Japan is back! Due to headwinds from the Chinese market, European manufacturers and brands have recently shown renewed interest in the Japanese market. While many large companies have been active in Japan for decades, small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are curious about new opportunities there but often don’t know how to develop and implement a market entry strategy. They need a market access specialist like today’s guest, Pascal Gudorf, founder and CEO of JBI (Japan Business Insights).

Who is he?

Pascal Gudorf is a Japan resident with over 20 years of experience. Originally from Germany, he has lived and worked in Japan since 1999.

He served as editor-in-chief of JAPANMARKET, the leading magazine for German companies doing business in and with Japan. Previously, he worked for the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan before joining Mitsui & Co., one of Japan’s most powerful trading companies. There, he spent six years helping equipment manufacturers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom deliver projects for Japanese customers.

Back in Japan, Pascal transitioned to working as an independent market entry consultant. In 2023, he founded his own management consultancy, JBI (Japan Business Insights). He helps startups and SMEs succeed in some of Japan’s most demanding sectors, including cleantech, energy, mobility, and infrastructure services. Pascal continues to represent ECOS and the State of Thuringia, bridging the innovation ecosystems of Germany and Japan. He is based in Fukuoka.

What does Japan Business Insights do?

Pascal’s consulting firm helps clients develop strategies for entering the Japanese market and provides guidance to foreign companies looking to expand there. Japan Business Insights offers continuous support to help clients overcome challenges after entering the market through the formation of a direct subsidiary, joint venture, or distribution channel partnership.

Pascal is also the co-author, with longtime colleague Richard Mort, of Getting to “Yes” in Japan. He is a prolific LinkedIn contributor who frequently publishes original industry trend reports in English on the Japan Business Insights website.

Key Takeaways

* Be aware of cultural differences: Developing at least a rudimentary level of proficiency in Japanese is highly advantageous for succeeding in business in Japan, but studying the nuances of Japanese culture is critical. Pascal, who is fluent in Japanese, English, German, and French, often counsels his European clients to approach their Japanese counterparts in the context of Geert Hofstede’s Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI). The UAI measures how strongly different cultures are threatened by ambiguity and uncertainty, as well as how much they rely on rules, structure, and predictability to reduce anxiety. High-UAI cultures, such as those in Japan, Greece, Portugal, France, and many Latin American countries, tend to emphasize clear rules, detailed planning, job security, and risk avoidance. This reflects a preference for stability and discomfort with improvisation. Conversely, low-UAI cultures, including Singapore, Denmark, Sweden, the U.K., and the U.S., are generally more comfortable with ambiguity, experimentation, flexible rules, and entrepreneurial risk. Countries in the middle range, such as Germany and China, blend structure with pragmatism, tolerating uncertainty when it supports efficiency or long-term goals. Overall, the index highlights how deeply cultural values shape people’s tolerance for risk, innovation, and social norms.

* Entrepreneurship outside Japan’s megacities: After serving in Germany, Pascal and his family moved back to Japan just before the pandemic. Despite having spent decades living and working in Tokyo, Pascal made the bold choice to open his own market access consultancy in Fukuoka, a growing regional city in the southwestern part of the country. His success proves that enterprising foreigners can succeed in Japan’s business world outside the megacity centers of Greater Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

* Advance preparation is key: Pascal has helped many European businesses develop effective go-to-market strategies, establish wholly owned subsidiaries, find partners, and optimize existing operations in Japan over the years. He gives virtually all of his clients one piece of advice: approach the Japanese market having done plenty of advance preparation. Don’t try to wing it. Do your homework in advance and come prepared with a long list of questions.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Substack (Japan Business Secrets):

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pgudorf/

* Website: https://www.jbi.one/

#PascalGudorf #JapanBusinessInsights #JBI #JapanBusinessSecrets #JapanSME #CrossBorderJapan #JapanMarketEntry #RealGaijin #パスカルグドルフ #中小企業 #日本中小企業 #日本クロスボーダー #日本市場参入 #日本中小企業買収 #外人 #外国人 #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee (or maybe a matcha latte) for Real Gaijin, you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

In addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:

Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/month

Bamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)

Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/month

In Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”

For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for “pine” is “matsu.” In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is “take,” but the on-yomi is “chiku.” Similarly, the word for plum is “ume,” but the on-yomi is “bai.”

No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

There are the “old hands” of Japan—foreign professionals who arrived decades ago, before bilingual signage, Google Maps, and sushi restaurants on every corner. They’ve built careers, raised families, and witnessed Japan’s transformation from the bubble era to the digital age. They’re fluent not just in language, but also in the unspoken rules. They’ve learned to navigate bureaucracy, hierarchy, and the subtle art of reading the room. For many of them, Japan isn’t just an exotic assignment or a temporary phase; it’s home. Their stories reveal what it means to belong to a place that officially still considers you a guest.

Today, we were fortunate to speak with Larry Kieffer, a longtime Tokyo resident who has built a successful executive recruiting business. He shared his insights about the Japanese job market from the perspective of a father.

Who is he?

Meet Larry Kieffer, also known as “The Headhunter Dad.”

Originally from New York, Larry sold pots, pans, skis, and tennis rackets before moving to Hawaii. There, he earned an MBA through a cooperative program between the University of Hawaii and the Japan American Institute of Management Science (JAIMS). He moved to Japan in 1995 and joined a Japanese recruiting firm. In 1999, he shifted gears to join an internet venture focused on web-based recruiting. In 2002, he launched his own executive recruiting firm. Larry is currently the COO of Fidel Consulting, Japan’s leading IT staffing firm. He is a certified personnel consultant and was a board member for the nonprofit Tokyo English Lifeline. Larry also works as an adjunct professor at Temple University, where he teaches a Professional Development Strategies course to help undergraduates prepare for their careers.

Larry has two children, a son and a daughter. He has spent much of his career in the recruiting world contemplating how to offer career advice to young people from the perspective of a father providing counsel to his children. This led to the creation of The Headhunter Dad newsletter over 15 years ago.

Key Takeaways

* The Headhunter Dad: Whether you believe it or not, there are lessons you can teach kids as young as five, six, or seven that will positively impact their ability to land a job in the future. One such lesson is instilling confidence. Larry has researched and written extensively on this subject. Parents should accept early on that their children will have to compete against an ever-expanding pool of qualified applicants from around the world for the jobs of the future. Check out his blog/newsletter for more details.

* Recurring themes of job descriptions: Based on his 30+ years of experience, Larry can confidently say that, beyond technical requirements, employers continue to search for candidates who are skilled in communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Therefore, any aspiring job candidate would be wise to emphasize their capabilities in these three areas.

* Opportunities for foreigners seeking jobs in Japan: Japanese language proficiency remains key. However, there are plenty of other opportunities, such as international sales, beyond the common entry points to the Japanese job market: teaching English and recruiting. The IT field tends to be different because it is English-centric. Japan is currently facing an extreme shortage of qualified IT engineers. Thus, it is now possible to land a new job in this field in Japan without local language proficiency.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Substack:

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fidelconsulting/

* Website: https://www.headhunterdad.com/

* Fidel Consulting: https://fidelconsulting.com/en/

* Temple University, Japan Campus: https://www.tuj.ac.jp/

#LarryKieffer #TheHeadhunterDad #NewUniversityGraduatesJapan #EntryLevelJobMarket2025 #JobHuntingInJapan #ParentalSupportForJobSeekers #CareerGuidanceJapan #WorkingInJapanAsAForeigner #JobSearchAdviceJapan #ExecutiveRecruiter #FidelConsulting #キーファーラリー #新卒採用 #就活 #就職活動 #エグゼクティブリクルーター #フィデルコンサルティング

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee (or maybe a matcha latte) for Real Gaijin, you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

In addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:

Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/month

Bamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)

Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/month

In Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”

For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for “pine” is “matsu.” In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is “take,” but the on-yomi is “chiku.” Similarly, the word for plum is “ume,” but the on-yomi is “bai.”

No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Originally from the U.K., James does not readily fit into a particular category as defined by career path, area of study, or focus of interest. He is a true Renaissance man unafraid to make unconventional choices. James is living proof that foreigners can lead productive and fulfilling lives in Japan on their own terms.

He embodies a series of contrasts. He holds a master's degree yet now works for JR East for just above minimum wage cleaning train stations—on purpose. He is an accomplished novelist and screenwriter. In fact, he is currently collaborating with a movie production company to produce an original horror film that he wrote. James loves Japan and aspires to buy and remodel an abandoned home in the countryside while advancing in his career at JR East.

Key Takeaways

* In Japan, anything is possible. James has chosen a job cleaning train stations for the time being. It's quite physically demanding and doesn't pay very much. Bottom line: He needs to pay the rent. However, the job only requires 37.5 hours per week. It provides an opportunity to exercise outdoors and is free of office politics, which gives James extra time to think. The job does not follow him home. James has learned to optimize his time off to hone his talent for writing.

* A horror movie is in the works: While it’s still “early days,” and pre-production has not yet begun, James has successfully secured his first contract with a movie producer for a script he wrote. There are many steps in the process to get from this point to the ultimate release, but thus far, everything is on track to begin filming toward the end of 2025. In the meantime, James is doing rewrites and helping his producer plan next steps. Very exciting! We look forward to the premiere.

* Avid writer: While screenwriting for Hollywood seems fun and is certainly keeping James busy, his real passion is writing novels. To date, James has published eight novels, which are available on Kindle via Amazon. Recently, his book Ask Mark has attracted a lot of interest (see links below). He has another book in the works called List of Goals, which sounds intriguing.

Also…About 45 minutes into the interview, you will find out which movie star James would prefer for the lead role in his upcoming horror film:

* Willem Dafoe or Christopher Walken?

* Tom Hardy or Benedict Cumberbatch?

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* James’s Substack

* Extracts from Recent Books

* Meet Mark:

* Disease:

* Amazon

* Meet Mark: https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Mark-James-C-Douglas-ebook/dp/B0DWL4V8NH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ANMZW77R790G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jlIoEp1zcK1YzTJVa-gUTPOHJNmmLAWQRQWdlHHZltSB-bumoRtH6dPTOKSCNJtv3VUGH8aSjE3bYvDwNyNN9w.NHyBMxQ-qAGTpbG9i9RcPxoeB2reIa5KoJG8cQ63Iu0&dib_tag=se&keywords=james+c+douglas+meet+mark&qid=1750382124&sprefix=james+c+douglas+meet+mar%2Caps%2C311&sr=8-1

* Disease: https://www.amazon.com/Disease-James-C-Douglas-ebook/dp/B0BH174DKN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=236GZ45TV0EH5

* Bar in Shimokitazawa in Tokyo called GariGari where Jamese does live readings every 3rd Friday of the month: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EJNGXTzmewPvmhTFA

#JamesDouglas #JREast #ジェームズダグラス #JR東日本 #外国人 #外人

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.

Here’s how you can do this:

Go to your Dashboard.

Find Settings.

Go to Recommendations.

Go to Manage recommendations.

Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Have you ever found yourself at a career plateau, unable to advance? Do you consciously or unconsciously feel that you have lost the characteristic mojo that defined you earlier in life? If so, what can you do about it?

In Japan, an increasing number of organizations are hiring leadership/executive coaches to help their key managers get back on track. During an assignment, which typically lasts a year, these coaches are skilled at "peeling back the onion" to get to the root of the problem. They work closely with their clients to encourage positive change from within.

Is it possible to receive this level of personal coaching in English in Japan? The answer is yes, but you need to know where to look. One of the best places to find a professional leadership coach is, however, far removed from the corporate boardrooms of Otemachi in Tokyo. It's nestled deep in the beautiful mountains near Minakami in Gunma Prefecture, about an hour away from the city center. If you want to embark on a journey of personal transformation, look no further than Adventure Partner to seek out Head Coach Cory McGowan.

During Real Gaijin’s hour-long discussion with Cory, we covered a variety of subjects. Cory spoke to us from his “base camp” in Minakami, which overlooks a gorgeous forest and picturesque river. Cory first engages with his new clients in this setting during an intense, four-day “Wilderness Visioning Retreat” to be free of all distractions. Cory walked us through his approach to leadership and executive coaching. We also heard the backstory of how he ended up in Japan.

Key Takeaways

* What is leadership/executive coaching, and how is it different from what the head coach of a sports team does? Cory explained that coaches who focus on leadership, most commonly in the corporate arena, help leaders expand their capacity to lead.

* Adventure Partner offers a unique approach for the "under-expressed adventurous leader." It's not about coaching to develop or improve a specific skill. Instead, Cory helps his clients dig deep to transform into more impactful leaders.

* The coach's job is not to course correct, but to reflect. After the initial on-site session in Minakami, Cory follows up with each client about once every two weeks for up to a year to stay accountable.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Adventure Partner: https://www.adventure-partner.net/

* Satoshi Rides: https://www.satoshirides.com/

#CoryMcGowan #AdventurePartner #ontology #coaching #leadership #TransformationalCoach #ICF #ACC #DISC #neuroscience #foreigner #RenegadeCoach #Minakami #水上 #ミックガワンコリー #アドベンチャーパートナー #リーダーシップ #トランスフォーメーショナルコーチ #外国人 #外人

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.

Here’s how you can do this:

Go to your Dashboard.

Find Settings.

Go to Recommendations.

Go to Manage recommendations.

Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a digital nomad? Have you accumulated some extra PTO and want to combine work and pleasure in an exotic destination like Japan? How can you practically pull this off? What is it really like?

As its native population shrinks, Japan continues to attract large numbers of foreign tourists. The number of resident foreigners like me is also steadily growing and has recently topped 3.7 million, equivalent to approximately 3% of Japan’s population. There is now another way to enjoy an extended stay in Japan without putting down roots.

Thanks mainly to the internet, it is, of course, now possible for foreigners to travel to Japan and stay connected to their work abroad. With temporary visitor status they simply conduct short-term business activities from anywhere in the country.

Today, Real Gaijin will introduce you to someone who is doing just that.

Kristi Volchek is an expert product designer and former Chief Marketing Officer at a large tech firm. Now she is on a mission to help content creators and solopreneurs. She teaches user interface (UI) and product design at Dribbble and mentors designers at Liftzy. On top of all that, Kristi has a full roster of clients who provide her with more design work than she can handle on her own. And if that weren't enough, Kristi recently started teaching design at Growth Design School. She interacts with all her clients and students remotely.

Although it's possible to reach Kristi wherever she travels, we were fortunate to catch up with her while she's still in Japan. Originally from Belarus, Kristi and her partner have been traveling the world as digital nomads full-time since January. Currently, Kristi is in Fukuoka, but she will soon be heading to Taipei for the summer. Kristi absolutely loves living in Fukuoka, so her plan is to return to Japan in the fall. Kristi has also just recently been posting on Substack on a site called Kristi Notes.

Incidentally, Japan had always been on Kristi’s bucket list, but she and her partner had plenty of experience working in other places before visiting Fukuoka. They spent five years in the beautiful city of Krakow, Poland, where Kristi’s business is based, and spent a short time in Bangkok. You will, therefore, be able to ask how Japan — and Fukuoka in particular — compares to these other popular digital nomad destinations.

Also, for those who desire to stay longer, Japan is refining its official digital nomad visa program. See "Attention Global 'Techpats' — Japan to Open Doors with New Digital Nomad Visa.”

Key Takeaways

* Advice for Aspiring Digital Nomads: "Just do it!" There will never be a perfect time to start, so just get started. The older you get and the more established you become, the more difficult it will be to break old habits. Although you must be prepared to live minimally (e.g., out of a suitcase) and be highly adaptable, the rewards are enormous. So, step out of your comfort zone and give it a try!

