Real Gaijin

Japan records relatively few adoptions each year. The majority are adult adoptions tied to family succession, not placements of unrelated children. True child adoptions, especially of children from the welfare system, remain limited. Against this backdrop, foreign adoptive parents are a small but notable edge case, navigating a system that is both structurally restrictive and culturally cautious.Today, Real Gaijin was privileged to speak with a longtime Japan resident originally from California who made the momentous decision to adopt a Japanese child and raise them in a bicultural setting.Who is he?Andrew Neuman, a Japan-based professional and adoptive parent, has firsthand experience navigating the country’s complex and often opaque adoption system. His experience gives him a rare, practitioner-level perspective on the structural, legal, and cultural dynamics that shape adoption in Japan, from the constraints of the special adoption framework, which is called Tokubetsu Yoshiengumi (特別養子縁組) in Japanese, to the practical realities of raising a child across cultural and linguistic boundaries. His story provides insight into the discrepancy between policy design and lived experience, as well as the broader question of how family formation is evolving in a rapidly aging society.On the agendaWe heard about Andrew’s family’s experiences in the context of how Japan’s adoption process operates. We examined instances where the system breaks down in practice, the reasons behind the persistent gap between the number of children in need of “forever homes” and the limited number of successful adoptions, and the ways in which institutional incentives influence these outcomes.Key Takeaways* Japan’s adoption system is significantly underutilized. This leaves a stark gap between the number of children in need of “forever homes” and the number of children who are actually adopted. Though approximately 42,000 children cannot live with their biological parents, most of whom remain in institutional settings, only 300 to 500 adoptions occur annually. This means that only a tiny fraction of eligible children transition into permanent family environments each year. This underscores a structural imbalance driven by legal constraints, cultural preferences for bloodline continuity, and limited adoption throughput.* The adoption process, particularly for foreign applicants, is highly constrained, hierarchical, and psychologically demanding. Prospective parents must navigate strict prioritization rules that place non-Japanese couples, especially those living abroad, at the lowest tier. They must also endure long periods of uncertainty with no guaranteed outcome. The process requires candid self-assessment about what challenges prospective parents can handle. It is less about choosing a child and more about proving suitability within a rigid system. At the same time, a practical takeaway from the discussion is the importance of seeking guidance from adoptive parents who have already gone through the process. Their firsthand experience can help set expectations, reduce uncertainty, and provide critical emotional and procedural support.* Go deeper: Restrictions on the age of adoptive parents, especially the mother, are a standard but variably enforced feature of adoption policy across countries. These restrictions reflect concerns about long-term caregiving capacity and generational fit. In Japan, although there is no uniform legal cutoff, adoption agencies and courts impose strict de facto limits. They typically favor adoptive mothers in their 20s and early 40s for infant adoptions. Flexibility increases for older children, though matching odds are sharply reduced beyond the mid-40s. By contrast, the United States has no formal age caps, relying instead on a holistic “fitness” standard. However, agencies often impose soft ceilings tied to the parent’s ability to raise a child to adulthood. Other countries take a more rules-based approach. South Korea enforces explicit upper age limits; China uses tiered systems that restrict older parents to harder-to-place children; and India applies combined parental age thresholds that vary by the child’s age. Two consistent patterns emerge across all systems: age constraints are stricter for infant adoption and relax for older children, and maternal age is often treated as the primary gating factor, whether formally codified or informally applied.* Becoming an adoptive parent of a Japanese child—especially as a non-Japanese national—requires a structured, multi-stage process with limited flexibility. Applicants must first engage an accredited agency (often in their home country), complete extensive documentation and screening over several months, and then have their case reviewed by a Japanese intermediary, such as International Social Services Japan. Approval is followed by a potentially multi-year waiting period for a match. After that, the process shifts to Japan and includes travel, legal custody procedures, and a mandatory 6 ~ 18 month “period of nurturing.” During this period, prospective parents must reside temporarily in Japan to establish and demonstrate a stable parent-child relationship before finalization. Importantly, applicants cannot “hedge” across multiple countries or agencies. They must commit to a single pathway, which increases the risk and time commitment of the process.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key contacts (and resources)* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneuman/* International Social Service Japan (page for “Prospective Adoptive Parents”): https://www.issj.org/adoption-web-en/paps/* The Nippon Foundation (Happy Yurikago Project): https://en.nippon-foundation.or.jp/what/projects/youth/happy_yurikago* U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan (Adoption): https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/adoption/* Japan Children Support Association: https://npojcsa.com/en/index.html* Children and Families Agency (Global Site): https://www.cfa.go.jp/en* Adopt International: https://www.adoptinter.org/* Short Documentary “Japan’s Throwaway Children | 101 East |日本の捨て児”* Discussion of “What it’s like to adopt a child in Japan” with Andrew#AndrewNeuman #Adoption #ChildWelfare #Parenting #Bicultural #ExpatLife #SocialPolicy #Demographics #SpecialAdoptionFramework #アンドリューニューマン #ニューマンアンドリュー #養子縁組 #児童福祉 #子育て #バイカルチャー #海外生活 #社会政策 #人口動態 #特別養子縁組 #RealGaijin #リアル外人Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

Japan’s rapidly aging population is putting unprecedented pressure on its long-term care system. Few issues illustrate this strain more clearly than the debate over the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa program. Supporters argue that foreign caregivers are essential to sustaining elder care services as the Japanese workforce shrinks. However, critics worry about the social and political implications of expanding immigration in a historically cautious country.Political rhetoric around immigration shows little sign of cooling. Yet, one perspective is often missing from the debate: the voices of the essential foreign workers themselves.To shed more light on this situation, Real Gaijin spoke with a licensed caregiver at an elderly care facility in Osaka. As an essential worker on the front lines of Japan’s healthcare challenges, our guest outlined her journey from the Philippines to a training program in Yokohama and ultimately to a long-term care home in Osaka. She told us about her work responsibilities and provided a firsthand perspective on the labor shortage in Japan’s care homes. She also shared her personal perspective on addressing some of the bigger issues, such as who will care for the rapidly growing elderly population, and expressed her wish for caregivers from abroad to be more welcomed by Japanese society as a whole.Who is she?Anna, who prefers to use only her first name for this interview, is a registered nurse in the Philippines. She currently works as a licensed care worker, the Japanese equivalent of a certified nursing assistant (CNA), in an elderly care facility in Osaka.Originally, Anna came to Japan as a care worker candidate under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) from 2021 to 2025. She recently passed the national care worker exam, also known as the kaigo fukushi kokka shiken (介護福祉士国家試験).Anna was kind enough to reach out to Real Gaijin after reading “Japan Quietly Rewrites the Rules for Foreign Care Workers: How a new “partial pass” exam system is extending visas and reshaping Japan’s elder care labor strategy.” So, who better to ask about working as a foreign caregiver at a Japanese elder care home?On the agendaWe traced Anna’s journey from the Philippines to Japan and discussed what her experience was like participating in the EPA program. We also talked about her current role as a caregiver in Osaka, her legal status in Japan, particularly in relation to her nursing degree from the Philippines, and her plans to continue living and working in Japan.Key takeawaysWe could have continued for many more hours and certainly covered a lot of ground during the podcast, but some of the big takeaways were the following:* Japan is already structurally dependent on foreign caregivers.Foreign care workers are not just filling marginal gaps; they are now structurally embedded in Japan’s elder care system. In Anna’s facility, the majority of staff are foreign. In the four years she has worked there, she has not seen a single new Japanese care worker join—a fact that strongly signals a collapse in the domestic labor supply for this sector. Her observation that younger Japanese workers are largely unwilling to enter the caregiving field reinforces this idea, leaving “heavy lifting” (both literal and operational) to foreign staff. The implication is structural, not cyclical: absent major policy or labor-market changes, Japan’s care system will remain dependent on continued inflows of foreign labor, regardless of political rhetoric around immigration.