People often ask, “Why does it take so long for Japanese enterprises to make a decision?” or “Who’s making the final call?” If you don’t understand the process, your proposal could sit unapproved indefinitely. In Japanese enterprises, decision-making is less about a top-down directive and more about open discussions involving everyone from general staff to directors. This is known as the gōgi system, a consensus-based decision-making process. Why Does Everyone Need to Agree? The...
When doing business in Japan, understanding how decisions are made and how organizations are structured is essential for success. Japanese companies tend to operate with a strong emphasis on hierarchy, consensus-building, and involving multiple departments in decision-making. In the second video from our YouTube series with Japanese B2B sales and strategy expert Horita, we explore the unique characteristics of Japanese corporate structures — including the roles of various stakeholders, the challenges of siloed departments,...
How much would you pay to get into a room with the right people in Japan? ¥10,000 or more? In a market where relationships still outrank resumes and cold emails often go unopened, attending curated networking events is less a luxury and more a necessary business function. But why pay at all? With countless free events on platforms like Lu.ma or Meetup, you might wonder why pay for access at all. Let’s think of...
The Osaka Expo 2025 is more than just a global event — it’s a powerful platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to tap into new growth opportunities in Japan and across Asia. For internationally minded businesses already established overseas or in Japan, the Expo offers a chance to accelerate expansion, forge strategic partnerships, and uncover hidden business opportunities. A Zombie Market Ready for Revitalization While Japan is renowned for its global giants, SMEs...
In Japan, temperatures are slowly rising and in Tokyo we are enjoying blue skies daily. Spring is in the air and the national cherry blossom forecast has been published, sparking a flurry of interest from domestic and international travelers keen to experience the beauty of Japan’s sakura season. Sakura-themed Products Besides the warmer weather, one herald of Spring in Japan is the appearance of cherry-blossom themed items in supermarkets, cafes and convenience stores. In...
In Japan, the business card or meishi is more than just a tool for sharing contact information—it is a symbol of respect, professionalism, and a key part of building relationships. While the business card culture may be less popular abroad, in Japan, having a stack of business cards in your card case is still very much expected. If you are aiming to establish connections with Japanese companies as part of your market entry strategy,...
New Horizons – Why We Welcome Interns At YOUNEEDS Co., Ltd. (“YOUNEEDS”), we believe that fostering the growth of future international marketing professionals is a key part of our mission as a Japanese market entry company. For this reason, we occasionally welcome interns from overseas to participate in our YOUNEEDS International Internships. This initiative helps our team gain fresh perspectives on international markets, while providing our interns with hands-on experience which they can leverage...
In the last week of September 2024, our CEO Waka Someno and our Sales Advisor Kina Jackson visited the Marketing Week Osaka Expo. Held at Intex Osaka from September 25 to 27, 2024, the Marketing Week Expo brings together three major exhibitions: Marketing Week Osaka, COSME Week Osaka, and LIFESTYLE Week Kansai. Each of these major exhibitions includes multiple smaller expos centering on different business subsections, where sellers and companies can showcase their goods...
“DX” is shorthand for a process which has affected all our lives intensely in recent years – “digital transformation.” This term represents much more than simply going paperless. It is about redefining how businesses operate at a fundamental level. DX entails a comprehensive cultural shift that touches every aspect of modern business practices. In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing environment, adopting DX is no longer optional. It is essential for staying competitive. For companies looking...
In the world of business and product development, companies often adopt one of two strategic approaches; “market-in” or “product-out.” These terms denote fundamentally different approaches to understanding customer needs, developing products, and driving growth. In this blog post, our editorial team examines the benefits and drawbacks of both approaches in relation to Japan. We go over the methodology which foreign companies tend to favor, and lastly offer our own perspective on this fascinating topic....
