Welcome to another episode of the Scaling Japan Podcast. Today, we are joined by Aya Murota, who, since October 2023, has been the manager of global startups in the innovation promotion division of Yokohama City, with her department being part of the Economic Affairs Bureau. Aya brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role, having previously worked at a global startup company where she played a key role in building the business from scratch in Yokohama. Join in as Aya shares about the startup scene in Yokohama, as well as the long history and the many innovations she's been involved i ..read more

Welcome to the ninth episode of our new series Japan Scalers. In this series, we will only interview guests who have surpassed 100 million yen in revenue annually. In this ninth episode, we are joined by Paul Kraft, the Founder and President of JapanIQ, who guides multinational corporations enter and succeed well in the Japanese market. He has helped launch and scaled brands already well known around the world in Japan, including Starbucks, Nespresso and the main subject of this interview, Haribo. Join us as Paul shares how he made the world famous gummy candy brand go from #8 to #1 in the Jap ..read more

Welcome to another episode of the Scaling Japan Podcast. In this episode, we are delighted to welcome back Robert Purss for the third time. He is the founder and managing director of McLaren Group, a Tokyo-based bilingual marketing consultancy offering comprehensive services, including marketing strategy, consumer research, and business development. In Part 3, he will delve into essential tools and methodologies for conducting effective research that sets the stage for achieving future success.  Join us as Robert shares valuable insights into market research and growth strategies in Japan ..read more

Welcome to the eighth episode of our new series Japan Scalers. In this series, we will only interview guests who have surpassed 100 million yen in revenue annually. We have many interesting guests lined up for the upcoming episodes so make sure to follow us on social media and stay up to date with the podcast.  In this eighth episode, we are joined by Alex Zoboli, the Co-Founder and Managing Director at Cornerstone Recruitment Japan K.K, which is a Tokyo based recruitment firm focused on placing bilingual professionals in a wide range of market leading companies. He has successfully scale ..read more

Welcome to another episode of the Scaling Japan Podcast. In this episode, we welcome Milosz Bugajski, a partner and advertising lead at Humble Bunny, a Tokyo-based digital marketing agency renowned for its enterprise-level performance marketing services tailored to ambitious brands. The company excels in web design, coding, SEO, pay-per-click ads, and other services aimed at optimizing website and digital presence to drive growth in Japan. Join us as Milosz dives into paid advertising in Japan, exploring how it works, why it matters, and sharing effective advertising strategies, along with oth ..read more

Welcome to the seventh episode of our new series Japan Scalers. In this series, we will only interview guests who have surpassed 100 million yen in revenue annually. We have many interesting guests lined up for the upcoming episodes so make sure to follow us on social media and stay up to date with the podcast.  In this seventh episode, we are joined by Tracey Northcott, the founder of Tokyo Family Stays, which provides short-term rentals for those looking for an apartment and authentic home in Japan. She has successfully scaled her business to more than 25 listings and has been able to s ..read more

Welcome to the sixth episode of our new series Japan Scalers. In this series, we will only interview guests who have surpassed 100 million yen in revenue annually. We have many interesting guests lined up for the upcoming episodes so make sure to follow us on social media and stay up to date with the podcast.  In this sixth episode, Michael Stobo joins us to share his experience scaling Tripadvisor. From 2014 to 2019, he served as the APAC Group Product Manager for Tripadvisor in Tokyo, where he grew the site's revenue, traffic, and engagement. With nearly 15 years in the online travel i ..read more

Welcome to another episode of the Scaling Japan Podcast. In this episode, we are joined by Steve Heller, the Chief Operating Officer of Hashi Media, a rapidly rising social media and influencer marketing agency based in Tokyo. The company specializes in tech, gaming, and lifestyle brands, serving a wide range of clients from small businesses to industry giants like Alibaba, MSI, and Dell. Join us as Steve shares his expertise on influencer marketing in Japan, covering topics such as brand awareness, choosing the right platform, and more. --- This Episode is brought to you by Hashi Media, your ..read more

This is the fifth episode of our new series Japan Scalers. In this series, we will only interview guests who have surpassed 100 million yen in revenue annually. We have many interesting guests lined up for the upcoming episodes so make sure to follow us on social media and stay up to date with the podcast.  In this fifth episode, we are thrilled to welcome Yan Fan, Co-founder of Code Chrysalis, as she shares her expertise in guiding individuals aspiring to establish careers in Japan's software engineering and tech sectors. This insightful discussion will delve into the importance of soft ..read more

Welcome to another episode of the Scaling Japan Podcast. In this episode, we are joined once again by Scott Scofield, CEO of COVUE. COVUE is well-known as a leading brand operator in Japan which provides a full-service market entry platform. Following our previous discussion in Part 1 where Scott talked about choosing the right e-commerce sites in Japan, Part 2 will delve into logistics, import compliance, and post-sales procedures. This will cover topics including Japan's import regulations, with practical examples from food and beauty care products, as well as the correct application of mark ..read more