Business Success Japan – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Tim Romero is a Tokyo-based entrepreneur, author, and innovator with a diverse background in startups and technology. He is deeply engaged in Japan's startup ecosystem as a Partner at JERA Ventures, with a focus on sustainability and decarbonization. Previously, he led initiatives at Google for Startups Japan and has founded several companies throughout his career. Tim also hosts the podcast "Disrupting Japan," where he explores the unique stories of Japanese entrepreneurs. His journey reflects resilience and a commitment to fostering innovation in Japan's vibrant startup community.

Disrupting Japan. https://www.disruptingjapan.com/

Way more about Tim than you wanted to know (according to Tim): https://www.disruptingjapan.com/tim/

LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/timromero/

Twitter: https://x.com/timoth3y

Want to support the podcast? Check the podcast's ko-fi page to help keep me well-caffeinated and making content: https://ko-fi.com/businesssuccessjapan

Be sure to follow or subscribe for more Japanese language and cultural insights. And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review so that other people can find it as well. And of course, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, please email me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠businesssuccessjapan@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a voice message here: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/message

This past spring, we recorded a live episode of the Business Success Japan Podcast at Tokyo Comedy Bar with three incredible guests: Katheryn Gronauer, Anthony Griffin, and Austin Zeng.

During this very special live event, we explored several important topics for navigating business in Japan:

• Katheryn, an executive coach, shared valuable insights into cross-cultural challenges and the importance of work-life balance.

• Anthony, a marketing professional, emphasized the significance of learning Japanese and deeply understanding the local market.

• Austin, a freelancer, offered a unique perspective on the advantages of being a foreigner in Japan and the challenges of balancing work and family.

We also addressed:

• The impact of COVID-19 on businesses.

• The effects of the weakening yen.

• How Japan’s job market is evolving.

  
  

Katheryn Gronauer is an Executive Coach who helps leaders find their footing. She has expertise in leadership, cross-cultural transition, and work-life balance. Katheryn is also a Tedx Speaker, Author, and has been featured in publications including The Japan Times, HuffPost, Women’s Health magazine.
For more information, visit:
www.katheryngronauer.com
www.linkedin.com/in/katheryngronauer
www.instagram.com/katheryngronauer

Previous Interview

Anthony Griffin is a marketer and communications coach who helps Japanese companies market to international audiences. Before founding Saga Consulting, he served as the marketing and communications manager for the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. As a communications coach, he has been credited for helping Fortune 500 executives earn global-level promotions. He also runs Kokoro Media, which represents a network of authors exploring the heart of Japan through travel, people, language, and culture.

For more information, visit:

Saga Consulting: https://www.consultsaga.com/
Kokoro Media: https://medium.com/kokoro-media

Previous Interview

Austin Zeng is the Founder of MEXT Scholars Association and lecturer for career development for foreign students in Japan. Works also as a freelance programmer and translator for mainly Japanese graduates. He is a University of Tokyo '17 Graduate and is currently living in Singapore.

For more information, visit:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-zeng-120a4563/

Previous Interview

Venue: Tokyo Comedy Bar

https://www.tokyocomedybar.com/

Want to support the podcast? Check the podcast's ko-fi page to help keep me well-caffeinated and making content: https://ko-fi.com/businesssuccessjapan

Be sure to follow or subscribe for more Japanese language and cultural insights. And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review so that other people can find it as well. And of course, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, please email me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠businesssuccessjapan@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a voice message here: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/message

[This interview was originally published on November 11th, 2021.]

UPDATE: Richard Katz is publishing a new book on entrepreneurship in Japan. If you're interested in pre-ordering, be sure to subscribe to his substack to get 30% off the hardcover version. It's one of the best ways to support writers, as it signals interest to publishes and encourages them to do larger prints and invest more in advertising: https://richardkatz.substack.com/p/30-off-for-my-book-on-japan-entrepreneurship

Today's guest Richard Katz has worked for decades as a journalist working on the Japanese economy, and he has written two books on Japan: "The System That Soured" and "Japanese Phoenix." He is now working on a third, about how to nurture a new generation of high-growth, innovative small and medium enterprises in Japan. He has published various op-eds and essays in publications such as "Foreign Affairs," The "Financial Times," Toyo Keizai, and the "Wall Street Journal Asia." A few of the topics covered in today's conversation include the dormant entrepreneurship in Japan, the broken promises made to working women, and why structural issues around finance in Japan may be one of its greatest hindrances to growth.

