x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show

For succeeding in business in Japan you need to know how to lead, sell and persuade. This is what we cover in the show. No matter what the issue you will get hints, information, experience and insights into securing the necessary solutions required. Everything in the show is based on real world perspectives, with a strong emphasis on offering practical steps you can take to succeed.

business management

All Episodes

12:23

384 Japan's Ageing Workforce: Why "Recruit and...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2026/02/01

What problem is Japan actually facing with its ageing population? Japan is ageing rapidly, and most of the attention goes to welfare, health, and pension systems. The less-discussed problem is what to do with the "young" oldies—people reaching 60, the retirement age, while still having decades of life ahead of them. Because many are healthy, active, relatively digital, and well-connected, therefore they do not fit the old model of "retire and disappear". They also believe the government pension

en

11:57

383 Screen-Based Strong Messaging: How to Sound...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2026/01/18

What makes screen-based messaging harder than in-person presenting? Most people already struggle to get their message across in a room, and the screen makes that challenge harder. Because remote delivery removes many of the natural cues we rely on in person, a mediocre presenter can quickly become a shambles on camera. The danger is that people imagine the medium excuses weak messaging or amateur delivery, but it does not. If you have a message to deliver, you need to do better than normal, not

en

11:15

382 Consensus Selling: The Invisible Decision-Makers...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2026/01/11

Why does a request for a proposal in Japan not always mean you are winning? In Japan, reaching "please send a proposal" can feel like major progress, because it sounds like interest. But the request can also be a polite way to avoid a direct "no". Because Japan is a very polite society, a blunt refusal is often uncomfortable, so people use indirect ways to close a conversation without confrontation. Therefore, if you automatically treat the request as a buying signal, you can waste hours producing a

en

11:36

381 Why Japan's Talent Crunch Makes Retention a Core...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/12/22

Why is "recruit and retain" becoming the central talent strategy in Japan? Japan faces a demographic crunch: too few young people can meet employer demand, and this shortage has persisted for years. Since 2015, the shrinking youth population has pushed competition for early-career talent higher. With a smaller talent pool, every hiring decision carries more risk, and every resignation hits harder. Turnover among new recruits has started climbing again. A few years ago, more than 40% of new recruits

en

11:31

380 Control the Narrative: What Buyers See Before You...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/12/14

Why do clients "check you out" online before the first sales meeting? Buyers now assume that everything about us is only a few mouse clicks away, so online "checking you out" happens before the calendar invite becomes real. Because this scrutiny is routine and increasing, therefore your credibility is being scored before you speak a word in the meeting. The script frames this as a certainty for salespeople: prospects will look at your social media and search results to decide who you are and whether

en

11:00

379 Why Your Posture Is Important When Presenting

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/11/30

Why does posture matter for presenters on stage and on camera? Answer: Posture shapes both breathing and perception. A straighter posture aids airflow and spinal alignment, while signalling confidence and credibility. Because audiences often equate height and upright stance with leadership, slouching erodes trust before you say a word. Mini-summary: Straight posture helps you breathe better and look more credible. What posture choices project confidence in the room? Answer: Stand tall with your chin

en

12:19

378 The Foreign Leader In Japan

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/11/23

Why do "crash-through" leadership styles fail in Japan? Force does not embed change. Employees hold a social contract with their firms, and client relationships are prized. Attempts to push damaging directives meet stiff resistance, and status alone cannot compel people whose careers outlast the expatriate's assignment. Mini-summary: Pressure triggers pushback; relationships and continuity beat status. What happens when a foreign boss vents or shows anger? Answer: It backfires. Losing one's

en

10:35

377 Curiosity, Then Context: The Smart Short Pitch

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/11/16

Why use a one-minute pitch when you dislike pitching? Answer: In settings with almost no face-to-face time—especially networking—you cannot ask deep questions to uncover needs. A one-minute pitch becomes a bridge to a follow-up meeting rather than a full sales push, avoiding the "bludgeon with data" approach. Mini-summary: Use a short bridge pitch when time is scarce; aim for the meeting, not the sale. When is a one-minute pitch most useful? Answer: At events where you are filtering many brief

en

10:38

376 In Japan, Should Presenters Recycle Content...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/11/09

Yes—recycling is iteration, not repetition. Each audience, venue and timing change what lands, so a second delivery becomes an upgrade: trim what dragged, expand what sparked questions, and replace weaker examples. The result is safer and stronger than untested, wholly new content. Mini-summary: Recycle to refine—familiar structure, higher quality. How can you create opportunities to repeat a talk? Answer: Negotiate for tailoring rather than exclusivity. Many hosts want "unique" content; offer

en

11:41

375 Mentoring Under Pressure: How Bosses in Japan...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/11/02

In Japan, why is "capable and loyal" no longer enough? Answer: Technology, the post-1990 restructuring of management layers, and globalisation have reshaped how work moves in Japan. Because hierarchies compressed and expectations widened, teams now face faster cycles and more frequent transitions. AI will add further disruption, so stability must be created by leadership rather than assumed from tenure. Mini-summary: Hierarchy compression + globalisation + AI = persistent change; leadership provides

