MIGHT
Turning Japanese value into global strength
Japan's careful craftsmanship once supported lives and economies around the world. I grew up in the United States, the Philippines and Japan, and in the Philippines and the US of my childhood, Japanese products were prized as "reliable and built to last," helping local economies grow. From an early age, I saw Japanese products and culture treated as something special overseas.
But things are changing. The car brands on the streets have quietly shifted, Chinese products win on price and flexibility, and "Made in Japan" has become "the expensive option." The weak yen has eroded purchasing power, and both the population and the market are shrinking. Even so, few people venture abroad, and I even hear people my age say, "My salary won't change anyway, so this is fine," or "It can't be helped if the country declines."
This leaves me with a strong sense of urgency and frustration. Japan is not weak. Its value simply hasn't reached the world yet.
Both when I worked with visitors to Japan and in my sales work today, I have seen people from overseas deeply moved by Japanese culture and the care Japanese people put into their work, time and time again. Japanese value has the potential to be far more appreciated overseas. I still believe that.
Opportunities for Japan and the world
That is exactly why Japanese companies now need to take on overseas markets and earn revenue abroad. But bridging differences in language, culture and business practices to expand overseas is still far from easy.
Meanwhile, Japan remains an attractive market in the eyes of the world. Its economy is stable, and business is rarely disrupted by political turmoil. Still, it is true that moving a business forward in Japan is difficult without understanding Japanese culture and its unique business practices.
"Turning Japanese value into global strength"
A bridge on the front line of every deal
Before founding MIGHT, I ran a Japanese culture experience facility for international visitors, sold for a SaaS company supporting overseas expansion, worked in exports at a specialized trading company, and helped launch and grow the Japanese operations of foreign companies. MIGHT runs a bilingual sales operation that negotiates in both Japanese and English. We understand both the business customs of major Japanese companies and the expectations of overseas headquarters, and we personally handle every step from the first meeting to negotiation and contract. Today, our work spans overseas sales outsourcing for Japanese companies, Japan market entry sales for overseas companies, English-speaking field sales for Japanese companies, TeamAsia (our network of Japanese-run partners in seven Asian countries), on-the-ground marketing support in Southeast Asia, consulting on overseas expansion and sales, and planning and running recruiting sessions at top universities abroad. We are also developing an AI service that makes overseas sales more efficient. Japanese companies that want to go global, and overseas companies that want to enter Japan: connecting the two is what MIGHT does.
Overseas companies doing business in Japan need to understand Japan's rules and systems; Japanese companies going abroad need to understand those of each local market. By understanding and respecting each other's rules, both can take on new challenges with confidence. To deliver Japanese value to the world in the right form and turn it into global strength, we will keep moving every deal forward, one at a time.
Haruki Yamanishi, Representative Director & CEO, MIGHT Inc.
Turning Japanese value into global strength
