UC San Diego / Japan Forum for Innovation & Technology

Topic The Carlos Ghosn Saga: What we can learn about Japan’s legal system and corporate governance Description On Dec. 31, 2019, the Carlos Ghosn saga took a movie-like turn when Nissan’s former CEO arranged to have himself smuggled out of Japan in a musical instrument box. Initially celebrated as a savior and new type manager that showed how Japanese companies could be turned around, Ghosn had begun to ruffle feathers in Japan with his exuberant style as much as his empire-building intentions. Within Nissan, many referred to him as a “dictator”, and he was said to have wielded full control over senior executives and the board of directors. In November 2018, he was pulled out of his private airplane at Haneda airport and held in custody in circumstances that looked harsh in international comparison. The official allegations included under-reporting of earnings and misuse of company assets, although the true depth and breadth of his machinations remain unclear. Join Bruce Aronson and Ulrike Schaede in a conversation of how to make sense of all this – Japan’s legal system, white collar crime, and corporate oversight and governance. Speakers: • Bruce Aronson, Professor and Research Associate, U.S.-Asia Law Institute, NYU School of Law and MIGA (Musashino Institute for Global Affairs) • Ulrike Schaede, Professor and Director of the Japan Forum for Innovation and Technology, GPS UC San Diego —————— This Japan Forum for Innovation and Technology (JFIT) webinar series brings together new insights, knowledge and opinions on current events in Japan. Experts from around the globe are invited as speakers and contributors, with the goal to create a vibrant exchange and deepen our understanding of Japan’s role in the world. Learn more at jfit.ucsd.edu/webinars