* The system extracts high human capital, but does not leverage it effectively.There is inefficiency—and arguably misallocation—of skilled labor within Japan’s caregiving pipeline. Anna is a fully qualified nurse in the Philippines, yet she is employed as a clinical nurse assistant (CNA) in Japan because her credentials are not recognized. In order to advance, she must work full-time while studying Japanese for a difficult national certification exam, effectively re-credentialing from scratch. While the system is structured and supportive, offering training, matching, and visa pathways, it imposes a lengthy, language-intensive conversion process that delays the full utilization of existing medical expertise. This suggests a policy tension: Japan urgently needs skilled healthcare labor, yet it maintains high institutional barriers that slow the integration of professionals who are already trained.* Economic incentives, not cultural preferences, drive migration decisions.Migration decisions are primarily economic and pragmatic, not ideological. Anna explicitly frames her decision to stay in Japan as a function of the relative viability of the labor market: while the Philippines offers cultural comfort, it does not offer comparable employment opportunities or wages. Meanwhile, policy frictions, such as rising visa and residency costs, directly impact workers whose salaries remain relatively low, raising questions about sustainability and fairness. Anna’s perspective reshapes the immigration debate, portraying foreign workers as rational economic actors who weigh trade-offs across global labor markets rather than passive beneficiaries of Japan’s system. For policymakers, this implies that tightening financial or administrative burdens could reduce Japan’s competitiveness in attracting and retaining this workforce. For example, the government recently proposed increasing the application fee for permanent residency from 10,000 yen ($63) to 300,000 yen ($1,900). This increase would place a significant financial burden on Anna. Since she would have to pay the fee herself, Anna has suggested setting the fee at a graduated rate based on the applicant’s income. Additionally, the Japanese government plans to raise the fees for renewing various work visas. For many care workers at the bottom of the pay scale who, unlike Anna, have not yet passed the national care worker exam, these annual additional fees will be a significant financial burden. Thus, there will soon be a new disincentive for relatively low-paid care workers from abroad to remain in Japan.* There’s a discrepancy between how much foreign caregivers contribute and how much they’re socially acknowledged.Anna emphasizes that many foreign caregivers undergo years of language training and certification studies and perform physically demanding work to provide high-quality care, often to Japan’s most vulnerable population, including centenarians and individuals with dementia. Yet, she feels that Japanese society does not fully appreciate this commitment and, in some cases, makes generalized or negative assumptions about foreigners. Her request is not abstract; she asks that Japanese people judge individuals based on their actions rather than stereotypes and recognize that foreign caregivers are quietly and diligently working to support the country’s aging population. Foreign caregivers are already essential to the system, yet social acceptance and acknowledgment have not kept pace with their indispensable role in caring for Japan’s parents and grandparents.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key contacts* Substack: https://substack.com/@annainjpgFull disclosureFor an unknown reason, possibly related to the release of significant new functionality by Substack last week, we experienced technical difficulties during the live video session. This limited the audience’s ability to listen to the discussion and participate via chat. Anna and I continued to record. We apologize for any inconvenience and encourage you to enter your questions in the comments below. One or both of us will address your questions and concerns.Real Gaijin is working with Substack to ensure that we do not continue to experience these sorts of technical difficulties.#ImmigrationJapan #ForeignWorkersJapan #SpecifiedSkilledWorker #SSWVisa #ElderCareJapan #JapanHealthcare #LaborShortage #EssentialWorkers #EconomicPartnershipAgreement #EPA #日本の移民 #日本の外国人労働者 #特定技能労働者 #特定技能ビザ #日本の介護 #日本の医療 #人手不足 #必須労働者 #介護福祉士国家試験 #経済連携協定 #RealGaijin #リアル外人Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

In a global economy where deals fail more often due to misread signals than poor strategy, today’s guest on the Real Gaijin AMA podcast has built a career decoding the unwritten rules of Japanese business.Who is she?Few professionals have observed Japanese corporate culture from as many vantage points as Rochelle Kopp. She is an American who has moved back and forth between the U.S. and Japan for more than 30 years. Now in her fourth stint living in Japan, she first arrived in her 20s. Rochelle returned to build a career in the United States and has since come back to Tokyo twice more. Each time, she has returned with a deeper, more analytical perspective on how Japan works and how it is changing. As the founder and managing principal of Japan Intercultural Consulting, Rochelle advises Japanese and global companies on the operational realities of cross-cultural management, including executive communication, human resource issues, post-merger integration, and the strategic challenges of global expansion.Rochelle also serves as an outside director at two publicly listed Japanese companies, bringing an independent, international perspective to traditionally insular governance environments. She is the author of The Rice-Paper Ceiling: Breaking through Japanese Corporate Culture and more than 30 books in Japanese on cross-cultural communication, business English, and leadership.On the agendaWe began the discussion by noting our many shared connections, including our mutual friends from our hometown near Chicago, our shared interest in Japanese culture and language, and our experience of having lived in both the United States and Japan.The conversation then turned to Rochelle’s career and her insights into cross-cultural business dynamics between Japan and other countries. She explained that her early exposure to Japanese culture led her to pursue internships and professional roles in Japan. This experience ultimately shaped her consulting focus on helping organizations navigate cultural differences in management, communication, and human resources.We discussed topics such as Japanese consensus decision-making (nemawashi), indirect communication styles, differences in compensation systems, and the challenges that Japanese companies face when expanding internationally. Rochelle provided practical examples from the manufacturing and global business sectors, such as Japanese engineers working in U.S. factories, difficulties with technology transfer, and cross-cultural misunderstandings. She emphasized the importance of training both sides to communicate effectively.The interview also covers generational changes in Japan’s workforce, the evolving global operations of Japanese firms, leadership styles influenced by sports culture, and how Japanese management approaches compare with the fast-iteration model of Silicon Valley.Key takeawaysWe could have continued for many more hours and certainly covered a lot of ground during