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
Japan's Traditional Crafts
New Product Development: Japanese Traditional Crafts
Japan inspired handcrafted watch straps
47Ronin浪人 Watch Straps are designed & handcrafted piece by piece with exotic materials from Japan, such as leather, Kimono fabric, Japanese print, and interesting materials from various parts of Japan.
WASABI Creation supported 47Ronin in various stages of the new business startup such as market research, sourcing of materials from Japan, as well as product development and marketing.
The watch straps are applicable to all kind of watches from traditional automatic wrist watches to smart watches such as Apple Watch. In just a couple of months time, over 40 designs have been developed, and the company has started getting orders from Singapore, Japan, USA, and Europe.
WASABI Creation~ International Event Design in Kansai Japan
WASABI Creation~ International Event Design in Kansai Japan
WASABI Creation~ International Event Design in Kansai Japan
WASABI Creation~ International Event Design in Kansai Japan
Japan Traditional Industries
Kyoto Kitayama Cedar~ Harvesting Workshop
The Kitayama Mountains north of Kyoto city produce the cedar, called ‘Kitayama Sugi’ used to build traditional Japanese ‘sukiya’ architecture. It has a 600 year history, making it the oldest forestry culture in the world. In addition to being unique and producing exquisite wood, Kitayama Forestry is very environmentally friendly.
This cultural heritage has largely been lost as Japan has adopted mass produced housing, leaving Kitayama and other traditional Japanese forestry products to fall into disuse. Fortunately, this has begun to change in recent years as some Japanese rediscover their own culture, and export opportunities have arisen.
Together with the company, we organized a visit to the cedar plantation forest to see how cedar trees are being harvested and processed, and also learn about the history and characteristics of "Kitayama Sugi", the cedar trees of Kyoto.
WASABI Creation is the producer of this event.
Japan Traditional Industries
Nishiki Textile Cultural Exchange Event
錦を観ながら交流会
Expereince Nishiki textile of Kyoto, September 2011
NIshiki was once a very important textile industry in Nishijin Kyoto where it produced beautiful Kimonos for the whole of Japan. Although many had closed down due to a drop in Kimono demand in modern days, there are some factories that survive over many centuries and continue to produce fabulous textile in the most tradtional way. There are one of those few places that reserves and continues the glory of Nishiki Textile in Kyoto.
WASABI Creation organized a tour to one of these long standing Nishiki textile factories in Nishijin Kyoto for foreigners living in Kyoto. The 8th generation company president gave a lecture on the history of Nishiki, while participants also had the chance to have a hands on experience to make Nishiki textile with those tradtional weaving machines.
Japanese Traditional Crafts
Japanese Paper Doll Making Workshop （和紙人形）
A cultural experience, July 2011
Japanese paper (Washi) is popular for its high quality and brilliant colors. The famous Origami is made out of these special Japanese papers. At a higher level, these Japanese papers can be made into Japanese dolls.
WASABI Creation invited a Japanese Paper Doll master to give a one-day workshop to a group of foreigners who are deeply interested in Japanese culture. Furthermore, the workshop was held in a 100 year old cafe with a Japanese room, making it an authentic Japanese cultural experience.
WASABI Creation is the organizer of this Japanese paper doll making workshop.
Japan Traditional Industries
PAGONG Kyoyuzen ~
Kyoto Traditional Dyeing Workshop
A company tour and hands-on workshop was organized for PAGONG, a Kyoto based traditional textile dyeing company, in order to introduce this Japanese traditional craft to a group of 20 foreign visitors. It allowed a deeper understanding of Kyoyuzen for foreign visitors and also promoted such trade to potential customers outside of Japan. Foreign participants followed the instruction of the experienced craftsmen and produced their own prints using the Kyoyuzen technique.
A tea reception with the company's president was also held after the workshop. The president shared about the company's history, the dyeing process, and how the business has transformed itself to meet market changes and the newest trends in the textile industry.
WASABI Creation is the producer of this event.