Winning in Japan? YES WE CAN!

Japan is a different environment for business, without any doubt.

Vodaphone was losing money in its Japan operations. They sent to Japan all their most shining management stars which kept a “global” mind set. No suitable integration into Japanese Society and not the proper consideration for the country´s idiosyncrasies.

As consequence of their inaptitude and ignorance, they were forced to sell their operations.

Softbank bought Vodaphone Japan and now, in these difficult times, they are succeeding and increasing profit.

Softbank profit doubles as its mobile business expands

Definitely James Abbglen was very much right. Japan´s economy is not so much protect by its law and habits, the main defense is western ignorance, incompetence and its utter arrogance.

Vodaphone executives consider that this failure was cause by the fact that Japan is a closed society and Japanese people are very closed. But who is closed and short minded: the market, the clients, or the ones that its Olympic arrogance do not care how to address them properly?

In Japan there are more than 3000 foreign capital related firms, being the majority hold by foreign. In manufacturing, foreign companies account for more than 10% of total sales and revenues.

Winning in Japan? YES WE CAN!

Just follow the basic rules of marketing: Know your costumers and make them happy.

REMEMBERING DR. JAMES C. ABEGGLEN

(Tokyo insiders in ITV Japan)