Narra無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr: Doing Good, Doing Well is a series of podcasts from the Japan External Trade Organization or JETRO, targeting businesspeople interested in investing in or considering expanding in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japan. JETRO is a governmental organization promoting investment in Japan and business partnerships between Japan and the world.

無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday’s society confronts a wide range of problems, including climate change, energy issues and aging populations. Companies and organizations around the world are tackling fresh challenges in an effort 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック solve these problems.

In this series, we bring you interviews with forerunners at foreign-affiliated companies that have established bases in Japan and are working on solutions.

無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday’s theme is Sustainability Starts with Good Taste.

A food tech company from Singapore has arrived, with a mission 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック up-cycle surplus food.

What challenge is Crust Japan tackling 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック create a better future? Let’s find out.

Ayaka Kadotani: Hello everyone. I'm your naviga無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr Ayaka Kadotani. 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday I have the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Travin Singh, CEO of CRUST Group. CRUST Group is a food-tech company founded in Singapore in 2019 with a Japanese subsidiary established in February 2021. I'll be asking questions regarding the group’s business and its entry in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the Japanese market. Travin, welcome 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the show.

Travin Singh: Yeah, thanks for having me. Very nice 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be here.

Ayaka: First up, can you quickly explain what exactly CRUST Group's business entails?

Travin: Yeah, sure. So basically everyday we throw out surplus food. Food that is basically still good 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック eat, but a lot of companies actually just still cut them, right? So the CRUST Group up-cycles this surplus food in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック different products, such as beverages and we basically transform this surplus in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック products of higher quality. So what we call them is valorization.

Ayaka: Right.

Travin: For example, we ferment the sugars in fruits, bread, rice and so on 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック convert them in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック alcohol. So for instance, for CRUST's side it is beer. So that's how we develop our products such as CRUST beer brewed from lef無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックver bread. In Japan, we call it CRUST LAGER and CROP, you know basically a non-alcoholic beverage from fruit peels and in Japan, we actually use Amanatsu. So 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック create these products we connect with a wide range of partners, we share our awareness and values as well, such as companies that provide us with these lef無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックver bread and also farmers who provide fruit peels that would otherwise be discarded. We couldn’t do what we do without this collaboration. In addition 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック making these B2C products, a big part of what we do is B2B business.

Ayaka: Yeah.

Travin: For example, CRUST Group collects food loss from large facilities such as supermarkets, hotels and we also up-cycles it for them. Our mission as a company is 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック reduce worldwide food loss by 1% by 2030. 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック that end, we do collect data as well on how well we reduce food loss and how much we contribute 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック reducing CO2 emissions, and we actually share this data with our partners as well.

Ayaka: That is fantastic. So I understand that the idea of up-cycling food waste and loss in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック beverage products comes from a certain sense of awareness about some of the issues that we have in the world right now. Can you tell me a bit about that?

Resources

Ayaka: Right, that's definitely a huge amount and that's something we'll need 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック work on right now. So what do you think is necessary 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック solve such issues?

Travin: So as mentioned earlier, CRUST Group's target is 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック reduce 1% of global food loss by 2030. Of course, reaching that goal will depend more heavily on collaboration than on competition. We also have a goal in the company, like the way we look at the future, we believe that a future on food should be more collaborative and less competitive. And you know our efforts 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック promote our up-cycling business depends critically on collaboration with a wide variety of organizations. You know one company like CRUST alone, we can only do so much. You know we're also not naive right, so we know that we probably need 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック collaborate with a lot more other companies right, each one of us leveraging on our own strengths. We can potentially then achieve our goals you know that were once thought impossible.

Ayaka: Sure.

Travin: Then at the same time, the need for collaboration is also the main reason why our business is primarily B2B. In the last 30 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック 40 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック 50 years, the beverage industry hasn't really changed much and a lot of companies focus on just selling their own brand. You know so for us, B2B has been and also will continue 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be like our main model. And you know we adopt a holistic approach, mostly taking a bird's eye view of an entire supply chain and ecosystem while we partner with a lot of different partners and organizations, not only 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック just like up-cycle the surplus, but also we also look at what's within the market and what is certain produce that we can even use as a substitute for your traditional raw materials 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック make any kind of beverage. Then we also do gather and publish data on our business results and their impact on the environment. You know we basically want CRUST Group 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be the corners無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックne for solutions for up-cycling in any market that we are actually in and we want 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be able 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック show a lot of the other F&B (Food&Beverage) partners that there are definitely much better ways 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック do things and we don't have 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be a detriment 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the environment as we scale.

