My Awesome Life As Alien

Before moving to Japan I was in daily business contact with our local sales partners in Japan and went there about once per month for a week for about 2 years. 

Having the opportunity to live for a longer period in Japan was a no brainer for me. It was always one of my personal targets since I started practicing Aikido at the University of Hanover (now the “Leibniz University Hanover”. Soon after start practicing Aikido I became an “Aikiholic” going 5 or even more times per week for training, at the university or at a club.
During that time one club member studied in Duesseldorf, Germany at the Department of Modern Japanese Studies. And we discussed a lot about Japan, the culture, the people, traditional handicraft etc.. From that time it was always a deep desire to go for a longer period to Japan and stay there.

With my personal experience I thought I know somehow Japan and the people a little, thought wrong. The world you get Japan know as a foreigner is like a mask that Japan is wearing. Only if you start living local you start seeing behind the mask. Also the behaviour of some of my colleagues changed, for me in a positive way. Anyhow when you are doing business in Japan you will see only the mask and not what is going on behind it.

Having this said you can make your own experience or look for someone who has the experience and helps you out with your target. Keep always in mind that your target is not always inline with the target of your advisor. 
So getting help from local government organisations like the JETRO might be not always in your best business interest, as they are measuring their success in a different way as you do.

Take away

Find someone to work with 

• Who is on your wave length
• Shares the same values with you 
• Has the best interest of your customer/client in focus. 

This might take some more time in the beginning but is worth the time.
Or would you get maried with a person after the first contact?

In my next Blog you will read more about my life as alien in Japan and how I can help you in your personal and business life.

Leave me a comment what are your business values you are upholding.