People | WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN? Feb 9, 2019
Yu Nakamura: A sweet affinity between Japan and Thailand
by Kathryn Wortley
An entrepreneur and cultural innovator, Yu Nakamura helps Thai farmers with her coconut sugar business.
People | WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN? Aug 18, 2018
Helping bean-to-bar chocolate bloom in Japan
by Kathryn Wortley
For Tomoya Yamashiki, chief strategist of Dandelion Chocolate Japan, Inc., U.S. entrepreneurism opened doors to a new sweet way of life.
People | WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN? Jul 14, 2018
From 'big in Japan' to far better in America
by Kaori Shoji
Megumi Ijiri Haskin felt so different to other children when growing up in Japan, that she aspired to live in the U.S. at the age of 17.
People | 20 QUESTIONS Jul 7, 2018
Japan's biggest flavors come in small boxes
by Claire Williamson
Japan Crate founder Hank Rao on the way his "mystery box" helps bridge cultures and bring together families, the best and worst Japanese snacks and his dream KitKat flavor collaboration.
People | WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN? Jan 27, 2018
Yumiko Oho teaches the ABC's of life in Italy
by Kathryn Wortley
The desire to escape Japan's old-school notion of gender roles paved the way for a former bank employee to discover business opportunities overseas.
National Sep 24, 2017
For Hiromi Kano, head of a well-known Japanese mascot maker, the company's costumed characters not only bring joy to people but also signify the labor of love performed by her all-female staff. "Just as important as the happiness of customers is the happiness of our ...
Business Jul 28, 2016
Thirsty? This ryokan's faucets run with mandarin juice
by Yoichi Lee
Takashi Oyabu is the president of a company in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, that operates tourist infrastructure with a difference. Its portfolio includes ryokan (traditional inns), restaurants and shops that sell high-end, locally made items such as towels and ceramics. In the lobby of Dogo Yaya, a ...
Business Jan 13, 2015
More foreign students launching businesses in Japan
by Su Xincheng
Three years ago, Tokyo resident Qi Hongqiang launched Skypechina, an online Chinese-language school, using ¥5 million borrowed from his parents back home in Hebei province, China. The 27-year-old graduate of a Japanese university needed the cash to fulfill one main requirement for obtaining an investor/business ...
Business / Corporate Aug 4, 2014
Who wants to be a billionaire? Son's SoftBank academy vets entrepreneurs
by Teppei Kasai
If Masayoshi Son, the billionaire founder and CEO of SoftBank Corp. needs a fresh strategy to fend off a surprise French counterbid for a prized U.S. telecommunications target, he could do worse than ask budding entrepreneurs at the SoftBank Academia. There, some 300 or so ...
People | WORDS TO LIVE BY May 23, 2014
Motel owner provides rooms to the roaming
by Judit Kawaguchi
Makoto Kai, 62, is the founder and CEO of Hatagoya Co., which operates Japan's only motel chain. Kai, an avid biker, started the business in 1994 out of frustration with the lack of comfortable and inexpensive accommodation across the Japanese countryside. After traveling around ...
National Feb 12, 2014
Entrepreneur urges mindset change
by Tetsuji Ida
A U.S.-based entrepreneur who became the first Japanese invited to a U.S. presidential State of the Union address has said that Japan must shake off its "stagnation" by fostering innovation and ditching outdated ideas. Speaking in Tokyo, Hiroyuki Fujita, the 47-year-old founder and president of ...
National Feb 3, 2014
British entrepreneur brings new twist to powdery soul of green tea
by Richard Sunley
A young British entrepreneur has devised a novel way to use the green tea powder known as "matcha," which has already become a popular flavoring in cakes, chocolate and coffees. James Shillcock's startup business is selling an energy drink that incorporates matcha, which he believes ...