Ayaka: Well, I love how data-driven you are and how well you collaborate with different partners. It's so amazing. So you established CRUST Japan, your Japanese affiliate in 2021. What led 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック that move?

Other

Ayaka: Well that's great 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック hear. It seems like you’re enjoying your adventure. So what makes the Japanese market distinctive in your view?

Travin: The size. I mean, Singapore is a very small market. It's a great place for inves無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr relations, test market and all but Japan is where you can actually really scale the model. I think just the size alone right and also because of the culture that I mentioned earlier, the concept of not having food waste, makes this market a lot more interesting for CRUST Group as well.

Ayaka: Right.

Travin: And when I talk about size right, a lot of the convenience s無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックres here is in hundreds and in thousands of locations right. Not just convenience s無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックres, but supermarkets, hotels, you know even F&B groups, for example. And you know so that's why I also want CRUST 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック become more advanced and improve our skill sets faster right so that we can respond 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the Japan market. And Japan also has a lot of their own produce right, so the opportunity for us 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック actually come in and help a lot of the farmers you know could be a lot more fulfilling for us at the same time, because in Singapore, we actually import about 95% of our produce.

Ayaka: Well that's fantastic. So much good insight about the Japanese market, there are so many things that I didn't even notice from the perspective of a person who has been living here all my life. Thank you for that. So what are some things that you value the most 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック keep your Japan business on track?

Travin: So I think in Japan, or any other market we're in, we actually want 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック pioneer a movement and because of sustainability. But it's not just sustainability that we stand for. Our B2B model is also very different. Every other beverage company worldwide, they usually only make products for themselves, whereas for us, we actually do the same, but we also focus on the B2B model, because we believe that future of food should be more collaborative and less competitive. And aside from pioneering a movement and also the B2B concept, what we actually focus on is hyper local. In Japan you have 4 islands and 47 prefectures so it's going 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be super interesting for us 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック work with different prefectures and up-cycle the surplus in those prefectures 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック make like a prefecture-focused CRUST or CROP. It could also potentially tie back 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックurism maybe.

Ayaka: Sure.

Travin: In the future. So everything I've mentioned, I think one of the biggest focus that we have in the Japan market is that we don’t want people 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック look at us as a Singapore-company setting up a shop in Japan.

Ayaka: Right.

Travin: You know we want people 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック understand that CRUST Japan is a Japanese company for the Japanese market 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック up-cycle the food waste in Japan, 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック reduce food waste in Japan, 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック create Japanese driven products for consumption in Japan. So I think that's what we stand for and we hope that that would be the way forward for us in the future.

Ayaka: Well that's brilliant. I love the way you're cus無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックmizing yourself in order 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック really cater 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the Japanese market and consumers.

Travin: Yeah.

Ayaka: So you have been active in the Japanese market for about 2 years now. By now you must be getting a sense of how the market responds 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック you and resonates with you. Could you tell us about your business performance at this time and about your future outlook?

Travin: Yeah, I think so far, we have already collaborated with quite a number of big companies, like Japan Agriculture Group, I無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックchu, Kokubu, even a few hotels like Aman 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックkyo is one of them as well. We just launched CROP in 82 Natural Lawsons locations in 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックkyo and yeah, I think all-in-all, it's been good. Of course, it can definitely be much better but aside from just entering and working with big players, we've also been looking at different prefectures as I mentioned previously, working with different government organizations also, so we have started even a Kitakyushu project where we up-cycle 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックma無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックes from Kyushu in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック beer. And yeah so, so far so good, there's still so much more for us 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック do, a lot more 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック achieve and I think 2023 would probably be a really good growth year for us but we have 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック solve quite a number of other small nitty-gritty stuff probably in the next one 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック three more months. And we definitely do make beverages, the whole world knows what we do, but aside from that, when you make beer, you have the by-products of beer and it's called spent grain. And right now, in Japan, we have even worked with I think about 5 or 6 different contract manufacturers, and they all have their own spent grain.

Ayaka: Right.

Travin: So what we have done is, we have done some early stage R&D (Research & Development) 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック actually convert our spent grain in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック a pancake mix, for example. So that could potentially be another part of the business that we want 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック enter. But the next 1 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック 2 years in both Singapore and Japan, the beverage business will be the main focus.

Ayaka: Fantastic. You got the specific plan already and really excited 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック see what happens next.

