Challenges

Everything About Japanese Culture for Businessmen

2020.04.03 www.gloture.co.jp

If a foreign company wants to enter the Japanese market, learning the language is not enough. Even if you speak really well, faux pas slow down your business and harm your credibility. Whether you want to create a website, post on social media or meet professionals, there are a few things you should pay attention to. You can also read about the Japanese business etiquette to know the dos and don’ts when participating in professional meetings. Colors Color meanings change depending on countries and sometimes regions, so it is important to know them in order to avoid delivering the wrong message. Black: both positive and negative, it represents elegance, sexuality…

How to Successfully Promote Your Crowdfunding Campaign in Japan

2020.03.31 www.gloture.co.jp

Choosing crowdfunding as a way to raise funds has many benefits, you can achieve a lot without asking a lender to back you. But the fear of failure prevents many entrepreneurs to jump in at the deep end. Is it your case? This is why we gathered the best tips to successfully promote your campaign. Advertise Your Product Using SNS Social media networks take a bigger and bigger place over the years, in Japan like in the rest of the world. Check out what platforms are popular among Japanese, and let’s get started. The main point when using SNS for a crowdfunding campaign is to generate enthusiasm and confidence in…

Cybersecurity in Japan: Essential But Not Effective – Yet

2020.03.24 www.gloture.co.jp

Japan counts 117.6 million Internet users and more than a hundred thousand of cybercrime cases every year. Attacks are becoming more frequent but also more effective and destructive. Many types of criminal activities exist: hacking, phishing, denial-of-service attack, infection with malware, identity fraud, electronic theft, etc. Even though Japan is known as a technology and innovation leader, it remains late in cybersecurity. Why is it so? Let’s review the situation. Why Cybersecurity is Essential Cyberthreats should not be taken lightly since personal and financial data can be stolen, causing damage to a brand’s reputation at the same time. The number of cases is increasing every year as the world becomes…

How the Coronavirus Pandemic Impacts Japanese Companies

2020.03.23 www.gloture.co.jp

As of March 23th, 2020, the coronavirus infected more than 337,553 people and killed 14,654 of them. In the archipelago, 14,654 cases and 41 deaths were reported, which makes people wonder if the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will start as scheduled. Unlike people in many countries, the Japanese are not locked up, even though some restrictions are set. They can go out as much as they want but the government asks companies to implement teleworking. So how does Japan, a country where it is valued to spend never-ending hours at work and to build relationships during drinking parties (nomikai), deal with this crisis? Companies Opt for Teleworking Both the government and…

Reading the Air: the Best Skill When Working in Japan

2020.03.23 www.gloture.co.jp

If you are a foreigner working in Japan, you may have heard the phrase ‘kuuki ga yomenai’ 空気が読めない (a person who ‘cannot read the air’). It is said that women read the air better than men in Japan, but everyone is supposed to understand what is implicitly said, especially in a business setting. As you may know, the Japanese communication style is very indirect, what is said is not always what is meant. In the same way, what is not said has a meaning, you must ‘understand the atmosphere’: a silence, a look – if it is a glance or a gaze, the message conveyed is different, etc. Reading the…

Set Up A Branch in Japan: Pros And Cons

2020.02.17 www.gloture.co.jp

Before setting a branch in Japan, you should be aware of the business culture there. Japanese people are notoriously hardworking. This is one of the many explanations why they have such high economic growth and are more advanced than other countries. However, the work culture of a Japanese white-collared worker is known for their long work hours, and there have been cases of employees literally being worked to death (called karōshi). Still, stories like this should not scare you away from pursuing a career in Japan. There are many opportunities for foreigners there and the Japanese government is making an effort to decrease its ridiculous long work hours. Cons Long…

Crowdfunding: How to Succeed & Why Many Have Failed

2020.02.10 www.gloture.co.jp

Launching a crowdfunding campaign seems attractive, but do not rush: it is essential to know how it works and how to succeed. You might regret your mistakes, especially if you strongly believed in your project. If you are curious to see what kinds of products are successfully funded in Japan and what can be the results, check out our article here. Attract Supporters To reach your goal, you want to attract the maximum of supporters, or to attract big investors (‘angel investors’): it is important to know what they are looking for. But first, you need to find a catchy title and describe your project in detail. If possible or…

What You Should Know About the Japanese Business Etiquette

2020.02.06 www.gloture.co.jp

Learning how to behave in a business context is essential to stacking all the odds in your favor, but it can also look complex because of all the small details you have not thought of. Here is an explanation of some of them, the ones you should know before meeting Japanese businessmen. Introduction and Greetings The first time you meet people, you will have to bow and greet them in a certain way. Usually, you have to shake hands while bowing, but you can also just bow, depending on the habits of the person in front of you. Saying “hello” in Japanese generally leaves a good impression, like knowing how…

Six Tips to Ready Your Crowdfunding Campaign for Expansion Into the Japanese Market

2019.08.07 www.gloture.co.jp

So your company just successfully funded its crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter or Indiegogo. Congratulations! Maybe you’ve already started manufacturing of your product or even sales to consumers. Now’s the time to look into expanding to the Japanese market. If you want to succeed, you’re going to want to avoid the mistakes of companies that have come before you. You also should follow these six tips on how to best prepare your entry strategy into Japan. 1) Do your research The first step any company should take before stepping foot in Japan is substantial market research. This means understanding your sector in Japan, the existing competitors, and the needs of Japanese…

Spotlight on the AI Market in Japan

2019.08.05 www.gloture.co.jp

One of the most promising tech trends of the near future is AI, or Artificial Intelligence. Definitions of what exactly AI is varies, but generally the term refers to computer systems’ technologies that are able to perform functions that replicate human intelligence and thought. As research and development of AI technology grows stronger, companies are constantly finding new potential applications, but also face the risks of overly intelligent machines that have long been the subject of dystopian sci-fi films. The U.S. and China are seen as the two leading countries for AI technology and development. The U.S. leads the development side with over 1,000 AI-related companies including Google, Amazon, Microsoft,…