Marketing Episodes

This conversation is one of the most amazing I've had since starting Now and Zen Japan. This episode could certainly change your life. Especially if you suffer from unhealthy lifestyle habits. Prepare to be blown away by Kaki Okumura's wisdom, demeanor, and insight into well-being and nutrition. Kaki breaks down Japanese based wellness concepts through her "Four Essential Pillars to Healthy Living" in a very convincing and non-preachy way. She is a writer, an illustrator, a wellness coach, and v...

Frank Foley is a charismatic 30-year Japan professional with a deep understanding of character licensing, content marketing, and IP management. He was the country manager for Guinness World Records Japan where he successfully shifted the business model from wacky and crazy to a more Japan focused local strategy. Even participating in the record-setting worlds largest beef skewer event. Frank has represented IP entertainment brands from the Rolling Stones and Ariana Grande to children's education...

Neil Butler is a 40-year Tokyo veteran and CEO / Publisher of Metropolis Magazine. Neil is well-known in Japan from his successful 13 year stint with Australian Meat & Livestock where he coined the catch-phrase "Aussie Beef" and you will hear this great marketing success story during this episode. However for the past 13 years, he has been the driving force behind the free Tokyo magazine Metropolis and its on-line version. Neil talks about his numerous challenges he has faced in the publishing b...

A fascinating look into the on-line gaming business in Japan with Aiko Smith, the CEO of Aloha Shark Casino. Aiko has more than 15 years experience in this exciting industry and is one of the pioneers in the Japanese on-line casino market. This episode you will hear how Aloha Shark localizes their site for Japanese players, learn about on-line casino’s “Payout Percentage” and how this compares to other forms of gambling in Japan. How the potential future legalization of land casinos in Japan wil...

Deanna Elstrom is a veteran brand marketer, brand strategist, and consumer insights specialist. She has recently launched her own company called Somi Insights, where she combines her love of branding with a fascination of how culture influences human behavior. Japanese consumers is a key area of Deanna's expertise as she led two major agencies during the past seven years in Japan. We discuss the the Japanese name "Somi" which she coined, we learn the big difference between "insights" and "findin...

Welcome a true Hospitality Professional to the podcast. Mr. Matthias Sutter, the Rep. Director of Shangri-La Hotels Japan and the GM of the Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo. We discuss Japanese customer service, how different nationalities have different hospitality expectations, his two requirements for anyone to succeed in the hotel business, and how starting off in Food & Beverage helped craft his strong sense of hospitality. We also talk Trip Advisor, hotel rankings, and the guest comments he likes th...

This episode I sit down with Japan veteran and savvy businessman Seth Sulkin. He is the founder of Pacifica Capital an international hotel developer and operator. He has also recently become a disruptor in the restaurant food delivery business with the launch of his new gourmet restaurant food delivery app Food-e. In this episode we learn all about this booming industry, why before Food-e high-end restaurants couldn't or wouldn't join delivery apps, and the innovations which convinced these repu...

This episode we discuss fashion in Japan and premium dog food. Not two topics often mentioned in the same sentence, but very related to today's guest Mr. Loic Bizel. Loic started his own fashion consulting business in Tokyo nearly 30 years ago and runs two very successful fashion related websites (see links in the notes below). He was one of the co-founders of the fashion "flash sales" site Gladd.jp in 2009. He's referred to as a "Trendspotter" and "Cool Hunter" by the media and is considered on...

This episode I sit down with Dominic Carter, an expert on Japan market entry, market research, and branding. Dominic shares great insight, knowledge, and current research results, for anyone working in Japan or looking to expand into Japan needs to hear. Today you hear his 3 Golden Rules for Japan market entry success, the 4 Marco Trends shaping modern Japan, as well as numerous great quotes about how to succeed in the Japanese market. This is must listen to anyone doing business in Japan. Other...

Alex Bradshaw is the ultimate Kagoshima spokesperson. It's rare to meet a foreigner so personally invested in any specific region of Japan. His knowledge of history, traditions, and the ability to weave these stories into a tourism proposition is amazing! He is currently Head of Overseas Business for the award-winning, World Heritage site Sengan-en and an advisor to the Government of Kagoshima. How he manages these two roles make up the crux of our interesting conversation. If you have never vis...

Originally from Bavaria, it was not coincidental that Chris and I shared "German" beers at the new and increasingly popular beer restaurant Schmatz for this conversation. Chris Thoma is an amazing guy with amazing stories, and he loves to tell them. Chris first came to Japan as a professional at age 25 working for the German hair care company Wella. Between then and 2018 when he retired, he held the position of President Japan for both Triumph (Ladies underwear not the motorcycle) and Le Creuset...

If you are interested in Brand Marketing you will love this episode of Business & Beers. I sit down for beers (and martinis) with marketing guru Mr. Per Rasmussen. For the past 30 years, Per has been either, head of marketing or president of four major European consumer goods companies in Japan. At both Lego and T-fal he solidified his legacy as a marketing genius by creating a famous TV commercial jingle (#3 Law of the mind), launching a new (still market leading) product category (#2 Law of th...