Small Business Japan

Hey Japanpreneurs, on this episode of Small Business Japan I’m going to share with you a free Ikigai and Flow state training program I’ve been working on and fill you in on a new business development called High Flow Lifestyle.   I’m Dr. Josh Smith and this episode is sponsored by High Flow Lifestyle, my new personal growth and business success coaching and community platform. This is specifically designed for you self-employed business owners out there, everyone from entrepreneurs and small business owners to creatives and freelancers, this is where you develop work/life synergy and learn to access flow consistently, so you can achieve that next-level success and well-being that you deserve. Check it out at HighFlowLifestyle.com.  I developed this free Ikigai and Flow bootcamp to help guide you to getting some clarity and balance in your personal and professional life. In this free 5-day course...https://www.highflowlifestyle.com/ikigai-bootcamp

On this episode of the Small Business Japan podcast we dive into topics from starting your business in Japan, coaching in Tokyo and dealing with imposter syndrome, and building a network of mentors and support before making the entrepreneurial leap. Katheryn Gronauer is a professional trainer and coach who helps foreigners live, work, and thrive in Japan. Her business is called Thrive Tokyo and she serves a wide variety of people including executives at multinational corporations, professionals at startups, and spouses. Katheryn also has a background in health coaching and is a published author of Confessions of a Yo-yo Dieter...

On this episode of the Small Business Japan podcast we get entrepreneurial advice from JD Speaker from his entrepreneurial endeavors in Japan and his world record setting adventures. JD is a serial entrepreneur, author of 2 books, youth entrepreneur coach, sportsman, and was a TV personality "gai-tare" in Japan. He speaks fluent Japanese having lived in Tokyo since high-school, is a serial entrepreneur, internet visionary, & now helping youth entrepreneurs kickstart their business. He trained table-tennis for the Olympics at Waseda Uni, & climbed Mt.Fuji backwards & down barefoot in a rare Guinness Book of Records attempt. It starts with a love of learning. The fastest growth businesses before was in food franchising so that’s where he focused his attention. He stopped working in the corporate world when his entrepreneurial flare built up. He made some mistakes along the way, put too much money in patents and trademarks instead of marketing. ..

Hey Japanpreneurs, Happy Holidays and getting ready for the new Year coming up. I wanted to do a little episode on reflecting on 2020 and share with you my year-end business reflecting framework.This is something I like to do at the end of each year and reflect on what worked and didn’t work in my businesses. Ideally you should choose the right location for working on your business reflecting framework... Here are a few of the essential questions that I reflect upon. What’s there to celebrate? What didn’t work? What were the happiest times of the year? What opportunities did I pass up on? Developing and reflecting on Business Intuition ...Today is a great day to start your own podcast. Following the link let's Buzzsproutknow we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support our show. https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1098656

Hey Japanpreneurs, on this episode of the Small Business Japan podcast we talk with Angel Guevara about creating a unique brand in Japan by going against the grain, the idea of starting an anti-company, creativity in Japan and so much more. Angel Guevara is a creative dedicated to improving society through branding, marketing, storytelling, and personal development. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, he is the founder of HYPERMILK – a creative agency that helps brands successfully localize in Japan through empathy, strategy, and design. Angel also runs an internet community and website called NIGHTCRAWLERS, with a goal of becoming the ultimate business guide in Japan by providing weekly webinars with influential professionals, insightful blog posts, and a powerful network of entrepreneurs and creatives. Angel currently resides in the urban jungle of Tokyo, Japan. Japan is the country of contradictions. Advertising in Japan and creating a unique brand in Japan: Do what everyone is doing, take notes...and then do the complete opposite. He aims to spread his content in organic ways as opposed to just using SEO strategies... Today is a great day to start your own podcast. Following the link that lets Buzzsprout know we sent you, gets you a $20 Amazon gift card if you sign up for a paid plan, and helps support our show. https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1098656

