Tag: Localization
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Understanding Western Company Structures: Why Translation Isn’t the Japan Branch’s Job
From time to time, we receive direct requests from the headquarters of Western companies—often those that already have well-established branches in Japan—to either translate or review the Japanese version of their websites. At first, we found it puzzling. Why would the headquarters contact us directly instead of going through their Japan office? These branches often…
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The Challenge for Foreign Companies in Japan: Overcoming Brand and Domestic Bias
Recently, we wrote about brand loyalty and the strong preference for domestic products in Japan, and this topic connects closely to another challenge—how these tendencies can become major obstacles when foreign companies enter the Japanese market. Even when a product is highly successful and well-regarded in its home country, it can struggle to gain traction…
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Left-Hand Drive Japanese Cars, Right-Hand Drive Foreign Cars
Most Japanese cars in Japan are right-hand drive, with a few exceptions for luxury sports cars. They’re designed this way to suit Japanese roads, while other countries like Germany use left-hand drive. If these cars had been sold as left-hand drive from the start, they likely wouldn’t have gained the same popularity in Japan. The…