Japan is opening up for tourism! After more than two years of border closures, Japan is back in the news recently as it begins preparations to welcome people back to the land of the rising sun. And while Japan has always been open for business, it has been a lot harder for people to come and work in Japan with border closures, and there is a renewed interest in working and living in Japan.

My guest on the podcast today is Sam Barker, a UK-based marketing professional, writer, and former Japan resident. Sam recently shared an article he wrote about landing your business in Japan - an expert guide to success and it couldn’t more timely to chat about his research and his insights into successfully working in Japan.

In this episode you will hear:

• The importance of strong language skills in Japan
• Mindset - understanding the Japanese mindset and expectations
• Why thinking that you can successfully copy and paste your business model from APAC and succeed in Japan is a recipe for failure
• Know when to push the boundaries to make a difference...and when not to
• Diversity and what does that look like in Japan
• The changing dynamics of the Japanese population and what this means for the future

Sam Barker Bio:

Sam L Barker is a marketing professional with years of experience working in software and technology. He is also a freelance writer focusing on the areas of Japanese culture, technology, music, the internet, and business.

His work has appeared in numerous publications including Private Suite Magazine, Mac O’Clock, ListenCorp, Exponents and Ae2 Online. He also writes in a marketing capacity and has produced numerous blog posts, reports, presentations, guides, and features for businesses.

Connect with Sam:

Website: Far Side Virtual

LinkedIn: Sam Barker

Twitter: @Mxhdroom9

Links of things mentioned in this episode:

‘Landing your business in Japan: An expert guide to success’ article by Sam Barker

Connect with David Sweet:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/

Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/

Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

Mentioned in this episode:

Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan.

2025 Salary Guide