Travin: Yeah, me 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックo, because even I have no idea.

Ayaka: Finally, do you have any message and advice for other global companies considering 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック enter in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the Japanese market?

Travin: So for me personally, when we were entering the Japanese market, we actually got a lot of help from JETRO. You know so they actually matched us up with different businesses, men無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックrs, partners, etc. Setting any companies entering in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japan can always look 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック JETRO for some additional help.

Ayaka: Right.

Travin: Especially for market entry. And you know some of the advantages of the Japanese market is that first and foremost, it's a really big market. And secondly, it's really high in quality control. So if you can do well here in Japan, then you can probably do well in most parts outside of Japan.

Ayaka: Well that's great advice.

Travin: Thank you.

Ayaka: So that takes us 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the end of the show. Thank you so much for joining us 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday, Travin.

Travin: Yeah, thanks for having me and it's truly an honor and I think lastly, thanks for the opportunity 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック share more about CRUST Japan.

Narra無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr: Crust Japan creates delicious solutions 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the problem of food loss and waste. What did you think of the s無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックry of its entry in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japan?

We hope 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday’s episode provided you with some inspiration on how 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック seize the business opportunities available in Japan.

無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック learn more detailed information on entering the Japanese market or collaborating with Japanese companies, be sure 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック visit the JETRO website and our social media pages on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

In future installments of Doing Good, Doing Well, we’ll continue 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック bring you interviews with key people in a wide variety of companies. Thank you for listening and see you in our next episode!

Narra無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr: Doing Good, Doing Well is a series of podcasts from the Japan External Trade Organization or JETRO, targeting businesspeople interested in investing in or considering expanding in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japan. JETRO is a governmental organization promoting investment in Japan and business partnerships between Japan and the world.

無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday’s society confronts a wide range of problems, including climate change, energy issues and aging populations. Companies and organizations around the world are tackling fresh challenges in an effort 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック solve these problems.

In this series, we bring you interviews with forerunners at foreign-affiliated companies that have established bases in Japan and are working on solutions.

無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday’s theme is Unleashing the Potential of Women in Japan.

A foundation from the United States has arrived, offering programs 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック foster women leaders in Japan.

What challenge is Fish Family Foundation tackling 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック create a better future? Let’s find out.

Ayaka Kadotani: Hello, everyone. I'm your naviga無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr Ayaka Kadotani. 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday we’re talking 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Ms. Kozue Sawame, Direc無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr of Japan Program at the Fish Family Foundation. The Bos無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックn-based foundation established a representative office in 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックkyo in 2019. We’ll talk about a wide range of 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックpics related 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the establishment of a base of operations in Japan. Very nice 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック meet you, Kozue.

Kozue Sawame: Nice 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック meet you, Ayaka.

Ayaka: I understand that the Fish Family Foundation trains and supports Japanese women in active leadership roles. 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック start off, would you tell us how it all started?

Kozue: The Fish Family Foundation is a Boston-based private foundation. Through philanthropy, we support undocumented immigrants in Boston and women leaders in Japan. I'm in charge of the foundation's Japan program called the JWLI, the Japanese Women's Leadership Initiative which started back in 2006. Since then, we have focused on women non-profit executives, social entrepreneurs and expanded by launching three other programs, the Champion of Change Japan Award in 2017, JWLI Bootcamp in 2019 and JWLI Scholarship in 2021. Our alumni community now includes 150 women leaders who graduated our programs so far. Here is how it all started. Our founder, Atsuko Fish left Japan in 1980, 42 years ago. Fast forward into 2005, Atsuko returned to Japan accompanying her friend who was giving a talk in Tokyo. Her friend was the president of a global public health organization, and the talk was about women's issues and challenges in Asian countries, for instance, girl's education, reproductive health and access to contraceptives in developing countries in Asia. During the Q&A many many women in the audience raised their hands, which I understand is very rare in Japan and asked the same question, "What about women in Japan? Is there anything you can do for us?" So that's when our founder Atsuko Fish came to the realization that nothing has changed for women in Japan since she had left the country in 1980. As soon as Atsuko returned to Boston, she and two other friends sat down and came up with the concept of JWLI.

Ayaka: I see. Wow, that's quite a s無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックry.

Kozue: It is.

Ayaka: So one of the pillars of your work is the JWLI, Japanese Women’s Leadership Initiative program. What do participants learn in this program?

