Export to Japan

Osaka Kansai EXPO 2025 opens its doors this month. We had the pleasure of catching up again with Rupert Daniels, Director for Creative, Consumer, Sport and Education, Department for Business & Trade. The UK pavilion is showcasing the strengths of the UK as an innovative and creative force. Guided by our dynamic morphing mascot, PIX. Rupert and his team are taking advantage of the opportunity to pr...

What are the opportunities for international companies to acquire or merge with Japanese companies? We talk with expert, Yuuichiro-san, from Crimson Phoenix, about the global trends and current landscape for company mergers and acquisitions. It is great to once again speak with experts in their field to gain insight into doing business in Japan. Please check out our archive both on the Youtube cha...

In this episode we delve into your digital reach in Japan. Jeff Crawford, as well as running his agency, Zo Digital ( https://www.zodigital.jp/ ), also runs a marketing meet-up in Tokyo to bring together others in the field to talk about the latest trends and strategies to best reach your audience in Japan. Here, Steve and Jeff delve into the SEO and the differences operating in Japan for British...

We talk with Deloitte Japan about the great initiative to collate the variety of grants and tax incentives that are available to non-Japanese companies.  For more information about the Japan incentive insights please watch the short film that the GI3 group have prepared: video And Visit the Japan incentive insights webpage 

As part of the the Department of Business & Trade's (DBT) International Trade Week in the autumn of 2024, Steve and guest Matthew Kyle, hosted a live version of the podcast with an added Q&A. We have scrubbed up the recording and tagged on a little extra intro from Steve, and here it is for you! Matt Kyle, CCO at WeConnect Japan, has years of experience supporting businesses set themselves up and...

Market research expert Dominic Carter took time to talk to us about the ageing population in Japan and the challenges and opportunities rising from the unique demography of the country. Dominic introduced us to his Living Best initiative and paints us a picture of the 'slow-moving emergency' and the increasing space for assistive technology and aging relating innovation. Having been immersed in th...

Recorded toward the end of October - in anticipation of the recent launch - Steve got the chance to talk with Kanako Kato and Li Sakina from the Station AI Open Innovation Promotions Department.  We learn about the incubator hub established in Aiichi prefecture, and in the third biggest city in Japan, Nagoya. With already over 400 sign ups, the innovation centre is set to provide the perfect envir...

How a UK Tech Start up successfully built a partnership with one of Japan's leading insurance firms. Mind Foundry is a company that develops responsible and ethical AI solutions for various industries. Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance is the Japanese company with that teamed with them, bringing insurance expertise.   Together they have formed the Aioi R&D Lab. Spinning out of Oxford University with the...

This episode sees us catch up with Roger Berman of Zenworks. With over 30 years of experience in Japan, as both licensing agent and consultant, Roger is very well placed to help us understand what licensing is, and the state of the Japanese market for generating brand recognition. A very informative conversation, and some very useful information for anyone looking to bring their brand to the Japan...

Wanting to sell online to the Japanese market? Essential listening for consumer and retail exporters! A new chat with Rakuten to talk about selling online in Japan. Steve talks with Senior Business Development Manager for Rakuten Group, Koki Araga .  Koki gives us the tips and advice for approaching e-commerce in Japan.  Rakuten landing page:  https://marketplace.rakuten.net/  Koki Araga: Contact...

GUESTS: Rupert Daniels, Director, Creative, Consumer, Sport and Education, Department for Business & Trade. Carolyn Davidson, Commissioner General for the UK Pavilion, Osaka Kansai Expo 2025. As hosts of Expo 2025, the global spotlight will be shining on Japan, and the Kansai region. In anticipation of this major event, we bring you and episode introducing the vision for Expo, looking at how we ar...

Kicking off a new season of conversations for 2024-25, Steve has a really valuable with Valeria Vigilante and John Austin-Sheridan from the Free Trade Agreement Utilisation (FTAU) team within the Department of Business and Trade (DBT). The CEPA (UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) was the first trade agreement made after the UK left the EU. The conversation delves into the benef...