the podcast, but some of the big takeaways were the following:* Many business misunderstandings stem from cross-cultural communication differences: A central theme of the discussion is the subtle yet consequential differences between Japanese and Western communication styles. Japanese communication often relies on indirect language, contextual cues, and consensus-building processes, such as nemawashi. In contrast, American business culture tends to value directness and literal interpretation. This mismatch can lead to misunderstandings. For instance, when a Japanese colleague says something “will be difficult,” they may actually mean “do not proceed,” but an American may hear it as a challenge to overcome. Effective intercultural collaboration therefore requires an explicit effort from both sides. Japanese professionals must provide clearer context and direction in international settings, and Western colleagues should ask clarifying questions rather than assuming the literal meaning. * Global expansion exposes structural management challenges in Japanese companies: Japanese firms that expand abroad, especially in manufacturing, often rely heavily on expatriate engineers to run overseas operations and transfer technical expertise. However, without clear goals, structured training processes, and cross-cultural preparation, knowledge transfer often fails. Rochelle describes cases in which local employees were never fully trained, leaving companies dependent on Japanese expatriates, a costly and unsustainable practice. Successful firms address this issue by setting explicit training objectives for expatriates and preparing them to teach effectively in different cultural environments. They also train local employees to learn within Japanese organizational frameworks. These changes can significantly reduce dependence on expatriates and improve operational sustainability.* Japanese corporate culture is evolving, yet it still carries strong traditional influences: The interview highlights several shifts within Japanese organizations in recent decades. Younger workers are increasingly willing to change jobs rather than stay with a single employer for life, which challenges traditional lifetime employment norms. At the same time, many older management behaviors, such as hierarchical leadership styles influenced by school sports culture, continue to shape workplaces. Rochelle also notes an increase in internationalization. Non-Japanese executives are now reaching senior roles and serving on the boards of Japanese companies, which was rare in the past. These trends indicate a gradual transformation as Japanese companies adapt to globalization while retaining distinctive cultural patterns in leadership, decision-making, and employee management.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key contacts* Substack: https://substack.com/@rochellekopp* Website of Japan Intercultural Consulting: https://japanintercultural.com/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochellekopp/* Bestselling book (only one among more than 30 titles): The Rice-Paper Ceiling: Breaking through Japanese Corporate Culture#JapanBusiness #InterculturalManagement #CrossCulturalLeadership #JapaneseCorporateCulture #GlobalLeadership #CorporateGovernance #ServantLeadership #HRStrategy #ExecutiveCommunication #GlobalExpansion #RochelleKopp #JapanInterCulturalConsulting #日本ビジネス #異文化マネジメント #クロスカルチャーリーダーシップ #日本企業文化 #グローバルリーダーシップ #コーポレートガバナンス #サーバントリーダーシップ #人事戦略 #経営者コミュニケーション #グローバル展開 #ロッシェルカップ #カップロッシェル#ジャパンインターカルチュラルコンサルティング #RealGaijin #リアル外人Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

Anime is no longer just pop culture. It is a complex global business involving IP licensing, streaming economics, merchandising, live events, and, increasingly, technology-driven change. With more than 300 new anime series launched each year, it’s clear that the industry has gone global. In this conversation, we examine how the anime and manga industry works, where the pressure points are in the value chain, and how global markets, data, and innovation are reshaping this traditionally opaque sector.Today’s guest on the Real Gaijin AMA podcast is truly a subject matter expert who joined us from Minnesota in the United States.Who is he?Meet Richardson Handjaja, the publisher of Animenomics, a reader-supported English-language newsletter published every Wednesday that is focused on the economics and strategy behind anime and manga. This online publication goes far beyond merely announcing new titles based on press releases. Drawing on his background at MyAnimeList and in B2B revenue operations, Richardson brings a data-driven, industry-first lens to a field that is often only covered through fandom or press releases.On the agendaWe began with some basic questions about Richardson’s background. However, the conversation covered a wide range of topics related to the business dynamics of the anime and manga industries.Key takeaways* Fundamental market drivers: The Japanese anime and manga industries are structurally similar to the global music recording industry in that value creation, ownership, and monetization are divided into three distinct categories.* The first layer consists of the creatives: mangaka (manga artists), light-novel authors, anime directors, animators, composers, and voice actors who are often associated with a particular animation studio (e.g., MAPPA, A-1 Pictures, CloverWorks, Production I.G., Toei Animation, and Bones). These individuals are analogous to songwriters, performers, and producers in music. These individuals generate the creative work but usually don’t retain meaningful ownership of the resulting intellectual property. They are compensated upfront (through fees, advances, page rates, or salaries), with limited long-term participation in downstream success.* The second layer consists of production-side rights holders, who are usually production committees, or seisaku iinkai (制作委員会) in Japanese, composed of publishers, broadcasters, and music labels. These committees function much like record labels in the music industry. They finance production, aggregate risk, control the master intellectual property (IP), and decide how the IP is exploited across formats and markets. Just as record labels own master recordings and publishing rights, production committees hold decisive control over adaptation rights, international licensing, merchandising, and spin-offs. Most of the long-term economic value accrues at this layer. Some big names in this segment include Aniplex, Sony Music, and Kadokawa.* Third are the distribution channels, which closely parallel each other across industries. In anime and manga, this includes TV broadcasters, streaming platforms (e.g., Crunchyroll and Netflix), theaters, digital manga apps, and overseas licensors of related merchandise (e.g., character figurines made by Bandai Namco, Good Smile Company, and Toho, the maker of Godzilla figurines). In music, it includes streaming services, radio, physical retail, and live performance promoters. These channels typically do not own the IP, yet they exert significant leverage over discovery, reach, and revenue share. In both industries, shifts in distribution technology, particularly streaming, have increased the power of platforms while compressing margins upstream. This reinforces a system in which creatives remain distant from most IP-driven returns.* Merchandising is “up for grabs”: Although the relationship between creatives and production-side rights holders in anime and manga is relatively stable, merchandising is the most fluid and contested aspect of the industry. Creatives are largely locked into established arrangements, such as page rates, commissions, or work-for-hire contracts, while production committees reliably control intellectual property (IP) ownership and licensing decisions. This division of labor is well understood and reinforced by institutions, and it is unlikely to change quickly. Merchandising, however, sits downstream from content creation and IP control. This makes it more sensitive to shifts in consumer behavior, technology, and global demand. Merchandising is “up for grabs” because it is no longer confined to traditional categories such as figurines, DVDs, and apparel sold through domestic retail channels. Digital goods, in-game items, NFTs (or their successors), direct-to-consumer storefronts, limited global drops, experiential merchandise, and data-driven fan targeting are reshaping how value is captured. New entrants—including platforms, overseas partners, e-commerce specialists, and creators—can sometimes enter this layer without fully disrupting the upstream IP structure. As a result, merchandising has become the primary arena where experimentation happens, margins can expand, and bargaining power can shift, even as the core creative and production framework remains largely fixed.