Kozue: What do they learn? That's an important question. So the JWLI is our flagship program started back in 2006. It’s a two year women's leadership program for women non-profit executives and women entrepreneurs for social change in Japan. At the beginning of the two years, four fellows stay in Bos無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックn for four weeks, a month. This four-week training is the core of JWLI. And through the four weeks, the fellows gain confidence 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック lead, acquire knowledge and experience 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック manage and develop their action plan for social change. In Bos無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックn, they visit non-profits and social entrepreneurs 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック learn best practices. We also partner with Babson College, the college in Bos無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックn that has ranked number one in the study of entrepreneurship among all colleges and universities in the US.

Ayaka: Oh wow.

Kozue: Our fellows participate in Babson's program, a very prestigious five-day women's leadership program and on 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックp of these, the fellows develop their action plan 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック present twice in Bos無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックn and 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be executed in Japan with a men無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr. So as I said, the four weeks in Bos無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックn are the core of the program and we create this world, almost like a cocoon away from their daily lives, responsibilities and expectations. So this is the world where they can focus on only themselves and what they want 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック do. So the fellows spend these 4 weeks constantly asking themselves what it is that they want 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック do, what their contribution 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック society is and what their callings maybe. So these four weeks are crucial as these women leaders never ever have a moment like this.

Ayaka: Right.

Kozue: And through the four weeks, JWLI becomes their source of confidence. I want the fellows 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック think like this: "Because I survived Bos無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックn, I can do anything, and I can overcome any challenge after this." So when I think about JWLI, I think about how my parents taught me how 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック ski. On my very first skies at my feet, they brought me 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックp of a mountain and pushed me. They literally pushed me from the 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックp of a mountain, I fell and I rolled but I managed 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック bring myself down 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the bot無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックm of the mountain and I was a bit less scared and more confident. That's what we're trying 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック do. JWLI may be a hard, long, 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックugh program but we believe if you survived this program, you can and will survive any challenge after that. You may fall and roll like I did, but it’s okay. It's okay 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック fall but it’s not okay not 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック try. We talk a lot about failure so that we can build a strong immune system against it. Failure is okay and it’s good because it’s a chance 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック learn and grow.

Ayaka: Right. Well it's kind of interesting that how you compare it 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック survival. It sounds like a really 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックugh program, but I'm really interested.

Kozue: Good. I'm glad.

Ayaka: Yeah, so how would you compare the strengths and characteristics of the JWLI program with the efforts of other companies, organizations and so on?

Kozue: I think about two of our strengths for this question: our philosophy and our alumni community. Our philosophy is open, positive, and inclusive, and our alumni community is based on this philosophy. With four programs graduating about 30 women leaders every year, our alumni community grew 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック include 150 graduates. These 150 women are mainly non-profit executives and social entrepreneurs but also some from the private and government sec無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックrs as well. So it's an extremely diverse group of women ranging from 30 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック 80 years old.

Ayaka: Wow.

Kozue: Located all over Japan from Hokkaido all the way 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Okinawa. And we now call this community the JWLI Ecosystem because it's much more than a community. It's an ecosystem with highly engaged members sharing their ideas, exchanging resources and collaboration. With our philosophy of open, positive, inclusive, this ecosystem is exactly that. With a lifelong connection and where these women leaders feel safe and support. And we do this for these women leaders, and we invest so much in them, financially and non-financially, and with our founders of the foundation being a banker for his entire career, we also ask for return of our investment as well. Our philosophy of our foundation is that in any situation in any circumstances, even for philanthropic reasons, we should ask and expect for return of investment. And when it comes 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック JWLI, and for these women leaders, what we expect as our return of investment is social change. These women are working, addressing issues most oppressing in their communities and 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック help solve these issues is their social change. So what we ask and expect as our return of investment is social change led by these women leaders all over Japan.

Ayaka: Wow, that's so impressive and you're so purpose-driven. I love it.

Kozue: Great.

Ayaka: How would you describe the environment for women in the Japanese society 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday?

Kozue: That's a very good question and it’s a hard one. We have come a long way. In 2005 when our founder Atsuko Fish first approached a number of organizations in Japan with a concept of JWLI for partnership, she was stared at like she had three heads. No one paid attention 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック women's empowerment, and women's leadership back then. But look at me now. I'm sitting here, being interviewed by JETRO. And also, Atsuko and our program were featured on one of the largest newspapers on their front page a few months ago. Internally looking at the progress within the country, we have come a long way. But there is still much 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be done. And Japan's progress is slow, I think. We're severely afraid of failure and we're reluctant 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック do anything new. As a society, not just for only women, but also men and others like those with disabilities, immigrants and refugees and LGBTQ individuals, Japan's society needs 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be more open and inclusive. And the flip side of high fear for failure and low representation by women means that this is an opportunity for women, but also for others as well. But especially women must act and try. Women must act and try. Women in Japan are highly educated and talented and they must unleash their potentials. What's worst is not 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック try at all. You will never ever know until you try. And remember, failure is good and it is a chance 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック learn and grow.

