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Japan market-entry guides

Free, honest, written by people who run brands in Japan. No gated PDFs, no email walls.

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How to send a press release in Japan — without a Japanese office

The platform landscape, the Japanese-language rules, overseas account setup, timelines, and how coverage actually happens.

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Craft

Japanese press-release format: how releases here actually differ

Structure, the no-superlatives rule, kisha clubs, imagery conventions — and the 7 mistakes foreign brands make most.

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Budget

How much does PR in Japan cost? A transparent price guide

Platform fees, agency retainers, project pricing, translation traps — real 2026 numbers you can budget against.

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Strategy

Japan market entry without a subsidiary: what's actually possible

What you can genuinely do remotely — PR, web, e-commerce, trade shows — and the realistic sequence to test the market.

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Platforms

Japanese press-release platforms compared

PR TIMES, @Press, Kyodo PR Wire and the budget tier — strengths, pricing bands, and what works for overseas companies.

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Trade shows

Exhibiting at a Japanese trade show: the foreign brand's checklist

The 8-week countdown, the move-in day rule, and what Japanese buyers expect at your booth.

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Web

Do you need a Japanese website to sell in Japan?

The honest answer: not a full site — but yes, one strong Japanese page. And why machine translation backfires.

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Food & Beverage

Launching a food or beverage brand in Japan

The EPA tailwind, the compliance reality in brief, FOODEX, and the marketing playbook that actually works.

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Beauty

Launching a cosmetics or skincare brand in Japan

Why claims are restricted, why native copywriting is a compliance tool, and how to stand out in a crowded market.

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Platform deep-dive

Can you use PR TIMES in English?

The practical answer for foreign companies: what works, what doesn't, and your three realistic options.

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Crowdfunding

From Kickstarter to Japan: launching on Makuake

Why your Japan crowdfunding debut is a press-release moment, and the launch-week playbook.

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Games & Apps

Launching a game or app in Japan

The indie studio's PR playbook: localization as news, TGS, and what Japanese gaming media need.

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E-commerce

Selling on Amazon Japan? The PR move most sellers miss

Being available and being known are different things — how a release turns your listing into a brand.

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Audio & Home Tech

Launching an audio tech or home gadget brand in Japan

What Japanese audio buyers expect, turning Kickstarter traction into a Japan launch, and the gadget-media playbook.

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Home & Kitchen

Launching a home & kitchen brand in Japan

What Japanese consumers expect from tools and kitchenware, bringing Kickstarter-proven demand into the market, and the lifestyle-media playbook.

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Outdoor & Travel Gear

Launching an outdoor gear or travel brand in Japan

What Japanese buyers value against Snow Peak and Coleman Japan, and how to carry Kickstarter-proven demand into the market.

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Watches & Accessories

Launching a watch or accessories brand in Japan

Why Japan's watch community rewards precision over hype, and the Kickstarter-to-Japan launch playbook.

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Decision guide

Japan PR: agency, fixed-price service, or DIY?

An honest comparison of four real options on cost, fit and risk — including where a fixed-price service falls short.

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Media map

The Japanese media landscape: a foreign brand's map

National newspapers, wire services, TV, business magazines, tech web media and trade press — mapped by category, with what each means for a launch.

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Template

Japanese press release template: structure and a full example

What to write in each part and why, plus a complete annotated example using a fictional brand.

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Portal pickup

Can a press release get you on Yahoo! JAPAN News?

Why no PR service can honestly guarantee a portal pickup, and what actually raises your odds of one.

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Timing

Best time to send a press release in Japan

The holiday calendar, safest weekdays and hours, seasonal story angles, and the time-zone mistake foreign brands make.

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SaaS & B2B

Launching a SaaS or B2B software product in Japan

Why Japanese-language information changes vendor consideration, the PR hooks that work for software, and real budget numbers.

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Prefer to just have it done?

Native Japanese press release, distribution, landing page and trade-show kits — fixed prices, 100% remote, European working hours.

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