation, considering the unique challenges of the Japanese market.

Related Event: Professor Fader to speak at 'X DIVE 2026' Professor Peter Fader will visit Japan to participate in the opening cross-talk session of 'X DIVE 2026,' a conference hosted by PLAID. With generative AI giving everyone access to advanced analysis, the quality and purpose of data—which are directly linked to sustainable corporate growth—are being re-questioned. Professor Fader, Professor Noriyuki Yanagawa (Graduate School of Economics, The University of Tokyo), and Kurahashi will discuss the source of corporate value in the AI era, starting from the customer.

Session: What is 'Value-Creating Data' for companies in the AI era? Corporate value sources questioned by Customer Centricity and AI Panelists: Peter Fader (Wharton Professor), Noriyuki Yanagawa (Professor, The University of Tokyo), Kenta Kurahashi (CEO, PLAID Inc.) Date/Time: July 9, 2026 (Thursday), 10:00~ Venue: Tokyo Midtown Hall (9-7-2 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo) Format: On-site only (archive available for applicants)