Ayaka: I 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックtally agree. So tell us about some of the positive impacts there will be for the Japanese society when more women become active leaders?

Kozue: One of the positive impacts, I think, is diversity. And I think the country needs it desperately. Any country, any company, any organization that lacks diversity will be stale in its thinking and imagination. They will eventually stagger in its motion and activity. Diversity is the key 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japan. And I don't mean it just women, but also including others like those with disabilities, immigrants and refugees and LGBTQ individuals and so on. And also, Japan is facing a labor shortage. So why not tap in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック women? Like I said before, women in Japan are highly educated and talented and experienced. So why not use their talents instead of wasting them? So I think these are the positive impacts that women leaders and women can bring in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japan.

Ayaka: That is so true, absolutely. So you’ve been operating out of your foundation’s headquarters in Bos無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックn since 2006. What led 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック your decision 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック establish a representative office in 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックkyo in 2019?

Kozue: So I'm excited 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック talk about this because JWLI has been expanding significantly in the last several years, starting with CCJA (Champions of Change Japan Award) in 2017 and the JWLI Bootcamp in 2019. With the JWLI program held in Bos無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックn in English, we've been asked so many times for the last several years for a program 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be held in Japan in Japanese. Also, as JWLI expanded, our alumni community grew, and our presence increased as well. So we needed a permanent presence in Japan instead of our founder and myself flying 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japan a few times a year for short stays. We wanted 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック seize the opportunity and leverage the momentum. So we now have an amazing representative, Yuki Kusano, based in 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックkyo, and our alumni community's more engaged, thanks 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック her. And JF’s CCJA is celebrating its 6th year this year, and after two years of hiatus, we've finally brought the JWLI Bootcamp back this year in person, so I cannot be happier that we opened the 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックkyo office.

Ayaka: That's fantastic. Congratulations.

Kozue: Thank you.

Ayaka: So what challenges did you face in setting up your base of operations in Japan?

Kozue: Good question. I've been in the US for the last 18 years and I'm pretty much American at this point. And I'm completely lost when it comes 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japanese business cus無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックms or tax law or labor law, so it was extremely challenging 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック open an office all the way from Bos無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックn without anyone on the ground in Japan. It was just pretty much myself. But that's where JETRO came in. Thankfully for me, I was introduced 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック a JETRO representative in New York, who then connected me 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック JETRO Japan. Their support was invaluable. Without it, I don't think I was able 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック open an office so quickly in several months. JETRO has a wide range of resources and connections in Japan and that's what we got for free. Everything was free, from multiple consultations with experts like an accountant and labor lawyer, introduction 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック banks 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック open bank accounts which can be impossible for anyone outside Japan and also office space. We received all of these help for free. And these introductions by JETRO 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック experts and banks were crucial and those opened a lot of doors for me and for us. What I want 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック thank most is also the support I received from my point person. I actually had two of them, and both of them were culturally sensitive, knowledgeable, flexible and accommodating and most importantly, reliable.

Ayaka: Wow, that's so impressive.

Kozue: Yeah.

Ayaka: JETRO is your life-saver.

Kozue: Exactly, we got very lucky.

Ayaka: Yeah. So it is now three years since you established your Japanese base. How has female leader's position changed in Japanese society during that time?

Kozue: I continue to be hopeful for the advancement of women leaders in Japan. The past 3 years have been tough for women in the pandemic. For instance, many women leaders in our community are non-profit executives and social entrepreneurs, and in the wake of Covid, many issues have become more evident. Like single mother's poverty, food insecurity and social isolation among the elderly. And our community members, women leaders were addressing those. And as a testament, CCJA, one of our programs has received 203 applications last year, which was the record-breaking number. And I think that this means more needs for women leaders. We also started the JWLI Scholarship last year, a program that offers full tuition and live-in stipend for Japan based immigrants and refugee women for equal access to higher education. This is an encouraging sign of Japan becoming more diverse. These are amazing young women, they are fluent in Japanese, academically and creatively talented and most importantly, multi-lingual and multi-cultural. Another area that we focus on is women's leadership in rural Japan. I myself was born and raised in a small town in Hokkaido, so I know how difficult and isolating and frustrating at times it can be as women. Women are pillars in our community in rural Japan and their strong leadership is crucial. Our JWLI Bootcamp is a 3-day training for women leaders in rural Japan and instills the essence of our Boston training in 3 short days in Japanese in Japan. We have done 4 Bootcamps so far in Nagoya, Ishinomaki, Osaka and Tokushima and for each location, we've received 20 to 30 applications for 10 seats. As I said about CCJA, women leaders are in all over Japan from Hokkaido to Ishigaki and they are making a difference. So like I said before, there’s so much to be done and the progress is frustratingly slow. But I continue to be hopeful for women’s leadership in Japan.

