What do Aesop, Blue Bottle Coffee, and Patagonia have in common? They all found early traction in Japan — and used that credibility to multiply their growth worldwide. Aesop opened in Tokyo in 2003. By 2014, Japan had become a top market for the brand. Their carefully designed stores and customer experience resonated strongly with […]

In Japan, we often encounter a deep respect for detail, precision, and process. These traits can lead to beautiful craftsmanship and carefully run operations. But they can also lead to paralysis. We’ve seen many businesses, Japanese and foreign alike, stumble in this environment — not because their products were weak or their strategies unsound, but […]

Japan is a country where people wear a belt and suspenders, metaphorically, and sometimes literally. In business, this approach to risk shows up in every layer: operations, compliance, product development, marketing approvals, and even basic logistics. It’s why contracts are dense, why small mistakes carry long memories, and why “yes” often takes months. What looks […]

In Japan, when selling to businesses, it often feels like you only get one chance to make a lasting impression. It may seem like this applies to all customers, but it’s especially true in the B2B space. Japanese business clients may not always articulate their expectations upfront, but once they do, those expectations are detailed […]

In the world of medical devices, precision and reliability are paramount. During my tenure as the head of a leading medical device company, we introduced multiple injection systems that quickly became market leaders worldwide, including in Japan. These products were celebrated for their reliability and performance and were accepted without a single complaint in markets […]

If you’ve spent time working in Japan, you know the country is famous for precision, process, and polite efficiency. There’s a lot to admire here — common-sense systems, a deep respect for doing things right, and a serious commitment to quality. But sometimes, Japan makes things complicated just for the sake of being complicated. One […]

Japan is known for being polite, but that doesn’t always translate to fairness in business. We’ve seen it firsthand. Sometimes large companies, whether intentionally or not, push smaller or less experienced companies too hard. It can happen quietly. It can happen systematically. And if you’re not paying attention, it can trap you in agreements that […]

When we first started doing business in Japan, we underestimated how long things would take, and how much they would cost. We’ve since learned that Japan isn’t difficult, it’s different. It’s a market that demands patience, trust, and commitment. Success here takes twice the time, and three times the money you initially expect. What We’ve […]

Japanese consumers are often portrayed as conservative, but that’s not quite right. They’re curious, discerning, and often open to new experiences — once they feel comfortable. This is why at Japan Startup Advisory, we emphasize what we call The Hamburger Theory. The idea is simple: When people are hungry, especially in unfamiliar or high-speed environments, […]

Getting into Japan is an accomplishment.Scaling in Japan is a completely different challenge. We’ve seen companies launch with momentum — the product gets listed, a distributor signs on, and there’s even a bit of media buzz. But six months later, nothing moves. The product sits. The follow-through fades. Teams begin to wonder whether Japan was […]