* Fukuoka Welcomes You: In addition to being recognized as one of the most startup-friendly cities in Japan, Fukuoka is an exciting place for digital nomads to temporarily call home. This regional city of more than 1.6 million is just the right size for an urban center where you can avoid the perils of overtourism. You can be close to nature in downtown Fukuoka, or you can really get out into the countryside by taking a short train ride. Best of all, Fukuoka has a vibrant and supportive local digital nomad community with plenty of resources to help guide you.

* Culture of "Third Places" in Japan: Due to the limited floor plans of most Japanese homes, there is a well-established tradition of "third places" where people can work outside their homes (or hotel rooms) and offices. Thus, while you may be visiting Japan primarily for sightseeing, you can also stay connected with your business at coworking spaces, cafés, and other locations—some of which are free!

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Kristi at Work: https://kristi.digital/about

* Kristi on Substack: https://kristinotes.com/notes

* Recommended Resources for the Digital Nomad Community

* Colive Fukuoka: https://colivefukuoka.com/

* Hakata Mingle: https://www.meetup.com/ja-JP/meetup-group-irbxchax/

* Japan Digital Nomad Association: https://japandigitalnomad.com/

* Recommended Healthcare Related Resources

* International Medical Support Center in Fukuoka: https://telljp.com/wikitell/fukuoka-international-medical-support-center/

* Genki Health Insurance for Digital Nomads:

https://genki.world/

* Recommended Co-Working Spaces in Fukuoka

* Artist Café Fukuoka: https://artistcafe.jp/

* Bunkitsu Tenjin: https://tenjin.bunkitsu.jp/

* Diagonal Run Fukuoka: https://diagonal-run.jp/fukuoka/

* DOT: https://dot247.jp/

* The From: https://the-from.com/

#KristiVolchek #KristinaVolchek #DigitalNomad #ProductDesign #UI #Dribbble #Liftyz #solopreneur #GrowthDesignSchool #WebFlow #DigitalNomadsFukuoka #DigitalNomadism #RemoteWork #foreigner #TechPat #WorkCation #sabbatical #coworking #デジタルノマド #デジタルノマドビザ制度 #短期中期滞在者 #特定活動 #リモートワーク #在留資格 #デジタル革命 #テレワーク #旅人 #コワーキング #外国人 #外人

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.

Here’s how you can do this:

Go to your Dashboard.

Find Settings.

Go to Recommendations.

Go to Manage recommendations.

Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Life is a series of trade-offs. Many members of RetireJapan may not know that Ben Tanaka, the founder of this influential website and online community, may have chosen to keep his financial planning advice and insights a secret if he had joined Britain’s secret service. Hear the full backstory about a potential James Bond starting at 5:24.

Fortunately, Ben chose different paths during his extensive career in Japan. After chatting with him for over an hour, I would sum up his story in one word: resiliency.

You see, Ben decided to become financially independent after he was fired (listen from 10:07). Although it was a gut-wrenching experience for him at the time, it was, luckily for the rest of us, the seed of RetireJapan. Through thick and thin, Ben has always found a way to make ends meet, even supplementing his income as an ordained wedding celebrant for a period (jump to 17:05 for more details). Today, he is a trusted source of sound financial advice for thousands of people living in and outside of Japan.

Key Takeaways

* RetireJapan mainly focuses on helping people start their journey toward financial independence (e.g., "Your First Ten Million Yen" on-line 5-week course about personal finance outlined from 31:24).

* Sometimes a temporary setback opens up new opportunities; for example, Ben was fired at one point. This experience led him to become determined to attain financial independence so as not to become vulnerable in the future. This was also the impetus behind RetireJapan.

* As Ben demonstrated in his career, it is possible to pivot along the way, which can make you more resilient.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* RetireJapan Website: https://www.retirejapan.com/

* RetireJapan Substack:

* RetireJapan YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RetireJapan_OG

* Blog Post about Being a Wedding Celebrant: https://www.retirejapan.com/blog/only-in-japan-wedding-celebrants/

#BenTanaka #RetireJapan #TheFluencyCourse #foreigner #田中勉 #リタイヤジャパン #外国人 #外人

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.

Here’s how you can do this:

Go to your Dashboard.

Find Settings.

Go to Recommendations.

Go to Manage recommendations.

Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Today’s guest is a true Renaissance man who defies easy definition. Originally from the American Midwest, Allen Lindskoog has had many different roles in his long career before settling down with his wife as the co-owner of a beautiful 100-year-old traditional farmhouse in Japan, which they have transformed into an Airbnb. Nestled in the Minami Alps near Mt. Fuji, the “Yamanashi Mountain Home (YMH) Kominka Airbnb” is a real hidden gem.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

After hearing about Allen’s illustrious career and his path to Japan, find out how he and his wife, who is an interior designer, found their home/inn, spent years refurbishing it, and now enjoy welcoming guests from all over the world to Anayama, a small hamlet with a population of around 300 people, located in the countryside yet still accessible from central Tokyo (includes tour beginning from 16:53).

Key Takeaways

* Attention, fellow Substack writers! The YMH Kominka Airbnb is an ideal writers' retreat, offering plenty of nooks and alcoves inside, as well as a spacious outdoor deck from which to write.

* Approach the process of sourcing, remodelling, registering and opening an Airbnb “with your eyes wide open.” Remain patient and be realistic about the time and effort required.

* To become a well-adjusted long-term foreign resident of Japan, you must consciously uproot your own cultural biases to recalibrate your perspective and ensure that you fit in and enjoy life there (“rip out the daikon radish, as Allen advises).

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section, like YouTube's "chapters." So, please just refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Link to YMH Kominka Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1337226964296998845

* Kominka Life Japan Substack:

* Allen’s Book (available on Amazon): 10KLRS: 10,000 Lakes to the Rising Sun (English Edition)

#AllenLindskoog #KominkaLifeJapan #kominka #foreigner #MeijiUniversity #ChuoUniversity #HoseiUniversity #アレンリンズクーグ #法政大学 #明治大学 #中央大学 #古民家 #外国人 #外人

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.

Here’s how you can do this:

Go to your Dashboard.

Find Settings.

Go to Recommendations.

Go to Manage recommendations.

Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Today’s guest isn’t just living in Japan—he’s been redefining what it means to be a foreigner here for over two decades. From Brooklyn to Tokyo, Baye McNeil has carved out a career as a critically acclaimed author, columnist, and cultural commentator. You might know him from The Japan Times’ “Black Eye” column, or from his books that challenge, charm, and sometimes roast the status quo. His latest, Words by Baye, Art by Miki, is a beautiful, bold collaboration with his wife—a celebration of love, creativity, and carving a life together, one story (and stone) at a time. This one’s gonna stick with you.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Our hour-long discussion flew by, and we actually went a little over (sorry). Baye explained that his name means "straightforward" in Senegalese. I couldn't help but laugh at how aptly named he was! Please listen to the whole episode, but I have tried to pull out a few nuggets of pure gold for you.

Key Takeaways

* The “Empty Seat Phenomenon” in Japan - Microaggressions and the Mental Toll of Subtle Racism: A firsthand look at the emotional and psychological experience of being visibly foreign in Japan — illustrated through the recurring experience of having the seat next to you remain empty on crowded trains. This phenomenon becomes a gateway into broader discussions on racial microaggressions, cultural isolation, and the personal evolution in interpreting and responding to these experiences over time.

* “Hi, My Name Is Loco and I’m a Racist” - Radical Introspection About Internalized and Reciprocal Racism: Choosing a provocative title for a blog series based upon Alcoholics Anonymous, Baye did a brutally honest deep dive into his personal history of inherited racial bias, how growing up in a pro-Black but anti-white Pan-African environment shaped his early worldview, and how Japan triggered a confrontation with his own prejudices. The transition from projecting racist generalizations onto Japanese people to introspective accountability is both nuanced and transformative.

* Rewriting the Narrative - Using Storytelling to Combat Media Stereotypes About Black People in Japan: Through his “Black Eye” column, Baye started writing for The Japan Times to counterbalance negative and reductive portrayals of Black people in Japanese media. By spotlighting positive, nuanced stories—like Black professors, Black-Japanese families, and cultural bridge-builders—he helped reshape how Japanese readers perceive the Black diaspora in Japan.

* New Book - How a Black Writer and a Japanese Artist Are Healing Through Shared Creation: Words by Baye, Art by Miki isn’t just a poetry and art book—it’s an artistic response to trauma, beauty, identity, and coexistence. This collaboration reveals how two very different voices can come together to express something deeper than either could alone.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section, like YouTube's "chapters." So, please just refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Baye’s Website (English link): You can buy his new book Words by Baye, Art by Miki here, as well. https://www.bayemcneil.com/

* Baye’s Website (Japanese link): Yo

* Book Review by Real Gaijin: Please check out “New book by Japan-Based Syndicated Columnist Baye McNeil Released Today: Words by Baye, Art by Miki chronicles the real-life saga of the African American writer's journey in Japan with his partner and wise counselor, Miki Hayashi McNeil.”

#BayeMcNeil #WordsByBayeArtByMiki #HunterflyRoadProductions #BlackEye #MikiHayashiMcNeil #InterracialMarriage #InterracialRelationships #BlackCulture #AfricanAmerican #CrossBorderFamily #バイエマクニール #異人種間結婚 #異人種間恋愛 #クロスボーダーファミリー #人種差別 #黒塗り #黒人 #黒人系アメリカ人 #人種意識 #ブラックカルチャー

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.

Here’s how you can do this:

Go to your Dashboard.

Find Settings.

Go to Recommendations.

Go to Manage recommendations.

Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Join me for an hour-long deep dive into the colorful career of a fellow American expat who has long made Japan his home. Kevin McAuliffe is a personal friend whose story could be the inspiration behind the saying, "Life’s most implausible moments tend to come with receipts.” Parts of his story may seem more fiction than fact, but he definitely has the receipts - these are real-life episodes from someone who has literally "been there, done that.”

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Hear how Kevin's career has taken him from being a camp counselor on a month-long trip through Asia with a group of teenagers during the Vietnam War, to working as a forklift operator, to becoming a writer for a trade magazine focused on consumer electronics and meeting with the legendary Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic, to managing ad sales and circulation for Time and Fortune magazines in Hong Kong, to negotiating contracts with Japanese newspapers and TV stations for Reuters, and to starting his own successful trading company in Tokyo that also provides sales force outsourcing. It is hard to keep track of Kevin's myriad experiences, but we did our best.

Key Takeaways

Along the way, Kevin dropped several life hacks and other nuggets of advice.

* Be open to any opportunity that comes your way — especially those that force you out of your comfort zone.

* Learn on someone else's dime: No matter how mundane the job may seem, there is always something you can learn from it. Hint: Jump to the great story about how to make the most of a summer job at McDonald's (around the 54-minute mark).

* Don't fall for stereotypes when it comes to working with Japanese people: Be flexible and understand the dynamics at play behind the scenes.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section, like YouTube's "chapters." So, please just refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contact

The best way to reach Kevin is by filling out the “Contact” page of the Newport Ltd. website: https://www.newportjapan.com/contact?lang=en

#KevinMcAuliffe #NewportLTD #MarketingConsulting #sustainability #ConsumerProducts #entrepreneur #retail #branding #ConsumerBehavior #ProductDesign #BrandLoyalty #foreigner #ケビンマコーリフ #ニューポート #持続可能性 #消費者 #小売 #起業家 #ブランディング #製品デザイン #ブランドロイヤリティ #外国人 #外人

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.

Here’s how you can do this:

Go to your Dashboard.

Find Settings.

Go to Recommendations.

Go to Manage recommendations.

Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Join me for a lively hour-long interview with someone who usually does the interviewing. Our guest is Louise George Kittaka, who writes for the Japan Times, Japan's leading English-language newspaper, and contributes to a variety of other platforms, including BBC Storyworks, CNN, and The Michelin Guide. She works with Japanese government tourism organizations and corporate clients, including Toshiba and Mazda. As a freelance writer and editor for Japan's educational publishing sector, Louise has contributed to numerous textbooks, study courses and national English exams. Louise teaches in the Department of Comparative Studies at Shirayuri Women's University in Tokyo. She is also an independent cross-cultural training consultant, working with international families coming to Japan on corporate assignments and Japanese nationals moving abroad.

We took a deep dive into Louise's background. We learned what inspired this accomplished writer, who is fluent in Japanese, to develop such a successful career in Japan while raising three children in a cross-border family. Louise generously shared many practical tips about what it is like to live and develop a career in Japan.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

As Louise writes extensively about Japanese destinations and is an avid traveler, she ended the discussion by sharing some of her hidden gems that you probably won't find in most Japan guidebooks. So, please stay until the end.

Key Takeaways

* Insights into Developing a Writing Career: Follow along as Louise shares details of her own story and how she became a frequent contributor to the Japan Times. Hint: Write what you know.

* Life Hacks for Raising Children While Developing a Career in Japan: While Louise certainly benefited from the ongoing support of her husband, a native of Japan, she had to improvise for long stretches when he was away-both because of long hours at the office and because he was literally stationed far from home for years at a time. Somehow, Louise not only managed to raise three successful children, but also became an accomplished writer! Hint #1: Sleep is overrated! Hint #2: Tapping into your support network can go a long way.

* Practical Advice for Foreigners Who Want to Make Japan Their Home for an Extended Period: Learn Japanese, have a "mindset of abundance," and "find your tribe.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section, like YouTube's "chapters." So, please just refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* The Japan Times - Louise George Kittaka: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/256/louise-george-kittaka/

* Women Building Community With Women (AFWJ): https://afwj.org/

* Savvy Tokyo: https://savvytokyo.com/

* 5-day JR East Pass (Tohoku area): https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/eastpass_t.html

* Retire Japan:

#LouiseGeorgeKittaka #JapanTimes #BBCStoryworks #CNN #TheMichelinGuide #ShirayuriWomensUniversity #foreigner #橘高ルイーズジョージ #白百合女子大学 #ジャパンタイムズ #ミシュランガイド #外国人 #外人

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.

Here’s how you can do this:

Go to your Dashboard.

Find Settings.

Go to Recommendations.

Go to Manage recommendations.

Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Follow along by reading the original article:

* Title: Japan Deploys Walk-through Facial Recognition Ticket Turnstiles at Train Stations Across the Country

* Sub-Title: Soon, there will be no need to stand in line to buy a train ticket or even use an IC card to get on and off the platform. Just smile for the camera - even if you are wearing a mask!

In a scene straight out of the 1990 movie classic Total Recall, when Arnold Schwarzenegger tries to pass through a turnstile but is caught with a concealed gun, Osaka Metro has nearly completed testing and will soon go live with new walk-through, facial-recognition ticket turnstiles throughout its subway network.

Also, please let us know what you think, either by leaving a reply below or by adding a comment to the original post. Thanks!

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Follow along by reading the original article:

* Title: 68.2% of Married Couples in Japan Don't Have Sex!

* Sub-Title: Japan is experiencing a rise in alternative family structures, including single mothers who choose not to marry and couples opting for sexless marriages by choice.

Confirming similar survey results, a recent large-scale study of about 4,000 couples confirmed that just over 2/3 of Japanese marriages are sexless.

Also, please let us know what you think, either by leaving a reply below or by adding a comment to the original post. Thanks!

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Although he still has a long runway ahead of him, today’s guest, who has spent decades living in Japan, has already had enough experiences to last multiple lifetimes.

Who is he?

Meet Charles McJilton.

Charles’ journey took him from living in a cardboard house along Tokyo’s Sumida River to founding Japan’s first food bank and graduating from The John F. Kennedy School of Government, commonly referred to as “Harvard Kennedy School” of Harvard University. Believing that tools, not charity, create real change, he pioneered innovative approaches to hunger relief, disaster response, and nonprofit management in Japan. Currently, at Frontline Associates, he is applying AI and negotiation tools to address some of the world’s most complex humanitarian challenges. McJilton’s story embodies resilience, authenticity, and a redefinition of societal contribution.

