Preparing a Business Startup in Japan

Introducition

To Start a business in a new country we need to consider where in the world to obtain the inputs they need of the required quality and at the best possible price and also where they can best sell the product or service that they’ve put together from those inputs. We become more competitive by engaging in global business. The methods of working outside and the home aren’t same. When a company operate business internationally, the rules, regulation, cultural knowledge, local political system are differing among country.

Here we selected Japan, USA and India to start a business. Things to keep in mind that what are the relevant laws and regulations among this country. Their culture aspect, political issue, international trade pattern, and the way they communicate with each other we have to keep these in mind to start a business in any country.

Company Overview

Apex Adelchi Footwear Limited (AAFL), formerly Apex Footwear Limited is the leading manufacturer and exporter of leather footwear from Bangladesh to major shoe retailers in Japan, USA, India. Journey of Apex Footwear Limited started more than two decades ago. Apex Footwear Limited is a public Limited company. As the largest shoemaker in the subcontinent, our company holds 15% share of leather footwear export in Bangladesh from $1.1 billion leather export. Shoemaking being a highly labor intensive job, our company is home to 5500 workers mostly women to make stylish leather shoes. Being a footwear giant, its’ our responsibility to be a role model in developing people and helping environment.

“APEX” means the peak or the zenith. Since 1975 we have strived to live up to our name. AAFL is committed to productivity and quality to attain its objective of being a leading footwear manufacturer of Asia through its mission of "Honest Growth".

Starting a business in Japan

A sovereign island country in East Asia is japan. It’s located in the Pacific Ocean and its lie on the eastern coast of the Asian mainland and stretches from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea. China is in the southwest.

Preparing a business startup blueprint

First of all we should be planned before starting a business. Define the business type, accumulate the necessary capital, decide the date of company establish. Must have a status of residence to their purpose of stay in Japan. To establishing a new business in japan the corporation and director they have to provide their seal registration certificate. If it is a company, we follow the principle. The name and address must be provide on the seal registration certificate or certificate flowed by the foreign notary public. Establishing a bank account as a part of the process of company registration. Which is maintain for capital deposited or transferred to a bank account.

Japanese subsidiary which is help to engage in all types of business activities as import, export, sales a product and sign a contract for those purpose.

Cultural aspects in Japan

Culture is the most important part to do a business. In every country culture is differing from one another. Which is impact in all type of business. To start a business, we need to consider the culture aspects. Japan is considering ultimately modern and completely traditional. They are the most culture orientated. Understanding Japanese business culture is the key to success. To start our business in japan we know about Japan’s culture value. They are different from us. Their life style, values, beliefs are different from us. The way they thinking is totally different.

We need to understand their culture. We appreciate the cultural background of his or her Japanese buyers, suppliers and build a strong fellowship and take benefit to spread business opportunities in the global market.In japan, when they meeting someone for the first time businesspeople mention the name of the company where they belong before saying their own names. Japanese have believed on their internal restraint in order to maintain parallelism and the social order. They are not openly express their emotion.

This is not mean Japanese retard individual opinions. Japan is still controlled by their traditional values over the centuries. So we have to deal with Japanese business people to build our business relation to require an in depth japan knowledge, their culture values and social customs. Which is help us to conduct our business successfully in japan.

Language consideration

A common language unifies a culture. When people from different areas speak in same language culture spread more easily. So start a business in japan we need to know the way they speaking. When we interacting with the Japanese in English we keep in mind that Japanese are speaking a foreign language.

Communicating with Japanese in English may at times misinterpreted the unintended tone of a Japanese. We have to aware the language they use. On the other hand Japanese English is no exception. They use their own foreign words. Japanese English have very strong expression when it’s transferred into English directly, often cause confusion. So we have to adapt to the Japanese language to communicate with Japanese people.

