Dr. Adam Acar is a native of Turkey who moved to Japan from the United States 15 years ago. He has since worked as a professor and in the education, innovation, and marketing sphere. Topics covered in this episode include: -why Japanese women rank among the lowest worldwide in self-esteem, and what it means -why konbin are so innovative, where there’s room for change, and why trust is such a valuable force in Japan -why sales tactics and incentives successful in other countries may not be...

Heidi Karino is a native of the UK who has just returned to her home country after spending twenty-four formative years living and working in Japan. She currently runs her own business as a Japanese to English translator specializing in transcreation for content marketing, where she works with clients to ensure that their Japanese content really resonates with their English-speaking customers. Topics discussed in today's interview include: -transcreation, how it differs from translation,...

Jennifer Shinkai is a British born, Oxford educated, Tokyo based Ikigai and Inclusion facilitator and coach. She is also the host of the Ikigai with Jennifer Shinkai podcast, the founder of the free online community for business owners “Make March Matter,” and the author and illustrator of the book “Can Giraffes Swim?” Topics covered in today's episode include:  -why cultural scales and dimensions, while useful, aren’t enough to find true connection and success in Japan -why everyone is at...

Jayne Nakata is the creator of PodLauch with Jayne, a company that helps podcasters around the world to launch and run their own show. She is also the award winning host of the #1 podcast for international women living in Japan: Transformations with Jayne.  Originally from New Zealand, Jayne has lived in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan for nearly 20 years. Because of this, she has a wealth of experience for anyone hoping to live, work, start a business, or raise a family in Japan. Additional...

Rochelle Kopp is the founder and managing principal of Japan Intercultural Consulting, an international training and consulting firm focused on Japanese business. Her area of expertise is Japanese culture and business practices, particularly Japanese communication style and organizational behavior and decision-making in Japanese firms. She’s also a prolific writer and actively posts much of her practical and insightful work on LinkedIn. Just a few topics covered in today's conversation...

In today’s episode of the Business Success Podcast, I chat with Chiara Terzuolo. Chiara is a polyglot, musician, narrator, writer, editor, and actor who has been living and working creatively in Tokyo since 2011. She has successfully established herself as an independent freelancer who has amassed a unique portfolio-style career that is well off the beaten path for the stereotypical office worker. Just a few topics covered in today’s conversation include: -Exploring and building income...

Menya Hinga is an American who immigrated to Japan over a decade ago. He now works as a health and performance coach to high-performers who are struggling to manage stress and weight gain, learn to eat better, move more and stress less in order to transform their health and performance. Some topics covered in this episode include the importance of focusing on providing value as a content creator, the power of small shifts in making big changes, why time management is the key to maintaining a...

I've finally made it to Japan!  To continue bringing consistently high-quality content to my listeners, however, I've decided to transition to a monthly publishing schedule. Thank you all for your support, and I can't wait to see what new opportunities 2022 will bring! Can't wait for more content? Check out some of this past year's interviews: Japan's Six Megatrends and Why They Matter with Richard Katz:...

Tyson Batino is a native of Hawaii who came to Japan as an English teacher, worked in human resources, and ultimately founded three companies in Japan. He now coaches founders who want to scale their businesses. Some topics covered in today's interview include investing in relationships with mentors, the importance of being clear on what you want in order to be successful in any field, and the importance of understanding the sales cycle of your prospective clients before launching into...

Rosa Aldridge is an American who has had her entire professional career in Japan, and she is passionate about creating sustainable culture practices while promoting Japanese hospitality to the world. She is currently working in an environment that deals with event planning and promoting international understanding, and she has successfully navigated job searching in Japan and has held a variety of positions through various companies and institutions in Japan. Some topics discussed in today's...

Catherine O’Connell is a bilingual, in house legal counsel-experienced lawyer operating a boutique law firm in Tokyo. She is a lawyerpreneur who provides legal counsel solutions for a wide range of clients, big and small. She also hosts her own podcast, "Lawyer on Air," has a wide range of experiences, certifications, and awards in and outside of Japan. Just a few of the topics discussed in today’s conversation include some big-picture differences between law in Japan versus many western...

Today's guest Richard Katz has worked for decades as a journalist working on the Japanese economy, and he has written two books on Japan: "The System That Soured" and "Japanese Phoenix." He is now working on a third, about how to nurture a new generation of high-growth, innovative small and medium enterprises in Japan. He has published various op-eds and essays in publications such as "Foreign Affairs," The "Financial Times," Toyo Keizai, and the "Wall Street Journal Asia." A few of the...

In today's episode, I'm chatting with Colin Savage. Colin is a globally-minded, locally-focused leader with over 20 years' experience with Japan, including eight years in-country. He specializes in business development, communications and marketing, digital development, leadership, research, and strategy. Some topics covered in today's conversation include the proper use and function of powerpoint presentations in a Japanese context, dealing with the phenomenon of not being heard when...