Hey Japanpreneurs, this episode of Small Business Japan is a unique blend of entrepreneurship, traditional Japanese culture and history, rural tourism, and self-development and spirituality. Tim Bunting is a certified Yamabushi with more than a decade of experience in Yamagata living near the Dewa Sanzan. Originally from New Zealand, the self-professed nature lover spent many of his formative years in the great outdoors, and truly feels at home amongst the vast forests, sprawling rice fields, and mountains of Yamagata Prefecture. For Tim, the Dewa Sanzan holds a special importance as a place to get away from the real world, and back to a simpler time, that he believes is something that could benefit people all over the world. Tim’s interests include Japanese history and culture (he is the curator of dewasanzan.com), coffee, photography, music, and sports such as cricket and rugby. He is also an ASSISTANT PROFESSOR at Tohoku University of Community Service and Science and a FREELANCE TRANSLATOR AND INTERPRETER. Tim does have a stable job at a local university but he is pursuing a creative entrepreneurial side job that overlaps tourism and spirituality. Nestled in the Tohoku Region between inland Yamagata Prefecture and the Shonai coast on the Sea of Japan, the Dewa Sanzan is the collective name for the three sacred mountains of Dewa;Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono, the location for the pilgrimage of rebirth for over 1400 years. Him and his business partner had an interest in promoting the Northern area and spreading the word of the uniqueness and beauty of their rural area. They did this through Yamabushi and pilgrimages to the mountains...

On this episode of the Small Business Japan podcast I talk with Ansel Simpson about Effectively Communicating Through Culture in Japan and other ways he has become a successful cross-cultural entrepreneur and sales strategist. Ansel is an Executive Coach, Cultural Consultant, and Japan-U.S. specialist in Entry Sales and Marketing Strategies. He is an entrepreneur and published author and creator of the new 'Closed in 20 Seconds!' Sales Strategy Ansel’s Quick Bio: Ansel is an expert business coach with the unique ability to train Japanese professionals of all levels of experience and knowledge of the English language to excel in cross-cultural environments. He is a consultant that empathizes with the Japanese mindset and can articulate how to interact in non-Japanese business settings. 2001 Moved to Tokyo. Transfer from Berlitz – USA Translation Sales in Santa Monica, CA to Berlitz – Japan (Tokyo) English language instruction...

Today on the Small Business Japan Podcast you get to learn about how Jeff Crawford developed his SEO and Digital Marketing agency Zo Digital Japan, and he gives you tips on starting your entrepreneurial journey in Japan as well. Jeff Crawford started his professional career working for Apple and Microsoft in Silicon Valley. Jeff moved to Japan in 2004, working for MSN-Online and Adobe Systems Japan. He left corporate life in 2014, doing Digital Marketing consulting for various clients. In 2018 Jeff's consulting business became Zo Digital Japan, an SEO and Digital Marketing agency... I just wanted to take a minute to highlight the fact that Jeff has built himself and his thriving company Zo Digital as a Lifestyle Japanpreneur. A Lifestyle Japanpreneur is someone with a strong connection to Japan who builds a small but mighty business on their own terms. I have just recently released a training course on starting and growing your business as a Lifestyle Japanpreneur and I’d love for you to check it out on the website at SmallBusinessJapan.com. The course aims to take you from idea creation to building a business that scales but doesn’t grow, that means you can lead the lifestyle you desire as your business thrives. Now let’s hear more from this great Lifestyle Japanpreneur.

Today on the Small Business Japan Podcast I talk with Daniel Harris Rosen about how he protects artistic integrity while building a thriving art agency in Tokyo. Leadership, management, building a supportive community, and adjusting and pivoting are all topics we’ll cover today as we do a deep dive into the world of a thriving, creative business in Tokyo. Daniel Harris Rosen is a bilingual creative director based in Tokyo, with over 25 years of experience in the Japanese arts scene. Originally a visual artist himself, he is also a curator, VJ, film director, and art writer for The Japan Times & other esteemed media outlets. Daniel first formally studied art at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and went on to earn his MFA at Tama Art University in Tokyo. In 2006 while still a student, he joined the nascent artist collective Rinpa Eshidan which exploded into an Internet sensation. Through working with them he gained experience handling commercial work while also pursuing his own artistic career in contemporary art, exhibiting and selling his artwork worldwide. After earning his PhD in fine arts from Tama Art University, he founded TokyoDex, a multifaceted creative agency that encompasses all of his artistic endeavors. Daniel’s creative vision, extensive network in the Japanese art community, understanding of the Japanese culture and international standards of business make him a highly sought creative director for exciting art-based projects in Tokyo and around the globe.