Key Takeaways

* First-hand Experience of Living in a Japanese Slum: As part of his involvement with the Missionaries of Charity Brothers founded by Mother Teresa, Charles spent 15 months living in a cardboard box on the banks of Tokyo’s Sumida River with a community of day laborers, both current and former. This experience, vastly different from how most foreign residents experience the country, changed Charles’s outlook on life entirely.

* Second Harvest, Japan’s First Food Bank: Charles helped found Second Harvest, Japan’s first food bank. Although he has since left the mission-based organization, Second Harvest continues to provide free hot meals, act as a harvest pantry, deliver food directly to those in need, supply other food banks, and promote advocacy and development to create a food safety net for Japan. Second Harvest and the Alliance of Japan Foodbanks provide disaster relief in the event of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods.

* Using AI as a Frontline Negotiator: Charles attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, also known as the Harvard Kennedy School. He is now working with the Japan Red Cross and the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative to use new artificial intelligence (AI) tools to conduct initial 48-hour assessments, manage supply chains after natural disasters, and negotiate access.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Substack:

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-mcjilton-5482615/

* Missionaries of Charity Brothers: https://www.mcbrothers.org/

* Harvard Humanitarian Initiative: https://hhi.harvard.edu/

* The John F. Kennedy School of Government, commonly referred to as “Harvard Kennedy School” of Harvard University: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/

* Alliance of Japan Foodbanks: https://foodbanking.or.jp/

* Frontline Associates: https://www.frontline-associates.org/

#CharlesMcJilton #SanyaTokyoSlums #SumidaRiver #CardboardHouse #FoodBankJapan #SecondHarvestJapan #JapanNonprofitInnovation #TohokuDisasterReliefNGO #AIInHumanitarianAid #FrontlineNegotiator #HarvardKennedySchool #MissionaryOfCharityBrothers #マクジルトンチャールズ #三亜 #東京のスラム街 #段ボールハウス #フードバンクジャパン #セカンドハーベスト #日本の非営利団体 #交渉担当者 #ハーバード大学ケネディスクール #神の愛の宣教者会 #RealGaijin #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee (or maybe a matcha latte) for Real Gaijin, you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

In addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:

Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/month

Bamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)

Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/month

In Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”

For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for “pine” is “matsu.” In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is “take,” but the on-yomi is “chiku.” Similarly, the word for plum is “ume,” but the on-yomi is “bai.”

No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Follow along by reading the original article:

* Title: Japanese Foodies Gobble up a $1.3 Million Tuna for New Year's

* Sub-Title: Connoisseurs of high-end sushi in Tokyo literally bought the "first catch" of 2025 hook, line, and sinker.

The first tuna auction of the year was held on January 5, 2025 at the world's largest fish market in Toyosu, Tokyo. The highest priced "Ichiban Maguro" was a 276-kilogram (approximately 610 pounds) Pacific bluefin tuna from Oma, Aomori Prefecture, which sold for 207 million yen (approximately $1.3 million), or 750,000 yen per kilogram, which equates to $2,160 per pound. This was the second highest price ever recorded since 1999.

Also, please let us know what you think, either by leaving a reply below or by adding a comment to the original post. Thanks!

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Have you ever met someone for the first time and just known that this person will be successful no matter what they do? In my experience, it is rare, but it does happen.

A few years ago, when I was interviewing college students to help me "work the booth" at a customer show in Osaka, I met just such a person. His name is Arjun Sharma. While now still in his early twenties, he is now the co-founder and COO of Tokyo-based startup Riv Inc. Arjun graciously agreed to be the first guest in the Real Gaijin AMA ("Ask Me Anything") podcast series, which profiles foreign residents of Japan, or other "real gaijin," who are making their mark in a country long known for its homogeneity but now home to more than 3 million foreigners.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Arjun is a member of Japan's rapidly growing population of expatriates who have learned to navigate Japan's business culture and are truly challenging the status quo to build successful new start-ups. Many of these leaders are young millennials or members of Generation Z.

Key Takeaways

* Arjun's Baby, Riv Inc: Still in the development stage, this startup is transforming a vision for the future into a practical service to provide a complete, real-time traceability solution for components and other inputs for the food and beverage industry in Japan and around the world.

* Advice for foreigners considering living and working in Japan

* Learn Japanese: While you don't need to be fluent, a solid grasp of rudimentary Japanese is usually critical to a successful transition to life as a foreigner in Japan. It is also not a “once-and-done” type of thing. Studying the Japanese language and culture requires a commitment to becoming a lifelong learner. The rewards are, however, well worth it.

* Create your own community and take advantage of networking opportunities: There are plenty of opportunities to meet other people and get involved in a larger community in Japan and online. As a budding entrepreneur, Arjun seeks out relationships with other people who are passionate about their startup (e.g. Alchemist Accelerator in Japan, SusHI-Tech, etc.).

* Relocate to Japan: Find a job and commit to working in Japan for at least 5 years to fully immerse yourself in Japanese business culture. Especially if you speak English, Arjun says there is always something you can do in Japan, especially in Tokyo, and not just teaching English (although that is often a good start). First, though, you need to find a way to navigate the visa situation and get over here.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section, like YouTube's "chapters" So, please just refer to the times listed below (table in main Substack post) to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Arjun Sharma via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjun-sharma-4aa9591b7/

* Riv, Inc: https://riv-inc.jp/en

* Alchemist Accelerator: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/ and https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/japan

* SusHI-tech: https://www.sushi-tech-tokyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/top/en/

* Recommended Chill Spot: https://www.umihotaru.com/en/

#RivInc #FoodSupplyChain #FAndB #FoodAndBeverage #startup #GenZEntrepreneur #YoungEntrepreneur #ArjunSharma #foreigner #AlchemistAccelerator #AlchemistJapan #シャルマアルジュン #アルジュンシャルマ #食品サプライチェーン #食産業 #スタートアップ #若手起業家 #Z世代の起業家 #外国人 #外人

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

You could also show your support—by Recommending Real Gaijin to others.

Here’s how you can do this:

Go to your Dashboard.

Find Settings.

Go to Recommendations.

Go to Manage recommendations.

Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Follow along by reading the original article:

* Title: Tokyo Swindlers, Netflix's New Miniseries, Becoming a Global Hit

* Sub-Title: Based on a true story told in the best-selling novel of the same name, Tokyo Swindlers is well worth binge-watching.

6 weeks after its debut in late July, the hit mini-series Tokyo Swindlers is still the top-ranked drama on Netflix in the "Top 10 TV Shows in Japan Today" category. Enjoy my personal narration of "Tokyo Swindlers, Netflix's New Miniseries, Becoming a Global Hit," which was published on August 29, 2024. You'll be binge-watching this show on your couch soon, if you haven't already.

Also, please let us know what you think, either by leaving a reply below or by adding a comment to the original post. Thanks!

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Follow along by reading the original article:

* Title: Kyoto Ultimate 3-Day Travel Guide

* Sub-Title: Despite concerns about "over-tourism," there is a reason why Kyoto is Japan's top tourist destination and remains a "must see" for any foreign visitor to the country.

Japan's quintessential tourist destination, Kyoto, is considered the preeminent cultural capital of Japan and was the home of the Japanese imperial family for eleven centuries until 1869. Kyoto residents are known to be somewhat suspicious of outsiders - even from within Japan - but foreign visitors are actually very welcome.

Japan Struggles to Implement Dual-Pricing for Foreign Visitors

To offset the costs of perceived over-tourism, city governments and local merchants are experimenting with various upfront pricing models that raise suspicions of discrimination against foreigners.

Title: Japanese Solo Adventurer Sets Sail to Circumnavigate the Pacific Ocean

Sub-Title: As the ultimate "datsu-sara" move, Naoki Uemura is about to embark on an epic 15,000+ nautical mile voyage around the Pacific Ocean on his 30-foot sailboat.

Lifetime Employment Continues to Give Way to the Gig Economy in Japan

Both the reliance on part-time and temporary employees and the total number of such workers are increasing.

The new Japanese buzzword for “time performance” involves leveraging technology to increase quality “disposable time.”

In a society where living to 100 is becoming relatively common, Japanese retirees must carefully manage their "golden years" over many decades.

Even in Japan, the Customer is Not Always Right

So-called "monster customers" now routinely engage in "customer harassment" in a country known for its exemplary customer service.

Most of us want to be fit but struggle with time, habits, and the feeling that maybe it’s just “genetics.” Menya Hinga once felt the same way—until a decade of self-study transformed his health and mindset. Since 2011, he’s built a career in Tokyo helping thousands of individuals and top companies make sustainable health choices. As founder of MH Health Coaching, co-founder of SOGO Fitness (Japan’s largest free fitness community), and head coach of the CoFit Movement, Menya has become an inspiration to both fitness seekers and foreigners building communities in Japan. In this conversation, we explore his journey, his methods, and how he balances it all—including raising four young children.

Just remember: “Menya, like Kenya, but with an ‘M.’”

Key Takeaways

* Finding a Good Source of Truth is Hard: Ironically, the problem used to be the difficulty of finding resources to improve overall health. Now, thanks to the internet, the problem is that there are too many sources of information. The challenge lies in sifting through vast quantities of data to identify the most relevant resources.

* Evolution as a Personal Trainer: Menya spent the early part of his career primarily focusing on face-to-face interaction to help improve his clients' physical fitness. As MH Health Coaching has evolved, Menya has transitioned into a more holistic resource, helping his clients manage food, fitness, sleep, and stress.

* Balancing Helping Clients Achieve Short-Term Goals with Good Habit Formation for Long-Term Health and Fitness: Menya focuses on learning how a potential new client is currently struggling. He probes to understand their goals and uncover what is holding them back from achieving them. Armed with this information, Menya and the client define short-term goals, after which Menya gets to work helping the client achieve their objectives. However, he is focused not only on helping clients achieve short-term goals, but also on helping them develop good habits to improve their health and fitness in the long term.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* MH Health Coaching: https://www.menyahinga.com/

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/menyahinga/

* SOGO Fitness: https://sogofitness.org/

* CoFit Movement: https://cofitmovement.com/

* Credentials

* NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT): https://www.nsca.com/certification/nsca-cpt/

* Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning (MBSC): https://www.bodybyboyle.com/

* Precision Nutrition (PN): https://www.precisionnutrition.com/

* Recommended Reading: Also consult Menya’s “High Performance Reading List”

* Good book written to put you to sleep (while still keeping your attention): Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Mathew Walker

* Keep it going with Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

* Don’t lose momentum with The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

* Powerspot Pilates Studio Run by Menya’s Partner Risa: https://www.powerspot.co.jp/

#MenyaHinga #HealthCoach #WellnessCoach #PersonalTrainer #FitnessInstructor #MHHealthCoaching #SOGOFitness #CoFitMovement #MikeBoyleStrengthAndConditioning #CrossBorderJapan #PrecisionNutrition #NationalStrengthAndConditioningAssociation #AnimalFlow #RealGaijin #ヒンガメンヤ #ヘルスコーチ #ウェルネスコーチ #パーソナルトレーナー #フィットネスインストラクター #外人 #外国人 #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee (or maybe a matcha latte) for Real Gaijin, you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

In addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:

Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/month

Bamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)

Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/month

In Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”

For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for "pine" is "matsu." In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is "take," but the on-yomi is "chiku." Similarly, the word for plum is "ume," but the on-yomi is "bai."

No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Follow along by reading the original article:

* Title: Innovative "Venture Innkeeper Program" in Japan Seems Almost Too Good to Be True

* Sub-Title: The Super Hotel's "elevator pitch" presents an unusual business opportunity for would-be entrepreneurs with a relatively low tolerance for risk.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Would you be interested to become your own boss by managing a Super Hotel?

Also, please let us know what you think, either by leaving a reply below or by adding a comment to the original post. Thanks!

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

World's Longest Public Road Test of a Self-Driving Vehicle Now Underway in Japan

The test features the Macnica EVO, an electric microbus that shuttles passengers between a bullet train station and 3 hot spring resorts in rural Japan.

Costco Expands Reach Across Japan with the Support of Mini Resale Shops

Private label Kirkland Signature brand items are both a novelty and a big draw as Japanese consumers flock to Costco resale stores.

Population of Foreign Residents in Japan Growing

For a nation known for its homogeneous identity, Japan's resident foreign population is on its way from about 1 in 40 today to 1 in 10 by 2070.

Tune in for Real Gaijin’s 5th podcast. It is a 29 minute narration of two recent articles including…

Mind Your Manners: Top Ten Pointers for Mastering Japanese Etiquette

Japan’s Best “Kei-cars” or “Light-weight” Automobiles

Please let me know what you think!

Links for Downloading from Your Favorite Platforms:

Apple iTunes

Google Podcasts

Pocket Casts

Spotify

Stitcher

TuneIn

Tune in for Real Gaijin’s 4th podcast. It is a 32 minute narration of two recent articles including…

Expand Your Palate: Top Ten High-End Japanese Cuisine Options (Part 1 of 2)

Expand Your Palate: Top Ten Japanese Street Food Choices (Part 2 of 2)

Please let me know what you think!

Links for Downloading from Your Favorite Platforms:

Apple iTunes

Google Podcasts

Pocket Casts

Spotify

Stitcher

TuneIn

Tune in for Real Gaijin’s third podcast. It is a 36 minute narration of two recent articles including…

How I Learn Japanese

Japanese Young Women Relying on “Papa-katsu” to Make Ends Meet

Please let me know what you think!

Links for Downloading from Your Favorite Platforms:

Apple iTunes

Google Podcasts

Pocket Casts

Spotify

Stitcher

TuneIn

Tune in for Real Gaijin’s second podcast. It is a 32 minute narration of three recent articles including…

After a Night Out Get Home Safely with Daiko

Gaffe-Prone JOC Chairman Mori Gets in Hot Water for Sexist Remark

Mythical Creature Resurrected in the Fight against the Coronavirus

Please let me know what you think!

Links for Downloading from Your Favorite Platforms:

Apple iTunes

Google Podcasts

Pocket Casts

Spotify

Stitcher

TuneIn

Tune in for Real Gaijin’s very first podcast. It is a 26 minute narration of three recent articles including…

When Leading by Example Breeds Contempt

Barbeque. Chicken. Alert! … from Way Down South in Japan

Drive out the Devil and Welcome Good Fortune

Please let me know what you think!

Links for Downloading from Your Favorite Platforms:

Apple iTunes

Google Podcasts

Pocket Casts

Spotify

Stitcher

TuneIn

If there were ever a time to search for a potential acquisition target or take an equity stake in a small-to-medium-sized enterprise (SME) in Japan, it would be now. But how do you uncover such opportunities, determine the seller’s motivation, assess business performance, and navigate Japan's cultural and legal landscapes to close a deal? Enter today's guest. She is Mika Fukutomi, founder and managing partner of INVJapan, a boutique advisory firm that specializes in this type of investment.

Key Takeaways

* Many Potential Acquisition Targets: There are hundreds of thousands of opportunities to take over an existing business in Japan right now. Many of these businesses lack a clear successor and are available in a variety of industries. Use Mika's new Akamira.ai app to search for them. Additionally, you don't need to emigrate to Japan to purchase these SMEs or acquire a majority interest in them.

* Accelerated Market Entry: Compared to a greenfield investment, which requires starting from scratch, purchasing an existing business offers many advantages. Depending on the business, taking over an existing one can provide speed to market, an established brand reputation, an existing cash flow, skilled employees, infrastructure, and regulatory approvals. In some cases, you may also inherit valuable intangible assets, such as licenses and patents.

