Our Team
Meet Our Team At YOUNEEDS
Our team is the beating heart of YOUNEEDS Co., Ltd. Our company is made up of market professionals with diverse specialisms, allowing us to adapt to a wide range of requests with skill and flexibility. Despite our different backgrounds, we all share a similar vision – to bring value to our foreign and domestic clients, and to society, through our work at YOUNEEDS.
CEO
Waka Someno
Our CEO at YOUNEEDS, Waka has been facilitating new business leads in the Japanese market for over 14 years. During this time, he has gained deep insight into consumer behavior and business trends in Japan. He has headed the strategic planning and execution of many marketing campaigns, leading his team to maximize results for our clients. Waka’s experience in cross-cultural communication, sales and marketing in Japan has made him acutely aware of what is required for business success in the Japanese market.
Besides our company, Waka also heads a marketing and sales consulting firm for Japanese companies. At YOUNEEDS, it is Waka’s mission to help foreign clients expand their business to new horizons in Japan.
Chief Strategy Officer & Chief Legal Officer (CSO/CLO)
Tatsuya Kawahara
Tatsuya is a seasoned legal professional with extensive industry experience. Certified as an Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist (Administrative Scrivener), Tatsuya has worked on a wide range of cases in Japan, from individual matters to corporate affairs. He is adept at navigating the legal processes surrounding permits, licenses, funding applications and government filings. Tatsuya and his team can work flexibly to assess and accommodate your company’s needs, providing advice on navigating Japan’s legislative landscape, assisting in preparation of documents, drafting contracts and more.
In addition to his work at YOUNEEDS, Tatsuya also specializes in the procurement of drone licenses in Japan.
Interpreter
Ashley van Gool
Ashley is a multi-lingual Japanese expert with a background in marketing and promotion. Her expertise in international marketing and promotion covers client-facing communication, project management and media relations in an international environment. Ashley leverages her outstanding abilities in Japanese, English and Dutch to provide value to her clients in Japan, the Netherlands and beyond. Ashley also possesses extensive knowledge of Google Adds, online marketing, SEO and analytics, making her an integral part of the YOUNEEDS team.
Contact us today to discuss the goals of your company in Japan. Our professional team looks forward to assisting you with your company’s entry into the Japanese market.
DX Advisor
Makoto Takashiba
A professional in Digital Transformation, known as “DX,” Makoto helps companies modernize and expand their digital offerings. DX greatly impacts user experience, with sound DX design helping to attract a loyal userbase. With experience heading the DX Promotion department at a major drugstore chain in Japan, today, Makoto brings his highly specialized skillset to bear at YOUNEEDS. Led by Makoto, our DX team provides foreign companies with the advice and support they need to appropriately adapt their digital offerings for the Japanese market.
Marketing Advisor
Natsuno Sekijima
Natsuno is a marketing professional with extensive experience in advertising, sales promotion and events. Her experience as an in-house marketing specialist at one of Japan’s most well-known electronics manufacturers has given her insight into marketing trends in Japan, as well as the type of campaigns which resonate with Japanese customers. At YOUNEEDS, well-localized and effective marketing, tailored to the target audience, is one of the cornerstones of our market entry strategy for foreign companies looking to expand in Japan. Led by Natsuno, our team of marketing professionals are waiting to provide your company with bespoke marketing strategies, as well as advice on how best to adapt your marketing materials to get your message across effectively.
Trade Advisor
Ahron Kwon
Hailing from Korea, Ahron is a multi-lingual expert in international trade. Ahron gained a deep understanding of international trade priorities while working in the overseas business division of a major Japanese manufacturer. Today, he leverages his insight into international markets to provide value to his clients at YOUNEEDS. Supported by our team of market professionals, Ahron offers insight into international markets, consults on trade in the Asia Pacific region, and provides valuable insight into upcoming trends in global imports and exports. His insight helps our foreign clients gain greater understanding of the nuts and bolts of international trade in relation to Japan and the Asia Pacific region, helping them to expand their trade network effectively.