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
Seminar: Business in Japan~
"Japanese Business Culture & Etiqutte"
By WASABI Creation
Connecting Japan & ASEAN for casual & stimulating exchange of ideas in business.
A truly cross-border business networking event, first of its kind in Singapore.
If you think business card is just
a piece of paper with your name,
contact, and company logo on it,
THINK AGAIN.
Tong, CEO, WASABI Creation
Are you doing business with Japanese or
Working in a Japanese company?
From my professional experiences working in Japan as a fresh graduate, and working as a consultant, a business owner with Japanese clients and partners, I can conclude that as a non-Japanese, doing business with Japanese or working in a Japanese company has very unique challenges due to a very different set of culture, people relationships, practices, and values of the Japanese.
Many companies failed doing business with Japanese due to:
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Wrong interpretation and assumption of other's interests and intention.
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Different thinking and management methods.
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A majority of the Japanese has never work with foreigners.
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Lack of English proficiency and aging population, there has been
a certain amount of intellectual isolation from the rest of the world.
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It’s a very bureaucratic country in many ways, with a dense
network of regulations, permissions, certifications, procedures,
offices and authorities with approval procedures for many things,
which don’t need approval in other countries.
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Many others.
Many non-Japanese left their jobs within two year while working
in Japanese company or in Japan due to:
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Japanese managers have never work with non-Japanese staff.
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Non-Japanese staff is treated the same as Japanese staff,
unable to excel their unique skills which the Japanese lacks.
Value on collectivism, harmony & loyalty by Japanese
company, conflict with individuality, flexibility, and meritocracy
values of non-Japanese staff.
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Lack of clearly defined job scope forcing non-Japanese staff
to do work outside their responsibility and specialty.
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Lack of performance base career path, due to seniority base
long term employment culture of Japanese companies.
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Micro-management, lack of flexibility and trust towards non-Japanese staff.
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Many others.
About the Seminar
Tong will be sharing 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 will be speaking from the episodes he had all these years, and cover some of the basics about "Japanese Business Culture & Etiqutte".
Session 1:
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Japanese business culture 101, What does the Japanese value in the company?
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Characteristics of Japanese company management.
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Collectivism vs Individualism, Seniority vs Meritocracy,
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Lifetime employment vs multiple career path
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"WA" Japanese harmony
Session 2:
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Exchanging business cards
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Visiting & hosting a Japanese company
-
Useful Japanese expressions for business
Future topics:
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Interpretation of Japanese body languages
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Gift, dining, drinking, and entertaining
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Decision making in Japanese companies
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Setting up company in Japan
About the Instructor
Mr. Tong Cheuk Fung
Founder, WASABI Creation Pte Ltd
Business Consultant bridging businesses across Japan, Singapore, and the rest of Asia
Tong is the founder of WASABI Creation, a consulting company bridging businesses across Japan, Singapore, and other parts of Asia. He has supported Japanese companies in their businesses in Singapore, as well as helping Singapore companies in market entry to Japan.
Tong started learning Japanese at 13 as a third language. At 15, during his first trip to Japan for homestay at Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, it opened his world to Japan, and the rest is history. He obtained JLPT N1 at 18, won the top prize for both "O" Level Japanese, and "AO" Level Japanese, as well as First Prize in Japanese Speech Contest Open Category when he was serving military service.
After graduation from National University of Singapore with a Chemical Engineering degree, Tong started his new life in Kyoto, Japan where he worked as a marketing engineer in a biodiesel manufacturing company. 2 years later, he joined a project management company in Osaka, where he helped in the launch of Knowledge Capital in Grand Front Osaka in Spring 2013.