Today on the Small Business Japan Podcast I talk with Matt Alt about how he built a business in Japan around the lifestyle he and his wife wanted to lead and did it in the translation and content creation industry from within the pop culture creation machine. A native of Washington, D.C., Matthew has been working as a professional translator and freelance writer since the early 1990s. His translation experience includes four years as an in-house technical Japanese translator for the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He is the co-author of numerous books about Japan, and a contributor to CNN, Wired Magazine, Slate Magazine, the Independent, Newsweek Japan, the Japan Times, the New Yorker, and many other publications.

On this episode of the Small Business Japan Podcast I interview certified KonMari consultant Hitomi Kinoshita about her business of decluttering people’s lives, reducing stress along the way, and sparking joy in their lives. Hitomi Kinoshita is a Certified KonMari consultant based in San Antonio, Texas. Formally a fashion adviser and stylist at a luxury Italian brand in NYC for over 20 years. Now, after focusing her attention on the Marie Kondo method from Japan, her mission is to help mindful professionals and busy families simplify through decluttering and live a life that sparks joy.

On this episode of the Small Business Japan Podcast we go over The Benefits of Becoming a Lifestyle Japanpreneur Among the Different Types of Entrepreneurship. There are a number of different kinds of entrepreneurship, but lifestyle entrepreneurship may be a little unfamiliar to you, and more specifically my concept of the Lifestyle Japanpreneur. I’ll go over some of the particulars and benefits to becoming that type of entrepreneur shortly but first let’s look at some of the more common types that are out there.

On this episode of the Small Business Japan Podcast I talk with entrepreneur and Kyushu travel specialist Simon Gilbert about how he has somehow navigated his businesses through many rough waters over the years and how he and his wife have built a business around their passion for the Kyushu area. Simon is from the UK but headed east 25 years ago. This is his third stint in Japan and he loves living in Kyushu. Simon and his Japanese wife own and manage Kyushu Journeys. This is an inbound travel agency offering travel planning services for visitors to Kyushu. Prior to this Simon managed and part-owned a dive center in Indonesia.

On this episode of the Small Business Japan Podcast we have some Japanpreneur Quick Tips from Chie Schuller who is a leader in international relations and cross cultural engagement. She has some great advice for entrepreneurs looking to explore rural areas in Japan. "Essential Advice For Foreign Entrepreneurs Exploring Rural Areas in Japan w/ Chie Schuller"Chie was born and raised in Ishinomaki, Miyagi, Japan. Even though she grew up in a small rural community, she was always curious about other countries and cultures. She came to the US as an exchange student when she was a senior in high school. After graduating Japanese and American high schools, she continued her college education in US. She has been working for a Japanese company in Ohio for the past 15 years. She is a wife and mother of two kids and one Shiba-inu. As a leader in international relations and cross-cultural engagement with a focus on US-Japan relations she’s spent over a decade at THK Manufacturing of America breaking down barriers and serving as a catalyst for international collaboration.

On this episode of the Small Business Japan Podcast I talk with Chie Schuller about about cultivating corporate cultures that embody both US and Japanese values as well as embracing our differences and diversity.Chie was born and raised in Ishinomaki, Miyagi, Japan. Even though she grew up in a small rural community, she was always curious about other countries and cultures. She came to the US as an exchange student when she was a senior in high school. After graduating Japanese and American high schools, she continued her college education in US. She has been working for a Japanese company in Ohio for the past 15 years. She is a wife and mother of two kids and one Shiba-inu. As a leader in international relations and cross-cultural engagement with a focus on US-Japan relations she’s spent over a decade at THK Manufacturing of America breaking down barriers and serving as a catalyst for international collaboration.