* Win-Win: In addition to cash, SME M&A deals often provide sellers with access to modern management techniques and overseas sales channels. Ethical buyers can combine a series of such acquisitions to take advantage of economies of scale (e.g., a chain of hotel properties).

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* INVJapan: https://www.invjapan.org/

* Akamira.ai: https://akamira.ai/Landing

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikafukutomi/

#MikaFukutomi #INVJapan #SME #JapanPrivateMarket #JapanSME #CrossBorderJapan #InvestJapaneseSME #JapanMarketEntry #JapanSMEAcquisition #RealGaijin #福富みか #中小企業 #日本のプライベートマーケット #日本中小企業 #日本クロスボーダー #日本市場参入 #日本中小企業買収 #外人 #外国人 #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee (or maybe a matcha latte) for Real Gaijin, you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

In addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:

Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/month

Bamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)

Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/month

In Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”

For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for "pine" is "matsu." In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is "take," but the on-yomi is "chiku." Similarly, the word for plum is "ume," but the on-yomi is "bai."

No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

All the recent talk about overtourism in Japan may be causing angst among the country's foreign residents and may even dissuade people from visiting. First, don't despair. There is still plenty to see and do in Japan, especially if you venture off the beaten path. Today, Real Gaijin spoke with someone with deep connections to Japan who loves to travel across the country on foot!

Oh, and, by the way, he has been legally blind since age 18.

Meet Tony R. Vega, a Hawaii-based content creator, adventurer, and advocate for the visually impaired community.

Key Takeaways

* Overcoming the Challenges of Being Visually Impaired: Tony’s motto is, "I may be legally blind, but that doesn't stop me." It's an apt motto, as no challenge related to his eyesight seems too great for Tony. As a prolific podcaster, he has found his niche by blending his love of Japan and related interests (e.g., anime) with his desire to advocate for the visually impaired by demonstrating what is possible.

* Blind Japan Project: Over the past two years, Tony has completed two long walks along historical "highways" in Japan, including the Tōkaidō Road from Kyoto to Tokyo and the Sanyōdo Road in the Chūgoku region. Beginning at the end of September 2025, Tony will embark on his most ambitious walk yet: a 500-km journey from where he left off in Iwakuni to Kagoshima in southern Kyushu. He is doing this to raise awareness for the visually impaired community and for fun. Follow Tony on Instagram and X to keep track of his progress (links listed below).

* All Aboard! While traveling across Japan, Tony often meets friendly people eager to assist him, which is not surprising. One might think such a journey would be difficult, but Tony explains that, unlike America's car-centric nature, Japan's pedestrian-friendly transportation options make it relatively easy to get around the country, even with a visual impairment. It turns out that Japan’s extensive train network is actually liberating for blind people. During his long walks, Tony uses various hubs near train stations to implement his travel plans. Don’t be surprised if you hear that at some point in the future Tony is leading a tour group of blind visitors across the country by train and on foot.

* What’s in a Name? It’s “Tony R. Vega,” not just “Tony Vega.” To find him online and not get lost among the thousands of references to the popular singer with the same first and last names, be sure to search for "Tony R. Vega." While we joked about this problem, seriously, check out all of Tony’s rich online content.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

General Website: https://tonyrvega.com/

JapanKyo.com: https://japankyo.com/

Japan Station Podcast: https://japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

The Anime Linguist: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist

Blind Japan Project: https://tonyrvega.com/blind-travel/

Majison: https://x.com/majisonchan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyrvega/ (@tonyrvega)

X: https://x.com/TheVegaTony (@TheVegaTony)

#TonyRVega #HawaiiJapan #JapanKyo #JapanStation #BlindJapanProject #WalkingJapanBlind #LegallyBlindAdventurer #MAJISON #RealGaijin #トニーRヴェガ #ハワイ日本 #法定盲目 #マネー爆弾 #ポッドキャストNFTニッポン #ラブイズブラインド #外人 #外国人 #リアル外人 #視覚障害者

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee (or maybe a matcha latte) for Real Gaijin, you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

In addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:

Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/month

Bamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)

Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/month

In Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”

For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for "pine" is "matsu." In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is "take," but the on-yomi is "chiku." Similarly, the word for plum is "ume," but the on-yomi is "bai."

No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

For many native English speakers, teaching English is often the gateway to an extended stay in Japan. Many of these individuals become Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs), a specific role within Japan’s public school system and part of the country’s effort to promote English language education. ALTs are not full teachers and do not have primary responsibility for classes. They assist Japanese teachers, and the utilization of their skills varies widely. This role is closely associated with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET), which began in 1987. However, ALTs can also be hired through private dispatch companies, not just JET. Many ALTs only stay for a few years before returning to their home country or pursuing another career. Some, however, stay long term. Today, we will take a deep dive into what it means to be an ALT and the future of English language instruction in Japan.

Key Takeaways

* Alphabet Soup of Acronyms: Don't be intimidated by the many acronyms associated with teaching English as a second language. Throughout the interview, Elizabeth patiently explains the meaning and importance of each one. See below for a link to the organizations behind many of the acronyms.

* JET or Bust: There are many places in Japan where native English speakers can teach English as a second language. Based on her personal experience, Elizabeth strongly recommends starting with the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, even if only to gain experience living and working abroad before returning home. For those interested in continuing their education while teaching English in Japan, Elizabeth suggests several viable options. ALT Training Online (ALTTO) is a particularly good place to start.

* How to Find Teaching Jobs: Relatively high-paying teaching positions, particularly at private high schools and in post-secondary education, are difficult to find. These positions often require a teaching credential and tend to be advertised primarily by word of mouth. However, Elizabeth offers tips about other resources that can help you land these types of jobs.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

Substack:

TESOL: https://www.tesol.org/

Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET): https://jetprogramme.org/en/

ALT Training Online (ALTTO): https://altto.net/

JALT Job Listings: https://jalt-publications.org/tlt/departments/career-development-corner/jobs

Online Teaching Japan (OTJ): https://www.facebook.com/groups/603548090241536/

English Teaching Japan (ETJ): https://ltprofessionals.com/etj/

#ElizabethScally #JET #JETProgramme #ALT #CIR #TESOL #ESL #ALTTO #JALT #OnlineTeachingJapan #EnglishTeachingJapan #ChibaKunGlobalPartners #BujinkanBudoTaijutsu #RealGaijin #エリザベススカリー #JETプログラム #語学指導 #外国青年招致事業 #英語教師 #第二言語 #外人 #外国人 #チーバくんパートナーズ #武神館 #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee (or maybe a matcha latte) for Real Gaijin, you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

In addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:

Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/month

Bamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)

Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/month

In Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”

For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for "pine" is "matsu." In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is "take," but the on-yomi is "chiku." Similarly, the word for plum is "ume," but the on-yomi is "bai."

No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

It is common for foreign visitors to fall in love with Japan, often during their first visit. Some of us take it to the next level by deciding to permanently relocate to the country. An even smaller number—perhaps fewer than can be counted on one hand—become so enamored with Japanese culture that they commit their lives to becoming a practicing mountain ascetic, or Yamabushi (山伏) in Japanese.

Meet Tim Bunting, who moved from New Zealand to the picturesque Yamagata Prefecture in Japan's Tohoku region where he now leads Yamabushi training in English and Japanese.

Key Takeaways

* Yamabushi training is an ascetic practice that has evolved over the past millennia and is a path for gaining supernatural powers. This somewhat secretive approach combines elements of Shintoism, which includes strong nature worship, with Zen Buddhism and other beliefs.

* Participants in the various multi-day Yamabushi training programs often seek mental clarity and benefit from a total digital detox of up to a week or more. The training involves experiencing one's own funeral and subsequent rebirth in a metaphysical sense. Participants almost always emerge from the process with a much greater awareness of themselves.

* Tim is about to become a "Master Yamabushi." He plans to continue living and perfecting his skills as a mountain ascetic in Japan for the time being. At some point, however, he may return to his native New Zealand to establish Yamabushi training with a local Māori leader. If you are interested in learning from Tim and his fellow "Master Yamabushi" trainers, please inquire to learn more about the experience (see below for links).

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

Substack:

Website: https://www.yamabushido.jp/

Yozo Toge: https://timbunting.com/mountains/yozosan/

#TimBunting #Yamabushido #yamabushi #MountainAscetic #TantricBuddhism #VajrayanaBuddhism #Shinto #Shintoism #TohokuUniversityofCommunityServiceandScience #ティムバンティング #山伏 #山伏道 #修験道 #修験者 #仏教 #密教 #神道 #外人 #外国人 #東北公益文科大学

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.

Here’s how you can do this:

Go to your Dashboard.

Find Settings.

Go to Recommendations.

Go to Manage recommendations.

Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

In this age of unprecedented inbound tourism to Japan, it is easy to forget that, until the Meiji Restoration in the second half of the 19th century, Japan had limited interaction with the West for most of recorded history. However, there have been several influential figures who played a major role in advancing Japan’s interactions with the West throughout history.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Today, Real Gaijin is pleased to introduce renowned cultural historian and BBC broadcaster Christopher ("Chris") Harding of the University of Edinburgh. Chris is an outstanding storyteller who will captivate you from the moment you start listening to the recording. He publishes History with Chris Harding on Substack, exploring the histories behind what people love about Japan: food, film, famous names, ghost stories, sports, and the major challenges the country faces in the 21st century. Chris is interested in what happens when cultures and peoples first meet — a combination of fascination, embarrassment, and misunderstanding.

On this episode Chris introduced how four historical figures — both foreigners (OG versions of “real gaijin”) and Japanese — advanced Japan’s contact with the West.

Key Takeaways

* Francis Xavier experienced cultural miscommunication back in the 16th century: Although the Jesuits, such as Francis Xavier, were initially welcomed by local Buddhist monks in Kagoshima in the far southern part of Japan because they were mistakenly believed to have come directly from India to spread new learning, it eventually became known that the Jesuits were, in fact, not from India and represented competition. The Buddhists subsequently started referring to "deus," the Catholic "God," as "daiuso (大嘘)," which means "big lie." Francis Xavier never gave up his quest to convert the local and national powers, but he was never able to reach the Emperor and only achieved a degree of success in Japan.

* Yoshida Shoin (吉田松陰)'s adventurous spirit nearly brought him face-to-face with Commodore Matthew C. Perry: In the midst of the American "gunboat diplomacy" that shocked Japan in early 1854 — a key milestone that ultimately led to the end of the 220-year period of self-imposed national seclusion in 1868 — a courageous young man named Yoshida Shoin attempted to board Commodore Perry's foreign “black ship” in the dead of night to meet with him. Although he was thought to be a spy and was thwarted, Yoshida was able to get a firsthand look at the steamship during his brief encounter. The incident did not sit well with the Tokugawa shogunate, but it cemented Yoshida's place in history as a tragic hero eager to learn about the West.

* Fukuzawa Yukichi (福澤諭吉), the founder of Japan's prestigious Keio University, still symbolizes rationalism, self-determination, and national progress in Japan: His image graced the 10,000-yen bill for 40 years until last summer, and it is still in circulation. In 1860, Fukuzawa went on the first Japanese mission to the U.S. and Europe, bringing home a sense of urgency to catch up to the West, along with a strong advocacy for practical learning. Through his writings and speeches, he introduced Western ideas such as individual rights, liberty, and scientific reasoning.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Website: https://christopher-harding.com/

* Substack Connection: https://substack.com/@christopherharding

* BBC Radio (Misunderstanding Japan): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0369m6j

* Commodore Perry's Expedition to Japan: https://archive.org/details/commodorematthew0000witt

#ChrisHarding #ChristopherHarding #CulturalHistorian #history #JapaneseHistory #UniversityofEdinburgh #AHistoryofModernJapan #BBC #TheBordersofSanity #クリストファーハーディング #文化史家 #歴史 #外人 #外国人 #日本史 #エディンバラ大学

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.

Here’s how you can do this:

Go to your Dashboard.

Find Settings.

Go to Recommendations.

Go to Manage recommendations.

Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Japan has consistently ranked high on the bucket lists of foreign visitors in recent years. While Japan is a wonderful place to visit year-round, it boasts some of the best snowboarding and skiing in the world, making it a must-visit destination for winter sports enthusiasts.

Almost all snowboarders and skiers have heard of the world-famous Niseko ski resort, but there is a lot more to Japan’s skiing scene. Real Gaijin introduces a pair of Americans who know Japan’s backcountry well. They have become so enamored with Japanese skiing that they invested in property near several Hokkaido ski resorts and formed their own real estate firm. This agency helps guide foreign skiers and investors to take advantage of Japan’s growing stock of affordable homes near some of the world's best snowboarding and skiing.

Key Takeaways

* “Know a Guy” The two co-founders of Yuki Homes put in a lot of work researching Japan's relatively undiscovered ski resorts and specific properties. They deliver for their clients by leveraging their extensive network of contacts who can assist with every step of the purchasing process, as well as post-purchase property management (e.g., rental management for Airbnb).

* Location, location, location! Although co-founders Derek and Nick are quite knowledgeable about which ski resorts are likely to become the next Niseko, they advise their clients to buy a pre-owned home in Japan for the experience rather than for its potential resale value or rental income.

* An Extraordinary Example of Running a Business from Afar: Despite living in the U.S. and only periodically visiting Japan, Derek and Nick have found success running a business there by cultivating strong local relationships and a network of support personnel (e.g., for taxes, property management, car rentals, etc.). They gained this knowledge through personal experience when they bought and owned their own home in Otaru, Hokkaido…and their knowledge runs deep! As a result, Yuki Homes has helped many foreigners avoid red tape and realize their dream of buying a second home near several world-class ski resorts in Japan.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Yuki Homes' Website: https://www.yukihomes.com/

* Yuki Homes' Substack:

* Kiroro Snow World: https://www.kiroro.co.jp/

* PowderHounds: https://www.powderhounds.com/

#YukiHomes #akiya #JAPOW #RealEstate #雪ホームズ #ユキホームズ #外国人 #外人 #不動産 #空き家

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.

Here’s how you can do this:

Go to your Dashboard.

Find Settings.

Go to Recommendations.

Go to Manage recommendations.

Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Foreign businesspeople often push the boundaries of conventional business practices in Japan. They have the vision, technical expertise, and drive necessary to think outside the box and achieve their goals. Japan, a conformist and chronically conservative society, often needs this kind of disruptive leader. Periods of foreign influence help propel Japanese society forward.

Today’s guest has a lot in common with Carlos Ghosn, the former head of Nissan. Both are foreign businesspeople who gained prominence as outsiders in Japan’s challenging business environment, only to face serious legal consequences. However, their responses to these consequences differ significantly. Our guest admitted his wrongdoing, submitted to the Japanese legal process, and served his prison sentence despite his strong conviction that he had done nothing wrong. In fact, he had sought legal advice prior to launching his business to support his position. In contrast, Ghosn denied the charges and fled the country to avoid prosecution. These cases highlight the broader narrative that, while they both reflect the risks faced by outsiders navigating Japan’s institutional and cultural boundaries, especially in legal “gray areas,” they also illustrate different approaches to accountability, justice, and personal responsibility.

Real Gaijin is privileged to introduce exceptional foreigners who, in one way or another, have made Japan their home or are closely involved with the country. Each story offers insights into how to best interact with the Japanese, and today’s guest is no exception.

Who is he?

Meet Steven (”Steve”) Gan, an American business professional, author, and credit risk expert. He founded the first debt collection agency run by a foreigner during Japan’s turbulent post-bubble era and has spent decades living and working in Japan. Steve chronicled this experience in his 2016 memoir, Making It & Breaking It in Japan: My True Story of Songs, Sins, and Solitary. The book became an Amazon bestseller in the Foreign Cultures category and is valued by educators and executives seeking a cross-cultural understanding of Japan’s business environment and legal systems.