Richard's Links: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-katz-937308204/

Blog: ⁠https://richardkatz.substack.com/welcome⁠

Entrepreneurial Revival In Japan: A False Spring or Real Opportunity? (⁠UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy⁠): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xo1LYV860g

Further Reading: 

Why Nobody Invests in Japan: ⁠https://www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/redeem/5gAlISIPRr8⁠

Old corporate champions can’t save Japan: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/05/30/old-corporate-champions-cant-save-japan/

Japan’s Looming Climate Showdown: ⁠https://www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/redeem/rdp-a4Eil74⁠

An Election Mandate For Growth and Redistribution: https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/464660

Want to support the podcast? Check the podcast's ko-fi page to help keep me well-caffeinated and making content: https://ko-fi.com/businesssuccessjapan

Be sure to follow or subscribe for more Japanese language and cultural insights. And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review so that other people can find it as well. And of course, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, please email me at ⁠businesssuccessjapan@gmail.com⁠.

I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a voice message here: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/message

A brief update on the podcast publishing schedule in the coming months.

Kasia Lynch is a trilingual American who spent 8 years in Japan, including high school, college, graduate school, and her professional career. She earned her Bachelor’s from Boston University and Master’s from Tokyo’s Ochanomizu University. 

Kasia’s career utilizing Japanese language and cultural skills began in 2003 with concert promotion, and later moved to interpreting/translating, electronics, and the automotive industry. She was able to do this while living in Japan, Poland, Italy, and the US. 

Since starting Ikigai Connections in 2018, Kasia has been featured in various Japan-related podcasts, websites, and webinars, including the US-Japan Bridging Foundation, the US JET alumni association, Laurasian Institution, and BFF Tokyo. Her goal is for NihongoJobs.com to become the go-to job board for all Japanese jobs in the US.

Topics covered today include:

-finding a Japan-focused job outside of Japan

-how to build a career as a successful 架け橋人材 (or “cultural-bridge employee”), and why it’s so valuable

-getting your desired role even when you don’t fit the job description

Kasia's Links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kasiaikigai/
ikigaiconnections.com 

Want to support the podcast? Check the podcast's ko-fi page to help keep me well-caffeinated enough to keep making content: https://ko-fi.com/businesssuccessjapan

Be sure to follow or subscribe for more Japanese language and cultural insights. And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review so that other people can find it as well. And of course, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, please email me at ⁠⁠businesssuccessjapan@gmail.com⁠⁠.

I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a voice message here: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/message

Nicki is a single mother and entrepreneur with one leg firmly planted in Amsterdam and one in Tokyo. Back in 2011 she moved with her then husband to Tokyo as a trailing wife. Unable to find a job and reach her objective to be at a native level in her Japanese ability two years in, she decided to start her own company called “Tokiotours”. 10 years later she’s had a child, is divorced and has her “home base” back in Amsterdam from where she runs her tour guide business together with a business partner located in Tokyo. What started out as a simple side business has grown into a flourishing business with 50 local guides working for her from various destinations. Not only does she offer private guided tours to tourists, but she also focuses on market explorations for the B2B market where she helps companies take their first steps on the Japanese market.

Topics covered in today's conversation include:

-how and why pregnant foreigners in Japan struggle to get their needs met

-how and why the famously high-quality customer service in Japan can be so inflexible

-differences in relationship-building and privacy in Japan

-how expatriation can impact a couple’s relationship

-how family and the “domestic sphere” is viewed differently in Japan

Nicki's Links:

-⁠www.tokiotours.nl⁠

-⁠www.tokiotours.com⁠

-⁠www.facebook.com/tokiotours⁠⁠www.facebook.com/verkenjapan⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokiotours/⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/verkenjapan⁠⁠https://Instagram.com/tokiotours⁠⁠https://Instagram.com/verkenjapan⁠⁠https://instagram.com/Nicki_Amsterdam⁠

⁠=https://twitter.com/tokiotours⁠

-⁠⁠Nicki@tokiotours.com⁠⁠

Want to support the podcast? Check the podcast's ko-fi page to help keep me well-caffeinated enough to keep making content: https://ko-fi.com/businesssuccessjapan

Be sure to follow or subscribe for more Japanese language and cultural insights. And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review so that other people can find it as well. And of course, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, please email me at ⁠⁠businesssuccessjapan@gmail.com⁠⁠.

I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a voice message here: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/message

Nicki is a single mother and entrepreneur with one leg firmly planted in Amsterdam and one in Tokyo. Back in 2011 she moved with her then husband to Tokyo as a trailing wife. Unable to find a job and reach her objective to be at a native level in her Japanese ability two years in, she decided to start her own company called “Tokiotours”. 10 years later she’s had a child, is divorced and has her “home base” back in Amsterdam from where she runs her tour guide business together with a business partner located in Tokyo. What started out as a simple side business has grown into a flourishing business with 50 local guides working for her from various destinations. Not only does she offer private guided tours to tourists, but she also focuses on market explorations for the B2B market where she helps companies take their first steps on the Japanese market.