On this episode of the Small Business Japan Podcast I talk with Adam Fulford...Let me tell you, sit back and get ready for a masterclass on the revitalization of the Japanese countryside, lessons of resilience, and what opportunities and challenges entrepreneurs have in rural villages of Japan. Adam Fulford was born in Devon, England and moved to Japan as an English teacher in 1981, at the age of 24. That year he also started working part time as a rewriter at NHK. His work at NHK increased, and in 1985 Adam set up the company that he continues to run: Fulford Enterprises -- or FE, for short. FE offers language services to NHK and various other clients. Adam himself serves as a language consultant for NHK. In recent years, he has been digging for buried treasure in regional Japan, with a special focus on Yamagata and Fukushima.

On this episode of the Small Business Japan Podcast we get a few tips from David De La Torre about how to export quality products from Japan and some of the hurdles with international exporting. After having studied business management, David took those skills to the hospitality sector in all its roots, the last ten years have been dedicated to Japanese projects and he has been on the hunt for the best brews and connecting with people who are into perfecting their craft. When it became clear to him that the food and beverage industry was part of his destiny, where better to center himself than Japan and its craftmanship? Mori1984 is a craft beer that was born out all of David’s experiences within the food and beverage sector and as an experienced home-brewer being intrigued how water truly contributes to the flavor. He discovered a brewery in Niigata, a great place for soft water willing to take his recipes to the next level. Moromi Magazine exists as the future of boosting the Japanese beverage industry.

On this episode of the Small Business Japan Podcast I talk with David De La Torre about becoming a Japanese food and beverage consultant who promotes quality Japanese ingredients, tableware, and culture throughout the world. Join us for an interesting talk about importing, exporting, exploring rural Japan and adding your identity to your business. After having studied business management, David took those skills to the hospitality sector in all its roots, the last ten years have been dedicated to Japanese projects and he has been on the hunt for the best brews and connecting with people who are into perfecting their craft. When it became clear to him that the food and beverage industry was part of his destiny, where better to center himself than Japan and its craftmanship?

On this episode of the Small Business Japan Podcast I interview Aaron Mollin about his Entreprenurial journey through Japan and the world and what he sees are essential elements for creating a business. Aaron Benjamin Mollin is a lawyer and executive search consultant who is also engaged in a myriad of creative endeavors, from DJing, to revolutionizing sustainable fashion through his vintage kimono clothing brand, Ichijiku. Aaron has lived in Japan for 10 years and speaks fluent Japanese.

On this episode of the Small Business Japan Podcast I talk with Anthony Griffin about how he built a thriving company of one while utilizing the power of relationships and networking to grow his business. Anthony Griffin is a marketer and communications coach specializing in helping small to mid-sized Japanese companies market to global audiences. Before founding Saga Consulting, he served as the marketing and communications manager for the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. Additionally, as a communications coach throughout his time in Japan, he has been credited for helping Fortune 500 executives earn global-level promotions.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Brittany Arthur again who provides a Japanpreneur Quick Tip and talks about the unique business startup scene in Japan compared to other countries around the world. Brittany Arthur wakes up each day excited to support companies in Japan to bring their business aspirations to life and to ignite creative confidence at the Japanese workplace by equipping people with tools for innovation. She specializes in innovation, Design Thinking and Design Sprints in Japan and in Japanese. She is the Co-Founder and Managing Director for Design Thinking Japan. She leads business innovation in Japan, specializing in Human-centered design principles such as Design Thinking in Japanese to help clients bring their business aspirations to life. She also serves on the met.conecta board of directors as an advisor for strategic partnerships. She has founded the Business Karaoke Podcast and the ToYoko Design Thinking Network, the only English-Japanese innovation MeetUp. She also has a passion for Rotary where she is a member of the Rotary Club of Berlin-International and also a member of the Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Jess Brown, CEO at Nihongo Connection, about how she took a problem she was having with finding actual Japanese language speaking training and turned that into a successful business through building a bootcamp and online membership community. Jessica runs an online and in-person Japanese Conversation Community called Nihongo Connection. When she came back from Japan in 2005 her Japanese was at an intermediate level despite weekly Japanese lessons, she craved more opportunities to practice actually speaking in Japanese. In 2014, she started a Japanese conversation club. Japanese friends heard what she was doing and came along to support the group on their journey to fluency. In 2017 the members suggested she start an online conversation club too and so now she has developed a growing and thriving online community. She arranges weekly online conversation club calls in Japanese, supporting and introducing Japanese speakers from around the world and is now running a growing online website with courses and community.

