Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group Holding Limited, has begun a teaching role in Japan after keeping a low profile during Beijing’s crackdown on the tech industry.
Starting May 1, Ma joined Tokyo College as a visiting professor, where he will focus on research related to sustainable agriculture and food production, and lead seminars on entrepreneurship.
The business magnate, known for his candid interviews with foreign media, retreated from the public eye following his criticism of Chinese regulators in late 2020.
His comments came after the last-minute halt of the initial public offering by Ant Group, Alibaba’s fintech affiliate, and subsequent regulatory actions against major Chinese tech firms, including a record $2.8 billion fine imposed on Alibaba.
Ma spent a significant portion of 2022 in central Tokyo. Recently, Beijing has expressed its intention to resolve regulatory issues within the internet sector to enhance investor and entrepreneurial confidence.
In March, Ma returned to mainland China to support Alibaba’s CEO, Daniel Zhang, in restructuring the company into six separate units to address a sluggish share price performance.
Brian A. Wong, a former Alibaba executive and author of The Tao of Alibaba, described Ma as a symbol of entrepreneurial confidence in China.
Wong suggested that Ma’s presence indicates that “Alibaba is refreshing,” noting that while Ma is no longer involved in the daily operations of the company, his views and opinions still hold considerable influence.
In January, Ma relinquished his control of Ant Group, reducing his stake in the company and setting the stage for a potential IPO in Hong Kong or Shanghai.
As of the last check on Monday, BABA shares were down 0.13% at $84.58 in premarket trading.