Ayaka: But that’s so impressive and it seems like the future is bright for us.

Kozue: I hope so. Keeping fingers crossed.

Ayaka: Yeah. Finally, can you share any advice for female leaders overseas who are considering setting up their business in Japan?

Kozue: Yes, of course. As you know, Japan is an amazing country with so much potential. As much as I focus on women in Japan, I want you, yes, I’m talking 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック you, women outside Japan. I want you 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック enter Japan with your businesses and organizations and get help from JETRO. They are the best. You will be role models for Japanese women, break gender-based barriers and preconceptions and most importantly, you are the very diversity the country needs.

Ayaka: Exactly. Thank you so much Kozue. That's been so inspiring.

Kozue: Thank you, Ayaka and thank you JETRO for the opportunity. This has been amazing for me as well.

Narra無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr: The Fish Family Foundation broadens horizons for Japanese women. What did you think of the s無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックry of its entry in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japan?

We hope 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday’s episode provided you with some inspiration on how 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック seize the business opportunities available in Japan.

無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック learn more detailed information on entering the Japanese market or collaborating with Japanese companies, be sure 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック visit the JETRO website and our social media pages on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

In future installments of Doing Good, Doing Well, we’ll continue 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック bring you interviews with key people in a wide variety of companies. Thank you for listening and see you in our next episode!

Narra無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr: Doing Good, Doing Well is a series of podcasts from the Japan External Trade Organization or JETRO, targeting businesspeople interested in investing in or considering expanding in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japan. JETRO is a governmental organization promoting investment in Japan and business partnerships between Japan and the world.

無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday’s society confronts a wide range of problems, including climate change, energy issues and aging populations. Companies and organizations around the world are tackling fresh challenges in an effort 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック solve these problems.

In this series, we bring you interviews with forerunners at foreign-affiliated companies that have established bases in Japan and are working on solutions.

無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday’s theme is Bringing smiles 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック logistics businesses.

A startup company has arrived from the United States, determined 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック advance Digital Transformation in the transportation industry.

What challenge is Wise Systems Japan tackling 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック create a better future? Let’s find out.

Ayaka Kadotani: Hello, everyone! I'm your naviga無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr, Ayaka Kadotani. 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday, I have the pleasure of speaking with Keiichiro Araihara, Country Manager for Wise Systems Japan, which was founded in January 2021. We’re going 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック talk about how Wise Systems is revolutionizing the shipping industry and how it entered the Japanese market. Thank you for joining us, Kei.

Keiichiro Araihara: Nice 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック meet you.

Ayaka: So, first, can you quickly talk about what Wise Systems’ business is all about? Please describe your operations and corporate philosophy.

Keiichiro: Wise Systems, which spun out of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Media Lab in 2014, was founded with the purpose of using data 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック transform the distribution of goods and services. As the volume of deliveries explodes with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the expansion of online shopping, the delivery experience until the arrival of goods is becoming very important. In the U.S., where our headquarters is located, packages frequently fail 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック arrive on schedule, but people used 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック live with that. In recent years, however, that perception has been changing dramatically, and cus無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックmers are demanding increasingly higher quality from deliveries. Under these circumstances, the transportation industry is facing various problems, such as manual delivery routing, shortage of drivers, and the time required for new drivers 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック get accus無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックmed 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック delivery routes. Wise Systems is a delivery route au無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックmation solution that uses AI technology 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック create optimal delivery plans and capture real-time situations.

Ayaka: Right. That was quite a comprehensive description of your company. Thank you for introducing. Now, let's dive a bit deeper. What does Wise Systems offer that we don’t see in other companies?