After returning to his hometown of Chicago, Steve founded Stellar Risk Management Services, Inc. in the U.S. His work emphasizes intercultural management and financial ethics, bridging U.S.–Japan business practices.

Three stories in one

As it is simply not possible to do justice to Steve’s long tenure in Japan in a single hour-long podcast, we have split this true story into three pre-recorded sections.

* Initial experience in Japan and working for a traditional Japanese company

* Starting the country’s first debt collection agency run by a foreigner, which achieved extraordinary success

* Colliding with the harsh justice system and eventually facing legal consequences that led to his imprisonment in Tokyo

Episode 3 of 3: “I fought the law, and the law won”

We discussed how Steve’s business ran afoul of the authorities, leading to his imprisonment. Steve explained how he navigated this crisis both in and out of court appearances and being locked up in the Tokyo Detention Center in a country with a 99% conviction rate, thanks mainly to the tremendous support of his immediate family, business colleagues, and loyal customers.

Key take-aways

* In Japan, disruption often triggers institutional resistance rather than market competition: Steve’s business succeeded by introducing an aggressive, outcome-based debt collection model that filled a clear market gap. However, success itself became the liability. As the firm grew from a niche operation into a thriving, national business, it began to threaten established professional monopolies, especially those in the legal sector. Rather than competing based on service quality or pricing, the “Committee that Guards Against Illegal Activities Performed by Non-Attorneys” (now “Committee on Regulation of Non-Lawyer Activities”・非弁護士取締委員会) of the Tokyo Bar Association leveraged a regulatory interpretation of Article 72 of the Attorney’s Law to challenge the legitimacy of the entire model. This illustrates a structural dynamic in Japan: innovation that encroaches on protected domains often invites administrative or legal suppression rather than open competition.

* Legal ambiguity can persist until it is forcefully resolved, and the process can outweigh the substance: Despite multiple legal opinions supporting Steve’s business model, as well as the active use of his service by law firms, some of Japan’s “mega-banks,” and government entities, the company operated in a “gray zone” that remained vulnerable. The subsequent investigation revealed a system heavily oriented toward procedural outcomes, particularly obtaining a signed confession, rather than adjudicating underlying legality. The inability to have legal counsel present during questioning, pressure to sign statements, and high conviction rate all point to a system driven by process where compliance matters as much as legal merit.

It is important to note that back in 2004, Japan still lacked a formal plea-bargaining system. This reflected a criminal justice framework that relied more heavily on prosecutorial discretion, confessions, and negotiated remorse than on American-style legal dealmaking. This changed in 2018 when Japan introduced a limited form of plea-bargaining known as the “cooperative agreement system.” However, Japan’s system remains far narrower in scope than the American version: it is primarily designed for white-collar and organized crime investigations and focuses on suspects providing evidence against other individuals or organizations rather than simply pleading guilty to their own crimes in exchange for reduced punishment.

Ultimately, Steve’s refusal to concede guilt prolonged the process, exposing how legal ambiguity is often resolved through pressure rather than clarity.

* Foreign-led innovation in Japan carries asymmetric risk, especially when it scales up: Steve explicitly frames his experience as a cautionary tale: Being a foreign disruptor amplifies visibility and vulnerability. Early-stage novelty may be tolerated—or even celebrated—but once the model gains traction and begins to reshape an industry, the level of scrutiny intensifies. Media exposure, such as book publication and an NHK documentary, accelerated growth and backlash, effectively forcing regulators to act. The comparison to other high-profile foreign executives underscores a broader pattern: Outsiders can catalyze change in Japan, but they lack institutional protections and informal networks that buffer domestic actors. Therefore, scaling innovation is not just a business challenge, but also a political and cultural one.

Link to Session 1 of 3

Link to Session 2 of 3

Silver lining

Despite experiencing such a tumultuous journey, which included the meteoric growth of a startup only to be dealt a proverbial “Go to Jail. Go directly to Jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200” card from the Japanese equivalent of the game of Monopoly, there is a silver lining. Steve still loves Japan and was able to “rise from the ashes like a phoenix.” After returning to the United States in 2005, he founded Stellar Risk Management Services in Illinois. Today, the company advises Fortune 500 clients on credit, collections, and financial risk strategies. The company specializes in helping firms expand safely while minimizing exposure to bad debt.

Today, Steve publishes a monthly newsletter written in Japanese called The Stellar Journal, which is distributed to roughly 14,000 readers.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Books (by Steve)

* 青い目の債権取り立て屋・奮闘記 (“Chronicle of the Struggles of a Blue-Eyed Debt Collector”): Published in Japanese.

* Making It & Breaking It in Japan: My True Story of Songs, Sins, and Solitary: Published in English.

Key contacts

Website: https://www.stellarrisk.com/

Newsletter: https://www.stellarrisk.com/blog

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

IAESTE Internship: https://iaeste.org/internships

Japan America Society of Chicago: https://jaschicago.org/

Thunderbird School of Global Management: https://thunderbird.asu.edu/

#JapanBusiness #ForeignEntrepreneurs #StevenGan #CrossCulturalBusiness #JapanLegalSystem #BusinessEthics #CarlosGhosn #DebtCollection #TokyoBarAssociation #TokyoDetentionCenter #ExpatLifeJapan #日本ビジネス）#外国人起業家 #スティーブンギャン #異文化ビジネス #司法制度 #ビジネス倫理 #カルロスゴーン #東京弁護士会 #債権回収 #米国公認会計士 #外資系企業 #アドバンスアンドアソシエイツ株式会社 #延滞売掛金の回収 #与信管理相談士 #キャッシュフロー問題 #日本での外国人生活 #東京拘置所 #RealGaijin #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/

Foreign businesspeople often push the boundaries of conventional business practices in Japan. They have the vision, technical expertise, and drive necessary to think outside the box and achieve their goals. Japan, a conformist and chronically conservative society, often needs this kind of disruptive leader. Periods of foreign influence help propel Japanese society forward.

However, such innovations can sometimes cause such a stir that those in power become determined to quash gaiatsu (外圧), or external influence, that threatens the status quo.

Today’s guest has a lot in common with Carlos Ghosn, the former head of Nissan. Both are foreign businesspeople who gained prominence as outsiders in Japan’s challenging business environment, only to face serious legal consequences. However, their responses to these consequences differ significantly. Our guest admitted his wrongdoing, submitted to the Japanese legal process, and served his prison sentence despite his strong conviction that he had done nothing wrong. In fact, he had sought legal advice prior to launching his business to support his position. In contrast, Ghosn denied the charges and fled the country to avoid prosecution. These cases highlight the broader narrative that, while they both reflect the risks faced by outsiders navigating Japan’s institutional and cultural boundaries, especially in legal “gray areas,” they also illustrate different approaches to accountability, justice, and personal responsibility.

Real Gaijin is privileged to introduce exceptional foreigners who, in one way or another, have made Japan their home or are closely involved with the country. Each story offers insights into how to best interact with the Japanese, and today’s guest is no exception.

Who is he?

Meet Steven (”Steve”) Gan, an American business professional, author, and credit risk expert. He founded the first debt collection agency run by a foreigner during Japan’s turbulent post-bubble era and has spent decades living and working in Japan. Steve chronicled this experience in his 2016 memoir, Making It & Breaking It in Japan: My True Story of Songs, Sins, and Solitary. The book became an Amazon bestseller in the Foreign Cultures category and is valued by educators and executives seeking a cross-cultural understanding of Japan’s business environment and legal systems.

After returning to his hometown of Chicago, Steve founded Stellar Risk Management Services, Inc. in the U.S. His work emphasizes intercultural management and financial ethics, bridging U.S.–Japan business practices.

Three stories in one

As it is simply not possible to do justice to Steve’s long tenure in Japan in a single hour-long podcast, we have split this true story into three pre-recorded sections.

* Initial experience in Japan and working for a traditional Japanese company

* Starting the country’s first debt collection agency run by a foreigner, which achieved extraordinary success

* Colliding with the harsh justice system and eventually facing legal consequences that led to his imprisonment in Tokyo

Episode 2 of 3: Start-up Success in Tokyo

We discussed how Steve founded and successfully developed the first debt collection agency run by a foreigner in Japan in 1992. He introduced international credit risk practices to a tightly regulated market. Through publications, seminars, and television appearances, Steve became a prominent advocate for professional credit management and corporate accountability. His firm served hundreds of clients, promoting transparency and modern business standards in Japanese finance.

Key take-aways

* In Japan, relationship-first networking can be a primary engine of business creation: Steve deliberately used informal settings, especially izakayas (Japanese pubs) and karaoke, as a structured strategy to build trust, exchange business cards, and generate leads. These relationships later translated directly into clients, partnerships, and market insight. This demonstrates that social integration is often a prerequisite to gaining a foothold in the market.

* Successful market entry often depends on identifying structural inefficiencies and navigating legal constraints creatively: Steve identified a clear gap: small-to-mid-sized debt collection was underserved due to stigma (association with the Yakuza or Japanese mafia) and misaligned incentives for law firms. By leveraging a legal workaround (partnership structures) and targeting neglected claims, he created a viable niche. The broader takeaway is that opportunities in Japan often exist in regulatory gray zones or culturally avoided sectors.

* Reframing a stigmatized industry through ethics and value creation can enable growth: Rather than using coercion, Steve’s firm adopted a “soft collection” model, prioritizing dialogue, repayment plans, and employment support for debtors. This differentiated the company from the Yakuza and traditional collectors, reshaping its public image and enabling media exposure, institutional trust, and large enterprise clients. In effect, ethical repositioning became a competitive advantage.

Spoiler alert

Steve’s account of his first encounter with a skip tracing service (as advertised), which later turned out to be a local enforcer of the Japanese mafia, or Yakuza, will undoubtedly grab your attention. Skip to around 32:38.

Link to Session 1 of 3

Link to Session 3 of 3

Silver lining

Despite experiencing such a tumultuous journey, which included the meteoric growth of a startup only to be dealt a proverbial “Go to Jail. Go directly to Jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200” card from the Japanese equivalent of the game of Monopoly, there is a silver lining. Steve still loves Japan and was able to “rise from the ashes like a phoenix.” After returning to the United States in 2005, he founded Stellar Risk Management Services in Illinois. Today, the company advises Fortune 500 clients on credit, collections, and financial risk strategies. The company specializes in helping firms expand safely while minimizing exposure to bad debt.

Today, Steve publishes a monthly newsletter written in Japanese called The Stellar Journal, which is distributed to roughly 14,000 readers.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Books (by Steve)

* 青い目の債権取り立て屋・奮闘記 (“Chronicle of the Struggles of a Blue-Eyed Debt Collector”): Published in Japanese.

* Making It & Breaking It in Japan: My True Story of Songs, Sins, and Solitary: Published in English.

Key contacts

Website: https://www.stellarrisk.com/

Newsletter: https://www.stellarrisk.com/blog

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

IAESTE Internship: https://iaeste.org/internships

Japan America Society of Chicago: https://jaschicago.org/

Thunderbird School of Global Management: https://thunderbird.asu.edu/

#JapanBusiness #ForeignEntrepreneurs #StevenGan #CrossCulturalBusiness #JapanLegalSystem #BusinessEthics #CarlosGhosn #DebtCollection #TokyoBarAssociation #TokyoDetentionCenter #ExpatLifeJapan #日本ビジネス）#外国人起業家 #スティーブンギャン #異文化ビジネス #司法制度 #ビジネス倫理 #カルロスゴーン #東京弁護士会 #債権回収 #米国公認会計士 #外資系企業 #アドバンスアンドアソシエイツ株式会社 #延滞売掛金の回収 #与信管理相談士 #キャッシュフロー問題 #日本での外国人生活 #東京拘置所 #RealGaijin #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/

Japan is currently welcoming record numbers of tourists, with more than 40 million expected again in 2026. The northern island of Hokkaido is famous for its “Japow” snow, winter festival, and delicious seafood, and it is a perennial draw for international and domestic tourists, especially during the winter months.

However, Japan is struggling to accommodate the influx of foreign tourists. The hospitality industry is on the front lines of this extraordinary interest in Japan. Unfortunately, there are few local innkeepers and travel experts who are familiar with, capable of, or comfortable dealing with foreign visitors. This has prompted a backlash among the local population, who complain of overtourism due to overcrowding in popular destinations like Kyoto (see here for more information). Thus, it takes a special kind of host to address such concerns while providing world-renowned Japanese hospitality.

Today’s guest on the Real Gaijin AMA podcast is a Japanese native with a global perspective who assists foreign visitors in Japan. She is an expert in cross-cultural relations and enjoys showing her international guests her home base of Sapporo. Having experienced life in a foreign place herself, she strives to provide her clients with a personalized service that makes them feel right at home.

Who is she?

Meet Lisa, the founder of “Lisa in Sapporo,” a travel concierge service in Hokkaido. Lisa is a talented woman who works as an interpreter and local guide for visitors to her home base of Sapporo. She supplements her travel guide activities with her role as the host of a wonderful new Airbnb, called minpaku (民泊) in Japanese. Her apartment is located in a residential area with quick and easy subway access to the heart of Sapporo.

In her spare time, Lisa publishes her own Substack, Unlocking Japan, which provides a wealth of information about the country.

Lisa has always been passionate about learning about other cultures. At 30 years old, she seized the opportunity to move to Rwanda with her five-year-old son as a single mother. Africa opened up a whole new world for this young, bilingual mom. As a result, she returned to Japan and relocated to Sapporo with a new global perspective. As you can imagine, she is an intriguing host who knows how to best meet her guests’ needs.

In Sapporo, she runs a local travel concierge service called “Lisa in Sapporo.” It is an invaluable resource for any visitor who wants an authentic experience and to see Hokkaido’s largest city from a local’s perspective. Her service offering includes guided tours and travel advice.

The property

Just in time for the busy winter season in Sapporo, Lisa partnered with a regional property management company with a large network of short-term rentals on Japan’s northernmost main island, Hokkaido to launch her Airbnb.

Thanks to Lisa’s hospitality — omotenashi (おもてなし) in Japanese — and the high-grade amenities of this cozy apartment in a quiet residential area of the city, guests will feel right at home in Sapporo. Make a reservation simply by sending Lisa a DM via Substack or via WhatsApp. This will allow you to communicate directly with the host, providing more flexibility. For example, you could ask for permission to check out later than the normal time of 10 a.m.

Follow this link to see the property for yourself: https://lisa-in-sapporo.my.canva.site/lisa-in-sapporo

It is a 52-square-meter (560-square-foot) “2LDK” apartment with one bathroom. It is located on the ground floor of an eight-unit, multi-story wooden apartment building that is approximately 40 years old. Lisa’s apartment can accommodate up to seven guests (4 beds and 3 futons). Technically, the regulations stipulate that each guest must have at least 3.3 square meters (35.5 square feet), but Lisa wants her guests to be comfortable. She mostly rents to families with two or three generations visiting together, and there is just enough space for everyone by Japanese standards. Usually, the apartment is occupied by 4 or 5 people. While costs vary depending on the season, the typical fee is 20,000 yen (approximately $129 USD per night), with a minimum stay of two nights.

The property is in a great location, only a four-minute walk from the closest subway station. It’s five stops north of Sapporo Station and other parts of downtown Sapporo, such as the main shopping area, Odori, and the famous Susukino nightlife district. Moreover, the closest convenience store is only one minute away on foot, and there are many good restaurants near the property, including some that serve Sapporo’s famous ramen, soup curry, and Genghis Khan barbecue. It is also only a three-minute drive to an expressway entrance for easy access to neighboring Otaru and some of Hokkaido’s most famous ski resorts.

