Guest Speaker
Business Seminar
For Osaka Innovation Hub: Expanding startup businesses in Singapore
Sep 2018
20 startup entrepreneurs and students from Osaka Innovation Hub visited WASABI Creation as part of their one week study tour in Singapore. Tong (Founder, CEO), together with Yuta Morita (Intern, SMU MBA student) conducted a seminar for the group on how they can expand their businesses from Japan to Singapore. They covered topics such as incorporation in Singapore, Singapore's demographic, consumer behaviour, influencer marketing, popup store marketing, etc. The participants were very interested in these topics and asked many questions such as "What are the common difficulties and errors Japanese companies have when doing business in Singapore." Tong was glad to have shared his experiences and expertise in these areas.
Japanese Lessons
For foreign domestic workers & caretakers
Sep 2018
WASABI Creation was requested by a nursing training school to conduct Japanese lessons to its students comprising of foreign domestic workers and caretakers. The students are attending the school to step up their skills in nursing care for the elderly. As Japan is seriously facing the hit of aging population, and lack of manpower in providing care to the elderly, they have opened up working opportunities in Japan to foreign caretakers.
In view of this, these foreign domestic workers are trying out learning Japanese to equip themselves with the language skill that will enable them to work in Japan in the future.
Guest Speaker
Seminar to Ryokoku University: How Singapore's policies have shaped a multiracial and international society.
2 Sep 2018
A group of 40 students from Ryokoku University, Japan visited WASABI Creation as part of their educational tour in Vietnam and Singapore. WASABI Creation founder, Tong conducted a seminar on Singapore policies that have shaped the country's multiracialism, and built an international society.
More and more Japanese companies realise the need to venture overseas market as its domestic market continue to string due to aging population and depopulation, however there is a lack of talent within Japan who has the experience, skills, and know-how to bring business across boarders. We hope the seminar will be able to share with the students some ideas and tips on how to be a global talent.
Guest Speaker
Seminars to Business Schools in Delhi, India
Aug 2018
WASABI Creation was invited by our partner, Intraversity in Delhi, to conduct talks to students of various business and management colleges in India. Over the week, we visited and met students from Jaipuria School of Business, JK Business School, Institute of Technology And Sciences, and Accurate Institute of Management & Technology. We shared with the students about our business, market trends in Japan and Singapore, and answered the students' questions on entrepreneurship.
WASABI Creation is also in talks with the schools to work with our partner in bringing students to Singapore for educational tour and internship.
Guest Speaker
"How SMU MBA Students can prepare themselves in working with the Japanese?"
6th Jul 2018
The Founder of WASABI Creation, Tong was invited by SMU MBA Class to speak at "Japanese Business Night". Tong shared about his experiences when he was working as a fresh graduate in Japan, and talked about Japanese business culture that is unique and special to non-Japanese people.
Tong also talked about basic Japanese business etiquette, such as exchanging business cards, and seating positions for Japanese business meetings. The MBA students shown great interest with many questions.
The event ended with a party serving Sushi for everyone.
Entrepreneurship Training Camp 2nd edition
"Partnership with SAI International College Bubhneshwar, India"
June 2018
WASABI Creation hosted 8 Indian students from SAI International College Bubhneshwar over 4 days for an intensive Entrepreneurship Training Camp at WASABI Creation's office. The students worked in groups of 2 on various topics such as coworking space business, India market entry, Japanese F&B market research, as well as overseas travel trends for India.
An extensive research in in these were done by the students, who also came up with creative proposals to implement new business into the fast growing market. Many presentations and discussions were held with the students to finalise the proposal.
At the end of the program, each student received a certificate of participation for their enthusiasm during the program.
WASABI Consulting
"What can Japanese students do to become international professionals?"
16th Mar 2018
The Founder of WASABI Creation, Tong was contacted by a group of students from Tokyo University, who are interested to learn about doing business internationally, as they planned their self-funded trip to Malaysia and Singapore. A sharing session was conducted over web conference, where Tong answered questions from the students, shared his own experiences, and gave advises to the students what they can do to groom themselves into international professionals.
Here are the reviews and comments from the students.
WASABI Insight vol.10
Business in Japan~
"Japanese Business Culture & Manners"
1st Mar 2018
The Founder of WASABI Creation, Tong held a seminar sharing his experiences and insights on doing business in Japan, in particular on the topic of "Japanese Business Culture & Manners".