Helen gives us another little Japanpreneur Quick Tip this week in regards to the importance of rest and how entrepreneurs really need to take the time to relax and not let their businesses take over their lives. If you haven't yet heard our recent interview she drops a lot of knowledge bombs us, so look for the episode entitled Launching a Business Communication and Women’s Success Coaching Company in Japan w/ Helen Iwata. Recently my wife Satomi and I were featured on her podcast The Sasuga Podcast, and when it comes out shortly I'll link to it from my website or you can search for her show in spotify or itunes etc. or check out her website at Sasugacommunications.com. The show was a little bit about our entrepreneurial journey together and how Satomi has grown as a leader and teacher in her own right, she really is the brains behind everything anyways. But today we are going to have a chat about the uncool side of entrepreneurship. Everywhere you look on social media and youtube nowadays, the main thing many people are pushing is the whole #hustle culture and how everything needs to be 10Xed. Well this the quickest route to burn out that I can see. Although it's not a phenomenon unique to Japanese business culture, Karoshi or death from overwork is a real thing. Often this comes from corporate peer pressure but I'm seeing solo entrepreneurs jumping in that rat race too for fear of missing out. Well, getting out of the rat race and finding my own sense of lifestyle freedom was a big part of starting my own businesses, and it's something that I have high on my priority list. Time is the most valuable thing we have, and without resting and taking a breather we don't get the recharge that we need to both handle our business and enjoy that time. Right after this short message Helen will give us her thoughts on the subject.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Hejar Abdi, a Japan-inspired Dutch Entrepreneur, Model, TikTok Star and Social Media Influencer from the Netherlands. Hejar Abdi is most well-known for being an influencer and social media consultant for other high-end influencers/brands & ambassadors but he still provides physical therapy related courses at offices throughout the Netherlands for the prevention of physical neck/shoulder & back issues. He grew up in Amersfoort in the Netherlands and always had a fascination with creation. His love for cartoons and Japanese anime led him to create simple frame-by-frame flash animations as a kid. This led him to many self-taught media related skills like Adobe Photoshop, HTML, CSS, neuromarketing and many other beneficial tools for a successful online business. Something he eventually gained for the first time through Instagram in 2016.

This episode of Small Business Japan is a continuation of episode # 58 with Sake Brewer, owner, and consultant Todd Bellomy where we get into some different business models and changes that come with the pandemic as well advice for entrepreneurs with a connection to Japan. Sake brewer Todd Bellomy works as a sake & craft beer industry consultant while developing and fundraising to start a sake brewery called Farthest Star Sake. He has many years of alcohol and restaurant industry experience, including certifications as a Cicerone and Sake Advisor. Once upon a time, he lived in Japan, visited izakaya, and worked as a sword maker's apprentice and English teacher.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Sake Brewer, owner, and Consultant Todd Bellomy about his life in Japan, how he got his start in the sake industry, and some thoughts on authenticity and Japanese products outside of Japan. I’ll start this episode off by letting you know that because I geeked out so much on the topic I felt it best to split this into a 2-part show. Without further a due, Sake brewer Todd Bellomy works as a sake & craft beer industry consultant while developing and fundraising to start a sake brewery. He has many years of alcohol and restaurant industry experience, including certifications as a Cicerone and Sake Advisor. Once upon a time, he lived in Japan, visited izakaya, and worked as a sword maker's apprentice and English teacher.

On this episode of Small Business Japan, I talk with Helen Iwata about how after years of experience she took the entrepreneurial leap to launch Sasuga Communications, her award-winning business communication and women’s success coaching company in Tokyo. Helen Iwata is an award-winning business communication and women’s success coach. Originally from the UK, she’s lived and worked in Japan for 3 decades. Following her 10-year career with McKinsey & Company in Tokyo, she established her own business in 2013. Helen coaches her corporate clients and online students to communicate confidently, use their time and energy efficiently, and get the results they want in their business and life without burnout. She’s the host of the Sasuga! Podcast, a TEDx speaker, Nikkei online columnist, and author of Eigo no Shigoto-jutsu, published by Shogakukan.