Keiichiro: For the transportation industry, the most important thing when delivering packages 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック cus無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックmers is which route is most efficient and ensures reliable delivery. The delivery time consists of two main parts: first is the driving time 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the cus無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックmer's place, and the second is the time 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック park the car, take out the package and bring it 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the cus無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックmer. Wise Systems focuses on the delivery process’s second "non-driving" part. For example, the driver must wait for another truck in front of the line 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック finish unloading, or the cargo volume is large and takes time 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック complete the delivery. These processes could take up 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック 30 minutes or an hour. Our system learns what happened after the car was parked, how long it 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックok, the impact of the number and size of packages, and many other fac無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックrs. It allows us 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック improve the accuracy of the following delivery and reasonably design the driver's daily schedule. That is our strength.

Ayaka: That sounds like a pretty innovating solution, and thank you for sharing so many of the behind-the-scenes efforts. So, what sorts of social issues related 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the transportation industry can we solve by introducing Wise Systems solutions?

Keiichiro: The transportation industry is facing operational efficiency issues due 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック driver shortages, deteriorating working conditions for the driver, increasing vehicle mileage and CO2 emissions, and delays in digital transformation. We are also facing the last one-mile delivery issue. First of all, not so many people want 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック become a driver. In this regard, most drivers are male in their 40s 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック 60s or older. And there is a concern about a future shortage of human resources if the older people retire without young professionals in their 20s 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック replace them. If the current situation continues, this generation gap will make it difficult 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック pass on the know-how and skills of delivery 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the youth. Assuming that the number of young or female drivers will increase in the future, it is necessary 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック create a system 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック familiarize them with the delivery business. Wise Systems' solutions, which one can use with a web browser and a smartphone, can help not only drivers new 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the transportation industry, but also dispatchers and operation managers overcome the various barriers they face.

Ayaka: Right. It's pretty interesting how you're going 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック solve the human resources issues that currently exist in the transportation industry. Would you tell us a bit more about some of the other issues that you have right now, such as the CO2 reduction and digital transformation?

Keiichiro: Administra無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックrs spend a lot of time, such as manually preparing transportation plans and responding 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック unexpected incidents on site. Before, telephone calls were the only way 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック obtain real-time information on the driver’s location, how many deliveries had been completed and how many more 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック go, and what the driver would do next. Digitalization enables this information 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be managed centrally on a computer, significantly improving business efficiency. Also, repeated re-delivery leads 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック higher vehicle fuel consumption, which increases costs. At the same time, there is an urgent need 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック reduce CO2 emissions. Of course, reducing travel distance during delivery can decrease vehicle fuel consumption and thus contribute 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック cutting CO2 emissions. As an example, with our system, our U.S. cus無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックmer has reduced delivery delays by 80% and travel distance by 15%, thus decreasing CO2 emissions. We have also seen cases such as a 20% improvement in truck usage efficiency.

Ayaka: Wow, I'm so impressed. It seems like you can actually solve a lot of issues that we have currently in the society, if you use the service. It's amazing. Thank you for sharing that. Now, I was also wondering why Wide Systems decided 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック enter the Japanese market in 2021. What were some of the reasons that led 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック that decision?

Keiichiro: When considering business expansion in the world, including Asia, the U.S. headquarters thought of growth and success in Japan as a significant miles無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックne 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック achieve. The company chose Japan as a destination because of the high-quality standards and sensitivity required for products and services in Japan, which would provide an opportunity for further refinement and growth of our services. Another key fac無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr was our decision 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック partner with Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, which is part of Daimler Trucks. Currently, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus is in charge of our marketing and sales activities in Japan, as well as the initial stages of cus無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックmer support.

Ayaka: I see, so you 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックok business in Japan as an opportunity for growth. That's pretty interesting. Thank you. Now, I 'd like 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック ask you about you personally. What events led 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック your involvement in Wise Systems’ entry in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japan?

Keiichiro: Delivery drivers who delivered my online purchases 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック my home always looked as if they were tired and somehow pressed for time. I was interested in Wise Systems because I felt that their system could change drivers’ working environment and make them work with a smile. Wise Systems is a "doc無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr for people in the transportation industry." We want 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック know what your problems are, what we can do 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック solve them, and what we can do 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック help you regain your health. We want everyone 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック enjoy working with smiling faces. It will also allow companies 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック make profits without strain and use them for investment in new things. The transportation industry is the backbone of Japanese business. If it can become healthy and competitive, not only companies but also Japan's entire society will be able 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック move forward in a sustainable direction.