Steve caught up with Naomi in her capacity as Relationship Manager of FinCity. Tokyo. The conversation was a fascinating dive into the  promotion of Tokyo as a global financial hub, great opportunities for UK companies in the sector and the support offered by the FinCity. Tokyo and its members. With members comprising financial institutions, operating companies, industry groups and government agen...

The Klein Dytham architectural practice is behind award winning projects. Mark Dytham has over 30 years of experience from first encounters with Japanese architecture heroes, through establishing a practice in Japan and the myriad relationships built across the creative and construction industries and the wider business community in Japan. Here, among many keen insights, Mark sheds a light on the...

In this episode we reconnect with our very first guest, Tim Romero, who brought his insights from the world of startups. Today we have him back for a fascinating chat covering a range of topics including changing receptivity to innovation and collaboration amongst industry and government in Japan, as well as touching upon the hot topic of digital transformation. At the time of talking to Tim he is...

In this episode Steve chats with experienced lawyer, Hiroshi Chiba, of Uchisaiwaicho Law Firm. With his speciality in employment law, Chiba-san provides key insight on the subject. From recruiting and managing Japanese staff, through the particularities of Japanese employment law, what happens if something goes wrong, and how to avoid it in the first place! Hiroshi Chiba can be found here: http://...

Welcome to the new season of episodes. Kicking off with a conversation about Intellectual Property with Mori-san from Shiga International Patent Office. https://shigapatent.com/en/    

The UK-Japan Digital Partnership was signed at the end of 2022. Steve talked to Jana Psarska earlier in the year to discuss the implication of the agreement, the priorities and collaboration in digital technologies, infrastructure and data. Jana enlightens us on the complimentary strengths of the UK and Japan, the importance of commitment to like-minded partners to help drive the UK's digital stra...

Professor Joe Howe and Richard Lyle talk to Steve about the hydrogen economy in Japan. Professor Joe Howe is Executive Director of the Thornton Energy Research Institute of the University of Chester, Chair of the Northwest Hydrogen Alliance, and academic lead at Hynet, among other roles. He has strong connections with Japan and shares his valuable and extensive knowledge and experience on the stat...

The second part of Steve's chat with Anil Malhotra, Chief Marketing Officer (and co-founder) speaking from the UK, and Andy Suzuki, SVP for APAC, based in Tokyo. Bango's recent acquisition of the global payment business of Japanese telecommunications giant NTT Docomo, prompted us to get in touch with Andy and Anil for a discussion on the route they have taken to build trust and establish themselve...

Steve talks to Bango's Anil Malhotra, Chief Marketing Officer (and co-founder) speaking from the UK, and Andy Suzuki, SVP for APAC, based in Tokyo. Bango's recent acquisition of the global payment business of Japanese telecommunications giant NTT Docomo, prompted us to get in touch with Andy and Anil for a discussion on the route they have taken to build trust and establish themselves in the Japan...

Rutherford's bags are a success story of grassroots consumer goods expanding into the Japanese market. Capitalising on the value and trust Japanese consumers put on high quality British products.  Alex Hughes has been working with a Japanese distributer for over 10 years and has great insight into maintaining the working relationships and the investments required to successfully embed into the Jap...

Steve catches up with Gary Waterfall, the Senior Defence Advisor to Clarion Defence & Security (not to mention the (now retired) Air Vice Marshall's packed military career and being part of The Red Arrows!). DSEI JAPAN 2023 comes after the recent reciprocal access agreement between UK and JAPAN, as well as the landmark GCAP (Global Combat Air Program) - the trilateral agreement (along with Italy)...

Nanako Aramaki, Chief Localisation Officer, from Tokyo/London content marketing agency Tamlo, joins Steve in a chat that covers the specific considerations for digital marketing in Japan. Copying and pasting your global campaign won't cut it! Localisation is the key. We also cover social media in Japan, the rise of influencer marketing, and the importance of building trust with your Japanese audie...

How a 17 year old British programmer brought to Japan by Nintendo went on to found one of the most successful independent games development studios in Japan! - PART 2 As we head toward the New Year, how about catching up with the rest of Steve's conversation with Q-Games to motivate you with their success story? Hear about getting to know and work in, the often challenging but highly rewarding, Ja...