On this episode of Small Business Japan, I talk with Japanese entrepreneur and author Koko Hayashi who has been featured on TV shows such as Shark Tank and Keeping up with the Kardashians about growing multiple online businesses, building a strong social media following and working with celebrities. Koko Hayashi was born and raised in Japan, on the northern-most island of Hokkaido. After coming to the US it became her passion to share Japanese beauty secrets that are not widely known outside of Japan by launching Mirai Clinical and spreading her own techniques for Japanese face yoga. She has become a media sensation and continues to work with a number of celebrities as she develops her own face yoga training and certification program as well.

On this episode of Small Business Japan, I talk with Natalie Meyer about how she built her business around helping both Japanese and International companies globalize and localize their business in a Tokyoesque way. Natalie Meyer is the founder & CEO of Tokyoesque. They provide globally aware & curious market research and localization for companies expanding to and from Japan. Their goal is to foster cross-cultural understanding and globalization. Natalie’s experiences are a mix of global media, tech and market research via Tokyo, London, Silicon Valley, DC and now Amsterdam.

On episode 54 of Small Business Japan, I talk with pianist and entrepreneur Makiko Hirata about monetizing the arts, what it means to be a Japanese female pianist, and how a sustainable business requires passion. "An international concert pianist and recording artist, Makiko Hirata, calls herself “Dr. Pianist” for two reasons. She has a Doctor of Musical Arts degree. And she is on a mission to promote music as a healing agent. She works with neuroscientists to quantify the benefit of music, and gives lectures and facilitate workshops globally on the subject."

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Kasia who is building her business around connecting employers with an untapped market of employees with Japanese language and cultural skills. Kasia is a trilingual American who spent 8 years in Japan, including in high school, college, graduate school and her career. She is the Founder of Ikigai Connections, a website that showcases the untapped potential of Japanese-speaking job-seekers to globally-minded companies via blogs, speaking, a job board and online training programs.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Anthony Joh about all of the lessons he learned from top level business owners and the problems of working with large Japanese corporations as a consultant.Anthony has been a world traveler since birth, having grown up in Canada, USA and Japan. After getting the travel bug he sold his automotive business and took off on an extended holiday through Europe, Asia, and Africa. He now splits his time between Canada and Japan.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Japanese sake brewer Shinobu Kato about redefining authentic local Japanese sake as he begins his new sake brewery in Brooklyn, New York. Shinobu is from Tokyo, Japan, where he went for college and started his career at Softbank. In 2004, he moved to the US to attend the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. Upon graduation, he worked at Nissan in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2016, Shinobu left the corporate world and moved to Brooklyn, NYC to start a sake brewery.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Sayuri Tsuchitani about growing a business in the US based around a popular beauty and relaxation technique known as Japanese Head Spa. Sayuri is a Head Spanist (or a Head Spa Therapist), and owner of Headspa En in Beverly Hills, and she aims to deliver a quality sleep to everyone. She is originally from Tokushima, Japan, the country that is notoriously known for getting the least amount of sleep. The word "Head Spa" is Japanglish, and it means to massage your head using your pressure points, aka shiatsu. Head massage effectively promotes the health of your scalp and hair, but also promotes a deep sleep which helps relieve stress from headaches, migraines, insomnia and more. Her goal is to deliver a quality sleep to her customers and create a headspanist training course along with selling products which are beneficial for a deep sleep.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I have a Japanpreneur Spotlight on cross cultural collaborations as a way to expand your market, and we’ll be talking about apples. We have a few small apple trees out in the yard and this time of year the leaves have just started to pop out and a few flowers are on there too. I always start to think about how this is just the start for the small businesses in the apple orchard and hard cidery business. I understand it’s a year long agricultural process but...