The website also has information about Lisa’s guided walking tours, which include a visit to the famous Sapporo Beer Brewery and Beer Garden.

On the agenda

First, to set the stage, we explored Lisa’s personal and professional journey abroad. This includes her time in Rwanda, where she visited the actual “Hotel Rwanda,” also known as the Hôtel des Mille Collines. We discussed her decision to return to Japan and her motivation for starting the “Lisa in Sapporo” travel concierge service in Hokkaido.

Next, we took a deep dive into her decision to expand by partnering with an Airbnb property management company. We had a very candid discussion of the following:

* Startup phase (finding and preparing the property)

* Decision to work with a property management company (trade-offs, fee structure, communications protocol, etc.).

* Daily operations (including guest relations and the unexpectedly challenging process of finding cleaning and linen providers)

* Financial reality (revenue, costs, and scaling)

* Being a good neighbor (navigating challenges with neighbors and local sentiment about short-term rentals, especially given some high-profile instances of trouble with such properties, mainly in Tokyo and Osaka)

If you’re considering doing something similar, today’s discussion may have provided the inspiration you need to take the next step. If you’re already an Airbnb host in Japan, today was a great opportunity to share ideas, as some of our listeners mentioned during the live session.

Key takeaways

Lisa volunteered all sorts of practical lessons she had learned the hard way, and we could have continued the discussion for hours. Some highlights include the following:

* Sourcing a property: In popular areas such as Sapporo, there are many restrictions on whether a property can be rented out short-term and, if so, how many days per year it can be rented out (e.g., 180 days for “simple lodging” versus year-round like a hotel). Most homeowners associations in condominiums prohibit landlords from renting out units as minpaku (民泊), or Airbnb. Competition for rental properties is fierce, and available rentals, particularly those zoned for year-round use, are snapped up within the first few hours of being listed. While not all landlords are interested in tenants who rent out their units on Airbnb, most tend to charge a significant premium for such properties. For example, the other tenants in the multi-unit apartment building where Lisa’s Airbnb is located pay about 50,000 to 60,000 yen (approximately $325 to $390) per month for rent, whereas Lisa pays 80,000 yen ($520).

* Option to manage the property on your own: If you are an aspiring Airbnb host looking to maximize your profit margin, it would be best to rent out a portion of your own home. This could include one or more apartments in a multi-unit complex where you live. This way, you can legally avoid using a property management service.

* If you have a large budget: Ideally, if you have the luxury of building your own facility from the ground up, which would naturally require a relatively high initial investment, then it would be best to include more than one bathroom in each apartment.

* Financials: Lisa in Sapporo is just barely on track to break even and recoup her initial investment within three years, although she received more than thirty bookings almost immediately after listing the property last autumn. Currently, during the high season in Hokkaido (December to February), she averages monthly sales of about 500,000 yen (approximately $3,250). Although the monthly rent is relatively low, after paying a 20% commission to her property management company and an additional 15% to online booking services, as well as covering routine expenses for cleaning, linens, garbage collection, utilities, and snow removal from the property’s parking space, not much operating profit remains at the end of the month.

* Catch 22: In popular areas like Sapporo, where there is a lot of competition from other Airbnb properties, there tend to be relatively few service providers. Additionally, ancillary support businesses tend to contract almost exclusively with well-established property management companies. Thus, if you try to save money by avoiding a property management company, it may be difficult to find support services that can meet your scheduling requirements, such as the five-hour period between check-out and check-in in between guests. In a pinch, you may have to clean the property and wash the linens yourself.

* Premium for garbage collection: When using a property management service, garbage disposal is classified as “business waste,” a premium service beyond routine garbage collection. Guests are instructed to leave all waste inside the apartment, and the cleaning company is responsible for throwing out the garbage. However, special collection bags are required, and they cost more than regular waste disposal bags. Small expenses like this tend to add up and put further pressure on profit margins.

* Extra expenses in the dead of winter: Lisa learned the hard way that she must keep the heat on 24/7 during the winter months to prevent the water pipes from freezing. Additionally, after a huge snowstorm—of which there have been several this year—if your property doesn’t have a “snow melting pit,” called a yusetsuko (融雪槽) in Japanese, you must pay extra for snow removal from the apartment’s parking space(s). If you plan to run an Airbnb from your home in Hokkaido, keep the logistics of snow removal in mind, too. For example, you will probably need extra space to dump excess snow.

* Must budget for unforeseen, one-time upgrades especially at the beginning: While this was essentially a growing pain that was easily resolved, Lisa had a group of guests who used so many electrical heaters and appliances simultaneously that they tripped the circuit breaker. Consequently, she had to pay to upgrade the electrical system to handle the added capacity.

* Watch out when you set the minimum length of stay: Initially, the online travel agencies (OTAs) allowed only a one-night minimum stay. However, this resulted in cleaning expenses of almost 10,000 yen ($65) per group, making it prohibitively expensive. Lisa subsequently changed her policy to require a minimum stay of at least two nights. Live and learn!

* Limited direct communication with guests (hidden indirect costs): While Airbnb and other OTAs are great for attracting new business — especially when a property management service is also involved — it can sometimes be difficult for hosts to communicate directly with their guests. Hosts like Lisa who work with a property management company may also face restrictions when responding to guest ratings and comments.

* Trying to maintain good relations with neighbors and avoiding “minpaku trouble”: Tenants in multi-unit apartment complexes tend to react skeptically when Airbnb rentals are permitted. The main concerns are rent increases, noise, garbage disposal, and security. Lisa has mitigated the potential problem of loud noises by renting the ground floor unit. Hosts who plan to operate their property on a year-round basis are required to install a camera security system next to the apartment door. The occupant of the apartment next to Lisa’s reacted negatively when the camera was installed, believing that they would also be under surveillance. It took a lot of patience and humility to placate this neighbor.

* Trial by fire: Although Lisa and her property management company use bilingual manuals to encourage guests to respect their neighbors, most guests don’t consult the manuals. Lisa learned the hard way, after her very first ever guest parked in the wrong space, that clear signage is generally the best approach. It’s also not uncommon for guests who don’t read the manual to take matters into their own hands. Lisa shared an instance when a guest threw their garbage in the wrong communal bin, despite the stated rule to leave all waste in the apartment at check-out. Needless to say, Lisa’s landlord has her number on speed dial!

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key contacts

* Lisa in Sapporo Main Site (with information about the property): https://lisa-in-sapporo.my.canva.site/lisa-in-sapporo

* Contact Lisa in Sapporo by DM via Substack or via WhatsApp

* Sapporo Beer History Tour & Local Life Walk (book via Airbnb): https://www.airbnb.com.mt/experiences/6769398

* Unlocking Japan Substack:

#LisaInSapporo #JapanTravel #Hokkaido #Sapporo #JapaneseHospitality #Omotenashi #AirbnbJapan #Minpaku #TourismBusiness #SmallBusinessJapan #Airbnb日本 #民泊 #日本旅行 #北海道旅行 #札幌旅行ガイド #札幌グルメ #RealGaijin #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

When a businessperson is offered the opportunity to relocate to Tokyo to manage a team in Japan, it is commonly recognized as a promotion. The emotions involved can range from elation at being selected for such a challenging and exciting international assignment to concerns about how to lead a Japanese or cross-cultural team, as well as questions about the relocation process and how to support the adaptation of a spouse and children to a new culture and environment.

Today’s guest is an expert in cross-cultural relations, adaptation, and education. She helps families from around the world prepare for an international move to Japan and supports leaders managing global teams or working across borders.

Who is she?

Meet Dr. Izabelle Grenon.

Dr. Izabelle Grenon, a long-term expat originally from Canada, is a renowned keynote and guest speaker on cross-cultural relations, cultural intelligence, and effective collaboration across difference. She is also a trusted Japan relocation consultant and language acquisition expert.

Dr. Grenon holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Victoria in Canada and spent over a decade as an Associate Professor at one of Japan’s top universities, the University of Tokyo. During her 20-year academic career, she presented her research at international conferences and published in leading academic journals.

She also holds a degree in Entrepreneurship and brings over twenty years of leadership experience managing projects and teams across creative industries, academic research, and international conference planning. Having lived across four continents, she has led multicultural teams in cross-cultural settings and worked closely with leaders and experts across multiple countries.

Today, Dr. Grenon brings her expertise to a wider audience as a keynote speaker for public and private events, an education consultant for schools, a Japan relocation consultant for individuals and families, and an intercultural specialist supporting leaders working in global and cross-cultural environments.

Her work as a Japan relocation consultant is people-centered. Rather than offering concierge services, Dr. Grenon empowers individuals, families, and professionals to build a new life independently in their new country. From cultural orientation to practical guidance, she helps clients understand their rights and options so they can truly feel at home in Japan.

On the agenda

We began by exploring Dr. Grenon’s personal and professional journey to Japan.

Dr. Grenon subsequently explained how her firsthand experience shaped her approach to Japan relocation, cross-cultural relations, and leadership, with a focus on supporting professionals and families as they navigate the complexities of Japanese bureaucratic and cultural systems.

We discussed her work as a keynote and guest speaker, highlighting cross-cultural relations, cultural identity, and strategies for effective collaboration across very different cultural mindsets.

Key takeaways

* Enrolling Children in Public School System: Relocating one’s family to Japan can be anxiety-inducing for parents of young children, especially if there is no extra funding to enroll them in private or international schools. In this case, the only option is to enroll them in a traditional Japanese elementary school. The key issue in that case is language proficiency. When an immigrant family attempts to enroll a child of elementary age who does not speak Japanese in a regular public elementary school in Japan, enrollment is generally permitted. However, the support environment is uneven and highly localized. Once enrolled, the child is placed in a mainstream classroom with Japanese peers. There is no nationwide requirement for schools to provide intensive Japanese as a Second Language instruction. Although policy guidance exists from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, implementation depends heavily on municipal budgets and staffing. Support varies widely by location. In larger cities or areas with higher immigrant populations, schools may offer part-time Japanese language classes, bilingual support staff, or volunteer aides. In many smaller municipalities, support may be limited to ad hoc assistance from teachers, community volunteers, or classmates. Some schools use translated notices or pictograms for basic communication, but full academic accommodations are often minimal.

* Implications of Gender Inequality: Although banks in Japan do not formally discriminate by gender in mortgage lending, gender inequality emerges indirectly, particularly through career interruptions linked to childbirth and childcare. This problem is further exacerbated by maternity harassment (matahara). Since mortgage underwriting places heavy weight on continuous employment and stable income, women who are pregnant, on maternity or parental leave, or who have recently returned to work may be assessed as higher risk due to temporary income disruption. Although this approach is framed as gender-neutral risk management, it disproportionately affects women because they are far more likely to experience career interruptions. In some cases, they are pressured into reduced roles, sidelined positions, or forced to resign due to maternity harassment. When such workplace practices weaken a woman’s employment status or income trajectory, the impact can directly affect mortgage outcomes, resulting in lower loan amounts, stricter terms, or delayed approvals. Thus, conservative lending standards can unintentionally amplify structural and workplace gender inequality rather than merely reflecting neutral financial risk.

* Attitudes about Immigration to Japan: One of Dr. Grenon’s most interesting experiences at the University of Tokyo was learning about her students’ views on immigration to Japan. Almost all of them cited similar pros and cons. On the one hand, many students understood the need to allow more foreigners, particularly as a source of labor, to address demographic and labor shortage issues. However, opponents of immigration often cite the erroneous argument that immigrants commit a disproportionate amount of crime. Dr. Grenon invited an expert on crime statistics to present evidence proving that, in general, immigrants in Japan are not the cause of rising crime rates, which surprised most of the students. The data show that foreign visa holders are actually less likely to commit a crime because the risk of being expelled from the country is much greater than the punishment for a Japanese national convicted of a similar offense.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key contacts

* Website: https://izabellegrenon.com/

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izabellegrenon/

* Book: Finally, please note that Dr. Grenon has published The Japan Guide: From Renting to Rice Cooking, which is available worldwide on Amazon. This book is designed to be an up-to-date resource for anyone planning to relocate to Japan.

#IzabelleGrenon #JapanRelocation #ExpatFamilySupport #LivingAndWorkingInJapan #CrossCulturalLeadership #InterculturalUnderstanding #イザベルグレノン #日本で働く外国人 #異文化リーダーシップ #異文化理解 #海外駐在家族 #RealGaijin #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Foreign brands often misjudge Japan, not because it is “closed,” but because it is unforgiving of superficiality. Many arrive armed with global playbooks, confident that past success will translate. However, they discover that Japan quietly but methodically rejects offerings that feel rushed, overly marketed, or insufficiently localized. In Japan, product-market-fit is more about credibility than scale. It requires packaging that signals care, service that anticipates needs before they are voiced, and messaging that respects context rather than shouting through it. Brands that mistake politeness for acceptance or early curiosity for loyalty often find themselves stalled—present but irrelevant. In Japan, failure rarely comes with drama. It comes with indifference, which is far harder to reverse.

To kick off the second season of the Real Gaijin AMA podcast series, we were pleased to welcome a guest expert who helps foreign brands navigate the Japanese market.

Who is he?

Meet Timothy Connor.

Timothy is a bilingual and bicultural longtime resident of Tokyo. He has 25+ years of experience in consumer-related businesses, including B2B2C and B2C. He has developed a deep understanding of the Japanese market, its consumers, and the unique aspects of doing business in Japan, where building trust relationships is essential.

As CEO of Synnovate, Timothy creates growth strategies, oversees their implementation, and collaborates with local master distributors or franchisors to drive business expansion. Using his bilingual and bicultural expertise, he builds trust relationships with distributors and partners, and then innovates products, sales and marketing channels, and promotional activities.

Marketing to Japanese consumers requires a highly developed customer experience and attention to quality details, an aspect sometimes overlooked by foreign brands. As a non-Japanese individual, Timothy often sees opportunities that Japanese partners do not, and he has more flexibility than Japanese individuals to think outside the box.

From working on nearly 50 brands new to the market, Timothy has developed an AI Agent that can draft an initial 12 to 15 month go-to-market launch plan. However, as he says, AI needs MI, or market intelligence, and that is what he brings to the table.

Based on his experience, Timothy developed the concept of strategic leadership: a distinct, skills-based approach to determining the type of leader a business needs at each stage of growth. He is also an accomplished country manager and managing director who can step into a startup or interim role to enable rapid growth and/or change as necessary.

Key takeaways

We could have continued the discussion, especially regarding the case studies, for hours. Some highlights include the following:

* Do Your Homework in Advance: Like many foreign companies, even global powerhouses such as IKEA sometimes mistakenly assume that their international strategy will work in Japan — not necessarily and often not.

* IKEA Had to Learn That Lesson the Hard Way: Taking a one-size-fits-all approach to launching the Japanese branch often leads to unintended and unwanted consequences. After initially retreating from the Japanese market, IKEA did not give up. They took time to study the market, learn customer needs, and transform their approach, combining elements from their global brand and product portfolio with localized solutions. These solutions included smaller-sized furniture, a limited selection of curated products for the Japanese market, and experimentation with the “urban store format” as an antenna store.

* Cold Stone Creamery Failed to Study Japanese Consumer Preferences: Despite its initial big splash in the market, this high-end ice cream brand failed to develop brand loyalty. While the showmanship of watching your ice cream being made right in front of you (on a cold stone) was novel at first, it failed to nurture repeat customers or encourage regular visits to their stores. Moreover, their product lineup was too sweet and expensive for the Japanese market. Cold Stone Creamery also lacked a strong local partner and a means to distribute packaged goods through retail channels. Ultimately, they were undone by Japan’s extensive network of convenience stores and supermarkets that offer consumers ready access to a wide variety of reasonably priced ice cream products.

