The 6 Things A Business MUST Do When Translating Your Website Into Japanese

15 June 202221 June 2022

By Giulia Ferraro

Are you on the cusp of translating your website into Japanese? Or perhaps you’ve already launched your sparkly new Japanese website – you’re proud to share this with Japanese customers and partners, proving your business is serious and ready to make a dent in the sizable Japanese market.

In the world of web design, there are many tips and tricks that we know to make our brand stand out, to communicate our product or service’s message effectively, and to ensure the viewer finds the most important information that can lead to conversions as efficiently as possible. But the question that Tokyoesque asks is this: When you set about translating your website into Japanese, are you translating it with the Japanese market and audience in mind?

A website is a form of communication that businesses may be putting thousands of hours (and dollars) into. We also pay a good deal of attention to SEO optimization. How much of that time are we spending ensuring that every product or service that we’ve put so much of our labour into resonates with a Japanese consumer, too?

Let’s take a look at how you can effectively translate your website into Japanese in order to maximise your ROI and grow your business in the Japanese market.

Industries

Growth and Innovation: Overview and Opportunities of Agritech in Japan 2022

1 June 202215 June 2022

By Samuel Arnold-Parra

Agriculture workers next to a tractor on a Japanese farm. — Source: Wikipedia Commons (User: On-chan)

What is Agritech?

As the name implies, ‘agritech’ is the intersection of agriculture and technology. Agritech, sometimes referred to also as agrotech, refers to the application of technology of all kinds to make farming easier and more efficient. Agritech encompasses a vast range of different technologies, ranging from advances in hydroponics and drone technology to the use of AI and data analytics for monitoring crops. Globally, the agritech market is set to grow in both size and importance as societies increasingly seek sustainable and effective methods of cultivation in the face of issues like climate change.

Agritech

Innovative Sustainability: How 5 Japanese Companies are Implementing SDGs

25 May 202214 June 2022

By Kana Kono

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for sustainability. — Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

The 14th of May was World Fair Trade Day. World Fair Trade Day, organised by the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO), is a day dedicated to thinking about and raising awareness of “alternative solutions to the planet’s economic and ecological challenges”.
Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, are an increasingly important set of goals for our planet to achieve sustainability, peace and prosperity. In the United Nations’ 2030 agenda, the following 17 SDGs were put forth, with aims to achieve them 2030.

Currency

The Power of Yen: Understanding How Foreign Exchange Influences The Japanese Market

18 May 202218 May 2022

By Tokyoesque

Foreign Exchange yen — Photo from unsplash

A recent NHK World-Japan report discussed how the Japanese yen briefly fell to ¥120 to the dollar, the lowest level it’s been over six years. Traders are selling yen in anticipation that US interest rates could rise more quickly than previously expected, after the US Central Bank suggested they might raise rates by twice as much. The yen, in turn, lost its ground after the Bank of Japan announced its plans to maintain its massive monetary easing program for the time being.

The Japanese yen (JPY) is the third-most traded currency in the foreign exchange (forex) market after the US dollar and the euro, as well as being an important reserve currency. The yen is strong due to Japan’s strong economy, as the country exports more goods than it imports. When inflow is larger than outflow, a country has a huge investment resource — which is why Japan is a large creditor nation.

With the pandemic, however, the Japanese government’s stimulus package has weakened the JPY exchange rate. And although a weaker yen has long been seen to boost the Japanese export economy, its status as an anemic currency has recently become unfavorable with the surge of importation. In this article, we’ll explore the power of JPY over the Japanese market.

Industries

SDGs: How Greenery Day Contributes To Japan’s Cut Towards Carbon Neutral

4 May 20229 May 2022

By Luke Denhart

As the springtime bells ring in the season on the other side of the globe, Japan gets Golden Week underway and prepares for its string of featurette holidays. Amongst these holidays stands the celebration of nature – Greenery Day. Greenery Day remains a focal jumping-off point for brands interested in solid SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) action plans; companies looking to reshape the world positively and sustainably. Join Tokyoesque as we chronicle the rich and fascinating history of Greenery Day, the companies that strive for a more sustainable future in their bid for Japan’s SDG awards through their products and services. We’ll also cross-examine the tried-and-true SDGs innovation challenges both the Japanese government and local city councils implement in their support for businesses using the public adulation for Greenery Day in the fight for the future of the environment.

Industries

Japanese Automotive Market in 2022: Helping the Economy to Recover

12 April 202212 April 2022

By Giulia. F.

