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Field Notes on Europe–Japan Business Execution

What we learn on live engagements, written up: case studies, field guides and short articles on business in Japan — organised by the situation you are in.

Case studies

One case, told in depth

Client names are withheld unless we have written permission; industries, roles and deal structures are real.

Industrial energy infrastructure representing a Europe–Japan business relationship involving a Japanese trading company and supplier
Global heavy industry · JSRP - Alignment Sprint

The Japanese partner seemed slow. The real problem was a buffer no one had noticed.

Strategic Supplier Manager, procurement division · published anonymised
Global marketing team reviewing how a seasonal campaign will be adapted and adopted in the Japanese market
Global consumer goods brand · JSRP - JP HQ Alignment

The right proposal kept getting rejected. The problem wasn't the proposal.

Senior Manager, Global Marketing · published anonymised
European business visitor arriving at a Japanese company for meetings with local stakeholders and decision-makers
European software company · Japan Business Trip Preparation

The real decision-maker was never in the room

Partner Development Director · a signed contract

White papers

Field guides — free, in exchange for your work email

Cover of the Japan Readiness Self-Assessment white paper for European leaders doing business in Japan
Start here · Free download

The Japan Readiness Self-Assessment — 20 questions to locate where your initiative is stuck

PDF · 12 pages
Cover of the field guide Why Your Japanese Partner Says Yes and Nothing Happens — Japanese decision pathways for partners and suppliers
For partners & suppliers · Free download

Why Your Japanese Partner Says Yes and Nothing Happens — a field guide to decision pathways

PDF · 10 pages
Cover of the field guide Getting a Yes from Tokyo — how European teams get proposals approved by Japanese headquarters
For teams in Japanese companies · Free download

Getting a Yes from Tokyo — how European teams get proposals approved by Japanese HQ

PDF · 10 pages

Articles

One symptom per article

Short, practical pieces — tagged by the three situations we work in: Partners & Suppliers, Japanese HQ, Global Initiatives.

A business meeting in Tokyo ending politely with kentou shimasu — we will consider it
Article

Why “we will consider it” rarely means what you think

17 Sep 2026 · 6 min read · Decoding the Language
Quiet meeting room after a positive Japan business discussion that ended without a final decision
Article

Why a positive meeting produces no decision

15 Aug 2026 · 6 min read · Partners & Suppliers
Two business colleagues illustrating the difference between a Japanese contact and an internal sponsor
Article

The difference between a contact and an internal sponsor

25 Aug 2026 · 6 min read · Partners & Suppliers
Global headquarters and the Japan organisation reviewing local adoption, internal alignment and execution of a global initiative
Article

“No objection” is not adoption — reading Japan's response to global strategy

5 Sep 2026 · 6 min read · Global Initiatives

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