Tong shared from his own personal experience overs the years while he has been working in Japan, and doing business with Japanese companies. As he grew up and went through the education system in Singapore, knowing the language didn't seem to have prepared him enough to work in Japan as a fresh graduate. Tong talked about the episodes he had encountered all these years, and cover some of the basics about "Japanese Business Culture & Manner".
Topics:
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Japanese business culture 101, how are the Japanese thinking?
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Exchanging business cards
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Visiting & hosting a Japanese company
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Useful Japanese expressions for business
More information: Business in Japan~ "Japanese Business Culture & Manners"
Guest Speaker
The Japan Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, Singapore (CLAIR, Singapore)
Feb 2018
The Founder of WASABI Creation, Tong was invited by The Japan Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, Singapore (CLAIR, Singapore) to share about WASABI Creation's business and its expertise in helping Japanese companies go global
Tong shared about his past, present, and future projects on how WASABI Creation is bridging Japan, Singapore, and the rest of Asia in terms on Business, Culture, and Tourism. In particular, Tong talked about his observation of how many Japanese companies are facing difficulty in presenting their products to the local markets overseas, and what could be so the solutions to better communicating with local consumers and making online connections for building relationships.
About CLAIR, Singapore
Event Marketing in Singapore
WASABI Insight vol.12
"Branding & Packaging: Customers First! - Branding your business for new market entry
Jan 2019
In recent trends, there has been a fresh approach to branding that has revolutionised the way businesses engage with their target audiences. The approach is a human-centric process that shifts power back to the consumer to drive innovation for the business. We will share our experiences in the importance of customer insights as the foundation to building a brand, especially for new entry in a crowded marketplace. These will be illustrated through case studies of current brands that were homegrown in Japan, but have successfully gained entry to new markets with different needs and aspirations. The themes covered will be Human-centric design, Finding the Gap, and Localisation.
More information:
https://www.wasabicreation.com/wasabi-insight-vol-12-branding-pack
Roadshow Exhibition Promotion
Sakura Japan Fair at Gardens By The Bay
Mar 2018
In conjunction with Sakura cherry blossom are on full bloom display at Gardens By The Bay, Flower Dome, WASABI Creation was invited by JTB Singapore, organiser of Sakura Japan Fair, to be a collaborating partner of the event, held from 30th March to 8th April 2018.
WASABI Creation, together with its partner, put up an exhibition booth, displaying and promoting Japanese inspired leather crafted products, using Japanese materials such as Kimono fabrics, as well as hand crafted Kanata Samurai sword. The booth is was designed with elaborate decorations and elements sources from Japan. All these products are designed and crafted in Singapore by Singaporean designers.
Japan Ambassador to Singapore, Mr Kenji Shinoda, Minister for Transport, Mr Khaw Boon Wan, and Minister for Finance, Mr & Mrs Heng Swee Keat visited the exhibition booth during the event. Over the 10-day period, more than 500 customers who had shown interest in the products gave us their contact information for future followups.
More information:
WASABI Discovery vol.8
Focus Group for the latest Japan Travel App~ "TAKUMI: How millennials travel in Japan?"
26th Feb 2018
WASABI Creation organised a focus group study with TAKUMI, a new mobile app for Japan travelers to be connected with local hosts to experience the lives of locals in Japan.
A total of 30 participants where invited to the focus group to find out about the latest travelling trends and tips on Japan travel, as well as giving their opinions and preferences when they plan their travel to Japan.
TAKUMI app is scheduled to be launch in May 2018.
More information:
Focus Group for the latest Japan Travel App~ "TAKUMI: How millennials travel in Japan?"
WASABI Insight vol.9
"Japan's Web Analytics, Digital Intelligence for your Business"
Client: WACA Pte Lte
WACA's mission is to promote and raise the overall level of the web analytics industry by continuously creating opportunities for people to learn, discuss, and pass on their web analytics knowledge. We aim to create a community through web analytics which will drive business success, research and development, personal career development, and employment opportunities.
In 2014, WACA established a branch in Singapore conducting trainings and consultations in Web analytics consultation in Singapore and APAC region, such as Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila, and Jakarta.
Read more at
WASABI Insight vol.9 "Japan's Web Analytics, Digital Intelligence for your Business"
WASABI Discovery vol.7
"A Healthier Earth & Mankind with Euglena,
Japan’s Microalgae Biotechnology"
Euglena is microalgae with only 0.05mm in length. It is a mysterious creature with
the features of both plants and animals grows in fresh water. It can store energy by means of photosynthesis like plants while it can also move around like other microorganisms.