* Shout-out to potential collaborators: Richardson is essentially doing it all on his own: researching and analyzing the industry, developing and curating content for Animenomics, and publishing Animenomics on Substack. While he has a growing network of collaborators who help him cover specific markets, such as Latin America and Southeast Asia, he is eager to find additional market insiders worldwide with whom to partner. If you’re a fan of anime and manga and are interested in market dynamics, or if you work in the industry, first become a subscriber to Animenomics. Feel free to reach out to Richardson to discuss potential collaborations, as well.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key contacts* Animenomics Substack: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhandjaja/* The Association of Japanese Animations (日本動画協会): https://aja.gr.jp/english/japan-anime-data* More about Smart Brevity (style of writing employed by both Animenomics and Real Gaijin): The Art of Smart Brevity - Write Less, Say More | Jim VandeHei | TEDxOshkosh#AnimeIndustry #JapanBusiness #MediaEconomics #IPStrategy #StreamingPlatforms #CreatorEconomy #GlobalMedia #AIinMedia #Animenomics #RichardsonHandjaja #アニメ業界 #日本ビジネス #コンテンツ産業 #知的財産 #配信ビジネス #エンタメ業界 #海外市場 #AI活用 #アニメノミクス #ハンジャヤリチャードソン #RealGaijin #リアル外人Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

When a businessperson is offered the opportunity to relocate to Tokyo to manage a team in Japan, it is commonly recognized as a promotion. The emotions involved can range from elation at being selected for such a challenging and exciting international assignment to concerns about how to lead a Japanese or cross-cultural team, as well as questions about the relocation process and how to support the adaptation of a spouse and children to a new culture and environment.Today’s guest is an expert in cross-cultural relations, adaptation, and education. She helps families from around the world prepare for an international move to Japan and supports leaders managing global teams or working across borders.Who is she?Meet Dr. Izabelle Grenon.Dr. Izabelle Grenon, a long-term expat originally from Canada, is a renowned keynote and guest speaker on cross-cultural relations, cultural intelligence, and effective collaboration across difference. She is also a trusted Japan relocation consultant and language acquisition expert.Dr. Grenon holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Victoria in Canada and spent over a decade as an Associate Professor at one of Japan’s top universities, the University of Tokyo. During her 20-year academic career, she presented her research at international conferences and published in leading academic journals.She also holds a degree in Entrepreneurship and brings over twenty years of leadership experience managing projects and teams across creative industries, academic research, and international conference planning. Having lived across four continents, she has led multicultural teams in cross-cultural settings and worked closely with leaders and experts across multiple countries.Today, Dr. Grenon brings her expertise to a wider audience as a keynote speaker for public and private events, an education consultant for schools, a Japan relocation consultant for individuals and families, and an intercultural specialist supporting leaders working in global and cross-cultural environments.Her work as a Japan relocation consultant is people-centered. Rather than offering concierge services, Dr. Grenon empowers individuals, families, and professionals to build a new life independently in their new country. From cultural orientation to practical guidance, she helps clients understand their rights and options so they can truly feel at home in Japan.On the agendaWe began by exploring Dr. Grenon’s personal and professional journey to Japan.Dr. Grenon subsequently explained how her firsthand experience shaped her approach to Japan relocation, cross-cultural relations, and leadership, with a focus on supporting professionals and families as they navigate the complexities of Japanese bureaucratic and cultural systems.We discussed her work as a keynote and guest speaker, highlighting cross-cultural relations, cultural identity, and strategies for effective collaboration across very different cultural mindsets.Key takeaways* Enrolling Children in Public School System: Relocating one’s family to Japan can be anxiety-inducing for parents of young children, especially if there is no extra funding to enroll them in private or international schools. In this case, the only option is to enroll them in a traditional Japanese elementary school. The key issue in that case is language proficiency. When an immigrant family attempts to enroll a child of elementary age who does not speak Japanese in a regular public elementary school in Japan, enrollment is generally permitted. However, the support environment is uneven and highly localized. Once enrolled, the child is placed in a mainstream classroom with Japanese peers. There is no nationwide requirement for schools to provide intensive Japanese as a Second Language instruction. Although policy guidance exists from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, implementation depends heavily on municipal budgets and staffing. Support varies widely by location. In larger cities or areas with higher immigrant populations, schools may offer part-time Japanese language classes, bilingual support staff, or volunteer aides. In many smaller municipalities, support may be limited to ad hoc assistance from teachers, community volunteers, or classmates. Some schools use translated notices or pictograms for basic communication, but full academic accommodations are often minimal.* Implications of Gender Inequality: Although banks in Japan do not formally discriminate by gender in mortgage lending, gender inequality emerges indirectly, particularly through career interruptions linked to childbirth and childcare. This problem is further exacerbated by maternity harassment (matahara). Since mortgage underwriting places heavy weight on continuous employment and stable income, women who are pregnant, on maternity or parental leave, or who have recently returned to work may be assessed as higher risk due to temporary income disruption. Although this approach is framed as gender-neutral risk management, it disproportionately affects women because they are far more likely to experience career interruptions. In some cases, they are pressured into reduced roles, sidelined positions, or forced to resign due to maternity harassment. When such workplace practices weaken a woman’s employment status or income trajectory, the impact can directly affect mortgage outcomes, resulting in lower loan amounts, stricter terms, or delayed approvals. Thus, conservative lending standards can unintentionally amplify structural and workplace gender inequality rather than merely reflecting neutral financial risk.* Attitudes about Immigration to Japan: One of Dr. Grenon’s most interesting experiences at the University of Tokyo was learning about her students’ views on immigration to Japan. Almost all of them cited similar pros and cons. On the one hand, many students understood the need to allow more foreigners, particularly as a source of labor, to address demographic and labor shortage issues. However, opponents of immigration often cite the erroneous argument that immigrants commit a disproportionate amount of crime. Dr. Grenon invited an expert on crime statistics to present evidence proving that, in general, immigrants in Japan are not the cause of rising crime rates, which surprised most of the students. The data show that foreign visa holders are actually less likely to commit a crime because the risk of being expelled from the country is much greater than the punishment for a Japanese national convicted of a similar offense.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key contacts* Website: https://izabellegrenon.com/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izabellegrenon/* Book: Finally, please note that Dr. Grenon has published The Japan Guide: From Renting to Rice Cooking, which is available worldwide on Amazon. This book is designed to be an up-to-date resource for anyone planning to relocate to Japan.#IzabelleGrenon #JapanRelocation #ExpatFamilySupport #LivingAndWorkingInJapan #CrossCulturalLeadership #InterculturalUnderstanding #イザベルグレノン #日本で働く外国人 #異文化リーダーシップ #異文化理解 #海外駐在家族 #RealGaijin #リアル外人Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

