Marketing in Japan Section 2 Part 1 of 3

Marketing in Japan:Section 2

Part 1 of 3: Marketing in Japan best practices and business insights.

Table of Contents:Page Name: Page Number:Business Practices 3

5 Steps to Marketing In Japan 4How to Launch a Product in Japan 11Tips to Marketing In Japan 28Symbolism in Japan 44

Business Insights 57Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions 58Business Facts 78Business Etiquette 98Business Differences: US vs. Japan

123

Work Cited 135

Marketing in Japan:5 Steps to Marketing-

Set Goals Learn the Culture

Build Relationshi

ps

Take an Urban Safari

Project Your Brand

Properly

Compiled By author from hawaiibusiness.com


Set Goals:You Need a Plan That Has:

The Commitment to Investment Includes the Following to Match Your Plan:

Time Dollars Resources

Timeline Commitment



Learn the Culture:

Companies use experienced Japanese marketing consultants

Anyone doing business in Japan needs to adjust to the differences in culture

Learn cultural nuances and identify opportunities for your productLearning

The Culture

Helps You:

Discover opportuniti

es

Grow your customer

base



Meet people doing business with Japanese firms as well

as in Japan

Swap success stories

Meet the media

Develop a trusted team of resources

Interpreters who know your brand and

messaging

Translators

Copywriters

Protocol experts

Leverage ‘champions’ of your business for important:

Introductions

Business opportunities

Build Relationships:



Visit Japan to see:• What they are watching on TV or

reading • What types of mobile or

communications devices are they using

• What are their service standards• What do they wear and eat

Visit Establishments to see the culture:

• A trade show• Department store• Luxury boutique• Real estate office• Mobile phone outlet• Supermarket• Convenience store

Take an Urban Safari:



Don’t let the language or

cultural difference

weaken your brand

The goal is to communicate the essence of your

brand

The communication should be done appropriately in

the market

That means:

Understanding trends

Cultural nuances

Accurate copywriting – not just translating

information

Appropriate communications

channels

Project Your Brand Properly:


Marketing In Japan:Launching a Product-

Find a contact to help you

establish a foothold

Establish a representative office before

launch

Manage the complex Japanese

distribution system

Personal touch pays the best

dividends

Connect with the expat

community

Compiled By author from marketingsherpa.com

Marketing In Japan:Launching a Product-1. Find A Contact To Help You Establish A Foothold

Research their industry or product category to find the best opportunities

Brush up on unique aspects of the Japanese business culture

Fly to the country to find potential partners or customers

Some marketers do the

following: Is expensive and time consuming

Results aren’t always positive

This Approach

:



A better approach is to make arrangements with a business partner who can do the:• Preliminary research • Business meetings for you

Good partner options are: • Japanese accounting firms • Consultant• Marketing • Advertising agency

These firms are well connected in the

Japanese business community and will do

much more than advertised

1. Find A Contact To Help You Establish A Foothold:



• Conduct market research• Meet with potential

partners and customers• Identify distribution

outlets• Target marketing

opportunities

A Local Partner Can:




•Get in contact with companies that have a presence in the country

•See if they can arrange a meeting with a potential local partner

Network with businesses

•Ask for help in finding a consultant or partner in Japan

•Business assistance agents can put you in touch by telephone with potential partners

Contact the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry

To Establish A Business Contact:



Marketing In Japan:Launching a Product-2. Establish a Representative Office Before Launch

These offices are operated a for six months or a year before launching actual operations in Japan

Having a Representative Office Allows a Company to:

Begin marketin

g

Attend trade

shows

Conduct importan

t personal meeting

sCompiled By author from marketingsherpa.com


3. Manage The Complex Japanese Distribution System:

Business has always been conducted based on:

This way of doing business has made it difficult for outside businesses to find partners

Long-term Relationshi

ps

Complicated

Hierarchies



4. Personal Touch Pays The Best Dividends:

It’s not a good idea to consume your time learning the language

Foreign marketers entering Japan try to learn the language before and during their stays

They Want To Learn So They Can:

