Nobody else was doing it well in Japan, so I decided to give it my best shot. When the niche opportunity idea dawned on me, I knew there was a lot of news that even locals overlook in their daily rush to pay the bills and get through the day.

Here are four mini salvos to get your noggin churning.
1) The Japanese cherish space. The once dank and barren station corridors – home to homeless folks – are now the rage for innovative concept shops, mostly boutiques. In the major population centers these spaces are being built up rapidly.   But four out of five stations in Tokyo are cautiously approaching this commercial buildup. A foreign architect with space efficiency in mind and unique design concepts could rapidly find shopkeepers wanting fashionable stores in these once-forsaken stations passageways.

Kiosk Innovation

2)Every now and again one comes across here a totally acculturated and dedicated craftsman of non-Japanese heritage who has built a strong following in Japan and throughout the world.  Some of these adventurists design musical instruments like the flute called “shakuhachi,” while others design Japanese pottery called “yakimono.” Whether artisan, performer, or savvy entrepreneur, opportunity abounds in the artisan world of Japan.

3) The huge list of associations I have put together in the Success in Japan Directory offer tremendous leads to companies, individuals and innovations in Japan. Seeing that the above list is linked only to English websites, you can try to contact the association itself or its members. If that doesn’t work, please contact me and I’ll see if I can arrange some kind of communication or meeting for a modest consultation fee.
4)

A Biotechnological experiment in Japan to make seasonally-optimal garden landscapes.

For bio-techies and start-up companies in biotechnology, did you know that a Biotechnology Business Competition is held annually in Japan with a first prize of 5,000,000 yen and that submissions can be made in English? I smell a chance for you to get your proverbial foot in the door.

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Some people would – without major objection – classify me as a lunatic or a fanatic. I’m an information collector. My Japan Directory of 4000+ Japanese-based sites in English and the Success Arsenal were both compiled over hundreds’ of hours combing the mainstream Internet highway, its alleyways, its sewers and its deserts. There were some very well-designed and fascinating websites discovered in my quest, yet quite a few of them were disaster zones (at least, on the English side of their site).

I realize that you don’t have the time or the mind to comb the Internet, glean valuable information, and then apply it to your business or educational pursuits. On the other hand, I love to do that. And I love to cut the fat from your search efforts so that you can concentrate on meaty results which can catapult you to success.

My Best List

Corporate Information,

Customs and Tariffs,

Japan Customs,

Entrepreneur Association of Tokyo,

Japan Inc,

Japan Direct Marketing Association,

Japan Association of New Business Incubation Organizations,

AsianNet Japan Suppliers,

Tokyo Business Entry Point,

Trends in Japan,

International Business Contacts Index,

Japan Telephone Directory,

Go4JapanBusiness,

Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry,

Business and Professional Association Directory,

Japan Marketing Consultants,

Japan Tax System,

Japan Entrepreneur Archives

Note:  If you are a permanent resident in Japan, there is a good chance that you can successfully apply for an up to 7.5 million, low-interest yen loan to start upan NGO or NPO organization. Who says foreigners are eitherrich or relegated to English teaching pastures?  Many opportunities lie in between.

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