Over the past year, Real Gaijin has introduced a diverse group of foreigners who either live in Japan or have significant ties to the country. To spice things up, we have also interviewed a few Japanese nationals who are engaged with Japan’s foreigner community.As our viewers have learned, there is no single formula for finding success in one’s adopted country, but all of our guests have one thing in common: they have learned to create their own success. Many have overcome significant personal setbacks, emerging much stronger. Often, the catalyst is a move to Japan.To conclude the first season of the Real Gaijin AMA podcast series, we were pleased to introduce an “old-timer” who has made the most of his adopted homeland since first arriving in Japan during the heyday of its Bubble economy in the late 1980s. After a varied career, our guest took Hernán Cortés’ advice to “burn the ships” to heart. Cortés was the Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that conquered the Aztec Empire. To motivate his crew and prevent them from considering returning home, Cortés burned the ships that had brought them to the New World. Similarly, our guest made a bold move in 1998 when he moved to Japan full-time and never looked back.Who is he?Meet Jeremy Sanderson.Jeremy is a self-described “poster child for landing on one’s feet.” After arriving in Japan almost penniless and with no prior business experience or qualifications, he went on to create a fantastically happy life that has sustained his family rather well over the years.Jeremy is, of course, incredibly modest. A graduate of SOAS University of London, he is a British entrepreneur who has called Japan home for almost three decades. Jeremy specializes in venture-company market entry consulting and interim management. He has successfully introduced, incorporated, and managed a broad range of companies in Japan, including those in the fields of aids to navigation and safety systems for offshore wind farms, industrial LED lighting import and retail, automotive products import and retail, eyewear import and retail, executive search and human resource services, recruitment process outsourcing management, and serviced office and coworking facility setup and management. Jeremy lives and works in Tokyo, conducting most of his business in Japanese.Fun factsPrior to moving to Japan, Jeremy had an eleven-year career in the London Metropolitan Police Force, but he was not your typical “copper” by a long shot! At one point, he was even the guardian of Princess Diana and danced with the late Queen Mother during the famous Ghillies Ball, the annual private dance and dinner hosted by the British monarch at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, which is a formal thank-you event for the estate staff, ghillies (gamekeepers), and local workers who support the royal family during their time at Balmoral.Despite his affinity for Cortés’ famous directive, Jeremy is also an avid sailor. Not only is he the captain of his own vessel Cold Gin, which he keeps in Japan, but he has also crewed on an extended voyage in the North Sea and other waters.Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Key takeawaysAs Jeremy alluded throughout the interview, opportunities seemed to fall serendipitously into his lap, which he took full advantage. Some highlights include the following:* Make Your Own Luck: As Jeremy described, he “fell into” a series of positions throughout his long career as a result of fortuitous circumstances. While there must have been an element of luck involved, Jeremy is a lifelong learner who never settles for doing a half-fast job. Once he sets his sights on something, he throws himself into studying as much as he can about the subject. This approach, as well as his demonstrable networking skills, has helped him make his own luck.* Overcoming Adversity: Like many entrepreneurs, Jeremy was inspired to start his own business after being fired. He had a falling out with a previous business partner and realized the relationship was no longer viable. Thanks to his extensive personal network, however, it wasn’t long before an investor approached him to become a partner in a new venture. On a deeper level, though, Jeremy was able to overcome adversity because he had consciously decided to make a life in Japan, no matter what it took. He described this as deciding early on whether he would be “living here” or “camping here” (on a more transient basis). “Many foreign residents in Japan are hedging. They’ve got one foot here and one foot in their own country, thinking, ‘If things go belly-up, I can always go home.’” - Jeremy SandersonJeremy explained that, like Cortés, he “burned his boats” almost upon arrival and certainly after the first year in Japan. Jeremy’s wife, a Japanese national, also strongly supports this philosophy. Years ago, her wise counsel (and undoubtedly still today) reinforced Jeremy’s determination to commit fully to a life anchored in Japan.* The Higher the Barrier to Entry, the Higher the Reward: Jeremy, building upon his years of experience, advises foreigners who want to make it in Japan to avoid jobs with low barriers to entry, such as teaching English, which many Westerners do. Jeremy was so serious about this idea that he was prepared to sleep in a park before resorting to teaching English.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key contacts* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-sanderson-62b86734a/* Sabik Offshore (wind farms): https://sabik-offshore.com/* TYRI Lights: https://tyrilights.com/#JeremySanderson #BritishEntrepreneur #LondonMetropolitanPoliceForce #SabikOffshore #TYRILights #SandersonIcon #OffshoreWindFarms #IndustrialLEDLighting #RecruitmentProcessOutsourcingManagement #ForeignersWorkingInJapan #SOASUniversityOfLondon #ジェレミーサンダーソン #英国人起業家 #ロンドン警視庁 #サビックオフショア #TYRIライツ #サンダーソンアイコン #洋上風力発電所 #産業用LED照明 #採用プロセスアウトソーシング管理 #日本で働く外国人 #ロンドン大学SOAS #RealGaijin #リアル外人Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

As many foreign residents of Japan know well, settling in, developing your own network, and finding your footing in the business world can be challenging, especially at the beginning. Succeeding often requires superhuman effort and determination.Recently, Real Gaijin was pleased to introduce someone who persevered through difficulties to found and lead one of Japan’s leading IT and network support service providers for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).Who is he?Meet Biju Paul.Originally from Kerala, India, he arrived in Japan 31 years ago. He worked in a variety of management roles at foreign-affiliated companies in Japan’s investment banking sector before starting his own company, TopTech Informatics. TopTech provides IT and network support services to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan and currently has offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and India. Biju has a proven track record of developing and implementing high-performance global projects and achieving high customer satisfaction. He currently consults with various industries on cybersecurity.Biju has never taken his success for granted and has always been committed to giving back to the communities in which he lives. After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan, he led teams of volunteers from Tokyo to clean up houses and public areas in the Tohoku region. Over the course of one year, more than 1,000 volunteers participated in these cleanup operations.In Kerala, India, Biju established the Thoppil Charitable Foundation, a charity that helps poor students meet their financial needs to complete their education.Talented at Getting out of “a sticky wicket”Outside of work, Biju is an avid cricket player and the current president of the oldest Indian cricket club in Japan, the Indian Engineers Cricket Club. Biju is also one of the founders of the Tokyo Cricket Association, where he currently serves as president.Off the fieldBiju is one of the founding members of the Indian Malayalee community in Tokyo and has held various leadership positions within the community. As a fluent Japanese speaker, he has built a strong network of contacts and partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region. He is also an active member of various chambers of commerce in Japan. As a long-term resident of Japan with cross-cultural and intercultural experience, he regularly consults with Japan Railways and Japanese banks to improve their services for foreigners living in or visiting Japan. Biju is also a guest lecturer at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo.Key TakeawaysAlthough Biju is usually very modest, during the podcast, we convinced him to open up about his personal journey to Japan. Some highlights include the following:* Overcoming Adversity: As American author, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker Tony Robbins said, “Life happens for you, not to you. It’s in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” After being laid off following the dot-com bubble burst and being unable to find a new job right away, Biju took the bold step of founding TopTech Informatics. While it naturally took a lot of hard work and determination to make this new venture a success, Biju says that hitting rock bottom in his business career provided the impetus to start again and thrive in ways he never dreamed possible. It’s interesting how many successful entrepreneurs become business leaders after being fired from a steady position.