Paper Title
Japanese Food Supply Chain Management: Sharing The X-Factor

Abstract
Japan is considered as a supply chain superpower. Yet, little is known about the Japanese food supply chain management. Thus, the focus of this paper is on explicating the structure and integration level of the Japanese food supply chain. Twenty interviews with supply chain managers, working with Japanese food and beverage companies in Malaysia were conducted using an open ended interview approach. These companies were randomly selected based on the Japan External Trade Organizations (JETRO) listing. Using a qualitative approach, the evidence suggests that a short and simple structure is a platform of the food supply chain and there exists a different level of integration along the chain. Conclusions are presented along with limitations and future research directions. Index Terms� Food Supply Chain, Japanese Companies, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Integration.