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
WASABI 企业专栏~
一览日本企业家和创业者在新加坡的那些年,那些事
Produced by WASABI Creation
EventRegist,和这个国际商务活动管理平台
建立在五种语言之上的全球视野
Text by Kurumi Takayanagi, Undergraduate Shizuoka University
翻译:王伟璇,新加坡国立大学 机械工程系 本科生
请跟我们分享一下贵公司提供的服务和其优势。
-EventRegist是一个为活动主办方和参加者提供活动前注册,支付,管理等服务的网络平台。说到优势,除了使用方便之外,它可以在原有机能上根据不同业务活动的需要自行定制增加其他的机能,并且使线上和现场的功能都兼容在同一个系统中,还可以很简单的存下活动当天到场的参加者的活动历史。
请跟我们分享一下贵公司到现在为止的发展轨迹和公司历史。
-(我们公司是)在2011年的时候由曾在Google, Microsoft, Yahoo等IT企业工作的人设立的。后来被东京游戏展览会(Tokyo Game Show)、CEATEC,ad:tech Tokyo等大型展览会选为合作伙伴,2014年接受了日本经济新闻社的资助,同年在新加坡设立了营业网点,拓展亚洲的新业务。今年10月22至24号将在Suntec Singapore举办的东南亚最大的日本食品样品展示会Oishi JAPAN的注册活动也已经决定(使用我们的平台)。
请跟我们分享一下贵公司选择新加坡作为海外基地的理由。
亚洲的MICE在经济腾飞的大前提下,跟其他任何的地域相比都是在急速的扩张中。在亚洲,新加坡作为一个MICE都市早就巩固了自己先进的地位。(新加坡)国土面积很小,会开展的产品展示会面积虽然比其他国家要小,但是在所有城市中举办国际会议的次数在亚洲是首屈一指的。除此之外,新加坡的展示会以海外的参加者比率非常高而知名。如果能在新加坡取得一些实绩,对(我们公司)在整个亚洲发展都大有益处。
请跟我们分享一下您与Jublia在新加坡认识的契机。
ー从我们公司的CEO Hirayama先生那里拿到的新闻记事里刚巧有写到关于Jublia的事情。通过这个契机了解了(Jublia的情况),在为了信息共享而约了Jublia见面的时候,我们建立了互相取长补短的合作关系,所以提携了他。
用5种语言开展事业。
-EventRegist是在日本诞生的,但是设计的最初就从国际发展(尤其是亚洲)的角度入手,为英语,日语,汉语(繁体字),泰语,印度尼西亚语这五种语言(设计了相应的系统)。用户可以自由切换语言设定的功能是其他公司没有,只有我们有的特别设计。在日本使用日语的用户占有压倒性的份额,其次是(使用)英语(的用户)。不仅在日本的外国人在用(这个功能),从海外申请日本的活动的时候也在使用。在全亚洲举办的活动的时候汉语,泰语,印度尼西亚语的使用也都会大大增加。
在新加坡经商有哪些日本没有的困难或者难处吗?
-跟日本比竞争要更加的激烈一些。新加坡的官方语言是英语,商业系统非常的完善,很方便外资进入,欧美系的竞争对手也大量进入这个市场。
具体来讲有没有什么可以跟我们分享的曾经面对的困难吗?那个时候贵公司是如何应对的呢?
-做生意很是艰难啊。不管是拿到名额还是最后决定使用(我们的产品)都是非常艰辛的旅途。再加上(我们公司现在)业绩和知名度都不高,所以想要取得(客户的)信任很花时间。跟有信用度的本地合作企业一起工作的方法很有成效,他们可以帮忙把我们介绍给客户,通过合作企业介绍的话,用户也会更容易信任我们。
在新加坡开始经营之后,有什么让您特别留心的地方吗?
-行动的时机。如果在必要的时候没有说出必要的东西,就没办法让对方对我们公司产生兴趣。如果让这个时机逃走了, 对于那些一年只开一次的活动来说,就必须等到下一年(才有第二次的机会)。
在工作的风格和工作方式上有什么日本和新加坡不同的地方或者相同的地方可以跟我们分享一下吗?
-在这方面,管理层上女性超乎寻常的多的数量让我感到很讶异。在日本,管理层基本上都是男性,但我在这里经常见到女性的负责人。我认为(这里)优秀又充满能量的女性非常的多。(这些女性)生产之后回到工作岗位的速度之快也很让人震惊。给我留下了(新加坡)男性和女性都能在工作和家庭中找到很好的平衡的印象。
请跟我们分享一下(您公司)在新加坡短期和长期的目标
-短期来讲的话就是在新加坡取得一些实绩。长期来讲的话,就是让EventRegist在全亚洲范围内都能发展业务。除此之外,不止作为活动的供应商,而想要在与活动主办方很近的位置上将活动的流程规范化、流水化。还想(把我们的应用)做成亚洲(公司)最熟悉的的活动平台。
关于 種倉章仁
请跟我们分享一下你的出身和经历
-我生长在东京下城区的江户川区,大学毕业之后在东证一部的电子物品制造公司做营销。进入公司的第三年,我25岁的时候被派往新加坡常驻,开始负责东南亚地区的营销。2014年加入了EventRegist,在新加坡作为分社的代表重新起步。因为现在(分社)只有我一个人,所以营销,市场战略,管理等都由我负责。
出发前对新加坡的第一印象是什么样子的呢?
-印象中街道非常的整洁。因为我在这之前只去过印度一次,感觉上新加坡跟印度的感觉相当不同,是非常现代的都市。
有什么特意带到新加坡来的东西吗?
-大学的时候开始弹的古典吉他。但现在比较感兴趣的是钢琴。小时候虽然学过,但是自从小学的时候停了之后一直到现在这么久,都没有再接触过。最近买了个电子琴,现在每天都坚持弹。
跟在日本的生活比有什么变化吗?
-与人的关系变化了。在日本,基本上只会跟之前的同级生或者是同一个公司的同事这些有限范围内的人联系。但是在新加坡,与多种多样的国家的人联系的机会很多,即使是同样跟日本人打交道的时候,也能认识男女老少都有的,从事多种多样的产业和工作性质的人。从这个角度来讲,(这次工作机会)让我不管是工作还是私下的生活都非常的充实。
有因为新加坡的文化或者习惯而感到诧异的时候吗?
-应该是小贩中心这种文化吧。随处都有的小贩中心,大排档,可以用相对很便宜的价格享受到多种多样的料理。这种地方变成了人们休息小憩的地方让我很诧异。
在新加坡有什么想做的事情或者想去的地方吗?
-想去住一次MBS金沙的套房啊
可以跟我们分享一下您自己的目标吗?
-除了EventRegist的成功之外,我正在一边实战一边学习股票投资,想要在能完全掌握经济自由之前不断增加自己的资产。除此之外,还想把自己学到的东西分享给那些对投资有兴趣但还没有什么经验的人。
长期来讲的话是想开自己的公司,培养人才,给世界各地很多人提供让他们开心的产品。
请对我们的读者说两句话吧。
-新加坡虽然也有很小,很无聊的一面,但是如果将它看作是幅员辽阔的东南亚的首府一样的城市的话,又能感受到不同的风景。不要只跟特定的一群人打交道,跟很多人接触的话,经常会有新鲜的体验和发现。我认为尤其通过活动是跟很多其他国家的人相识的好机会,如果关于举办活动方面有什么我可以帮忙的,请联系我。
如果您想让WASABI企业专刊中也报道您的企业故事,敬请发送邮件到我们的邮箱 hi@wasabicreation.com