Japan business: how to avoid well known mistakes – don’t become a loser

There is a large range of well-known mistakes foreign companies have been making over and over again in Japan for many years. Surprisingly foreign companies continue to repeat these well-known mistakes over and over again!
Don’t make such well-known mistakes! (We can help you avoid them….)

Much of it is common sense. However, you also need to study a lot of facts about Japan, and customs. You will find that some assumptions you made are wrong!
You’ll also find that not everybody (Japanese and foreigners) tells you everything they know ;)

Sometimes problems in a Japanese subsidiary are best solved by changing responsibilities in the main office at home! We would be delighted to discuss such issues with you and work on a solution using our large range of experience

Does your company invest what’s needed in Japan?

Does your Board know enough about Japan’s markets and size?

Is your CEO a Japan champion? Is your CEO the champion for your Japanese customers? Do you know your competition in Japan?

The biggest “no-no” is not to do proper preparation, or to start without a strategy. You can assume that normally your Japanese partners will do their preparations and they will have a big advantage, if you are unprepared. If you do not prepare well you certainly weaken your position. Lack of preparation cannot be compensated by macho behaviour or self-confidence or even arrogance.

You will be surprised how many time consuming and expensive failures of Western companies are largely due to lack of preparation, lack of market information, and lack of planning. A very well-known Western company lost US$ 10 Billion or more in Japan and severaly damaged the brand because of lack of market knowledge. Market research in Japan often looks expensive, however expensive, good market research is almost certainly far cheaper than failure and withdrawal from Japan

1. Why can business in Japan be difficult?
2. Changes and new opportunities
3. Avoid well known mistakes
4. What can we do about the difficulties of Japan business?
5. Relationships
6. Japanese business etiquette
7. Japanese business meetings

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