* Even with a Strong Local Partner a Foreign Brand Can Still Fail without Localization: Ben & Jerry’s failed not once, but twice! Before being acquired by Unilever, they were wooed to Japan by 7-Eleven. On the surface, this would almost guarantee a successful rollout. They started by simply shipping relatively large pints of unmodified ice cream to Japan. The relatively large tubs of ice cream didn’t fit in freezers, the flavors were odd, and the product names were confusing. Whether 7-Eleven counseled Ben & Jerry’s to launch with more localized versions of their products is still a mystery, but even if the company had been given such advice, it’s likely that they simply ignored it. In any case, 7-Eleven gave this experiment about six months, but they shut it down when it became clear that it just wasn’t working. Normally, the window of opportunity to prove success via the convenience store channel is only two weeks to a month! After being acquired by Unilever, Ben & Jerry’s tried again to penetrate the Japanese market, but they fell victim to the same problem that did in Cold Stone Creamery. They sold scoops in stores rather than packaged goods. Ultimately, Ben & Jerry’s was unable to nurture repeat customers who had grown accustomed to visiting their stores for a scoop of ice cream. Additionally, despite their reputation for environmental activism in the United States, Ben & Jerry’s did not leverage this aspect of their brand in Japan. Their second venture into the Japanese market proved to be too little, too late, especially against the entrenched local competition, even after trying to make a go of it for more than five years!

* Navigating Social Media in Japan: Unlike in the West, LINE, a superapp run by the Korean firm Naver, dominates the social media (or “SNS”) landscape in Japan. It followed mixi, which has essentially gone by the wayside. Additionally, while LinkedIn is steadily gaining popularity among English speakers as the “Facebook” for business, Facebook is still used by Gen X and Boomers not only to share personal updates, but also to publish business press releases in Japanese. However, younger generations have largely migrated to YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Interestingly, WhatsApp has a relatively low market share in Japan.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key contacts

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyconnor/

* Synnovate Website: https://www.synnovate.jp/

* Representative Case Studies: Unfortunately, we ran out of time during the podcast to discuss Mister Donut versus Dunkin’ Donuts and Converse, but they are interesting topics. Timothy frequently publishes brief case studies like these on LinkedIn and is always available to answer questions and exchange comments.

* IKEA

* Social Media in Japan

* Cold Stone Creamery

* Mister Donut vs. Dunkin’ Donuts

* Converse

* Ben & Jerry’s

#TimothyConnor #Synnovate #JapanMarketEntryStrategy #JapanBusinessAdvisory #GoToMarketJapan #ProductMarketFitJapan #JapaneseConsumerInsight #FuquaSchoolOfBusiness #GlobisGraduateSchoolOfManagement #ティモシーコナー #シノベイト #日本市場参入戦略 #日本ビジネスアドバイザリー #日本中小企業アドバイザリー #日本におけるプロダクトマーケットフィット #日本オムニチャネル戦略 #日本デジタルトランスフォーメーション戦略 #日本の消費者インサイト #異文化リーダーシップ #RealGaijin #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Over the past year, Real Gaijin has introduced a diverse group of foreigners who either live in Japan or have significant ties to the country. To spice things up, we have also interviewed a few Japanese nationals who are engaged with Japan’s foreigner community.

As our viewers have learned, there is no single formula for finding success in one’s adopted country, but all of our guests have one thing in common: they have learned to create their own success. Many have overcome significant personal setbacks, emerging much stronger. Often, the catalyst is a move to Japan.

To conclude the first season of the Real Gaijin AMA podcast series, we were pleased to introduce an “old-timer” who has made the most of his adopted homeland since first arriving in Japan during the heyday of its Bubble economy in the late 1980s. After a varied career, our guest took Hernán Cortés’ advice to “burn the ships” to heart. Cortés was the Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that conquered the Aztec Empire. To motivate his crew and prevent them from considering returning home, Cortés burned the ships that had brought them to the New World. Similarly, our guest made a bold move in 1998 when he moved to Japan full-time and never looked back.

Who is he?

Meet Jeremy Sanderson.

Jeremy is a self-described “poster child for landing on one’s feet.” After arriving in Japan almost penniless and with no prior business experience or qualifications, he went on to create a fantastically happy life that has sustained his family rather well over the years.Jeremy is, of course, incredibly modest. A graduate of SOAS University of London, he is a British entrepreneur who has called Japan home for almost three decades. Jeremy specializes in venture-company market entry consulting and interim management. He has successfully introduced, incorporated, and managed a broad range of companies in Japan, including those in the fields of aids to navigation and safety systems for offshore wind farms, industrial LED lighting import and retail, automotive products import and retail, eyewear import and retail, executive search and human resource services, recruitment process outsourcing management, and serviced office and coworking facility setup and management. Jeremy lives and works in Tokyo, conducting most of his business in Japanese.

Fun facts

Prior to moving to Japan, Jeremy had an eleven-year career in the London Metropolitan Police Force, but he was not your typical “copper” by a long shot! At one point, he was even the guardian of Princess Diana and danced with the late Queen Mother during the famous Ghillies Ball, the annual private dance and dinner hosted by the British monarch at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, which is a formal thank-you event for the estate staff, ghillies (gamekeepers), and local workers who support the royal family during their time at Balmoral.Despite his affinity for Cortés’ famous directive, Jeremy is also an avid sailor. Not only is he the captain of his own vessel Cold Gin, which he keeps in Japan, but he has also crewed on an extended voyage in the North Sea and other waters.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Key takeaways

As Jeremy alluded throughout the interview, opportunities seemed to fall serendipitously into his lap, which he took full advantage. Some highlights include the following:

* Make Your Own Luck: As Jeremy described, he “fell into” a series of positions throughout his long career as a result of fortuitous circumstances. While there must have been an element of luck involved, Jeremy is a lifelong learner who never settles for doing a half-fast job. Once he sets his sights on something, he throws himself into studying as much as he can about the subject. This approach, as well as his demonstrable networking skills, has helped him make his own luck.

* Overcoming Adversity: Like many entrepreneurs, Jeremy was inspired to start his own business after being fired. He had a falling out with a previous business partner and realized the relationship was no longer viable. Thanks to his extensive personal network, however, it wasn’t long before an investor approached him to become a partner in a new venture. On a deeper level, though, Jeremy was able to overcome adversity because he had consciously decided to make a life in Japan, no matter what it took. He described this as deciding early on whether he would be “living here” or “camping here” (on a more transient basis).

“Many foreign residents in Japan are hedging. They’ve got one foot here and one foot in their own country, thinking, ‘If things go belly-up, I can always go home.’” - Jeremy Sanderson

Jeremy explained that, like Cortés, he “burned his boats” almost upon arrival and certainly after the first year in Japan. Jeremy’s wife, a Japanese national, also strongly supports this philosophy. Years ago, her wise counsel (and undoubtedly still today) reinforced Jeremy’s determination to commit fully to a life anchored in Japan.

* The Higher the Barrier to Entry, the Higher the Reward: Jeremy, building upon his years of experience, advises foreigners who want to make it in Japan to avoid jobs with low barriers to entry, such as teaching English, which many Westerners do. Jeremy was so serious about this idea that he was prepared to sleep in a park before resorting to teaching English.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key contacts

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-sanderson-62b86734a/

* Sabik Offshore (wind farms): https://sabik-offshore.com/

* TYRI Lights: https://tyrilights.com/

#JeremySanderson #BritishEntrepreneur #LondonMetropolitanPoliceForce #SabikOffshore #TYRILights #SandersonIcon #OffshoreWindFarms #IndustrialLEDLighting #RecruitmentProcessOutsourcingManagement #ForeignersWorkingInJapan #SOASUniversityOfLondon #ジェレミーサンダーソン #英国人起業家 #ロンドン警視庁 #サビックオフショア #TYRIライツ #サンダーソンアイコン #洋上風力発電所 #産業用LED照明 #採用プロセスアウトソーシング管理 #日本で働く外国人 #ロンドン大学SOAS #RealGaijin #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Japan is home to many foreign residents who pursue creative endeavors, following in the footsteps of artists who found inspiration in their adopted homeland. For example, Ernest Hemingway developed his journalistic style and literary voice during his years in Paris with the “Lost Generation.” Mary Shelley spent years traveling and living in Italy, drawing inspiration from exile and loss. Josephine Baker fled American racism and became one of France’s most beloved performers. She later joined the French Resistance, becoming a symbol of artistic and political courage. Even The Beatles transformed from a local band into the world’s most influential musical act while living the expatriate life in Hamburg’s clubs.

Today, Real Gaijin was pleased to introduce a singer-songwriter, freelance bassist, narrator, voice-over artist, guitarist, vocalist, and poet who draws creative inspiration from their adopted home of Tokyo.

Who is they?

Meet Laurier Tiernan.

Originally from Alberta, Canada, Laurier Tiernan arrived in Japan 23 years ago. They started out as a punk rock musician but have since expanded their reach as an interdisciplinary artist with multiple creative endeavors.

Earlier this year, Tiernan published their first book of poetry, Fifty-Five Ways to Survive. The bilingual collection of graphic poetry traces a journey from despair to resilience and spiritual connection.

Wide-Ranging Talent

Laurier divides their time between Tokyo and Edmonton, Alberta. His writing has appeared in major publications across three continents. As a voice-over artist, he has worked on TV commercials, regular programs on NHK, and audiobooks such as Secrets of the Forsaken. Laurier is also a musician, and their songs have aired on over 100 radio stations worldwide. His handwritten poems were featured in “Living While Marginalized,” an exhibition of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC artists hosted by the Penticton Art Gallery in British Columbia. In the same year, Laurier debuted in the TOHO film Yokai Daisenso: Guardians as Dracula. They currently host Tiernan depuis Tokyo on CKRP, a French-language radio station in Alberta.

Key Takeaways

Some highlights from our nearly hour-long discussion are listed below:

* Overcoming Adversity: The inspiration behind Fifty-Five Ways to Survive is Laurier’s personal story of surviving a life-threatening illness, dealing with a severe medical condition and financial hardship, and overcoming the challenges of being a member of a marginalized community.

* A Wide Range of Advice for Foreign Resident Creatives in Tokyo: Laurier offered lots of practical advice throughout the interview, from explaining that getting a gig in Tokyo as an indie musician typically involves “pay to play” terms to sharing the Japanese saying, “If you’re on time, you’re late.”

* Work Hack — The Discipline of Journaling: For more than 30 years, Laurier has religiously filled three pages of a notebook every day with handwritten notes to record thoughts and ideas that they subsequently draws upon for creative expression. Good suggestion!

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurier_tiernan_writer/

* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurier.tiernan.personal/

* i-Pairs Inc. Website: https://i-pairs.co.jp/narrator/laurier-tiernan/

* Impleo Narrator Index Website: https://narratorindex.impleo.co.jp/laurier-tiernan/

* Heartful Human Voice Website: https://www.hh-voice.jp/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E-%E7%94%B7%E6%80%A7%E3%83%8A%E3%83%AC%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC/laurier-tiernan/

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriertiernan/

* nature airliner: https://natureairliner.com/

#LaurierTiernan #FiftyFiveWaysToSurvivePoemsForStrength #CinquanteCinqVoiesDeSurvie #RadioPresenter #songwriter #singer #VoiceOverArtist #poet #writer #SoundEngineer #WorkingInJapanAsAForeigner #ロリエーティエナン #ラジオパーソナリティ #作詞家 #歌手 #ナレーター #詩人 #作家 #音響技術者 #外国人ライター #外国人ミュージシャン #外国人声優 #外国人モデル #サウンドエンジニアリング #RealGaijin #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

In addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:

Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/month

Bamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)

Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/month

In Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”

For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for “pine” is “matsu.” In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is “take,” but the on-yomi is “chiku.” Similarly, the word for plum is “ume,” but the on-yomi is “bai.”

No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Next

As many foreign residents of Japan know well, settling in, developing your own network, and finding your footing in the business world can be challenging, especially at the beginning. Succeeding often requires superhuman effort and determination.

Recently, Real Gaijin was pleased to introduce someone who persevered through difficulties to found and lead one of Japan’s leading IT and network support service providers for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Who is he?

Meet Biju Paul.

Originally from Kerala, India, he arrived in Japan 31 years ago. He worked in a variety of management roles at foreign-affiliated companies in Japan’s investment banking sector before starting his own company, TopTech Informatics. TopTech provides IT and network support services to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan and currently has offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and India. Biju has a proven track record of developing and implementing high-performance global projects and achieving high customer satisfaction. He currently consults with various industries on cybersecurity.

Biju has never taken his success for granted and has always been committed to giving back to the communities in which he lives. After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan, he led teams of volunteers from Tokyo to clean up houses and public areas in the Tohoku region. Over the course of one year, more than 1,000 volunteers participated in these cleanup operations.

In Kerala, India, Biju established the Thoppil Charitable Foundation, a charity that helps poor students meet their financial needs to complete their education.

Talented at Getting out of “a sticky wicket”

Outside of work, Biju is an avid cricket player and the current president of the oldest Indian cricket club in Japan, the Indian Engineers Cricket Club. Biju is also one of the founders of the Tokyo Cricket Association, where he currently serves as president.

Off the field

Biju is one of the founding members of the Indian Malayalee community in Tokyo and has held various leadership positions within the community. As a fluent Japanese speaker, he has built a strong network of contacts and partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region. He is also an active member of various chambers of commerce in Japan. As a long-term resident of Japan with cross-cultural and intercultural experience, he regularly consults with Japan Railways and Japanese banks to improve their services for foreigners living in or visiting Japan. Biju is also a guest lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo.

Key Takeaways

Although Biju is usually very modest, during the podcast, we convinced him to open up about his personal journey to Japan. Some highlights include the following:

* Overcoming Adversity: As American author, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker Tony Robbins said, “Life happens for you, not to you. It’s in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” After being laid off following the dot-com bubble burst and being unable to find a new job right away, Biju took the bold step of founding TopTech Informatics. While it naturally took a lot of hard work and determination to make this new venture a success, Biju says that hitting rock bottom in his business career provided the impetus to start again and thrive in ways he never dreamed possible. It’s interesting how many successful entrepreneurs become business leaders after being fired from a steady position.

* Sage Advice for Achieving Success in Japan as a Foreigner: In addition to striving to master the Japanese language, Biju emphasizes the importance of patience, active listening, paying close attention to clients’ needs, and taking a long-term approach to building lasting relationships based on mutual trust. This translates into offering fair prices, which has helped Biju attract and retain a large base of repeat customers, many of whom provide him with referrals.

* The Importance of Giving Back: Biju has balanced his life between his devotion to his family, his role as leader of TopTech Informatics, and his commitment to philanthropy. Biju is well aware of how much he has gained from the support of many people in Japan. Thus, when Japan was in dire need following the 3/11 “triple disaster” in 2011, Biju sprang into action. He mobilized a concerted effort to provide relief to victims of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Tohoku. However, Biju did not simply collect money for this worthy cause. For over a year, he devoted his weekends to leading groups of volunteers from his church in cleanup efforts.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Website for TopTech Informatics: https://www.toptechinfo.com/

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bijupaul/

#BijuPaul #TopTechInformatics #WorkingInJapanAsAForeigner #ビジュポール #トップテック #トップテックインフォマーティックス #RealGaijin #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

In addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:

Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/month

Bamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)

Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/month

In Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”

For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for “pine” is “matsu.” In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is “take,” but the on-yomi is “chiku.” Similarly, the word for plum is “ume,” but the on-yomi is “bai.”

No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Disclaimer

The information discussed in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The views expressed by the host and guest are their own and do not constitute recommendations. Always conduct your own research and consult a qualified financial professional before making any decisions.