Hey Japanpreneurs, I have a great interview for you today with Marc Matsumoto about how he has stayed resilient through building a number of business pillars and found untapped opportunities in Japan. Marc Matsumoto is a TV host, food blogger and food and beverage consultant. Born in Japan, and raised in the US, Marc returned to Japan in 2011 to explore his heritage, but ended up staying due to the unparalleled quality of food. In addition to hosting NHK World's Bento Expo, Marc also publishes the food blog No Recipes, where he teaches every day cooks how to elevate their meals using easy to follow techniques. When he's not teaching the world how to cook smarter, he works with restaurants and food brands on recipe development and marketing.

Hey Japanpreneurs, on this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Sylvain Pierre about starting a Tokyo coding bootcamp with the the backing of the world's #1 ranked coding bootcamp, Le Wagon.Sylvain moved to Japan in 2016 to launch Le Wagon’s Tokyo branch. Le Wagon is an intensive coding bootcamp geared towards creative people and entrepreneurs. Over the past 3 years, over 250 students graduated from Le Wagon Tokyo - They then found jobs as web engineers, product managers and designers, or started their own venture.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I have a Japanpreneur Quick Tip aboutrisk and diversifying, and I have a little help from previous guest Ruth Jarman as well. For those of you who haven’t checked out the show with Ruth Jarman you should definitely go back and give that a listen, She was featured on Episode 28 - The Business of Internationalization in Japan. It’s a little bit longer than some of the other shows but she has a great story and drops a lot of valuable business and entrepreneurial tips throughout.

On this episode of Small Business Japan we get some great advice for entrepreneurs and startups about planning for the new future from Mariko Lochridge who works with many small business clients in Little Tokyo and Los Angeles, California. Mariko Lochridge recently moved to Los Angeles from Tokyo, Japan. She was previously a news journalist, covering stories for Reuters and working for the Japanese national network Nippon Television as a breaking news producer. In addition, Mariko was an online video and special events consultant for adidas, Volvo, Rakuten and Le Cordon Bleu. Mariko works with small business clients across LA County. Her areas of specialization are video production coordination, business plan creation, community outreach, social media marketing, time management and public relations.

On this episode of Small Business Japan we discuss culture hacking Japan and how to decipher the differences in American, Chinese, and Japanese ways of thinking with Richard Conrad. Richard Conrad grew up in Washington, D.C., studied engineering and economics at Vanderbilt University, earned a master’s degree in Economics as a local student at Fudan University in Shanghai, China, and later earned an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Richard worked for the last sixteen years for a large U.S. money management firm researching, analyzing, and investing in Chinese and Japanese equities. Richard is fluent in Chinese and Japanese and continues to live in Asia with his family.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Mac Salman about How to Build a Business in Japan based on Quality through Personalized Journeys and Experiences. Mac is the Founder and Lead Guide of Maction Planet, which specializes in Bespoke Japan Travel and Tokyo-Inspired Apparel. He hails from England and has travelled to over 100 countries. A Tokyo resident for over 13 years, Mac is a respected analyst and commentator on Japan, its culture, art and economy and has written for and/or been featured in Reuters, The New York Times, The Japan Times, The (London) Times, Bloomberg, CNBC, Forbes, The Financial Times, SNL and Tokyo Art Beat amongst others.

On this episode of Small Business Japan we delve into avenues of entrepreneurship in the traditional Japanese arts. I talk with Oscar Brekell, a Japanese tea expert, entrepreneur, author and educator. Oscar Brekell is a native of Sweden who moved to Japan in 2013 in order to study Japanese tea, as well as the history traditions associated with Japanese Green Tea, such as Japanese Tea Ceremony. He was certified as a Nihoncha Japanese Tea Instructor in 2014, and became the first non-Japanese person to work at the Japan Tea Export Council in 2016. He is often featured on Japanese Television, and has written 4 books in Japanese about his experiences. As an English speaker, he offers a distinct level of clarity to Western tea enthusiasts.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I have a Japanpreneur Quick Tip I’d like to go over with some of you who may be in a bit of a grey area when it comes to your business’s health.Here are my 9 Most Important Numbers Small Businesses Should Be Tracking.

