The only Nordic company to combine first-hand Japanese market expertise and customer insights.
We help you to understand and adapt to the fast-paced market in Japan.
Our mission is to be your go-to strategic partner in Japan.
Japan is the third largest economy in the world – you want to have it on the map when you are looking for opportunities to grow your business globally. It is a market also a that requires a high degree of product and service adaptation.
Do you want to learn more about how to mitigate risks and improve your opportunities to succeed? We look forward to making new friends and building new partnerships!
Get in touch to learn more about how we can grow your business together.

We turn customer insights into actions
We take a hands-on approach to support our partners with their business goals by combining service design and strategic business expertise. This means we deliver actionable recommendations that inform, inspire and guide decision-making.

We bring Japanese competence to your reach
Our team spans Helsinki, Tokyo, Kyoto and Kobe. We hand-pick a team for you, so whether you need designers, engineers, business experts or human scientists, we provide a tailored team that works for one common goal.

Nordic at heart – with a global mindset
Coming from the happiest country in the world – we believe in cooperation, openness and honesty. We approach the world with this Nordic attitude, and we strive for measurable impact, long-term business goals and sustainable change.

We turn customer insights into actions
We take a hands-on approach to support our partners with their business goals by combining service design and strategic business expertise. This means we deliver actionable recommendations that inform, inspire and guide decision-making.
Get in touch to learn more about how we can grow your business as your go-to strategic partner in Asia together!

We bring European and Asian competence to your reach
Our team spans Finland, Japan, China and Singapore. We hand-pick a team for you, so whether you need designers, engineers, business experts or human scientists, we provide a tailored team that works for one common goal.

Nordic at heart – with a global mindset
Coming from the happiest country in the world – we believe in cooperation, openness and honesty. We approach the world with this Nordic attitude, and we strive for measurable impact, long-term business goals and sustainable change.
How can we help you?
First steps – Market entry
You want to expand your international business and have recognized that Japan holds a great potential for you. Let’s get it right from the get-go!
Something we can help you with:
- Market research
- Cultural and behavioural insights
- Opportunity mapping
- Go-to market strategy
What questions can we help you to answer?
- What is the our market potential in Japan?
- Who will we compete against there?
- How do they market and deliver their products?
- How can we stand out from them?
- What might impact our market entry?
Business Adaptation
Something we can help you with:
- User behaviour insights
- Value proposition creation
- Service design
- Communication strategy
What questions can we help you to answer?
- How do our customers behave?
- How can we make our services culturally relevant?
- What possible bottlenecks we should solve or avoid?
- How can we reach our customers?
Foresight
Something we can help you with:
- Trendspotting
- Weak signals scanning
- Scenario building
- Strategic foresight
What questions can we help you to answer?
- Where to is the Japanese market developing?
- What kind of shifts take place in the Japanese society?
- What kind of opportunities might emerge in the Japanese market in the future?
Blog
The Japanese Outdoor Market: In and Outdoor – and Somewhere In-Between
6 min read A silver lining in the COVID-19 pandemic: people have found the great outdoors. In Japan, COVID-19 boosted an outdoor trend and in 2020 the Japanese outdoor gear market size reached an overwhelming 4.45 billion USD. The market has its particularities and is...
The Way of the Sauna – A Perspective to the Bottom-Up Cultural Adaptation
7 min read Japanese spa culture is in decline but in the last few years, the sauna market has become piping hot. What is left of the Finnish cultural heritage after the Japanese make-over? Our co-founder Jaakko shares his insights into the hottest trend in Japan....
How does COVID-19 change the Japanese home: a conversation with Anni Hayashi from Vitra
5 min read Anni Hayashi, the Head of Home Sales for Japan and Korea at Vitra, has lived in Japan for nearly two decades and has gained great experience when it comes to Japanese culture, lifestyle, and interior trends. She has been working for the Finnish furniture...
Contact

Ilari Laitinen
ライチネン・イラリ
Founder, CEO
MA, IDBM
ilari@shopconsulting.fi
+358 40 7780 189
Global business inquiries and partnerships.



Tomohiro Morie
森江 朝広
Representative in Japan
AKIND Inc.
Business inquiries and
partnerships in Japan.

Tasuku Iwano
岩野 翼
Representative in Japan
AKIND Inc.
Interested in collaborating?
Drop us a line – we’d love to see how we can help!
Send us your details and we’ll get back to you shortly.