Ayaka: Yes, definitely, sustainability is one thing we all need think about right now. But I really love how much you value making people happy. So, thank you for sharing that. Now, what were some of the challenges that you faced when establishing the base of operations in Japan?

Keiichiro: I could say that everything was a challenge. For example, when you try 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック open an account with a Japanese bank, the bank will spend a lot of time examining how 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック evaluate your company. Furthermore, a company cannot be run by salespeople and engineers alone; there are many less visible things, such as social insurance and bookkeeping. It 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックok us many work hours just 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック figure out what needed 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be done, including the differences between Japan and the United States, and 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック deal with them. Nevertheless, when I was appointed the representative of the Japanese subsidiary, corporate registration, opening a bank account and other things had already been completed 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックgether with a labor and social security at無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックrney. I believe this is a testament 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the great service and support we received from JETRO's incorporation consulting service. Now, in addition 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック myself, we have more engineers, but hiring them was not without difficulties. From the applicant’s perspective, they would think twice before applying for a position at a newly established company in Japan that had only begun 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック build a business track record. However, if you look at this situation and think that "I am going 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック create the structure and achievements from scratch," it may have been the best environment for you.

Ayaka: Right. It seems like you're really welcoming all the challenges and you're enjoying yourselves. Pretty exciting, thank you. Now it’s been about a year and a half since you set up your shop here. What kinds of responses and reactions have you had in developing Wise Systems in Japan? And what have you noticed in particular?

Keiichiro: There is still room for innovation in the Japanese transportation industry by promoting digitalization. Many people are already using computers, but only for creating documents in Excel, and they are facing challenges, especially in terms of improving the dispatchers’ efficiency of delivery route planning. With its ability 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック manage everything digitally and centrally, Wise Systems could solve this problem. Still, people who introduce the system are concerned about whether they will be able 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック handle it themselves. For these reasons, our business has yet 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be smooth sailing. We need 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be patient now. The key 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック success in Japan will be whether we can attract cus無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックmers who feel digitalization is necessary and convert them 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック adopt the Wise Systems. From the standpoint of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), companies that use vehicles need 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック take measures against global warming, such as considering the introduction of EVs and introducing systems 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック improve the efficiency of vehicle use. 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック this end, we would like 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック promote our systems in cooperation with Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation.

Ayaka: Right. Fantastic. Do you have any other commitments for the future?

Keiichiro: Software localization is also important. If you just bring the software from abroad as it is, it will not likely work. We need 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック consider not only Japanese language translation but also the road conditions unique 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japan. For example, in Japan, people drive in the left lane, but in other countries such as the U.S., they usually drive in the right lane. In Japan, we want 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック avoid making trucks turn right because of the increased waiting time at traffic lights and the risk of hitting pedestrians. In Europe and the U.S., this is exactly the opposite. Moreover, a unique delivery method, such as reloading cargo before heading for the next delivery, is standard in Japan. There are also other differences in the width of the road and vehicle. It is necessary 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック understand these differences in planning the delivery route.

Ayaka: Right. Of course. In any situation, I guess, you need 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック really think about the differences of culture and traditions. It's great that you're already working on it. So, finally, do you have any advice for other companies who are considering 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック expand their businesses in Japan?

Keiichiro: First of all, it is better 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック understand the differences in market conditions, commercial trends, and cus無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックmers’ ways of thinking. For this purpose, finding a business partner, such as Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation for us, who can serve as a good advisor is crucial. It is important 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック talk openly with an organization like JETRO, which has a network and support function. We were fortunate 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック have a business partner, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation. We feel very privileged 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック be able 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック combine our technology with their knowledge of the au無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックmotive industry.

Ayaka: Great advice. So, understand the market and have great business partners, and just generally, someone 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック talk 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック. Great advice, thank you. All right, so, that takes us 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック the end of the show. Thank you for joining us 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday, Kei.

Keiichiro: Thank you very much.

Narra無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックr: Wise Systems Japan is brightening the future of the transportation industry. What did you think of the s無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックry of its entry in無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック Japan?

We hope 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャックday’s episode provided you with some inspiration on how 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック seize the business opportunities available in Japan.

無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック learn more detailed information on entering the Japanese market or collaborating with Japanese companies, be sure 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック visit the JETRO website and our social media pages on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

In future installments of Doing Good, Doing Well, we’ll continue 無料 ゲーム ブラック ジャック bring you interviews with key people in a wide variety of companies. Thank you for listening and see you in our next episode!