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
Learning Journey about Japan
Lessons from the land of Pikachu"
Produced by WASABI Creation
“Learning Journey about Japan” brings you through a series of lectures, workshops, and field trips to discover the secret of success of popular Japanese brands you can find in Singapore. It serves as a source of inspiration, innovation, valuable learning points for business development, as well as a great reference for self-improvement.
Introduction
WASABI Creation is a boutique consulting firm bridging Japan & Singapore in terms of business, culture, and travel.
With our deep knowledge of Japan, we have created Learning Journeys, which are customisable education programs to learn more about Japan, and how we can apply them in our lives and professions.
We have a network of Japanese companies and partners in Singapore, who will share with us about their businesses, philosophies, strategies, and experiences they have in Japan and overseas.
As part of our programs, we organise Learning Journey in Singapore where we are able to learn about Japan in the aspects of:
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Culture & Philosophy
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Technologies & innovations
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Success stories and failure
Learning Journeys in the past
Learning Journey program in Singapore
A visit to East Japan Rail Company (Singapore)
Nov 2019
WASABI Creation together with our educational partner organised a company visit to East Japan Rail Company's Singapore branch office for 2 groups of secondary school teachers from Singapore. Although most Singaporeans would know JR as the operator of trains, especially the famous bullet trains in Japan, little is known about the many other businesses JR East is running in Japan, as well as in Singapore.
The manager from JR East gave a presentation about the company's rail and non-rail businesses in Japan, such as real estate, retail and lifestyle businesses. In Singapore, JR East also runs Japan Rail Cafe located in Tanjong Pagar, JW360 a cafe & retail shop at Jewel Changi, as well as One & Co, a newly opened co-working space located in CBD.
Lecture
"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:
-
Japanese business culture 101, how are the Japanese thinking?
-
Exchanging business cards
-
Visiting & hosting a Japanese company
-
Useful Japanese expressions for business
More information: Business in Japan~ "Japanese Business Culture & Manners"
Lecture
"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.
Lecture by JETRO
"Omotenashi... Revealing the secrets of Japan's hospitality" by Ishikawa Prefecture (Singapore)
"Omotenashi" is the philosophy behind Japan's hospitality. From hosting their guests at home, it is further extended to tea ceremony, customer service, product design, and many other aspects of life. Such way of thought and care for detail set it apart from the rest of the world, and formed part of the unique experience for travellers in Japan.
Representatives from Ishikawa Prefecture Government Singapore Office shared with us the differences in hospitality between Singapore and Japan, as we introduced what Omotenashi really means. As the number of Singaporean tourists to Japan increases, the concept of Omotenashi has come to their attention and becomes a large part of what makes Japan so attractive.
Read more at "Omotenashi... Revealing the secrets of Japan's hospitality"
Workshop by Hoshino Coffee
"Brewing Now! Japan's Coffee & Cafe Culture"
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.
Read more at
WASABI Discovery vol.4 "Brewing Now! Japan's Coffee & Cafe Culture"
Presentation by Japanese Biotech Company
“Cultivate the Earth! Japan’s agriculture & Biotechnology”
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.
Read more at
WASABI Discovery vol.2 “Cultivate the Earth! Japan’s agriculture & Biotechnology”
Train Culture & Sake Appreciation Workshop
by JR East & Japanese food importer & distributor
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"
Program Workflow (customisable)
2. Lecture
Learn about the details of various topic from an experienced trainer with actual case studies
1. Research
Conduct reseach to find out about facts on the topics and complete a pre-assignment
4. Assignment
Complete the given assignment or report with all the learning points
3. Field Trip
Visit important sites and tour places of interest to gain first hand experiences on the ground
5. Presentation
Discuss among participants and present the group work to conclude the program
Learning Outcome
Here are some of the questions which you will find out the answers from our Learning Journeys.
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How this Japanese brand started and what is their history?
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How has this company transformed itself over the years to what it is today?
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What are some of the innovations that make them the leader in the industry?
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What are the company’s philosophy that have helped them survived and succeed through the years?
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How are they running their business overseas that is different from Japan?
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What are the new businesses they have started overseas that are not available in Japan?
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What are their plans to adapt to market changes and new business trends?
Inquiry
For companies or individual who are interested to participate in any of the Learning Journeys or customised programs, kindly use the contact form or provide the information to hi@wasabicreation.com