en

10:39

374 Selling in Japan: Why Two Out of Six Is a Win

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/10/26

Salespeople worldwide use frameworks to measure meeting success, but Japan's unique business culture challenges many Western methods. Let's explore the BANTER model—Budget, Authority, Need, Timing, Engagement, Request—and see how it fits into Japan's sales environment. 1. What is the BANTER model in sales? BANTER is a simple six-point scoring system for sales calls. Each letter stands for a key factor: Budget, Authority, Need, Timing, Engagement, and Request. A salesperson assigns one point for

en

10:03

From Scripted to Authentic- How Leaders Win on Stage

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/10/19

In high-stakes business events, especially in Japan, executives are often forced to deliver presentations crafted by others. This creates a dangerous disconnect between speaker and message. Let’s explore how leaders can reclaim authenticity and impact, even when the material is not their own. Why is speaking from a borrowed script so risky? Executives frequently inherit content from PR or marketing teams. These materials may be polished, but they are rarely authentic. Japan’s perfection-driven

en

11:17

372 From Ritz-Carlton to Pasona: What Leaders Can...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/10/12

What does it mean for a leader to be the “mood maker”? A mood maker is someone who sets the emotional tone of the team. When leaders stay isolated in plush executive offices, they risk losing contact with their people. Research and experience show that a leader’s visibility directly affects engagement, loyalty, and performance. Leaders who project energy and conviction, day after day, create the emotional climate that shapes culture. Mini-summary: Leaders set the emotional temperature—visibility and

en

11:46

371 Why Clients in Japan Rarely Call Back – And What...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/10/05

Why don’t clients in Japan return sales calls? Because the gatekeepers are trained to block access. In Japan, the lowest ranked staff often answer the phones, but without proper training. Their mission is to protect managers from outside callers—especially salespeople. Instead of being helpful, they come across as cold, suspicious, even hostile. This is your client’s first impression of your business. If you test it by calling your own company, you’ll likely hear the same problem

en

11:11

370 Why New Salespeople Struggle In Japan – And How...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/09/28

Why New Salespeople Struggle New hires, whether they are brand-new to sales or just new to the company, almost always take time before they start delivering results. Yet leaders in Japan often expect immediate miracles. The reality is that ramp-up takes time, especially in a culture where relationships drive business. Even experienced people entering a new organisation need months to learn internal systems, client expectations, and industry nuances. When unrealistic expectations are placed on them

en

12:10

369 Corporate Ninjas of Concealment: How Leaders Lose...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/09/22

Why Japanese Corporate Scandals Keep Happening — And What Leaders Must Do To Prevent Them Why do corporate scandals keep repeating in Japan? Japan has been hit again and again by revelations of non-compliance — from Nissan’s faulty vehicle inspections in 2017 to Kobe Steel’s falsified data and beyond. In some cases, these practices stretched on for decades before discovery. On the surface, companies chase the mantra: “reduce costs, increase revenue.” The Board applauds, shareholders smile, and

en

11:38

368 The Cure for Corporate Cancer: Rethinking Sales...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/09/14

Let’s talk about sales, and why the new year always feels like a repeat performance. Greek myths rarely have happy endings. They are mostly cautionary tales, reminders of how the Gods treated humans like toys. One myth, in particular, perfectly captures the life of a salesperson: the story of Sisyphus. He was condemned to push a massive rock up a hill, only to watch it roll back down again, forever. That is exactly what we face in sales. We push that giant rock—the annual budget—up the hill every

en

09:32

367 How to Give Your First Major Presentation With...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/09/07

At some stage in every career, the moment arrives: you’re asked to give a presentation. Early on, it may be a straightforward project update delivered to colleagues or a report shared with your manager. But as you advance, the scope expands. Suddenly you’re addressing a whole-company kickoff, an executive offsite, or even speaking on behalf of your firm or industry at a public event. That leap — from small team updates to high-stakes presentations — is steep. And so are the nerves that come with it

en

10:44

366 Win the Deal: Negotiating in Japan Without Losing...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/08/31

Negotiating in Japan is never just about numbers on a contract. It is about trust, credibility, and ensuring that the relationship remains intact long after the ink is dry. Unlike in Western business settings, where aggressive tactics or rapid deals are often admired, in Japan negotiations unfold slowly, with harmony and continuity as the guiding principles. The key is to combine negotiation frameworks such as BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement) with cultural sensitivity. By doing so,

en

11:47

365 Win the Deal In Japan Without Losing the...

The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show ·

2025/08/24

Our image of negotiating tends to be highly influenced by the winner takes all model. This is the transactional process where one side outwits the other and receives the majority of the value. Think about your own business? How many business partners do you have where this would apply? For the vast majority of cases we are not after a single sale. We are thinking about LTV – the life time value of the customer. We are focused on the proportion of our time spent hunting for new business as

en

415 results

Similar Podcasts

TaxTalent.com The Golden Rule Podcast

Adam Golden

TaxTalent.com Podcast

Tony Santiago

Handelsblatt Crime - spannende Streitfälle der deutschen Wirtschaft

Ina Karabasz, Solveig Gode, Sönke Iwersen

Deffner und Zschäpitz – Der Wirtschafts-Talk von WELT

WELT

Black Box - La scatola nera della finanza

Guido Brera e Gian Luca Comandini -...