Business | Jun 24

Sharp to make English its official language in 2023

Foxconn unit eyes greater overseas push under new president

Jun 24 () - Sharp plans to adopt English as its official language next year, CEO Wu Po-hsuan said Thursday, as the company ramps up efforts to bolster its TV and home appliance business in the U.S. and Europe.

Wu formerly worked for Sharp parent Hon Hai Precision Industry, the Taiwan-based iPhone assembler also known as Foxconn, and became CEO of Sharp in April. He also assumed the position of president following Sharp's general shareholders meeting Thursday.

He unveiled the plan when asked at a later briefing whether he was able to communicate with others in the company. Sharp needs to foster globally competitive talent, he said.

The company will decide later the scope and settings in which English will be used.

Wu said he will mainly be in charge of Sharp's overseas business, though he vowed to continue studying Japanese as well.


MORE Business NEWS

The proportion of new employees who consider switching jobs if the opportunity arises has reached an all-time high, according to a survey of 1,000 employees conducted by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with 26.4% responded that they would change jobs given the chance, the highest figure since the survey's inception in 1998.

A new store format from Don Quijote, named "Kirakira Donki," opened its doors in Tokyo's Shibuya district on Tuesday, aiming primarily at Generation Z and attracting a significant number of foreign tourists on its first day.

In a move to address the significant issue of food waste, which amounts to approximately 5 million tons annually across Japan, convenience store chains are intensifying their discount strategies.

POPULAR NEWS

A private organization has revealed that approximately 40% of the national municipalities, totaling 744, could potentially disappear by 2050 due to declining populations.

Youngsters in Japan are enthusiastically embracing the world of cosmetics, with a recent survey reporting some 60% of elementary students own some form of makeup.

Major American IT companies like Microsoft and Oracle have announced substantial investments totalling 4 trillion yen ($26 billion) in data centers in Japan, sparking concerns about digital sovereignty and AI development.

A former host admitted to knowingly receiving approximately 25 million yen that had been deceitfully obtained by convicted scammer "Riri-chan," in a trial held on April 23.

A cherry tree located at one of Kyoto's busiest pedestrian streets, Sanneizaka, a main pathway to Kiyomizu Temple, suddenly fell at 11:45 AM on Tuesday, trapping a school teacher beneath.

FOLLOW US