Focus of Our Operations
Japan Economy in 2025
After years of deflation, the Japanese economy has finally entered a new era of inflation. Yet that has not changed the stagnant mood clouding the society.
The Upper House election in July 2025 was not a competition for convincing growth strategies. The opposition parties curiously chorused for a reduction of the 10% consumption tax, leaving fears about the negative impact on government bonds and the Japanese yen.
Long-awaited restructuring of the business sector has not really taken place, and general production costs remain high. The country has become an accessible destination for most tourists, but the ease of doing business is as mediocre as before.
Despite insufficient change in the environment, however, more and more businesses want to work with overseas companies. The effect of ageing society has become more palpable, and many local operators feel that the domestic market is shrinking. The problem is that most SMEs do not have the means to venture into overseas markets or collaborate with foreign businesses.
We believe what Japan has accumulated for many years is still relevant to the world and could make a difference in your business. There are many products and know-how to be discovered and exploited. Japan needs your inspiration.
Strategic Alliance with Japanese Enterprises
They increasingly value overseas partners with deep market intelligence
Renowned Japanese manufacturing expertise is supported by manual works of skilled engineers or artisans. Products are often made by an industry cluster rather than a single factory. Many manufacturers have developed a meticulous system of collaboration and quality control.
In Japan, manufacturing is not for volume, and the production cost remains high. Our experiences suggest that, for anything sourced from Japan, viable products for export are almost always high value-added ones. Often, processed materials, rather than final products. It is rather difficult to materialise outbound operations of commodity-type products.
The challenges
Small-scale manufactures are likely to prefer to communicate in Japanese. This implies that they are not familiar with cross-border operations. It is quite common to have frequent liaison communication just to understand the scope of project even before talking about product specifications.
Another challenge is to wade through Japan’s complex distribution system. Manufactures may be reluctant to sell directly to you. The key is to understand the roles of trading companies, to which manufactures outsource storage and distribution. Dealing with such intermediaries requires a lot of local knowledge.
The Categories
High-End Manufacturing Goods
Processed Materials for Apparel, Healthcare, Homeware.
Exquisite Traditional Crafts
Sourcing for Your Niche Market
There may be undiscovered items somewhere in the long-stretched archipelago
Renowned Japanese manufacturing expertise is supported by manual works of skilled engineers or artisans. Products are often made by an industry cluster rather than a single factory. Many manufacturers have developed a meticulous system of collaboration and quality control.
In Japan, manufacturing is not for volume, and the production cost remains high. Our experiences suggest that, for anything sourced from Japan, viable products for export are almost always high value-added ones. Often, processed materials, rather than final products. It is rather difficult to materialise outbound operations of commodity-type products.
The challenges
Small-scale manufactures are likely to prefer to communicate in Japanese. This implies that they are not familiar with cross-border operations. It is quite common to have frequent liaison communication just to understand the scope of project even before talking about product specifications.
Another challenge is to wade through Japan’s complex distribution system. Manufactures may be reluctant to sell directly to you. The key is to understand the roles of trading companies, to which manufactures outsource storage and distribution. Dealing with such intermediaries requires a lot of local knowledge.
The Categories
High-End Manufacturing Goods
Processed Materials for Apparel, Healthcare, Homeware.
Exquisite Traditional Crafts
Product Development for Your Brand
Leverage local manufactures’ expertise to create special ‘Made in Japan’ products
Along with well-known meticulous production processes and rigid quality control, one of the advantages of developing products in Japan is flexibility in quantity. Since many of the mass production lines have moved to China or other Asian countries, manufacturers that remain here tend to offer small-lot production and high-quality products.
With a Japanese textile manufacturer, for example, you can often order fabric in quantities starting from 1,000 metres. In China, the typical minimum order quantity starts from 10,000 metres. The same happens in other industries as well. Here, the cost is obviously higher. Yet, this may still feel attractive, especially when you are looking for high-quality products for selected customers.
Strengths
We are based in Osaka and know the city’s industry clusters. For textile, machinery, and advanced materials, the city is acclaimed to have a constellation of small and medium-sized manufacturers that are supplying parts, components, and final products to much larger multinational enterprises.
The Categories
Bespoke Handmade Creations
OEM Partnerships for Exceptional Quality
Strategic Market Entry in Tokyo & Osaka
The country needs your inspiration more than ever
The country still maintains solid manufacturing industries focusing on high value-added products. The rapid depreciation of the local currency during and after the pandemic has made items and services more affordable. We believe that having a business entity or a reliable local partner allows you to have a closer look at what is valuable for your business.
Meanwhile, the same depreciation has clearly weakened the purchasing power of the local population, especially for imported goods. So, it may not be the best moment to expand to Japan to sell goods and services.
Strengths
We originally started as a consulting arm of Kano Legal Office, a solicitor’s office in Osaka that dealt with incorporation, property registration, and inheritance.
Our own experiences as an importer and an exporter help us to guide you through the complex web of the local distribution system.
The Categories
Tailored Expansion Strategies
Incorporation
Local Operations in Tokyo and Osaka
Learn how Travesia can add value to your business development
Contact us
info@travesia.jp
Namba Naka 1-10-4, Naniwa-ku,
Osaka 556-0011, Japan
+81 (0)6-6645-0145