* Sage Advice for Achieving Success in Japan as a Foreigner: In addition to striving to master the Japanese language, Biju emphasizes the importance of patience, active listening, paying close attention to clients’ needs, and taking a long-term approach to building lasting relationships based on mutual trust. This translates into offering fair prices, which has helped Biju attract and retain a large base of repeat customers, many of whom provide him with referrals.* The Importance of Giving Back: Biju has balanced his life between his devotion to his family, his role as leader of TopTech Informatics, and his commitment to philanthropy. Biju is well aware of how much he has gained from the support of many people in Japan. Thus, when Japan was in dire need following the 3/11 “triple disaster” in 2011, Biju sprang into action. He mobilized a concerted effort to provide relief to victims of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Tohoku. However, Biju did not simply collect money for this worthy cause. For over a year, he devoted his weekends to leading groups of volunteers from his church in cleanup efforts.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key Contacts* Website for TopTech Informatics: https://www.toptechinfo.com/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bijupaul/#BijuPaul #TopTechInformatics #WorkingInJapanAsAForeigner #ビジュポール #トップテック #トップテックインフォマーティックス #RealGaijin #リアル外人Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinIn addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/monthBamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/monthIn Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for “pine” is “matsu.” In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is “take,” but the on-yomi is “chiku.” Similarly, the word for plum is “ume,” but the on-yomi is “bai.”No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

Japan is back! Due to headwinds from the Chinese market, European manufacturers and brands have recently shown renewed interest in the Japanese market. While many large companies have been active in Japan for decades, small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are curious about new opportunities there but often don’t know how to develop and implement a market entry strategy. They need a market access specialist like today’s guest, Pascal Gudorf, founder and CEO of JBI (Japan Business Insights).Who is he?Pascal Gudorf is a Japan resident with over 20 years of experience. Originally from Germany, he has lived and worked in Japan since 1999.He served as editor-in-chief of JAPANMARKET, the leading magazine for German companies doing business in and with Japan. Previously, he worked for the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan before joining Mitsui & Co., one of Japan’s most powerful trading companies. There, he spent six years helping equipment manufacturers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom deliver projects for Japanese customers.Back in Japan, Pascal transitioned to working as an independent market entry consultant. In 2023, he founded his own management consultancy, JBI (Japan Business Insights). He helps startups and SMEs succeed in some of Japan’s most demanding sectors, including cleantech, energy, mobility, and infrastructure services. Pascal continues to represent ECOS and the State of Thuringia, bridging the innovation ecosystems of Germany and Japan. He is based in Fukuoka.What does Japan Business Insights do?Pascal’s consulting firm helps clients develop strategies for entering the Japanese market and provides guidance to foreign companies looking to expand there. Japan Business Insights offers continuous support to help clients overcome challenges after entering the market through the formation of a direct subsidiary, joint venture, or distribution channel partnership.Pascal is also the co-author, with longtime colleague Richard Mort, of Getting to “Yes” in Japan. He is a prolific LinkedIn contributor who frequently publishes original industry trend reports in English on the Japan Business Insights website.Key Takeaways* Be aware of cultural differences: Developing at least a rudimentary level of proficiency in Japanese is highly advantageous for succeeding in business in Japan, but studying the nuances of Japanese culture is critical. Pascal, who is fluent in Japanese, English, German, and French, often counsels his European clients to approach their Japanese counterparts in the context of Geert Hofstede’s Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI). The UAI measures how strongly different cultures are threatened by ambiguity and uncertainty, as well as how much they rely on rules, structure, and predictability to reduce anxiety. High-UAI cultures, such as those in Japan, Greece, Portugal, France, and many Latin American countries, tend to emphasize clear rules, detailed planning, job security, and risk avoidance. This reflects a preference for stability and discomfort with improvisation. Conversely, low-UAI cultures, including Singapore, Denmark, Sweden, the U.K., and the U.S., are generally more comfortable with ambiguity, experimentation, flexible rules, and entrepreneurial risk. Countries in the middle range, such as Germany and China, blend structure with pragmatism, tolerating uncertainty when it supports efficiency or long-term goals. Overall, the index highlights how deeply cultural values shape people’s tolerance for risk, innovation, and social norms.* Entrepreneurship outside Japan’s megacities: After serving in Germany, Pascal and his family moved back to Japan just before the pandemic. Despite having spent decades living and working in Tokyo, Pascal made the bold choice to open his own market access consultancy in Fukuoka, a growing regional city in the southwestern part of the country. His success proves that enterprising foreigners can succeed in Japan’s business world outside the megacity centers of Greater Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.* Advance preparation is key: Pascal has helped many European businesses develop effective go-to-market strategies, establish wholly owned subsidiaries, find partners, and optimize existing operations in Japan over the years. He gives virtually all of his clients one piece of advice: approach the Japanese market having done plenty of advance preparation. Don’t try to wing it. Do your homework in advance and come prepared with a long list of questions.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key Contacts* Substack (Japan Business Secrets): * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pgudorf/* Website: https://www.jbi.one/#PascalGudorf #JapanBusinessInsights #JBI #JapanBusinessSecrets #JapanSME #CrossBorderJapan #JapanMarketEntry #RealGaijin #パスカルグドルフ #中小企業 #日本中小企業 #日本クロスボーダー #日本市場参入 #日本中小企業買収 #外人 #外国人 #リアル外人Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee (or maybe a matcha latte) for Real Gaijin, you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinIn addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/monthBamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/monthIn Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for “pine” is “matsu.” In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is “take,” but the on-yomi is “chiku.” Similarly, the word for plum is “ume,” but the on-yomi is “bai.”No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

