Linking You to Japan.

Powering Your Growth.

Consulting Services to enter the Japanese Market

Sakura Linkage International is a Japan business consultant and supports the business of European, UK, US and other English-speaking corporate clients entering the Japanese market.

Japan is a country with a population of just over 120 million, the third largest economy in the world, and a very large market. 98% of the people who live in Japan speak Japanese, and the country has a unique corporate culture and preferences, making it difficult for foreign companies to enter the market without Japanese partners and prior knowledge.

We respond to the concerns of foreign companies wishing to enter the Japanese market and work with our clients to find ways to solve their problems, achieve success, and run a successful business.

Since we have partnerships with lawyers, accountants and other professionals, we are able to provide one-stop services such as researching the Japanese market, liaising with Japanese agencies and business partners, corporate registration, accounting and taxation, and other services upon your requests and needs.

Why Choose Us as Your Japan Business Consultant?

Sakura Linkage International is a group of experts that provides proficient consultancy services on the Japanese market to businesses of any countries. We are an agile team, well versed in both Japanese and Western cultures, and can provide flexible, tailor-made services to meet the needs of our clients. And most importantly, we always put ourselves in the client’s shoes. We will present the most reasonable and effective methods and information within the client’s budget.

Japan is a good location for products and services of high value and the Japanese are willing to pay well for things that they value. It is also an ideal market for new and innovative products and services. Japanese customers are one of the most demanding in the world but if you can achieve good customer satisfaction in Japan, you have a good chance of being able to satisfy consumers in other parts of the world.

Japan Business Consulting Services

Overview of Establishing a Business in Japan

Based on our many years of experience and the knowledge we have gained; we will provide you with an easy-to-understand explanation of what you need to do to establish a business in Japan and an overview of the market. Western businesses conduct business in a different manner to their Japanese counterparts and, while standard office hours in Japan are 9-5 Monday to Friday, people work late into the evenings and at weekends.

Doing Business in Japan

It is vital that you understand the characteristics of doing business in Japan and recent reforms, which have focused on growth and loosened government regulation, have stimulated the Japanese economy. Confrontation and gossip at work is rare with a reserved, subtle approach taken so it is very important to understand the body language. The Japanese pay attention to detail and often take more time to reach a decision, so it is important to take careful approach when conducting business in Japan.

Starting A Business in Japan

We will help you in setting up your new business in Japan. There are the 3 options for establishing a company for setting up a business in Japan:
A representative office does not require registration with the legal affairs bureau and tax forms. It is only permitted to carry out functions such as market analysis in Japan and no sales activities may be undertaken.
A branch office may engage in sales activities and is an easier option compared to setting up a Japanese incorporation.
Japanese subsidiary could be in the form of either a joint-stock corporation (KK) or a Godo Kaisha (LLC).

Japan Business Consultants

Our Japan business advising services help our clients navigate the challenges of conducting business in Japan. Our business consulting in Japan team understand the country’s complex operating environment and we use our first-hand experience to perform a range of political, policy, regulatory and reputational risk mitigation services using a combination of financial, technical, business and industry experience.

Our Japan business consultants are market experts who work with your business to establish your goals and a clear strategy for achieving them. Our Japan business consulting services are tailored to the needs of each business and through our extensive network throughout Japan, we can introduce you to business partners and key people in your industry.

Japanese Market Entry

As your Japan Business Consultant we will help you to establish and maintain a strong business relationship with local partners to grasp business opportunities in Japan with relationships in Japan seldom defined by legal contracts alone.

Use of the Japanese language is critical to gaining access into the Japanese market. Marketing in Japanese is essential to communicate with local consumers and business customers.

Japanese businesspeople will appreciate efforts made to communicate in even basic Japanese.

Top priorities for marketing in Japanese include:

We can research the market for your business, product, or service using TAM, SAM, SOM, etc. to help you prepare for proposals and grant applications.

Contacting Potential Clients

Identifying and searching for potential clients of the business in Japan can be arduous. Having knowledge and experience in the Japanese market, we help you contact and reach out to the business's potential customers to promote sales and profits of the company collaborating our digital marketing team.

Japanese Language Interpretation

Communication gaps can be a significant barrier to the growth of a business and operating a business in more than one language can be challenging. Therefore, we help you overcome this hurdle by providing Japanese interpretation on the telephone and on-site. This service is currently only available on a project basis.

Japanese Seminars and Training

Sakura Linkage International provides online and on-site seminars and training for executives and employees on Japanese language and cross-cultural understanding, which are critical to entering the Japanese market. We have conducted language and cross-cultural training for over 100 Japanese and foreign companies.

Japan Market Entry Strategy

Despite the apparent difficulty of entering and finding success in the Japanese market, there is no reason why companies with a competitive product or service and a carefully planned strategy cannot expand into Japan. To do this you must be able to control your Japan market entry costs to establish a strong brand presence quickly.

Business relations in Japan are built over time and you must select the most suitable entry strategy for your products and services before you arrive. Using intermediaries and partnerships will mean having to rely on others to build up your venture, but they also provide a better knowledge of the market.

Foreign Direct Investment in Japan

In 2013, the Japanese government announced a series of structural reforms and economic liberalisation measurements aimed at encouraging foreign direct investment into Japan. New governance codes have been implemented, offering guidance and a clearer framework urging companies to focus on financial management and improving returns to shareholders to further attract foreign investment in Japan.

From generous tax breaks to the potential for an accelerated immigration process, Japan offers many subsidies and incentives to attract foreign investment.

Ways to invest in Japan include:

Joint Ventures in Japan

Joint ventures are one of the most implemented approaches in trying to enter the Japanese market. Joint ventures are recognised in Japanese law as subsidiary companies, which can either be a limited or an unlimited partnership.

Distributorship

Distributorship allows foreign companies to deliver their products and services through an already established Japanese company. In this situation, you will retain control over the production and development of your services and product, while letting another entity handle logistics on the ground.

Distributorship requires a lower investment to get started and can let you test the market for your product offerings without overly committing resources.

License Arrangements

License arrangements let foreign companies easily access the Japanese market with minimal investment requirements. This model allows a Japanese company to acquire the rights of your products or services and deliver it to the Japanese market. It often includes the right to customise your products to suit the local requirements.

Key Drivers of Growth in Japan

Over the last decade, Sakura International have been able to acquire the skill to successfully analyse, map out and accurately identify future business trends and economic developments based on the geo-political and economic scenario that exist in Japan.