Nobuyuki Idei's Second Act

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Now he worries that it's eroding the country's competitiveness. As one of Japan Inc.'s elder statesman, he sees himself as the person to close the gap between young entrepreneurs and Japan's business Establishment. "There is no cross-generational discussion because of the importance of seniority here," he says. Idei might also be trying to show that he refuses to be defined by his tarnished record at Sony.

Two years ago, Idei decided to act. He got in touch with entrepreneurs, inviting them and their families for barbecues at his weekend house in Karuizawa, an exclusive community in the Japanese Alps, north of Tokyo. Among those who showed up at various times were Hoshino Resort's 47-year-old CEO, Yoshiharu Hoshino, Internet brokerage Monex Bean's 44-year-old CEO Oki Matsumoto, and Yoshito Hori, the 45-year-old founder of Globis, which runs a private MBA program and venture funds. Other participants were Fuji Xerox's ex-Chairman Yotaro Kobayashi, Orix CEO Yoshihiko Miyauch, and internationally acclaimed architect Yoshio Taniguchi. "It was babies to 80-year-olds all together," says Idei.

Forming a Networking Club

Hori was surprised when he got a call. He had known of Idei but the two had never met before. He saw the ex-Sony chief as a member of the old guard. That impression changed almost immediately. As they talked between sips of Screaming Eagle, a California cult wine that sells for thousands of dollars a bottle, Hori found Idei's informality disarming. Later, Idei agreed to meet with executives of a robotics company Hori's fund had invested in. "Mostly it's a casual relationship," says Hori. "I don't normally call him but I have his cell phone number so I can, which is amazing to have with someone of his generation."

The barbecues continue but Idei now has a more formal outlet for his networking. Twice a month Idei has hosted lectures featuring venture capitalists for dozens of young Japanese entrepreneurs. Startups in Japan rarely get that kind of exposure. In the fiscal year ended in March, 2006, they attracted just $2.2 billion in venture capital, according to the Venture Enterprise Center, a government-funded research outfit that surveyed 90 funds. Though the figure is up 50% from the previous year it's only about a tenth of the VC market in the U.S.

To give executives from multibillion-dollar companies and startups a place to socialize, Idei has begun lining up dues-paying members for an exclusive Club 100 he founded last April. Ability isn't his only criteria: "Passion and personality and emotion and ethics are important, too." And seniority will play a minimal role, unlike the business lobby groups where, as Idei puts it, "if you're 60 you're considered young."

No Looking Back at His Sony Days

Speed is a distinguishing Idei trait. That will be key if he ever runs his own VC, as he's planning to do. LocationValue CEO Masaru "Sunny" Sunagawa remembers how, in the middle of one meeting, Idei suddenly pulled out his cell phone to make a call. "Two days later, we met with the CEO of this company he had called," says Sunagawa, whose company runs Otetsudai Networks, a mobile, online jobs marketplace. Ordinarily, "you can't get an appointment in Japan in two days." Another Idei introduction landed an appointment a week later with the head of a Japanese convenience store chain, who decided on the spot to sign a deal. "People are willing to take his calls," says Sunagawa.

How does Idei's new career compare with running a $70 billion behemoth like Sony? "I miss being in a big corporation, but I don't want to go back," Idei says. "Physically and mentally it was draining."

Hall is BusinessWeek's technology correspondent in Tokyo .