A64 Yes, and each sector or market segment is headed by one dominant, well-established and traditional company. Generally, such a company is focused on one product or sector and has not diversified. Moreover, the majority of its activities are focused on domestic sales, and its name is not well-known internationally.

The exception to this is in the seasoning/ flavoring sector, where Ajinomoto Co., Ltd. controls most of the local market, wielding overwhelming power. It offers a broad range of food products-the mainstay of which is its Ajinomoto seasoning including frozen foods, processed foods, oils and fats, mayonnaise, dairy products, coffee and soft drinks. It has high levels of exports and annual sales of more than I trillion yen, making it Japan's leading general-food manufacturer. Only one Japanese company attends the Global Food

Summit, an annual meeting of managers from the world's top-twenty major food companies at which views are exchanged and trends discussed. Ajinomoto, represented by Chairman Kunio Egashira, participates alongside such major international manufacturers as Nestle and Unilever, although it is a far smaller player.