Three ways I help technology companies work with Japanese customers, partners and investors. Each is hands-on, and each starts with a short conversation about where you are today.
WHAT I DO FOR YOU
Before you hire in Tokyo or sign a distributor, find out what Japanese customers and partners actually want. I test your positioning with real buyers, adapt the pitch to how Japanese buyers make decisions, and help land the first deals that prove it works.
Whether it's a Japanese startup, a large enterprise, a platform or an IP holder, I identify who actually decides and get you introduced through people they trust. I only make introductions I can stand behind. Then I stay through negotiation, internal approval and the partnership that follows.
A candid sounding board for founders and executives working with Japan. I bring a current operator's view from my own executive role at a Japanese company. When there is a real fit, I can also introduce you to Japanese VCs and investors I know personally.
WHERE I COME IN
01The meeting in Tokyo went well. Three months later, nothing has moved.
02Your Japanese partner said they'd "consider it positively." You can't tell if that's a yes.
03Your pitch lands in San Francisco and falls flat in Tokyo.
04You need a major Japanese partner, and cold outreach isn't getting you in the room.
05A Japanese corporate investor is interested, and you don't know how they decide.
06Terms were agreed in the room, then disappeared into internal approval.
HOW I WORK
Talk to real buyers and partners first. Fix what isn't working before spending to grow it.
I join the calls, the meetings and the negotiations, in English and Japanese. No 50-page decks from a distance.
I use AI for research, drafting, analysis and follow-up. That frees my time for the relationships, negotiations and decisions that need me in the room.
WHO I WORK WITH
HOW ENGAGEMENTS WORK
Every engagement is led by me personally, with trusted collaborators when a project needs more hands.
In English or Japanese, working across Pacific and Japan time zones.
FAQ
Start with who decides, not who answers email. In most Japanese companies, the business owner, the approving executive and the team that will run the partnership are different people. I map those people first, then get you introduced through someone they already trust.
A consultancy usually delivers research and leaves the execution to you. A country manager is a big commitment before you know what works in Japan. I test the market with real buyers and partners and help land the first deals, so when you do hire, you know what the role needs.
Because the decision is usually made before and after the meeting, not in it. Proposals go through internal consensus and a formal approval process called ringi. You can't skip it, but you can prepare for it by giving your champion the materials and answers they need to carry the deal internally.
It isn't a commitment, and the phrase alone won't tell you how serious the interest is. Ask what needs to happen next, who else needs to be involved and whether there is a timeline. The answers tell you far more than the phrase.
I don't run fundraising for clients, but I know a number of Japanese VCs and investors personally. When there is a real fit, I'm happy to make an introduction. Many large Japanese companies also invest through corporate venture capital (CVC) arms, where strategic fit with their business matters as much as financial return.
Yes. Japanese rights holders are careful about who they work with. I help prepare a proposal that fits how they evaluate partners, reach the people who decide and support the deal through approval.
Yes. Often the best time to call is when a deal has stalled or the next step is unclear. I review where things stand, join the conversations and help move it forward.
No. Most companies should validate demand and land a first partner before hiring or setting up an entity. A local presence matters later, once you know what works.
I work with technology companies broadly. I'm especially active in gaming, entertainment and IP, and emerging technology, where my network is deepest.
Every engagement is led by me personally. Most are advisory retainers of three to twelve months, focused projects such as market validation or a partner search, or support on a specific deal. Scope and fees depend on the work, so we start with a short call.
Nothing formal. A short note on your goals in Japan and where things stand is enough. Share an existing deck if you have one.
Yes. I'm natively bilingual and work in both languages, including in negotiations and meetings with Japanese executives.
CONTACT
Tell me what you're trying to do in Japan and where things stand. A 30-minute call is usually enough to see whether I can help.