In 2014, after spending 5 years in Japan, Tong returned to Singapore to set up WASABI Creation, for “creating awesome projects between Japan, Singapore, and the rest of Asia”. Tong’s goal is to make WASABI Creation the catalyst for creating business opportunities, developing close relationships, and explore possibilities between businesses in Asia. WASABI Creation’s mission is to spice up Asia with a sprinkle of Japan’s wonders, just like the overwhelming taste and burning sensation of the green Wasasbi. More about Tong
Event detail
Date: 1st March (Thu) Evening: 1900~2130
(opening 1830)
Venue: WorkCentral, Brew House
Singapore Shopping Centre
190 Clemenceau Avenue
#06-03 Singapore 239924
Capacity: 50 people max
Fee: $50 (bring a friend $40),
Refreshment, drinks, beer,
wine included
Language: English
Dress code: Smart casual
Registration: HERE
Programme
1830~1915 Registration, Refreshment & Networking
1915~1945 Introduction & short presentation by speakers
1945~2000 Panel discussion by speakers and special guests
2000~2015 Questions & discussion from the participants
2015~2030 Quiz & Prizes
2030~2130 More drinks & Networking
2130 The End
About WASABI Insight
WASABI Insight is a regular social networking event for bridging Singapore & Japan in terms of Business, Culture, & Talents, in order to enhance interaction & exchange of ideas between Singaporeans, Japanese, as well as other expatriate professionals.
Organizer
Media Partner
Supporting Partners
Media Community Community Venue Community
Registration
Kindly pre-register for advance tickets for WASABI Insight
by 22nd Feb 2018 by clicking on"GET TICKET" on the right.
Due to limited seats and sold-out previous events, early
pre-registration online is advised.
For enquiry , kindly email to
Kindly fill in the form for the latest updates of our events.
About the Venue: WorkCentral
Every innovative idea should be given its shot; every creative entrepreneur should have his or her moment. We understand creating something from scratch is tough. Hence, here at Workcentral, we build a vibrant, purpose-driven community that works, learns, shares and grows together in a coworking space at Dhoby Ghaut, removing barriers that creators face in bringing their creative projects to life by connecting members to a selection of service provides such as awesome digital marketers & Brand Specialists, Business Owners or Angel Investors, empowering individual projects to reach its full potential.
Besides creating a vibrant and conducive coworking environment, we have specially created dedicated event spaces catering to mid to large-scale trainings, workshops and teambuilding. For more informaion, please visit www.workcentral.com.sg or email to: Hello@workcentral.com.sg
Past Speakers
Mr. Deny Rahardjo Mr. Sham Alexandra Mr. Dennis Quek Business Mr. Tee Wee Ang Mr. Edric Ho Mr. Melvin Goh
Kinerja International DHL eCommerce I2R A*Star KOOKI Pte Ltd Lever & Punch Pte Ltd Have Halal, Will Travel
Mr Akihiko Koga Mr Hideaki Fujiyama June Shaul Emily Maynade John Fitzpatrick Yasuyuki Kita
Japan Food Culture Lingua Franca Holdings LinkedIn LinkedIn Amazon Web Services Yamada Business Consulting
Mr. Shinya Yokoyama Ms. Ayumi Fujishiro Mr. Makoto Yamataka Mr. Mitsuru Narita Mr. Craig Tan Mr.Kengo Sakai
Halal Media Japan IPPIN Cafe Bar East Japan Railway Ishikawa Prefecture Ishikawa Prefecture D&N International
Mr. Kengo Fukui Mr. Yoshinori Ichikawa Mr. Mitsuhiro Nakao Mr. Rene Paulesich Ms. Evangeline Neo Mr. Tong Cheuk Fung
Chitose Agriculture Initiative UUUM UUUM UUUM Evacomics WASABI Creation
Ms. Keiko Ueki Mr. Yuta Asayama Ms. Evangeline Leong Mr. Adrian Chan Mr. Takuyuki Fukumoto Mr. Takehiro Yasui
euglena Co. Ltd euglena Co. Ltd Kobe Global Technologies Popup Angels euglena Co. Ltd euglena Co. Ltd
Mr. Toshiaki Ejiri Mr. Mike Lim
WACA Pte Ltd Social4You