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
Market Entry to Japan
Business Matching in Japan
Neuroscience education methodology to Japan
July 2019
WASABI Creation is supported a Singapore education company in exploring business opportunities in the Japanese market, targeting pre-schools up to high school level. Our client has developed its own neuroscience based education methodology, programs, as well as products, that have been scientifically proven to be effective in children's learning ability. It is also proven to be effective in improving their focus, able to retain knowledge and represent them according to their own understanding.
WASABI Creation supported our client in researching and meeting potential partners in Kyoto and Tokyo, through a series of market research and business matching.
Market Research in Japan
Expert Interview with ophthalmologists
Our client is a major market research agency conducting market research on medical related topics. WASABI Creation support the project by conducting individual interviews with over 10 ophthalmologists from Japan through conference call, and translated the result and findings from Japanese to English.
The large amount of scientific terms used was one of the challenges, while ophthalmologists usually have a busy schedule, it was also challenging to catch hold of them for an hour of in-depth interview.
Influencer Marketing for Health Food
Promoting American health food brand to Japan
Our client is an international health food brand from USA with e-commerce for global major markets including Japan. WASABI Creation was tasked to promote the brand to the Japanese market, targeting health conscious ladies and families, introducing the large variety of products, and the ease of purchase from the e-commerce platform.
Check out the YouTube video by one of our influencers, who did an unboxing video introducing the brand and the products.https://youtu.be/JBGwJ_HbMZQ
Business Matching
Tokyo Fashion World 2017
WASABI Creation supported our client from Singapore at Tokyo Fashion World 2017 by conducting pre-event research to identify potential collaboration partners, as well as coordinated meetings between our client and the exhibitors.
We had arranged over 10 meetings with the exhibitors in a single day, together with interpretation support for non-English speaking exhibitors.
Our client was able to obtain useful product information from the latest fashion trend in Japan, and establish contacts with companies from Japan for further discussion.
Japan Market Entry
Customer service for fashion e-commerce
Our client is a fashion e-commerce from Singapore, who has expanded to Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Australia. Their next target market is Japan due to its huge market, and Japan's distinct four seasons which will be ideal for the the fashion industry.
WASABI Creation is supporting our client in customer service for its e-commerce platform for the Japanese market. This would include customer service by email, social media, as well as by phone.
As Japan has the highest standard in customer service in the world. WASABI Creation is able to deploy its knowledge and resources in Japan, in advising the client, and provide affordable solutions to kickstart its operation in Japan for the first time.
Within a short period of 3 weeks, we managed to setup the customer service system for Japan, together with proper staff training in customer service and product knowledge.
Market Research
Japanese Consumer Product Trends
Our client is a major operator of the government of Singapore, who is conducting market research on Japanese consumer product trends in Japan and Singapore, for their new business venture.
Upon receiving the requirements from the client, WASABI Creation conducted a research on relevant information sources both online and offline, companies, associations, and government organisations. We also conducted on the ground research, as well as interviews with individuals by tapping onto our network in both Japan and Singapore.
Within a short period of 3 weeks, we manage to produce a report on various Japanese trends in Fashion, Cosmetics, and Package Food, allowing our client to receive sufficient and relevant information and data for their new business development strategies.
Influencer Marketing in Japan
HonestBee launched in Tokyo
HonestBee is an online grocery service, launched in Singapore in July 2015.
WASABI Creation works with Japan's biggest influencer marketing agency: UUUM in creating 2 YouTube videos by popular Japanese YouTubers.
The YouTubers introduced HonestBee's mobile application by making grocery orders using the app for preparing dinner, as well as preparing for a barbecue trip.
The videos are also screened during HonestBee's media launch event in Tokyo.
Here are the YouTube videos.
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"