Services
Three services, each suited to a particular stage
Ordinal 42 offers three structured consulting services for companies at different points in the process of considering Japan. They can be taken in sequence or selected individually, depending on what you already know and what decision you are trying to make.
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The three services are described in the order in which companies typically need them — though that sequence is not required. If you already have a solid understanding of the market and are now deciding how to enter, the Entry Route Assessment may be the right starting point. If you have a network in mind but need support in approaching it, Partner Search Support is available without the prior services. Read each description and judge which matches where you are.
Stage 01
Market Context Briefing
¥32,000
A structured briefing for a company considering the Japanese market. Covers how the relevant sector is currently organised, who the established participants are, how distribution typically works, and which practices differ from the company's home market.
Written for decision-makers who need a grounded picture before committing budget. This is the appropriate service if you are still in the process of deciding whether Japan is worth pursuing — and want something more specific than a general country overview to base that decision on.
What is included
- Sector overview: how the market is structured in your specific category
- Distribution structure notes: how products or services in your category typically reach buyers
- A list of common assumptions that do not hold locally — the things that most companies get wrong about your sector
- Source references for all factual claims
- A ninety-minute discussion session held online after you have read the document
Format and timeline
Delivered as a written briefing of fifteen to twenty pages. Timeline is confirmed at the start of each engagement, typically two to three weeks from commencement.
Full service descriptionStage 02
Entry Route Assessment
¥41,500
A structured comparison of the practical routes into the Japanese market for a specific product or service. Covers direct sales, distributor arrangements, agency relationships, joint ventures, and local incorporation.
Intended for companies that have decided to proceed with Japan and now need to choose how. Each route is set out with its typical timeline, capital requirement, degree of control retained, and the ongoing obligations it creates. The aim is to give the leadership team a clear basis for choosing between options that are genuinely comparable.
What is included
- A comparison document setting out each entry route across consistent dimensions: timeline, capital, control, obligations
- An indicative cost outline per route, covering setup costs and ongoing operating obligations
- A session with the leadership team to discuss the trade-offs and address questions the document raises
- Source references and notes on where regulatory or legal conditions may require verification with local specialists
Format and timeline
Delivered over three weeks from commencement. The written comparison document is provided before the discussion session.
Full service descriptionStage 03
Local Partner Search Support
¥44,000
Support in identifying and approaching potential local partners in Japan. Covers criteria definition, longlist compilation, initial screening, and preparation for first meetings — including expectations around introductions, materials, and meeting conduct.
Suited to companies without an existing network in Japan who need to begin building one. The service does not guarantee partnership outcomes — it prepares the company to approach the process with a realistic understanding of how introductions and early meetings work in the Japanese business context.
What is included
- Criteria definition: a structured conversation to establish what a suitable partner would actually look like
- A screened shortlist with background notes on each candidate — what they do, their market position, and why they were selected over others
- An outreach approach: how to make initial contact in a way that is appropriate for the Japanese business context
- Review of bilingual introductory materials — not translation, but assessment of whether the materials are appropriate for their intended audience
- Attendance at up to three initial meetings in an advisory capacity
Format and timeline
Runs six to eight weeks depending on the pace at which meetings can be arranged. Timeline is set at the start and reviewed if circumstances require adjustment.
Full service descriptionMarket entry phases
Typical stages of entry and which service fits each
| Phase | Typical questions | Decision typically made | Relevant service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consideration | Is Japan worth pursuing for our product? How is our sector structured here? What would we be entering into? | Whether to proceed to a fuller assessment | Market Context Briefing |
| Planning | How should we enter? What are the trade-offs between a distributor model and direct sales? What does incorporation actually require? | Which entry route to pursue | Entry Route Assessment |
| Execution | Who are the right local partners? How do we approach them? What should we know about how first meetings work? | Which partners to pursue and how | Partner Search Support |
Get started
If one of these services fits where you are
Write to us with a brief description of your situation — which sector you are in, where you are in the consideration process, and which service seems most relevant. We will come back to you within a few working days to confirm whether the fit is there and how the engagement would begin.
Write to us