Whether you're entering, expanding, reassessing your presence, or planning an exit from the Japan market, I provide global teams with clear and strategic guidance at every stage.
Each service is designed to support a specific stage of your Japan journey—from early market exploration and localization to execution, restructuring, and even exit planning.
Founders, executives, marketing and HR leaders looking for immediate clarity.
$275 USD
Companies exploring or refining their Japan localization or expansion strategy, and looking for expert input before committing further internal resources. Also helpful for teams reassessing Japan operations or considering scale-down scenarios.
$1,450 USD
Startups or growth-stage teams seeking a part-time strategic partner
Companies with existing in-house teams needing occasional strategic input
Also suitable for teams navigating change — from expansion to realignment or responsible market exit planning.
$2,850–$4,000 USD/month
Teams launching or re-launching products/services, campaigns, or events, testing new positioning, or localizing for Japan. Can also support projects related to repositioning or scaling back operations when needed.
$3,850–$7,500 USD / project
Companies needing experienced interim marketing support while a permanent role is on hold or delayed.
3–4 months (renewable or adjustable based on needs)
$10,000–$15,000 USD / month
Keiko Asakura
I’m a bilingual marketing and business advisor with over 25 years of experience across Japan and global markets — including 17 years in Canada and over a decade working in Tokyo’s fast-growing tech and consumer and service industries.
I specialize in helping global companies navigate the complex, often subtle realities of doing business in Japan. From identifying effective sales channels and partners to refining messaging and internal workflows, I bring both strategic and cultural fluency.
In Japan, trust takes time, transparency is often indirect, and internal teams may hesitate to challenge decisions or surface bad news. Having worked with early-stage and scaling businesses, I help leadership teams recognize and overcome these communication gaps, while building strategies that resonate locally.
I also understand the challenges of hiring in Japan — particularly the difficulty of attracting and retaining qualified talent. My work goes beyond market insights: I support leadership in making clear, confident decisions around whether, when, and how to enter, grow, or scale back operations in Japan.
Alongside my advisory work, I also run a café and roastery with my husband in Shizuoka, which keeps me connected to everyday business realities and consumer behavior in regional Japan. If you’re looking for someone who can bridge global strategy with on-the-ground insight — and support you with clear, culturally fluent guidance — I’d be happy to explore how I can help.
Working with global SaaS, Data Security, HRTech leaders, and consumer brands — including IBM, Indeed, Hays, Elasticsearch, Rubrik, Blackline, Getty Images, and more.
“We conducted our second Letsboot.ch workshop with Keiko Asakura in Tokyo, Japan. Keiko gave us very valuable insights into the Japanese IT market and helped us with our first steps to set foot with Letsboot in Japan.
If you need help with market entry in Japan, Keiko is the pro to reach out.
Thank you for all of your support!”
Barbara Felix
Letsboot, CEO & Co-Founder
“Sending this note of thanks for all your hard work and efforts for the recently concluded project. We wouldn't have been able to do it without you. Thank you for being constantly available and reliable amidst your busy schedule -- from leading the focus group to audience and category research, to briefing and collaborating closely with the partner, etc etc... also for your strong presentation skills, and always steering the team to focus on what clients needed to hear from the business perspective. All these gave our final pitch an extra edge. I enjoyed working together and look forward to collaborating again soon.”
Roana Brito
R/GA, Group Strategy Director
No problem at all. Many clients begin with a one-off Strategy Call or Quick Scan to clarify their direction and determine the most suitable level of support. If you're navigating market entry, considering a pivot, or facing internal questions around Japan strategy, this session is a great starting point.
Not at all. I work with companies at every stage — including those already in Japan who are refining their strategy, repositioning their business, or even considering an exit. Whether you're scaling up, adjusting your local presence, or just need a second opinion, I can help.
Yes. Every engagement is scoped based on your current team setup, decision timelines, and available resources. Some clients need a short-term hands-on push, while others prefer light, ongoing advisory support. I offer flexible options to match your need.
I'm fully remote and experienced working with distributed teams across North America, Europe, and APAC. I adjust my communication to fit your internal workflows (e.g. Slack, Notion, Google Docs), and I bring local insight without requiring in-person presence.
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