Although he still has a long runway ahead of him, today’s guest, who has spent decades living in Japan, has already had enough experiences to last multiple lifetimes.Who is he?Meet Charles McJilton.Charles’ journey took him from living in a cardboard house along Tokyo’s Sumida River to founding Japan’s first food bank and graduating from The John F. Kennedy School of Government, commonly referred to as “Harvard Kennedy School” of Harvard University. Believing that tools, not charity, create real change, he pioneered innovative approaches to hunger relief, disaster response, and nonprofit management in Japan. Currently, at Frontline Associates, he is applying AI and negotiation tools to address some of the world’s most complex humanitarian challenges. McJilton’s story embodies resilience, authenticity, and a redefinition of societal contribution.Key Takeaways* First-hand Experience of Living in a Japanese Slum: As part of his involvement with the Missionaries of Charity Brothers founded by Mother Teresa, Charles spent 15 months living in a cardboard box on the banks of Tokyo’s Sumida River with a community of day laborers, both current and former. This experience, vastly different from how most foreign residents experience the country, changed Charles’s outlook on life entirely. * Second Harvest, Japan’s First Food Bank: Charles helped found Second Harvest, Japan’s first food bank. Although he has since left the mission-based organization, Second Harvest continues to provide free hot meals, act as a harvest pantry, deliver food directly to those in need, supply other food banks, and promote advocacy and development to create a food safety net for Japan. Second Harvest and the Alliance of Japan Foodbanks provide disaster relief in the event of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods.* Using AI as a Frontline Negotiator: Charles attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, also known as the Harvard Kennedy School. He is now working with the Japan Red Cross and the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative to use new artificial intelligence (AI) tools to conduct initial 48-hour assessments, manage supply chains after natural disasters, and negotiate access.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key Contacts* Substack: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-mcjilton-5482615/* Missionaries of Charity Brothers: https://www.mcbrothers.org/* Harvard Humanitarian Initiative: https://hhi.harvard.edu/* The John F. Kennedy School of Government, commonly referred to as “Harvard Kennedy School” of Harvard University: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/* Alliance of Japan Foodbanks: https://foodbanking.or.jp/* Frontline Associates: https://www.frontline-associates.org/#CharlesMcJilton #SanyaTokyoSlums #SumidaRiver #CardboardHouse #FoodBankJapan #SecondHarvestJapan #JapanNonprofitInnovation #TohokuDisasterReliefNGO #AIInHumanitarianAid #FrontlineNegotiator #HarvardKennedySchool #MissionaryOfCharityBrothers #マクジルトンチャールズ #三亜 #東京のスラム街 #段ボールハウス #フードバンクジャパン #セカンドハーベスト #日本の非営利団体 #交渉担当者 #ハーバード大学ケネディスクール #神の愛の宣教者会 #RealGaijin #リアル外人Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee (or maybe a matcha latte) for Real Gaijin, you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinIn addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/monthBamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/monthIn Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for “pine” is “matsu.” In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is “take,” but the on-yomi is “chiku.” Similarly, the word for plum is “ume,” but the on-yomi is “bai.”No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

If there were ever a time to search for a potential acquisition target or take an equity stake in a small-to-medium-sized enterprise (SME) in Japan, it would be now. But how do you uncover such opportunities, determine the seller’s motivation, assess business performance, and navigate Japan's cultural and legal landscapes to close a deal? Enter today's guest. She is Mika Fukutomi, founder and managing partner of INVJapan, a boutique advisory firm that specializes in this type of investment.Key Takeaways* Many Potential Acquisition Targets: There are hundreds of thousands of opportunities to take over an existing business in Japan right now. Many of these businesses lack a clear successor and are available in a variety of industries. Use Mika's new Akamira.ai app to search for them. Additionally, you don't need to emigrate to Japan to purchase these SMEs or acquire a majority interest in them.* Accelerated Market Entry: Compared to a greenfield investment, which requires starting from scratch, purchasing an existing business offers many advantages. Depending on the business, taking over an existing one can provide speed to market, an established brand reputation, an existing cash flow, skilled employees, infrastructure, and regulatory approvals. In some cases, you may also inherit valuable intangible assets, such as licenses and patents.* Win-Win: In addition to cash, SME M&A deals often provide sellers with access to modern management techniques and overseas sales channels. Ethical buyers can combine a series of such acquisitions to take advantage of economies of scale (e.g., a chain of hotel properties).TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key Contacts* INVJapan: https://www.invjapan.org/* Akamira.ai: https://akamira.ai/Landing* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikafukutomi/#MikaFukutomi #INVJapan #SME #JapanPrivateMarket #JapanSME #CrossBorderJapan #InvestJapaneseSME #JapanMarketEntry #JapanSMEAcquisition #RealGaijin #福富みか #中小企業 #日本のプライベートマーケット #日本中小企業 #日本クロスボーダー #日本市場参入 #日本中小企業買収 #外人 #外国人 #リアル外人Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee (or maybe a matcha latte) for Real Gaijin, you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinIn addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/monthBamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/monthIn Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for "pine" is "matsu." In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is "take," but the on-yomi is "chiku." Similarly, the word for plum is "ume," but the on-yomi is "bai."No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

For many native English speakers, teaching English is often the gateway to an extended stay in Japan. Many of these individuals become Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs), a specific role within Japan’s public school system and part of the country’s effort to promote English language education. ALTs are not full teachers and do not have primary responsibility for classes. They assist Japanese teachers, and the utilization of their skills varies widely. This role is closely associated with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET), which began in 1987. However, ALTs can also be hired through private dispatch companies, not just JET. Many ALTs only stay for a few years before returning to their home country or pursuing another career. Some, however, stay long term. Today, we will take a deep dive into what it means to be an ALT and the future of English language instruction in Japan.Key Takeaways* Alphabet Soup of Acronyms: Don't be intimidated by the many acronyms associated with teaching English as a second language. Throughout the interview, Elizabeth patiently explains the meaning and importance of each one. See below for a link to the organizations behind many of the acronyms.* JET or Bust: There are many places in Japan where native English speakers can teach English as a second language. Based on her personal experience, Elizabeth strongly recommends starting with the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, even if only to gain experience living and working abroad before returning home. For those interested in continuing their education while teaching English in Japan, Elizabeth suggests several viable options. ALT Training Online (ALTTO) is a particularly good place to start.* How to Find Teaching Jobs: Relatively high-paying teaching positions, particularly at private high schools and in post-secondary education, are difficult to find. These positions often require a teaching credential and tend to be advertised primarily by word of mouth. However, Elizabeth offers tips about other resources that can help you land these types of jobs.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key ContactsSubstack: TESOL: https://www.tesol.org/Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET): https://jetprogramme.org/en/ALT Training Online (ALTTO): https://altto.net/JALT Job Listings: https://jalt-publications.org/tlt/departments/career-development-corner/jobsOnline Teaching Japan (OTJ): https://www.facebook.com/groups/603548090241536/English Teaching Japan (ETJ): https://ltprofessionals.com/etj/#ElizabethScally #JET #JETProgramme #ALT #CIR #TESOL #ESL #ALTTO #JALT #OnlineTeachingJapan #EnglishTeachingJapan #ChibaKunGlobalPartners #BujinkanBudoTaijutsu #RealGaijin #エリザベススカリー #JETプログラム #語学指導 #外国青年招致事業 #英語教師 #第二言語 #外人 #外国人 #チーバくんパートナーズ #武神館 #リアル外人Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee (or maybe a matcha latte) for Real Gaijin, you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinIn addition to offering a way to make a one-time, small donation equivalent to the price of a cup of coffee, Buy Me Coffee now supports recurring donations. Real Gaijin has three levels, including the following:Pine or sho (松) in Japanese (gold level) for US$10/monthBamboo or chiku (竹) in Japanese (silver level) for $5/month (same as a regular subscription via Substack)Plum or bai (梅) in Japanese (bronze level) for only US $1/monthIn Japanese, shō-chiku-bai (松竹梅) literally means “pine–bamboo–plum.” As is often the case for course meals in certain restaurants, on sake menus, or box lunch bento sets, shō-chiku-bai is often used instead of “gold–silver–bronze.”For readers with some knowledge of Japanese, yes, the word for "pine" is "matsu." In this case, however, the on-yomi (音読み) is used. Similarly, the word for bamboo is "take," but the on-yomi is "chiku." Similarly, the word for plum is "ume," but the on-yomi is "bai."No Need to Pay Me: All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