In our previous article published in 2020, we explored how Japan’s automotive market has catered to the domestic and global market appetite, its response to the globalised supply chain, green technology and the effects the pandemic had on the market overall. Two years on, the world is finally opening up, with restrictions being lifted. Interestingly, quite like the end of the Second World War, once again Japan’s automotive market is tasked with the mission of helping boost the country’s economy. In this article, we will underline the Japanese automotive market in 2022 and list key examples from the industry.

Marketing

What is Shinseikatsu? 4 Effective “New Life Support” Campaigns in Japan

22 March 202214 April 2022

By Mao A.

New Life Support (shinseikatsu) — Photo by AJ from unsplash

In Japan, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in March and April and this period is also when a new chapter in life begins for many people. Unlike the UK or other foreign countries, the new semester in Japanese schools starts in April, not September. Many people step forward to start their new lives, entering higher education, starting jobs, changing jobs, moving to new places, and so on. This new phase in life is called Shinseikatsu, which can be directly translated to ”new life.” This article aims to explore the many marketing campaigns conducted by companies in Japan that take advantage of Shinseikatsu and will explore how EU companies may integrate it into their marketing activities in Japan.

Business

Not just chocolate – how top Japanese beauty brands are embracing Valentine’s Day

7 February 202214 February 2022

By Kajal Gosain, Edited by Honoka Karikomi

During this season, the Japanese beauty sector creates many “limited” items to attract customers: namely, the Valentine Commercial War. Japanese beauty brands target those who plan to send gifts to their partners on Valentine’s and savvy consumers who are attracted by the limited items. With a consideration to the sales growth in the beauty sector in Japan due to Covid, it can be expected that this year, the Valentine Commercial War will be even more intense. In this blog, our guest writer Kajal Gosain provides her view to the highly competitive Japanese beauty sector and Tokyoesque will provide insights on how non-Japanese beauty brands can be more competitive in the Japanese market.

Japanese beauty trends Valentine — Photo by Unsplash

Business

What your business needs to know about Japanese Zodiac years

19 January 20227 February 2022

By Mao A.

In this blog post, we explain what Juunishi – the Japanese zodiac animals symbols adopted from China – is, and how Japanese people incorporate it in their lifestyle. Based on the fact that Juunishi is commonly seen concept especially around New Year in Japan, the writer extends the observation to what the traditional New Year is like in Japan and whether people celebrate the Chinese New Year

Business

What is Hatsuuri? New Year in Japan: Traditions and Sales Opportunity For Foreign Brands

15 December 202115 December 2021

By Giulia F.

In this blog post, one of the Tokyoesque researchers will explain how Japanese people spend New Year’s holidays in Japan. Then the writer will extend the observation to the business opportunity for foreign companies who want to break into the Japanese market using the sales tactic many local businesses use related to welcoming the new year called Hatsuuri – First (hatsu) Sale (uri).

BESPOKE MARKET RESEARCH

We enable our clients to understand Japanese audiences in order to make an impact in the marketplace.

MARKET EXPANSION STRATEGY

Our team are familiar with both the European and Japanese markets. We bring clients on-the-ground in their target markets to truly understand the culture, trends and innovations that will have an impact on their success in the market.

TRANSLATION & LOCALISATION

We provide Japanese / English translation and localisation services for Japanese and UK corporates. Our professional, bilingual team is well-versed in creating messaging that resonates with the target audience.

Category: Business

The 6 Things A Business MUST Do When Translating Your Website Into Japanese

By Giulia Ferraro

Growth and Innovation: Overview and Opportunities of Agritech in Japan 2022

By Samuel Arnold-Parra

What is Agritech?

Innovative Sustainability: How 5 Japanese Companies are Implementing SDGs

By Kana Kono

The Power of Yen: Understanding How Foreign Exchange Influences The Japanese Market

By Tokyoesque

SDGs: How Greenery Day Contributes To Japan’s Cut Towards Carbon Neutral

By Luke Denhart

Japanese Automotive Market in 2022: Helping the Economy to Recover

By Giulia. F.

What is Shinseikatsu? 4 Effective “New Life Support” Campaigns in Japan

By Mao A.

Not just chocolate – how top Japanese beauty brands are embracing Valentine’s Day

By Kajal Gosain, Edited by Honoka Karikomi

What your business needs to know about Japanese Zodiac years

By Mao A.

What is Hatsuuri? New Year in Japan: Traditions and Sales Opportunity For Foreign Brands

By Giulia F.

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