Political factor: japan political and legal system are very perplexing. Japan is a democratic region with their strong legal or political values. On the other hand japan is a bureaucratic country. Ministries decision affecting national policies and influence the business. Japan has a corporate law which is support interior facing business. Nowadays civil law is followed by the Japanese. All the power is holding by the Japanese prime minister. To start a business in japan we have to learn about the legal and political system. It’s influence our business decision and helps to conduct a business successfully.

Economic factor: japan is industrialize and mixed economy. Government and Private Corporation are both controls its production in the market and is quite competitive in free trade tariffs. Japan should be considering as a socialism. Japan’s economy is called highly developed and market oriented economy. Because of their advanced technology, they are growing rapidly in the economy.

Trade barriers: The Japanese government has already given a lot of trade benefits to Bangladesh with generally low tariff.

• Japan-specific standards and testing requirements
• Import license necessity

• Official adjustment that favor domestically-produced products and discriminate against foreign products
• High cost for entry due to size of economy

Competitors

• Japan shoe Retailers Federation
• Japan Federation of shoe wholesaler’s organization
• Japan chemical shoes industrial association

Foreign Market Analysis

Japan: Japan is the world’s third biggest economic power behind the US and CHINA. Also Japan contains great Business Opportunity. The GDP is 4.939 USD trillion. “GDP per capita 38,894.47 USD ‎(2017).GDP growth rate 1.6% (2017). In Japan market the trade freedom is 82.3%, Investment freedom is 70.0% and financial freedom is 60.0%. Japan follows open market strategy.”

Before starting the business in foreign market managers need to analysis the both risk and opportunities. Otherwise every condition of market place can affect the company.

In Japan our company Apex are trying to open a business. Apex makes all kind of shoes. All kinds of footwear made by different materials like leather, plastic, rubber. Also Apex will basically export casual and formal footwear.

Opportunities

• Sales Expansion: Expansion of sales is probably the most important factor inspiring companies to in international business. For new market exporters, developing a compatible market entry strategy is a key to success. Longevity in the Japanese market. A traditional footwear in Japan call’s gita. Apex can choose this concept and make this flip flops as a new style and it might be popular in Japanese fashion lover younger generation.
• Cost Consideration: Especially labor costs are an important factor in company’s production location decision. The statistic shows the unemployment rate in Japan from 2007 to 2017. In 2017, the unemployment rate in Japan was at about 2.83 percent. So it will be difficult for our company to trace low cost labor.
• Leather market in japan: China has been dominated Japan’s leather market. Japan just makes design of the product. European countries retain an important share of the market, specializing in high-end leather goods. Increasing demand for apparel and leather items at competitive price has turned into a major export destination for Bangladeshi products.
• Governmental incentives and disincentives: Most countries look for foreign investment because of the jobs. It will create the competitiveness and it will enhance the impact. They have on their trade balance. Foreign entrepreneurs want to open a business in Japan. The Japanese Government established an “Investment Advisor Assignment System” in April 2016 in which a State Minister acts as an advisor to select foreign companies with “important” investments in Japan. The system targets to facilitate consultation between the Japanese Government and foreign firms.

Why should choose to invest in Japan

Japan is the 5th most fascinating destination for companies. Japan’s investment environment is improving due to government efforts. The Japanese economy is growing day by day.

Five Promises for Attracting Foreign Businesses to Japan (March 2015)

• Ruining language barriers “Display of information in foreign languages at shops and public spaces”
• Improvement of Internet entrance (Installment of free public wireless LAN [Wi-Fi])
• Receiving of business jets at local airports
• Enhancement of educational environment for deportee children (international schools)
• Strengthening the services of consultation to support the foreign businesses

Some strong points to invest in Japan

• World’s third largest economy.
• One of the highest purchasing power in the world.
• Leader in matters of high technology, research and development.
• Devoted to educational system.
• Entering the Japanese market facilitates entrance to other Asian markets.
• Favorable business climate.
• Ageing population opens up new opportunities for products and services tailored to older age groups (health care technology)