Japanese Trading Companies and Hospital Business in Asia Since 2000

The aim of this chapter is to analyse the internationalisation process of Japanese trading companies in the healthcare industry. The main research questions are how did trading firms build competitive advantages to establish themselves as major hospital management firms in Asia?, and what is the nature of the internationalisation process undertaken by these firms over the last few decades? To answer these questions, this chapter focuses on the three major Japanese trading companies involved in healthcare in Asia (Mitsui & Co., Mitsubishi Co. and Itochu).