Do you remember any college professors who made their subjects come alive by connecting theory and practice? Today, Real Gaijin was pleased to introduce someone who excels at doing just that, particularly in the areas of financial literacy and personal finance. These are two subjects in which everyone should be interested and have at least a basic level of competence.

We were fortunate to be speaking with Daniel J. Mills, Ed.D., a professor in the Faculty of Economics at Ritsumeikan University, today. He shared his insights on financial literacy education, paying particular attention to the challenges faced by foreign residents — especially Americans — living in Japan.

Who is he?

Meet Professor Daniel J. Mills, whom we referred to as “Daniel” during the AMA “live video” podcast.

Originally from California, Daniel has lived and worked in Japan for more than two decades. This bilingual resident foreigner graduated from California State University, Northridge, where he majored in comparative religion with a focus on Asian religions. He also has a TESOL degree from Shenandoah University and an Ed.D. from the University of Wyoming. He is a certified financial educator and has taught at Ritsumeikan University for 15 years. You may have read some of his work on The FI Professor website, which provides a wealth of resources for US expats in Japan. Daniel is also the editor-in-chief of the Computer-Assisted Language Learning Electronic Journal. He co-authored the Think Big for Business textbook series and is currently working on new projects to provide accessible, practical financial guidance. In short, Daniel is an expert on personal finance and is especially talented at teaching others the ins and outs of personal finance from the perspective of a fellow American expat based in Japan.

Today, in addition to delving deeper into Daniel’s path to Japan, Real Gaijin asked him to share some of what he teaches his students, whether they are young or young at heart.

Key Takeaways

Today’s discussion was very much a “survey class,” covering a variety of subjects at a high level. However, it was clear that Daniel had more information to share and could have provided more detail on several topics. The main takeaways from today’s talk are as follows:

* Top Priority 3 Core Practices: Within the first 30 days of settling into a new job and home in Japan, Daniel recommends doing these three things first:

* Track and analyze your cash inflows and outflows in real time to create a personal balance sheet and net worth statement. Drill down to a fairly granular level to see exactly how much is coming in and going out.

* Develop a method for “forced savings” (e.g., open two bank accounts: one for day-to-day expenses and another for future investments).

* Begin making investments, but only after paying off any high-interest credit card debt.

* The Coming Use of AI to Clamp Down on Tax Noncompliance: Daniel predicts that, in the future, tax authorities around the world—including the National Tax Authority (NTA) in Japan and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the U.S.—will proactively identify errors. Stay tuned, and get compliant sooner rather than later.

* The Big Picture: Don’t Become Overwhelmed Take it one step at a time. As Daniel counsels, “It’s easy to make progress, and that’s all you need to do.”

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Coming up

* Grant from the Japanese Government: Daniel will be studying the intersection of personal finance, financial literacy education, and AI. He is the recipient of a prestigious Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research or Kagaku Kenkyūhi Josei Jigyō (科学研究費助成事業) in Japanese. Daniel will be taking this research on the road next year as a visiting professor at California Lutheran University. Expect great things! (He’ll still be keeping up The FI Professor with the new perspective of being “on the road.”)

* Think Big for Personal Finance textbook series: Scheduled to be published in 2026.

* Dedicated personal finance course at Ritsumeikan University: In the works…Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement.

* Expansion of The FI Professor website: Daniel has plans to launch a “Survival Guide for American Finances in Japan” and update the blog post “What’s in The FI Professor’s Portfolio?”

* Pet project: Daniel may create a step-by-step guide with screenshots that shows how to navigate the Interactive Brokers platforms (“asking for a friend”).

* Immediate short-term: If you’re planning to be in Osaka on Sunday, November 30, 2025, you can see Daniel present here:

The registration form is on @intogether2022 (Instagram) profile page.

Key Contacts

* Website: https://www.thefiprof.com/

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-j-mills-ed-d-037b351a/

* Substack: https://thefiprof.substack.com/

* Ritsumeikan University (立命館大学): https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/

* Computer-Assisted Language Learning Electronic Journal: https://callej.org/index.php/journal

* Think Big for Business textbook series: https://www.akebonopress.com/think-big-landing

#TheFIProfessor #DanielMills #RitsumeikanUniversity #PersonalFinance #FinancialLiteracyEducation #FinancialIndependence #WorkingInJapanAsAForeigner #ThinkBigForBusiness #ダニエルミルズ #立命館大学 #パーソナルファイナンス #金融リテラシー教育 #経済的自立 #外国人として日本で働く #RealGaijin #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee (or maybe a matcha latte) for Real Gaijin, you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

In addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:

Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/month

Bamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)

Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/month

In Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”

For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for “pine” is “matsu.” In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is “take,” but the on-yomi is “chiku.” Similarly, the word for plum is “ume,” but the on-yomi is “bai.”

No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/

Foreign businesspeople often push the boundaries of conventional business practices in Japan. They have the vision, technical expertise, and drive necessary to think outside the box and achieve their goals. Japan, a conformist and chronically conservative society, often needs this kind of disruptive leader. Periods of foreign influence help propel Japanese society forward.

However, such innovations can sometimes cause such a stir that those in power become determined to quash gaiatsu (外圧), or external influence, that threatens the status quo.

Today’s guest has a lot in common with Carlos Ghosn, the former head of Nissan. Both are foreign businesspeople who gained prominence as outsiders in Japan’s challenging business environment, only to face serious legal consequences. However, their responses to these consequences differ significantly. Our guest admitted his wrongdoing, submitted to the Japanese legal process, and served his prison sentence despite his strong conviction that he had done nothing wrong. In fact, he had sought legal advice prior to launching his business to support his position. In contrast, Ghosn denied the charges and fled the country to avoid prosecution. These cases highlight the broader narrative that, while they both reflect the risks faced by outsiders navigating Japan’s institutional and cultural boundaries, especially in legal “gray areas,” they also illustrate different approaches to accountability, justice, and personal responsibility.

Real Gaijin is privileged to introduce exceptional foreigners who, in one way or another, have made Japan their home or are closely involved with the country. Each story offers insights into how to best interact with the Japanese, and today’s guest is no exception.

Who is he?

Meet Steven (”Steve”) Gan, an American business professional, author, and credit risk expert. He founded the first debt collection agency run by a foreigner during Japan’s turbulent post-bubble era and has spent decades living and working in Japan. Steve chronicled this experience in his 2016 memoir, Making It & Breaking It in Japan: My True Story of Songs, Sins, and Solitary. The book became an Amazon bestseller in the Foreign Cultures category and is valued by educators and executives seeking a cross-cultural understanding of Japan’s business environment and legal systems.

After returning to his hometown of Chicago, Steve founded Stellar Risk Management Services, Inc. in the U.S. His work emphasizes intercultural management and financial ethics, bridging U.S.–Japan business practices.

Three stories in one

As it is simply not possible to do justice to Steve’s long tenure in Japan in a single hour-long podcast, we have split this true story into three pre-recorded sections.

* Initial experience in Japan and working for a traditional Japanese company

* Starting the country’s first debt collection agency run by a foreigner, which achieved extraordinary success

* Colliding with the harsh justice system and eventually facing legal consequences that led to his imprisonment in Tokyo

Episode 1 of 3: Early Days

We discussed Steve’s first experience of Japan during the Bubble Era. We heard how he survived and thrived as a newly qualified engineer from abroad in the completely unfamiliar environment of a traditional Japanese company in the early 1980s. Steve then recounted how he returned home to Chicago to earn an accounting degree and join the family business. Eager to return to Japan, years later Steve found a way to go back to Tokyo and take up a position at Nippon Motorola. This time, however, he was treated differently and had to forge new friendships using an unconventional approach.

Key take-aways

* Success in Japan is determined by adaptability, not just enthusiasm: Steve’s first internship was successful because he followed critical behavioral heuristics: patience, humility, and a willingness to “go with the flow.” In contrast, his later return was initially unsuccessful because he overcorrected—his excessive enthusiasm and assertiveness disrupted group harmony. The core lesson is that cultural calibration matters more than effort or intent.

* Making an effort to learn the language is a high-leverage signal that unlocks social and professional access: Even minimal Japanese proficiency (e.g., greetings, phone handling, and basic interactions) significantly improved Steve’s ability to integrate into Japanese society, while his peers who avoided learning the language struggled. Beyond the mechanics of communication, speaking the language signaled respect and lowered barriers, accelerating the formation of trust both inside the company and in broader social settings.

* Informal networks, such as izakaya (Japanese pub) and karaoke culture, are critical to relationship-building and business outcomes: Formal workplace channels failed to provide feedback or integration, but informal environments enabled authentic connection. Through repeated, low-pressure social participation, especially karaoke, Steve built relationships, gained acceptance, and generated business opportunities. This suggests that relational capital in Japan is often built outside of formal structures.

Link to Session 2 of 3

Link to Session 3 of 3

Silver lining

Despite experiencing such a tumultuous journey, which included the meteoric growth of a startup only to be dealt a proverbial “Go to Jail. Go directly to Jail. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200” card from the Japanese equivalent of the game of Monopoly, there is a silver lining. Steve still loves Japan and was able to “rise from the ashes like a phoenix.” After returning to the United States in 2005, he founded Stellar Risk Management Services in Illinois. Today, the company advises Fortune 500 clients on credit, collections, and financial risk strategies. The company specializes in helping firms expand safely while minimizing exposure to bad debt.

Today, Steve publishes a monthly newsletter written in Japanese called The Stellar Journal, which is distributed to roughly 14,000 readers.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Books (by Steve)

* 青い目の債権取り立て屋・奮闘記 (“Chronicle of the Struggles of a Blue-Eyed Debt Collector”): Published in Japanese.

* Making It & Breaking It in Japan: My True Story of Songs, Sins, and Solitary: Published in English.

Key contacts

Website: https://www.stellarrisk.com/

Newsletter: https://www.stellarrisk.com/blog

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

IAESTE Internship: https://iaeste.org/internships

Japan America Society of Chicago: https://jaschicago.org/

Thunderbird School of Global Management: https://thunderbird.asu.edu/

#JapanBusiness #ForeignEntrepreneurs #StevenGan #CrossCulturalBusiness #JapanLegalSystem #BusinessEthics #CarlosGhosn #DebtCollection #TokyoBarAssociation #TokyoDetentionCenter #ExpatLifeJapan #日本ビジネス）#外国人起業家 #スティーブンギャン #異文化ビジネス #司法制度 #ビジネス倫理 #カルロスゴーン #東京弁護士会 #債権回収 #米国公認会計士 #外資系企業 #アドバンスアンドアソシエイツ株式会社 #延滞売掛金の回収 #与信管理相談士 #キャッシュフロー問題 #日本での外国人生活 #東京拘置所 #RealGaijin #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/

Japan records relatively few adoptions each year. The majority are adult adoptions tied to family succession, not placements of unrelated children. True child adoptions, especially of children from the welfare system, remain limited. Against this backdrop, foreign adoptive parents are a small but notable edge case, navigating a system that is both structurally restrictive and culturally cautious.

Today, Real Gaijin was privileged to speak with a longtime Japan resident originally from California who made the momentous decision to adopt a Japanese child and raise them in a bicultural setting.

Who is he?

Andrew Neuman, a Japan-based professional and adoptive parent, has firsthand experience navigating the country’s complex and often opaque adoption system. His experience gives him a rare, practitioner-level perspective on the structural, legal, and cultural dynamics that shape adoption in Japan, from the constraints of the special adoption framework, which is called Tokubetsu Yoshiengumi (特別養子縁組) in Japanese, to the practical realities of raising a child across cultural and linguistic boundaries. His story provides insight into the discrepancy between policy design and lived experience, as well as the broader question of how family formation is evolving in a rapidly aging society.

On the agenda

We heard about Andrew’s family’s experiences in the context of how Japan’s adoption process operates. We examined instances where the system breaks down in practice, the reasons behind the persistent gap between the number of children in need of “forever homes” and the limited number of successful adoptions, and the ways in which institutional incentives influence these outcomes.

Key Takeaways

* Japan’s adoption system is significantly underutilized. This leaves a stark gap between the number of children in need of “forever homes” and the number of children who are actually adopted. Though approximately 42,000 children cannot live with their biological parents, most of whom remain in institutional settings, only 300 to 500 adoptions occur annually. This means that only a tiny fraction of eligible children transition into permanent family environments each year. This underscores a structural imbalance driven by legal constraints, cultural preferences for bloodline continuity, and limited adoption throughput.

* The adoption process, particularly for foreign applicants, is highly constrained, hierarchical, and psychologically demanding. Prospective parents must navigate strict prioritization rules that place non-Japanese couples, especially those living abroad, at the lowest tier. They must also endure long periods of uncertainty with no guaranteed outcome. The process requires candid self-assessment about what challenges prospective parents can handle. It is less about choosing a child and more about proving suitability within a rigid system. At the same time, a practical takeaway from the discussion is the importance of seeking guidance from adoptive parents who have already gone through the process. Their firsthand experience can help set expectations, reduce uncertainty, and provide critical emotional and procedural support.

* Go deeper: Restrictions on the age of adoptive parents, especially the mother, are a standard but variably enforced feature of adoption policy across countries. These restrictions reflect concerns about long-term caregiving capacity and generational fit. In Japan, although there is no uniform legal cutoff, adoption agencies and courts impose strict de facto limits. They typically favor adoptive mothers in their 20s and early 40s for infant adoptions. Flexibility increases for older children, though matching odds are sharply reduced beyond the mid-40s. By contrast, the United States has no formal age caps, relying instead on a holistic “fitness” standard. However, agencies often impose soft ceilings tied to the parent’s ability to raise a child to adulthood. Other countries take a more rules-based approach. South Korea enforces explicit upper age limits; China uses tiered systems that restrict older parents to harder-to-place children; and India applies combined parental age thresholds that vary by the child’s age. Two consistent patterns emerge across all systems: age constraints are stricter for infant adoption and relax for older children, and maternal age is often treated as the primary gating factor, whether formally codified or informally applied.

* Becoming an adoptive parent of a Japanese child—especially as a non-Japanese national—requires a structured, multi-stage process with limited flexibility. Applicants must first engage an accredited agency (often in their home country), complete extensive documentation and screening over several months, and then have their case reviewed by a Japanese intermediary, such as International Social Services Japan. Approval is followed by a potentially multi-year waiting period for a match. After that, the process shifts to Japan and includes travel, legal custody procedures, and a mandatory 6 ~ 18 month “period of nurturing.” During this period, prospective parents must reside temporarily in Japan to establish and demonstrate a stable parent-child relationship before finalization. Importantly, applicants cannot “hedge” across multiple countries or agencies. They must commit to a single pathway, which increases the risk and time commitment of the process.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key contacts (and resources)

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneuman/

* International Social Service Japan (page for “Prospective Adoptive Parents”): https://www.issj.org/adoption-web-en/paps/

* The Nippon Foundation (Happy Yurikago Project): https://en.nippon-foundation.or.jp/what/projects/youth/happy_yurikago

* U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan (Adoption): https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/adoption/

* Japan Children Support Association: https://npojcsa.com/en/index.html

* Children and Families Agency (Global Site): https://www.cfa.go.jp/en

* Adopt International: https://www.adoptinter.org/

* Short Documentary “Japan’s Throwaway Children | 101 East |日本の捨て児”

* Discussion of “What it’s like to adopt a child in Japan” with Andrew

#AndrewNeuman #Adoption #ChildWelfare #Parenting #Bicultural #ExpatLife #SocialPolicy #Demographics #SpecialAdoptionFramework #アンドリューニューマン #ニューマンアンドリュー #養子縁組 #児童福祉 #子育て #バイカルチャー #海外生活 #社会政策 #人口動態 #特別養子縁組 #RealGaijin #リアル外人

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/

https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substack

https://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijin

https://x.com/Real_Gaijin_

https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/