Co-working spaces

5 Top Co-Working Spaces in Tokyo

2018.03.29 www.gloture.co.jp

If you are an English-speaker who works online as a freelancer or do other work online and you are planning to visit Japan soon, you may be in need of a comfortable place to get all your work done. You might be thinking that your hotel room will be enough but there is no fun staying cooped up in your hotel all day and your hotel room probably won’t have the ambiance or professional amenities you require to get the job done. However, coffee shops and cafés are great, but there will be distractions and are not supported if you will be staying longer. This makes the space inconvenient and…
Challenges

Obstacles To Doing Business In Japan

2018.03.26 www.gloture.co.jp

Any discussion on business obstacles in Japan must be entrenched in the basic understanding of the country’s corporate governance system, the culture, and the language. If you are looking to do business in Japan, here are some of the challenges and obstacles of doing business in Japan. Language and Culture Most global organizations face real challenges in reaching their business goals in Japan due to the lack of understanding of the Japanese language and culture. Japan is undoubtedly seen from abroad as a country with safe and clean cities, where dynamic global companies can emerge and thrive. However, Japan is a country with unique formal and informal communication rules. Establishing…
Startup Opportunities in Japan

2018 | 3 Biggest Tech Events In Tokyo That You Cannot Miss

2018.03.26 www.gloture.co.jp

Are you a potential entrepreneur or a career driven individual seeking to establish a business in Japan? Then this article is for you. Japan is currently an investor’s haven laden with lot opportunities for startup and multinational businesses to explore. The year 2018 has a lot in stock for businesses, no doubt, the Japanese economy is revolving and new businesses are springing up. In the Japanese tech ecosystem, for instance, there are many tech events that are expected to hold this year. However, this article will highlight the 3 biggest tech events in the city of Tokyo that you cannot miss. The tech industry in Japan is a goldmine for…
Marketing in Japan

The Internet of Things (IoT) Market in Japan

2018.03.23 www.gloture.co.jp

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects, systems, platforms and applications that contain embedded technology to communicate and share intelligence with each other, the external environment and with people. The IoT market is supported by various growth drivers, surging a demand of collaborative robots and boosting economic growth. The rise of Lower Power Wide Area (LPWA) network technology, rising IoT platforms, as well as application and security spending are factors that are driving the IoT market. The global IoT Market is a fast growing one. According to a recent study published by Market Research Future, it is forecasted to see slow, steady growth by 2020. During…
Startup Opportunities in Japan

5 Top Japanese Startup Accelerators And VC Firms in Japan

2018.03.23 www.gloture.co.jp

When perusing the Japanese startup space, you will quickly discover that there are a significant number of venture capital firms and startup accelerators. Before partnering or doing business with any of them, you’ll need to carry out your own due diligence. Coincidentally, Gloture can help with that. In this article, we’ll briefly outline our top five picks of Japanese startup accelerators and VC firms, including a short introductory description of each.   OPEN NETWORK LAB This startup accelerator is similar to VC firm groundbreakers like TechStarts and Y Combinator. Based in Tokyo, Open Network Lab was established by the trio of kakaku.com, Netprice.com and Digital Garage. Their objective is to…
Marketing in Japan

Japan’s Most Popular Social Media Networks

2018.03.23 www.gloture.co.jp

You will be hard pressed to find a business with no presence on social media outlets. Using social media networks is a quick and easy way to connect with customers and promote yourself. Japan currently has 86% internet users. It boasts the 4th largest user numbers behind China, U.S., and India. Mobile users, amusingly enough, is over 120%. The average individual in Japan makes use of more than one mobile phone. Also, the majority of the Japanese population make use of their phone to access social media platforms over other internet capable devices. With that much internet and mobile phone usage, social media presence is paramount. But, what platforms are…
Marketing in Japan

5 Mistakes Foreign Companies Frequently Make When Entering The Japanese Market

2018.03.21 www.gloture.co.jp

Being observant and aware of mistakes other companies made when entering a new market can help you avoid those same mistakes. Learn from the actions and missteps of those that tried before you. Here are five of the most common mistakes companies have made when trying to enter Japan.   Not Employing a Bicultural Country Manager When you enter the Japanese market, it is always better to have someone on the payroll who understands both Japanese culture and business. Lacking a country manager, or having one who doesn’t understand the local business culture, no matter how clever they are, will leave you without effective means of communicating. Your country manager…
Challenges

Company Culture Contrasts You’ll Find in Japan

2018.03.21 www.gloture.co.jp

Business practices and company culture are an ever evolving process. They adjust and shift based on surrounding factors and circumstances. Business strategies implemented under these difference circumstances all have their fair share of advantages and disadvantages. Japanese business culture is uniquely fascinating in how it differs from most western businesses. Their model tends to work well for them, but can be dumbfounding to those outside of the country. It’s nowhere near perfect, but understanding it can help you when doing business there. Let’s look at a few noteworthy differences in business culture found in Japan.   Gender Roles Expectations in Japan In 2012, the Global Gender Gap ranked Japan 101st…
Marketing in Japan

6 Mistakes to Avoid When Marketing in Japan

2018.03.19 www.gloture.co.jp

Are you a Japan-based entrepreneur, or planning to set up shop in The Land of the Rising Sun? Then pull up a chair and lend an ear. The Japanese market is a tough market to break into. But with sufficient preparation, you can succeed where others have failed. How might you fail? Well, you could do that by:   JUMPING IN BLIND You’re spending both time and money opening up a new business in a new market. If you want to reach your goals, you need to think things through, and create an efficient game plan. Track ROI metrics. Set a timeline. Make sure you’re on track as you progress….
Crowdfunding in Japan

Reward-based Crowdfunding in Japan

2018.03.19 www.gloture.co.jp

While still in its relative infancy stages, the Japanese crowdfunding market is gradually extending its reach. In March 2012, the launch of crowdfunding platform Readyfor triggered the spread of crowdfunding in Japan. Over 50 Japanese-language crowdfunding platforms have been created since then, according to a report by JSIF. There are three types of reward-based crowdfunding in Japan: donation, purchase, and investment. Each type is based on what sort of support one will receive for their campaign contributions. Let’s take a quick look at these three types.   DONATION TYPE Currently there are over 15 donation-type crowdfunding sites in Japan. Japan has community foundations located throughout the country. Many suggest these…