Japanese Culture Consultant
1:1 confidential advisory on a specific Japanese counterpart relationship, conflict, posting, or strategic engagement. Delivered by Takashi Kawatani (Diversity Management Institute, 35+ years, author of 13 books, Global HR Excellence Award). Real-time cadence around your live decisions, not a fixed curriculum.
Five common advisory engagements
If your situation is not in this list, the discovery call is the easiest way to scope it. Most engagements are smaller and more specific than buyers expect.
Specific Japanese counterpart relationship
Your team has a Japanese partner, customer, or boss whose behaviour is hard to read or whose decisions are hard to predict. Advisory works as confidential 1:1 coaching: we decode the signals, brief you on the cultural context, and give you specific moves for your next interaction.
Cross-cultural conflict resolution
A specific conflict has formed between European and Japanese team members or organisations. Advisory covers conflict diagnosis (which patterns are causing the friction), repair-pathway design, and direct facilitation if appropriate.
Pre-M&A or post-M&A cultural due diligence
Cultural integration is the most-cited reason for Japan-EU M&A underperformance. Advisory covers pre-deal cultural risk assessment, post-close integration planning, and ongoing leadership coaching through the integration period.
Senior leadership coaching for a Japan posting
Country managers, expat leaders, and senior executives facing a Japan posting use 1:1 advisory across pre-departure, first 90 days, and the first-year cadence. Different from group training: the focus is on the leader's specific stakeholder relationships and decisions.
Strategic advice on a Japan engagement
M&A, JV formation, distribution partnership, major account expansion. Advisory provides the cultural and operational context for senior decision-makers who do not need general training but do need a credible Japan-side sounding board on specific calls.
Consulting vs training
Both are valuable. The two formats serve different needs. Use this list to figure out which fits your situation.
- 1:1 confidentiality — engagements are senior-leader-focused and discussed only with the named client.
- Named senior advisor — engagements are delivered by Takashi Kawatani directly, not handed to a trainer-network.
- Real-time cadence — sessions schedule around your live engagements, not a fixed curriculum calendar.
- Dual-direction fluency — equally fluent on European-to-Japan and Japan-to-Europe relationship dynamics, with NL-Japan corridor as the centre of gravity.
- Bilingual delivery — English or Japanese natively, depending on the audience and the engagement.
Meet Your Senior Consultant — Takashi Kawatani
35+ years helping professionals succeed in Japanese business culture, in partnership with Silkdrive on the EU↔Japan corridor.
Today
- President, Diversity Management Institute (1989 to present)
- Founder, Success Japan Initiative
- Host of 'Japan Spirit', English-language internet show
- Trains Fortune 500 clients, business associations, and government bodies across 20+ countries
Publications & Recognition
- Author of 13 books on global leadership and Japanese communication
- Creator of 10 e-learning products on Japanese business culture
- 13,000+ students enrolled across Udemy courses, 4.4★+ ratings
- Global HR Excellence Award, World HRD Congress 2011
Background
- Lecturer in international business, Sanno Institute of Management
- Special Advisor, Japan Overseas Enterprises Association
- Visiting researcher, ISIS Malaysia (Institute of Strategic and International Studies)
- Doctoral studies, Human and Organizational Development, Fielding Graduate University (USA)
Frequently Asked Questions
Related
- Executive Coaching (1:1) — structured 1:1 coaching for senior leaders.
- Japan Expert Network — curated directory of Japan business experts beyond Silkdrive.
- Cross-Cultural Training for Japan — if you need team training rather than 1:1 advisory.
- Japanese Business Training (all programmes)
Discuss Your Engagement
Tell us the situation. We will tell you honestly whether 1:1 consulting, team training, or executive coaching is the right format, and scope it accordingly.