Language Issues Archives

Doing Business In Japan: A Practical Guide To Selling In Japan Using Distributors, Importers & Agents

There’s a lot of confusing information out there about doing business in Japan. 🚫 Information from college professors and government bureaucrats who have no real-world experience 🚫 Information that’s outdated and often just plain wrong 🚫 Information that only works if you’re a large multinational corporation You won’t find any of that here. Instead, you’ll discover what actually works in Japan, based on 40 years of doing business in Japan and helping more than 400 companies sell their products in …

Finding Japanese Distributors Using Government Services

Many clients come to us after unsuccessfully trying to find Japanese sales partners using the matchmaking services provided by government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Gold Key Service, UK Department for Business and Trade, Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, Austrade, German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (AHK Japan), Business France, and Switzerland Global Enterprise. Why are these government agencies rarely successful in helping foreign companies connect with the right Japanese distributors or sales agents? I’ve talked …

Best Way To Contact Japanese Distributors If You Don’t Speak Japanese

Some “experts” on doing business in Japan say that cold calling Japanese companies doesn’t work. They insist that the only effective way to approach these companies is through a personal introduction. This is nonsense. We’ve contacted hundreds of Japanese distributors on behalf of clients and find most very interested in hearing about products that complement the brands that they are already carrying. This makes sense if you stop to think about it. Any savvy distributor knows that the best way …

How To Evaluate Japanese Distributors, Importers & Agents

Many Japanese distributors, importers, and agents in Japan do not have English-language websites. When trying to determine if a Japanese distributor or other sales partner in Japan is the right fit for your company, it’s easy to ignore companies that don’t have much English on their websites. This is a big mistake. In our experience, there is no relationship between having an English-language site and being an effective distributor. The best distributors are focused on their customers, who are Japanese, …

Do Japanese Distributors, Importers & Agents Speak English?

Do you need a translator or an interpreter to communicate with potential Japanese distributors? Clients often ask whether they’ll have trouble communicating with potential Japanese distributors, importers, and agents, and wonder if they’ll need an interpreter or translator to do business in Japan. In our experience, the use of these language professionals isn’t necessary because distributors that are already importing and distributing foreign products almost always have employees who can speak English. For smaller companies, this is usually the president …