On this episode of Small Business Japan we learn from Rachel Leng about how she started her business while working for a company and is now creating a bridge with people and companies abroad to new opportunities in Japan. Rachel Leng is COO and Co-Founder of SeiRogai, Inc., a Tokyo-based business consultancy and media production company, and leads Business Development at a Japanese private equity fund investing in healthcare and tech SMEs. She is also a freelance travel writer, bilingual blogger, former Miss Singapore titleholder and East Asia expert graduated from Duke and Harvard Universities.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Manabu Goto, a tech entrepreneur connecting different generations and Japanese language learners from around the world. Manabu Goto's passion for his current Sail project can be traced back to his experiences of traveling to around 30 countries when he was in college as well as his unique childhood with his mother who was an international photographer. His Sail project is connecting Japanese elders with international students who are learning Japanese in 84 different countries throughout the world.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I have a Japanpreneur Quick Tip for you around the idea of creating more content for you business in the new normal. Now is the time to be making content for your business. Everyone is home, which means you have more time to create it, and they have more time to consume it. Their eyes and ears are searching for content, you need to be the one supplying it to them now, so they will either make a purchase now or remember you when society gets a bit more mobile again. That being said, going forward in the new normal, more and more people are going to be staying online and connecting to others more online than they used to....

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Thao Koyama, a Vietnamese entrepreneur in Tokyo who is running her consulting businesses while growing her cosmetics and beauty care company Eldoraku. Stay tuned to hear about her passion for supporting female foreign entrepreneurs in Japan and connecting the world with quality Made-in-Japan products. Thao Koyama is a Vietnamese entrepreneur, wife, mother and founder of Eldoraku, a platform operated on mobile devices that introduces a wide range of products focusing on Japanese cosmetics and gifts. After earning her master's degree and working for Asahi Brewery she eventually felt she needed to leave to follow her passion for cosmetics and beauty care and create Eldoraku. She is also hosting an online program to provide Japanese information in her native language, helping Vietnamese across the globe understand and appreciate the beauty of her second hometown, Japan. Along with working with various women's business and empowerment groups in Tokyo and promoting various events with them, Thao was awarded the “Young leaders creating a better world for all” award at the Women Economic Forum 2020 in Cairo, Egypt.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Graeme Lawrence, a lifelong student and teacher of cross-cultural craftsmanship and translating. Find out his tips for doing better business with the Japanese. Graeme has used Japanese in a business environment since 1988, working for the European subsidiaries of Hitachi, Panasonic, Honda and other multinationals. Before going independent, his roles included in-house translator/interpreter, logistics manager at a Japanese biotechnology firm, and cultural advisor to British CEOs. Graeme facilitates cross-cultural corporate training workshops on behalf of Belgium-based Japan Consulting Office (JCO) and is a graduate of the University of Shizuoka.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Menya Hinga, a fitness entrepreneur who has built multiple interconnected businesses with the goal of providing a holistic fitness approach to busy professionals. Menya Hinga is owner of MH Health Coaching, SOGO, CoFit movement, Future Fitness help busy professionals learn to get in shape and win back their health forever.

On this episode of Small Business Japan I talk with Kyoko Nagano, a female entrepreneur in Japan who is navigating the traditional worlds of Japanese culture, sake, and fermentation, adding elements of modernity to expand her businesses. Kyoko is a Japanese national who has lived overseas in countries such as South Korea, Saudi Arabia, USA, Thailand for 17 years as an expatriate together with her family. In 2018, After working for big companies like ITOCHU Corporation, AIG, UBS and MetLife, she felt that it’s time to launch her own businesses.

On a recent Japanpreneur Quick Tip I talked about a concept from Miyamoto Musashi called Understanding the Value of Armor, or your Business Tools. That is Episode 30 if you’d like to go back and check it out. On this Small Business Japan episode I have a Japanpreneur Quick Tip about finding the rhythm of entrepreneurship through looking at one of Miyamoto Musashi's principles. For those unfamiliar, Musashi was a Japanese swordsman, philosopher, writer, and ronin in the early 1600s. Some of the ideas I am looking at are from his book caledThe Book of Five Rings, or GoRinNoSho.