In today's episode, I'm chatting with Fuminori Gunji, CEO of TokyoMate. Fuminori Gunji was a founding team member of Softbank Robotics from 2013 to 2016, leading Softbank's domestic B2B businesses and overseas expansion efforts. In 2017, Fuminori Gunji headed business development for MakeLeaps. By the end of 2018, Gunji had successfully closed MakeLeaps’ M&A deal with Ricoh and went on to lead MakeLeaps in 2019 as COO. In June of 2021, Fuminori Gunji accepted the role of chief executive...

In today's episode, I'm chatting with Rie Eichmann, a global skills and mindset coach, intercultural trainer and consultant who is passionate about teaching “a global mindset” to professionals and the next generation to give them the confidence and skills for success in an increasingly-globalized world. While Rie is a native of Japan, she is currently based in Brisbane, Australia, and has years of experience living and working abroad in the UK, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United States. Some...

In today's episode, I’m sharing a conversation with Austin Zeng, a native of Singapore who first came to Japan on the MEXT scholarship, and is now actively involved in the startup space there. He’s a developer, translator and interpreter, blogger, and even participates in a Japanese think tank. Some topics covered in today's episode include the ways in which the Japanese government is trying (and in some ways failing) to support foreign students who want to work in Japan, the common pitfalls...

In today's episode, I’m sharing a conversation with Kevin Crowell. He is president of Asia Business Group, a company that he started nearly thirty years ago, and is the Chief Cross-Cultural Outreach Officer of the organization Pacific Tango group.  Kevin has decades of experience working in Japan and with Japanese people and companies, so be sure to listen in to learn more about his background and what he’s learned from his wide-ranging experiences with Japan. Some topics he discusses in this...

In today's episode, I get to share a conversation with Francis Pacheco, a native of the Philippines. His work with the agency GMI POST has involved creating and publishing investment guides for Foreign Affairs Magazine of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City and The Japan Times, which is Japan's oldest and largest English language daily newspaper. Today, he shares the importance of the concept of monzukuri in Japanese niche manufacturing today, the growing role that universities...

In today's episode, I chat with Cindy Bissig of Obsessed with Japan and the new YouTube channel, Let’s Travel and Eat. Cindy is an experienced content creator who has more than 15 years of experience in hospitality. The focus of her work lies in travel, events, food and beverage, and she is also a professional sake sommelier. Today, she will also share some of her experiences as a digital nomad in Japan, so be sure to listen in to hear more about what that looks like in Japan. Today's...

In today's episode, I’m chatting with Will Jasprizza, the managing director of Japan at the international business development consultancy, Intralink. Although born in Australia and educated as a lawyer, Will found himself starting a new life teaching English in Japan that eventually brought him to his current role, where he and his team works to make the expansion of foreign companies into Japan fast, easy, and cost effective. During the episode, Will discusses the importance of prioritizing...

In today’s episode, I’m chatting with David Tonge, a designer and owner of the London-based design studio The Division, who has worked extensively in Asia and in particular has a long relationship with Japan. David has 30 years experience as Designer, Director and Advisor to some of the worlds most successful brands. He’s also a Visiting Professor at Kanazawa Art University in Japan. Topics that we discuss today include his experiences as an industrial designer in Japan and with Japanese...

In today's episode, I share a conversation with Tim Sullivan. He is a bilingual cross-cultural educator who connects people through storytelling by using a combination of monologue and interactive exercises. Now semi-retired, he has decades of experience working in Japan and offering training in cross-cultural communication and Japanese manufacturing management techniques to a laundry list of international companies. Some topics we discuss include the role that personal reflection plays on...

In today’s episode, I chat with Misha Yurchenko, founder of the global coaching startup platform, Carrus. He was previously based in Tokyo where he worked for several years as a recruiter helping tech companies like Facebook, Netflix and Amazon hire top talent. Today's Language: たんしんふにん ta-n-shi-n-fu-ni-n 単身赴任 meaning: a job transfer away from home (domestic or abroad), typically without one's family Misha's Links: Blog: https://mishayurchenko.me/ Career Coaching...

In today's episode, I chat with Michael Howard Thuresson, a former Japan-based consumer electronics product manager who is currently working as a U.S.-based marketing manager for Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. He is also the author of the memoir “The Salary Man,” which documents some of the experiences and misadventures he accumulated over the course of a decade as a foreign サラリーマン in Japan.  Today's Language:  サラリーマン sa-ra-ri-i-man meaning: full-time (male) employee at a Japanese...

In today's episode, I chat with Alan Acosta of Workshift Solutions, Japan's largest platform of registered overseas freelancers. Workshift Solutions allows companies to quickly and inexpensively access talented, multilingual overseas freelancers online for inbound and E-Commerce support, multi-language translation, overseas market surveys, overseas market research, telephone appointment assistance, sales channel expansion, design and much more. Alan himself grew up spending many years of his...