The race is a national championship contested between Japan's corporate (business) running teams.
He contended that all of corporate Japan needed to make these changes if the economy here was ever to rebound.
It would be a great shock for corporate Japan.
Although profits are growing in corporate Japan, many companies have been reluctant to raise salaries to keep costs down.
The changes in corporate Japan have also transformed other parts of the economy.
Nevertheless, the relationship between corporate Japan and officialdom is extremely close.
In corporate Japan, companies have long preferred to run with the pack.
But make no mistake, its roots are in corporate Japan.
"These changes have not given anyone a leg up on corporate Japan."
For the big exporters of corporate Japan, the nightmare should be over.