Euglena was born 500 million years ago in the primitive age. Euglena was discovered by
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek of Austria in the 1660’s. In 2005, euglena Co.,Ltd became the
first in the world to succeed in outdoor commercial mass cultivation for food.
Euglena which has features of both plants and animals contains 59 varieties of nutrients,
which is enough for human survival. When euglena grows through photosynthesis,
it produces oil that can be used as biofuel that is suitable for jet-fuel, which also helps
to reduce CO2 emission to the atmosphere.
Read more at "A Healthier Earth & Mankind with Euglena, Japan’s Microalgae Biotechnology"
WASABI Insight vol.6
"The Power of Influencer Marketing in Japan"
Influencer marketing is more than a trend - digital influencers are the most direct and effective way to reach Generation X, Z and millennials worldwide. This highly engaged audience lives online on platforms like YouTube, Facebook or Instagram and digital influencers are the new stars of this generation.
Being the market leader in influencer marketing in Japan, UUUM's head of sales and global operations director will talk about the latest trends in Japan, Asia and benefits of influencer marketing in general, as well as showing a forecast of how global campaigns will shape the marketing industry in Japan and Asia in the future.
Read more at "The Power of Influencer Marketing in Japan"
WASABI Discovery vol.4
"Brewing Now! Japan's Coffee & Cafe Culture"
At WASABI Discovery vol.4, we have invited Managing Director of Hoshino Coffee Singapore, Mr Kengo Sakai to speak to us about coffee and cafe culture in Japan.
At this event, Mr. Sakai shared with us his experience in the F&B business, his passion about coffee. He also made comparison and contrast of the cafe business between Japan and Singapore. Participants also had a chance to made your own hand-drip coffee for coffee tasting.
WASABI Discovery is a casual presentation and meet-up event for the world to make new discovery about Japan and its people. At each event, we invite a couple of special guests to share and discuss about culture, people, happenings, or simply any topic from Japan that is worth discovering. We will also engage the participants in the conversation to make comparisons and contrasts with the local or other countries.
Read more at
WASABI Discovery vol.4 "Brewing Now! Japan's Coffee & Cafe Culture"
WASABI Discovery vol.2
“Cultivate the Earth!
Japan’s agriculture & Biotechnology”
At WASBI Discovery vol.2, we have invited Mr. Kengo Fukui from Chitose Agriculture Initiative to share with us about interesting trends and stories about agriculture in Japan, introducing "Farm-to-Table" concept, which each prefecture is to create their own vegetable and fruits brand, secrets of how famers in Japan can produce one of the best quality fruits and vegetable in the world, as well as his observation in Singapore on Organic, Urban farming.
Many agriculture companies, and urban farmers from Singapore attended the event to learn from Mr. Kengo, and exchanged ideas and information surrounding the topics. The speaker also brought along strawberries harvested from their farm at Cameron Highland, which were to be shared with all participants.
WASABI Discovery is a casual presentation and meet-up event for the world to make new discovery about Japan and its people. At each event, we invite a couple of special guests to share and discuss about culture, people, happenings, or simply any topic from Japan that is worth discovering. We will also engage the participants in the conversation to make comparisons and contrasts with the local or other countries.
Read more at
WASABI Discovery vol.2 “Cultivate the Earth! Japan’s agriculture & Biotechnology”
WASABI Discovery vol.1
"Japan Travel: the Paths Less Travelled"
WASABI Discovery is a casual presentation and meet-up event for the world to make new discovery about Japan and its people. At each event, we invite a couple of special guests to share and discuss about culture, people, happenings, or simply any topic from Japan that is worth discovering. We will also engage the participants in the conversation to make comparisons and contrasts with the local or other countries.
At WASBI Discovery vol.1, we have invited speakers from JR East, and IPPIN Cafe Bar, to tell us more about the bullet train culture, ekiben, and the stories behind these topics. We also had very nice Japanese food provided by IPPIN, sake tasting for 3 types of sakes that are hard to find even in Tokyo. The speakers had interesting discussion with the participants, who are all very interested in Japan's culture, travel, and lifestyle.
Read more at WASABI Discovery vol.1 "Japan Travel: the Paths Less Travelled"