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In focus
- Why Facebook tops LinkedIn for networking in Japan
- SEA’s next top IPO destination: Tokyo?
- Got sharp takes? We want them in Insights
Hello reader,
When you think of Facebook, do you think of networking? Many of us are more likely to conjure up images of boomers, birthday reminders, and political rants.
Not so in Japan, where the platform has a unique role in business networking.
You could be forgiven for thinking LinkedIn might be the platform of choice for professional networking, or perhaps something homegrown. However, as the writer of today’s first top story puts it, “In Japan, Facebook never stopped being a place where you could be serious.”
This quirk highlights how tricky entering a market with as many nuances as Japan can be, but reading our first top story today should give anyone expanding to the country a playbook for avoiding faux pas.
Similarly, my colleague Glenn Kaonang dives into the hurdles Southeast Asian startups face when they consider an IPO in Japan.
While those barriers haven’t disappeared, initiatives like the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Asia Startup Hub program are making it easier for regional founders to explore Tokyo as a serious listing destination.
We want to offer valuable insights for anyone looking to crack the Japanese market, whether through Facebook DMs or the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Because in Japan, how you say something can matter just as much as what you’re saying.
Peter Cowan, engagement editor
Top Stories
1️⃣ Breaking into Japan? Start with Facebook, not LinkedIn
Part of why Facebook trumps LinkedIn in Japan is how the platforms started.
Facebook’s demand for real names contrasted with other platforms in a positive light for business users, while LinkedIn’s early positioning as a recruitment platform hurt it in a market that highly values loyalty.
This piece offers practical advice for anyone looking to break into Japan’s business scene. It talks about which platforms work for which tasks, as well as how to build trust and avoid cultural missteps.
2️⃣ Japan’s low-key bid for Southeast Asia’s tech exits
From our archives
The region’s top CTOs are stepping up – time for Pinoy tech to stand out!
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