Establish Partnership

s

Secure Distributio

n



4. Personal Touch Pays The Best Dividends:

The early stages of an expansion is a time to focus other aspects of the project not the language

Instead of Language Lessons:

Hire an assistant who speaks your

language well and can be a translator

during the busy start-up phase

Learn a few phrases instead of

the whole language



5. Connect With The Expat Community:

Besides connecting with local companies, new entrants in the Japanese market can look to foreign companies for assistance

Informal Networking With The Expatriate Community Can Deliver:

Hiring Tips Marketing LeadsIntroductions To

Potential Customers And

Partners



Top Networking Resources For Expats In

Japan:

The Weekender, an English-language

magazine

The Tokyo American Club, a social club where you

can network with business people

The Yokohama Country & Athletic Club, a sports club founded by British and favored by foreign

workers

Universities such as Sophia University,

International Christian University and Keio

University, Have connections to the

business community


5. Connect With The Expat Community:

Marketing In Japan:Tips-

Marketing in Japan can be a tricky prospect for foreign companies:

They absorb many Western influences

Japanese consumers behave differently from their Western counterparts

They also respond differently to marketing materials

Compiled By author from voicebunny.com

Marketing In Japan:Tips-

Accept Changing Realities

Pay Attention To Demographics

Print Still Matters

Build Relationships

Customize Your Website

Compiled By author from voicebunny.com

Contact Us for the Full Presentation:

Mediacontact USA Inc.13575 58TH Street North #160

Clearwater, Fl. 33760

T: 727 538 4112E: [email protected]

www.mediacontactusa.com

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.mediacontactusa.com/

Work Cited: "5 Steps to Marketing in Japan." Hawaii Business Magazine. 2011. Web. 01 Mar. 2016.

<http://www.hawaiibusiness.com/5-steps-to-marketing-in-japan/>. "10 Cultural Contrasts between US & Japanese Companies." Freshtrax by Btrax. Web. 01 Mar. 2016.

<http://blog.btrax.com/en/2010/12/15/10-cultural-contrasts-between-us-and-japanese-companies-a-personal-view/>. "Discover Japan!" : Luck and Unlucky Number. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <http://discover-jp.blogspot.com/2006/11/luck-and-

unlucky-number.html>. "Here’s What You Need To Know When Marketing To Japanese Consumers."VoiceBunny Blog. 2015. Web. 01 Mar. 2016.

<http://voicebunny.com/blog/heres-need-know-marketing-japanese-consumers/>. "International Business: Marketing in Asia by the Numbers: Numerology Affects International

Business." DeseretNews.com. 2011. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705394498/Marketing-in-Asia-by-the-numbers-Numerology-affects-international-business.html?pg=all>.

"Japan Business Etiquette, Culture, & Manners." Japan. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/japan.htm>.

"Japan: It's Better in Color - Tofugu." Tofugu. 2012. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <http://www.tofugu.com/2012/06/28/japan-its-better-in-color/>.

"Japanese Colors Vocabulary - Learn Japanese Colors Vocabulary." About.com Education. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <http://japanese.about.com/od/japanesevocabulary/a/Colors.htm>.

"Launching a Product in Japan: 5 Action Points Dos & Donts."� MarketingSherpa.com. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <https://www.marketingsherpa.com/article/interview/5-action-points-dos-donts>.

Mathers, Cassandra. "What Is the Meaning of Color in Japanese Culture?" EHow. Demand Media. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <http://www.ehow.com/about_6658499_meaning-color-japanese-culture_.html>.

Martinuzzi, Bruna. "Doing Business in Japan: 10 Etiquette Rules You Should Know." American Express, 5 Aug. 2013. Web. 1 Mar. 2016. <https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/doing-business-in-japan-10-etiquette-rules-you-should-know/>.

"What about Japan?" Japan. Web. 01 Mar. 2016. <http://geert-hofstede.com/japan.html>.

Marketing in Japan Section 2 Part 1 of 3

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Transcript of Marketing in Japan Section 2 Part 1 of 3