What Is Megumi Monozukuri?

The overall picture of this book is summarized in Fig. 8.1. The upper part concerns the open innovation strategy, which is explained in Chap. 1 , where value is added to components in the flow from materials and raw materials to applied products. Next, in Chap. 4 , clay is explained, namely the commercial flow from materials to applied products, what can be done with the raw materials and the film materials formed from them. Additionally, gas barrier materials are particularly noteworthy among the available materials, and clay films are explained (Chap. 5 ) and other gas barrier materials worldwide in Chap. 6 . At the root of this overall commercial flow is the “Megumi Monozukuri”, which is explained in this chapter. Additionally, from the perspective of the open–close strategy, Chap. 3 explains how to create a world first, and Chap. 2 explains how to build up a robust group of patents from individual patents. Patents expire in 20 years; however, standardization is used to continue the open–close strategy over a longer span in Chap. 7 . At the root of this open–close strategy is also the “Megumi Monozukuri”, which will be explained in this chapter. The relationship between the words “sustainability” and “Megumi Monozukuri”, the clay that we can obtain as a blessing, its cause and recycling, what Megumi Monozukuri is, manufacturing in a declining population society, and, ultimately, the meaning of the Clayteam, will also be explained.