History

The Japan HR Society or JHRS (formerly known The Japan HR Link Network or JHRL) started off as a LinkedIn Group in 2007. It was created by Jun Kabigting, founder and incumbent Chief Community Officer, and its initial and current logos were designed by co-founder and Vice Chief Community Officer, Dean Fujii.

However, since most HR professionals in Japan are not LinkedIn members at that time and thus, this would prevent them from being a member of the Group, JHRS decided to spin-off from LinkedIn and launched its own website under a web platform combining the best of traditional websites, social networking site, and use of Web 2.0 technologies (e.g., RSS, Discussion Fora, Blogs, etc.).

This decision proved to be a very good one as JHRS membership rose from around 50 members when it was still a LinkedIn Group to more than 500 members as of end of August 2011.

Starting from 01 April 2009, JHRL was re-born to become The Japan HR Society (JHRS) as a result of a members' poll to change the name of the group.