Topics covered in today's conversation include:

-how not understanding Japanese culture will sabotage your business prospects

–Nicki’s experience moving from a trailing spouse to entrepreneur in Japan

-what it takes to be a successful tour guide

-why leaving ambiguity almost always results in a “no” from clients

-how to manage your expectations and make the most of your time in Japan

Nicki's Links:

-www.tokiotours.nl

-www.tokiotours.com

-www.facebook.com/tokiotours
www.facebook.com/verkenjapan
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokiotours/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/verkenjapan
https://Instagram.com/tokiotours
https://Instagram.com/verkenjapan
https://instagram.com/Nicki_Amsterdam

=https://twitter.com/tokiotours

-⁠Nicki@tokiotours.com⁠

Want to support the podcast? Check the podcast's ko-fi page to help keep me well-caffeinated enough to keep making content: https://ko-fi.com/businesssuccessjapan

Be sure to follow or subscribe for more Japanese language and cultural insights. And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review so that other people can find it as well. And of course, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, please email me at ⁠businesssuccessjapan@gmail.com⁠.

I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a voice message here: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/message

DC Palter is the author of the mystery novel To Kill a Unicorn about Japanese culture in Silicon Valley, and the Tuttle guidebook on Kansai-ben, Colloquial Kansai Japanese. He's also editor of Japonica, the journal of Japanese culture. He previously lived in Kobe as an engineer at Kobe Steel before founding two tech startups and returns to Japan frequently to visit sake breweries and eat nikuman.

Check out part 1 of our conversation here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/AUM3DHLZYzb

Topics covered in today's episode include:

-the many things that haven’t changed in Japan since the 80’s

-why the successes of the Japanese education system may be holding it back

-simple fixes that could allow for startups to succeed

-why there’s no substitute for in-person communication in Japan

DC Palter's Links:

To Kill a Unicorn: ⁠https://amzn.to/3sD2SGH⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/dc-palter/⁠ Japonica: ⁠https://medium.com/japonica-publication⁠

Want to support the podcast? Check the podcast's ko-fi page to help keep me well-caffeinated enough to keep making content: https://ko-fi.com/businesssuccessjapan

Be sure to follow or subscribe for more Japanese language and cultural insights. And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review so that other people can find it as well. And of course, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, please email me at ⁠businesssuccessjapan@gmail.com⁠.

I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a voice message here: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/message

DC Palter is the author of the mystery novel To Kill a Unicorn about Japanese culture in Silicon Valley, and the Tuttle guidebook on Kansai-ben, Colloquial Kansai Japanese. He's also editor of Japonica, the journal of Japanese culture. He previously lived in Kobe as an engineer at Kobe Steel before founding two tech startups and returns to Japan frequently to visit sake breweries and eat nikuman.

Topics covered in today's episode include:

-how communication still fails even when speaking the same language

-why Japanese is easier than Spanish (for Engineers, at least)

-how to effectively manage cross-cultural communication

-why there’s (still) no substitute for meeting with Japanese counterparts in-person

-what’s changed about life in Japan since the 80’s

DC Palter's Links:

To Kill a Unicorn: https://amzn.to/3sD2SGH LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dc-palter/ Japonica: https://medium.com/japonica-publication

Want to support the podcast? Check the podcast's ko-fi page to help keep me well-caffeinated enough to keep making content: https://ko-fi.com/businesssuccessjapan

Be sure to follow or subscribe for more Japanese language and cultural insights. And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review so that other people can find it as well. And of course, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, please email me at businesssuccessjapan@gmail.com.

I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a voice message here: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/message

Richard Berger was born and raised in the United States but has spent almost 35 years in Japan, first as a university student in the mid 1980s, and then for work since 1990.

He spent 20 years working at Canon’s global headquarters in Tokyo, where he was in charge of global PR, and later moved to Link Global Solution, an intercultural communication training company, where he was director of communications.

Richard now works on a freelance basis, doing translation, transcreation, writing, and video work, including animated educational movies. Be sure to keep listening to learn more about his experiences and insights into working in Japan and learning Japanese.

In today's episode, Richard shares some of what he’s learned about successfully navigating life in Japan:

-Engaging the culture with an open mind (and closed mouth) goes much further than you might expect.

-Forcing yourself to think in Japanese can break through dreaded language-learning plateaus. 

-Networking in Japan will get you far, but only if you’re willing to take it slow.

Richard's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-berger/

Want to support the podcast? Check the podcast's ko-fi page to help keep me well-caffeinated enough to keep making content: https://ko-fi.com/businesssuccessjapan

Be sure to follow or subscribe for more Japanese language and cultural insights. And if you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review so that other people can find it as well. And of course, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, please email me at businesssuccessjapan@gmail.com.

I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a voice message here: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/message