GLOBIS and Global Communications Firm Edelman Co-Host Special Seminar to Mark 25th Anniversary of Edelman Trust Barometer

March 18, 2025

CATEGORIES:GLOBIS GROUP

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Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo—GLOBIS Corporation hosted a special seminar with global communications firm Edelman at the GLOBIS University Tokyo campus on March 17.

Visiting Japan for the first time in three years, Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman, joined Yoshito Hori, CEO of GLOBIS, on stage to explore the topic “The Crisis of Grievance” and discuss the growing challenges in today’s society related to trust.

The seminar featured insights from the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer, a global study of trust, surveying 33,000 people across 28 countries. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Trust Barometer. The research has revealed a profound shift to acceptance of aggressive action, with political polarization and deepening fears giving rise to a feeling that the system is unfair, business and government make things worse, not better, and the rich keep getting richer.

In response to this, businesses have reconsidered their involvement in societal issues, from DEI to sustainability. Unless institutions can prove they benefit common people, innovation will be rejected, the social fabric will fray, and business will face ever-increasing pressure.

The conversation also highlighted the evolving role of businesses in Japan, where companies that take proactive steps toward a positive societal vision tend to earn higher trust. Providing a diverse outlook on the topic of trust in the society at large, and Japan as a specific case, the seminar discussed practical approaches to trust-building and corporate social contribution.

2025 Edelman Trust Barometer
https://edl.mn/4bIGdyx

The event brought together business leaders, media professionals, and policymakers from diverse industries for an engaging exchange of ideas. Participants noted the discussion’s relevance to corporate management, emphasizing its value in contextualizing trust in an evolving business and society landscape.

Comment from Richard Edelman

Richard Edelman
CEO of Edelman

“Amid extreme geopolitical turbulence and the accelerating pace of innovation, 2025 is shaping up to be the most unpredictable year of the 21st century,” said Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman. “In developed countries globally, a deepening sense of grievance has emerged. Japan has struggled with one of the lowest levels of trust among all the nations we survey, affected by the tragedy of Fukushima, stagnant wages and demographic challenges. Our data has revealed a mandate to lead and a roadmap for action for business to address the root causes of popular grievance in areas such as fair wages, reskilling to adapt to the AI revolution and fostering civil discourse.”

About Richard Edelman

Richard Edelman is the CEO of Edelman, a global communications firm, and Chairman of Daniel J. Edelman Holdings, the firm’s holding company. Founded in 1952 by Richard’s father Dan, Edelman is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary of operations in Japan.
With more than 6,000 employees in more than 60 offices across 28 countries, Edelman is proud to be independent and family owned.

With almost three decades as CEO, Richard is one of the longest tenured agency leaders in the marketing services industry. Richard has extensive experience in marketing and reputation management, having led assignments with major corporations, NGOs and family businesses. As the creator of the annual Edelman Trust Barometer, Richard has become one of the foremost authorities on trust in business, government, media and NGOs. Now in its 25th year, the Edelman Trust Barometer is widely recognized as the leading piece of research on trust.

Richard serves on multiple boards, committees and counsels including the Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP), the Atlantic Council, and the National Committee on U.S. China Relations. Richard earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College.

Comment from Yoshito Hori

Yoshito Hori
Founder and President, GLOBIS Corporation & GLOBIS University
Founder and Managing Partner, GLOBIS Capital Partners

In June 2024, after years of building a trusted relationship with Richard Edelman, I joined Daniel J. Edelman Holdings, Inc. as a non-executive director. In this role, I have contributed to the company’s global management strategy by providing insights from Japan and across Asia.

This seminar co-hosted with Edelman provided a valuable opportunity to compare trust dynamics in Japan and the world while discussing the role that businesses must play in fostering trust.

Moving forward, I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Edelman, leveraging our collective expertise and networks to support the growth of both businesses and society.

About Yoshito Hori

Yoshito Hori is the founder and president of GLOBIS Corporation and GLOBIS University, which are Japan’s No.1 corporate training provider and business school respectively. He is also a founding partner of GLOBIS Capital Partners, the No.1 venture capital firm in Japan, and president of the G1 Institute, a platform to create a better Japan. His other roles include founder of the KIBOW Foundation, a project to support the revitalization after the Great Tohoku Earthquake; owner of the Ibaraki Robots, a professional basketball team in his hometown of Mito; owner of the LuckyFM Ibaraki Broadcasting System, Ibaraki’s only prefecture-wide media company; and producer of LuckyFes, an annual music festival held in Mito.

He is an author of several books including Dear Visionary Leaders Who Create and Innovate Societies, Six Dimensions of Life, My Personal Mission Statement, The Case-Method Approach to Strategic Entrepreneurship, and Venture Management Revolution.

He received his BS in engineering from Kyoto University and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

About Edelman

Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. With 6,000 employees across over 60 offices, Edelman develops communication strategies that build client confidence and stakeholder trust. The firm boasts an array of accolades, including PRWeek’s Agency Dynasty of the Past 25 Years and Global Agency of the Year (2023) and Cannes Lions Independent Agency of the Year for the Good Track (2024 & 2022). Recognized as a standout agency by AdAge (2023) and honored with multiple Cannes Lions, including Titanium, Grand Prix and seven Gold Lions since 2021, Edelman consistently sets the industry standard. In 2025, Edelman celebrates its 20th anniversary in Japan.

Since our founding in 1952, we have remained an independent, family-run business. Edelman owns specialty companies Edelman Data x Intelligence (research, data), Edelman Smithfield (financial communications), and UEG (entertainment, sports and lifestyle).

For more information, visit https://www.edelman.jp/

About GLOBIS

Since its foundation in 1992, GLOBIS has fostered a vision to create and innovate societies by fostering management ecosystems of people, capital, and knowledge. Today, the company is involved in a range of activities, from higher education and corporate training to venture capital. GLOBIS also operates the G1 Institute and the KIBOW Foundation, both non-profit organizations to promote creativity and innovation in society. The GLOBIS MBA and corporate training programs are offered both online and in person across Japan, China, Singapore, Thailand, the USA, Belgium, and the Philippines. GLOBIS University is the proud home of Japan’s largest MBA and is rapidly growing to claim this title for all of Asia.