In today's episode, I’m chatting with Will Jasprizza, the managing director of Japan at the international business development consultancy, Intralink. Although born in Australia and educated as a lawyer, Will found himself starting a new life teaching English in Japan that eventually brought him to his current role, where he and his team works to make the expansion of foreign companies into Japan fast, easy, and cost effective. During the episode, Will discusses the importance of prioritizing positioning yourself as a reliable partner early in business relationships with Japanese companies, how business development has changed in Japan in recent years, and important changes in Japanese business practices that COVID has accelerated by years.

Language: 
はんこ
ha-n-ko
Meaning: a stamp used as a personal seal in place of a signature, commonly used for paperwork and within Japanese companies

Will's Links: 
Company: www.intralinkgroup.com
GenkiEnglish (former company): https://genkienglish.net/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-jasprizza-4452972/

Related Episodes:
Tourism and Covid-19: Effects and Opportunities in Japan with Bonson Lam: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/episodes/Tourism-and-Covid-19-Effects-and-Opportunities-in-Japan-with-Bonson-Lam-ehut7k
How to Make it Big in Japan: Navigating Culture, Burnout, and Entrepreneurship with Misha Yurchenko: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/episodes/How-to-Make-it-Big-in-Japan-Navigating-Culture--Burnout--and-Entrepreneurship-with-Misha-Yurchenko-et1045
Covid-19's Influence on Travel and Finding Your Place Professionally in Japan with Maya Matsuoka: https://anchor.fm/businesssuccessjapan/episodes/Covid-19s-Influence-on-Travel-and-Finding-Your-Place-Professionally-in-Japan-with-Maya-Matsuoka-ere7kv

Additional Links: 
Contact page: https://www.intralinkgroup.com/en-GB/Contact-Us
Client for 10+ years: https://www.goodfellow.com (CEO Stephen Aldersley)
Eight (“Japanese LinkedIn”): https://8card.net/
Sansan (parent company of Eight): https://www.sansan.com
Starbucks joint venture: https://www.starbucks.co.jp/en/company.html
Japan digitizes signing procedures: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/Japan-investors-swoop-for-digital-hanko-stocks

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