Dealing with the Japanese
'Hanko' (personal seal) - very few foreigners attain one of these |
For details email Peter Hogan at: kxol.pete@gmail.com Briefly here as an introduction, Pete's career has revolved around Japan since late 80s. In Japan worked mainly as a copywriter and speechwriter. Where possible continue to research and develop the gargantuan "PB" project. It was Pete's unique situation for a foreigner that enabled him to identify this rare gaping hole in the Japan market. Right under their noses too. You see 99.9% of "gaijin" fall into just 2 categories: (a) the cloistered diplomats and executive transferees on their 2 year tours (b) young inexperienced recently graduated English Teachers. Pete in contrast, had the business experience, is naturally intuitive (as proven my all his original projects) and had the unusual setup to get deep inside Japan. Going along with his wife's father (one of the first management consultants) to business meetings with lots of different companies; later working as a speechwriter for senior executives who have to give English presentations to international subsidiary staff - to do it well they know you have to be able to be very familiar with their operations and personal style; and through being on the street, moving around alone, catching the Shinkansen (bullet train) between Osaka and Tokyo, using suburban trains to go right out of the City where they never see gaijin. Then one night Pete met the classic spoilt daughter "Ja Ja Uma" (lit. uncontrollable horse). Her father owned a business in the City not far from Pete's "mansion" (actually a studio apartment). She was driving her parents nuts in the way she handled one particular bugbear for all Japanese. Then it hit Pete right between the eyes. Though PB would be launched in Japan it is a natural global product, since it could be used by every person that walks on the planet - more reach than even Microsoft products. And it would gain assistance from MITI (Japan Trade Ministry) because by nature, it is one of the few products that can help to alleviate the infamous trade friction - the problem being most importable products are already manufactured successfully by the Japanese. PB beats them at their own game... |