In this age of unprecedented inbound tourism to Japan, it is easy to forget that, until the Meiji Restoration in the second half of the 19th century, Japan had limited interaction with the West for most of recorded history. However, there have been several influential figures who played a major role in advancing Japan’s interactions with the West throughout history.Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Today, Real Gaijin is pleased to introduce renowned cultural historian and BBC broadcaster Christopher ("Chris") Harding of the University of Edinburgh. Chris is an outstanding storyteller who will captivate you from the moment you start listening to the recording. He publishes History with Chris Harding on Substack, exploring the histories behind what people love about Japan: food, film, famous names, ghost stories, sports, and the major challenges the country faces in the 21st century. Chris is interested in what happens when cultures and peoples first meet — a combination of fascination, embarrassment, and misunderstanding.On this episode Chris introduced how four historical figures — both foreigners (OG versions of “real gaijin”) and Japanese — advanced Japan’s contact with the West.Key Takeaways* Francis Xavier experienced cultural miscommunication back in the 16th century: Although the Jesuits, such as Francis Xavier, were initially welcomed by local Buddhist monks in Kagoshima in the far southern part of Japan because they were mistakenly believed to have come directly from India to spread new learning, it eventually became known that the Jesuits were, in fact, not from India and represented competition. The Buddhists subsequently started referring to "deus," the Catholic "God," as "daiuso (大嘘)," which means "big lie." Francis Xavier never gave up his quest to convert the local and national powers, but he was never able to reach the Emperor and only achieved a degree of success in Japan.* Yoshida Shoin (吉田松陰)'s adventurous spirit nearly brought him face-to-face with Commodore Matthew C. Perry: In the midst of the American "gunboat diplomacy" that shocked Japan in early 1854 — a key milestone that ultimately led to the end of the 220-year period of self-imposed national seclusion in 1868 — a courageous young man named Yoshida Shoin attempted to board Commodore Perry's foreign “black ship” in the dead of night to meet with him. Although he was thought to be a spy and was thwarted, Yoshida was able to get a firsthand look at the steamship during his brief encounter. The incident did not sit well with the Tokugawa shogunate, but it cemented Yoshida's place in history as a tragic hero eager to learn about the West.* Fukuzawa Yukichi (福澤諭吉), the founder of Japan's prestigious Keio University, still symbolizes rationalism, self-determination, and national progress in Japan: His image graced the 10,000-yen bill for 40 years until last summer, and it is still in circulation. In 1860, Fukuzawa went on the first Japanese mission to the U.S. and Europe, bringing home a sense of urgency to catch up to the West, along with a strong advocacy for practical learning. Through his writings and speeches, he introduced Western ideas such as individual rights, liberty, and scientific reasoning.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key Contacts* Website: https://christopher-harding.com/* Substack Connection: https://substack.com/@christopherharding* BBC Radio (Misunderstanding Japan): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0369m6j* Commodore Perry's Expedition to Japan: https://archive.org/details/commodorematthew0000witt#ChrisHarding #ChristopherHarding #CulturalHistorian #history #JapaneseHistory #UniversityofEdinburgh #AHistoryofModernJapan #BBC #TheBordersofSanity #クリストファーハーディング #文化史家 #歴史 #外人 #外国人 #日本史 #エディンバラ大学PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.Here’s how you can do this:Go to your Dashboard.Find Settings.Go to Recommendations.Go to Manage recommendations.Add “Real Gaijin.”Thanks for your consideration. - MarkPlease note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

Originally from the U.K., James does not readily fit into a particular category as defined by career path, area of study, or focus of interest. He is a true Renaissance man unafraid to make unconventional choices. James is living proof that foreigners can lead productive and fulfilling lives in Japan on their own terms.He embodies a series of contrasts. He holds a master's degree yet now works for JR East for just above minimum wage cleaning train stations—on purpose. He is an accomplished novelist and screenwriter. In fact, he is currently collaborating with a movie production company to produce an original horror film that he wrote. James loves Japan and aspires to buy and remodel an abandoned home in the countryside while advancing in his career at JR East.Key Takeaways* In Japan, anything is possible. James has chosen a job cleaning train stations for the time being. It's quite physically demanding and doesn't pay very much. Bottom line: He needs to pay the rent. However, the job only requires 37.5 hours per week. It provides an opportunity to exercise outdoors and is free of office politics, which gives James extra time to think. The job does not follow him home. James has learned to optimize his time off to hone his talent for writing.* A horror movie is in the works: While it’s still “early days,” and pre-production has not yet begun, James has successfully secured his first contract with a movie producer for a script he wrote. There are many steps in the process to get from this point to the ultimate release, but thus far, everything is on track to begin filming toward the end of 2025. In the meantime, James is doing rewrites and helping his producer plan next steps. Very exciting! We look forward to the premiere.* Avid writer: While screenwriting for Hollywood seems fun and is certainly keeping James busy, his real passion is writing novels. To date, James has published eight novels, which are available on Kindle via Amazon. Recently, his book Ask Mark has attracted a lot of interest (see links below). He has another book in the works called List of Goals, which sounds intriguing.Also…About 45 minutes into the interview, you will find out which movie star James would prefer for the lead role in his upcoming horror film:* Willem Dafoe or Christopher Walken?* Tom Hardy or Benedict Cumberbatch?TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube's "chapters." Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Key Contacts* James’s Substack * Extracts from Recent Books* Meet Mark: * Disease: * Amazon* Meet Mark: https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Mark-James-C-Douglas-ebook/dp/B0DWL4V8NH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ANMZW77R790G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jlIoEp1zcK1YzTJVa-gUTPOHJNmmLAWQRQWdlHHZltSB-bumoRtH6dPTOKSCNJtv3VUGH8aSjE3bYvDwNyNN9w.NHyBMxQ-qAGTpbG9i9RcPxoeB2reIa5KoJG8cQ63Iu0&dib_tag=se&keywords=james+c+douglas+meet+mark&qid=1750382124&sprefix=james+c+douglas+meet+mar%2Caps%2C311&sr=8-1* Disease: https://www.amazon.com/Disease-James-C-Douglas-ebook/dp/B0BH174DKN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=236GZ45TV0EH5* Bar in Shimokitazawa in Tokyo called GariGari where Jamese does live readings every 3rd Friday of the month: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EJNGXTzmewPvmhTFA#JamesDouglas #JREast #ジェームズダグラス #JR東日本 #外国人 #外人PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.You could also show your support—by recommending Real Gaijin to others.Here’s how you can do this:Go to your Dashboard.Find Settings.Go to Recommendations.Go to Manage recommendations.Add “Real Gaijin.”Thanks for your consideration. - MarkPlease note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://bsky.app/profile/realgaijin.bsky.socialhttps://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kennedy-5b50b71/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe