Market Entry Consulting · Japan
Ordinal 42 works with companies in the early stages of considering Japan — before decisions are made, not after. We help you build an accurate picture of the market so that whatever path you choose rests on something solid.
View our servicesWhat we deliver
Japan rewards patience and penalises assumptions. What works well in other markets — a direct sales push, a standard distributor agreement, a familiar partnership model — may not translate. The reasons are rarely mysterious, but they are specific, and they take time to learn if you are starting from nothing.
Ordinal 42 exists to shorten that learning curve. We do not manage your entry. We inform it. The decisions remain yours; we make sure they are based on something real.
How we work
Findings come first as a structured document. This gives you time to read carefully and form questions before we discuss — rather than trying to absorb everything in a live session.
We focus on your sector, your product type, and your likely entry window. Generic Japan market information is widely available. What is harder to find is the specific version relevant to your situation.
Each briefing includes references so you can verify what we say and continue your own research. We are not asking you to take our word for anything — we are giving you a starting point you can build on.
Process
We begin with a short exchange — by email or online — to understand where you are in your thinking and which service fits your current stage. There is no obligation attached to this step.
We research your specific sector and circumstances — not a general Japan overview, but the part of the market relevant to you. The timeline depends on the service selected.
You receive a written document first. A follow-up session — online — lets you work through questions with us directly. You leave with something you can act on.
Our position
Ordinal 42 operates from Osaka, which places us in a regional business environment that is active, commercially serious, and less filtered through the Tokyo-centric narrative that dominates most Japan market writing.
We have worked across sectors including manufactured goods, professional services, food and beverage, and technology products. What we bring is a habit of reading market structures carefully rather than relying on received assumptions — and a preference for telling clients what is actually there rather than what they might prefer to hear.
Services
Each service is designed for a specific stage of consideration. They can be taken in sequence or individually, depending on where you are.
Stage 01
A structured sector overview for decision-makers who need an accurate picture of Japan before committing budget. Fifteen to twenty pages plus a ninety-minute discussion.
Stage 02
A comparison of practical entry routes — direct sales, distributor, agency, joint venture, or incorporation — set out with timelines, costs, and trade-offs. Three-week delivery.
Stage 03
Identification and initial approach of potential local partners — criteria definition, longlist, screening, and preparation for first meetings. Six to eight weeks.
Getting started
If you are at the stage of wondering whether Japan is worth looking at closely, or if you have already decided to proceed and are trying to work out how, we are glad to hear from you. The form below takes a minute to fill in, and we will come back to you within a few working days.
Send us a noteContact
Tell us briefly where you are in your thinking and what prompted you to reach out. There is no specific format required.
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