The FocusCore Podcast

Dr. David Sweet
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Meet interesting and inspiring and entertaining people who show why Japan is a unique, fulfilling and sometimes frustrating place to do business. We will discuss how to hire, train and retain talent. How to create values that motivate, and review best practices that have worked and attempts that have failed. David will be speaking to company presidents, CEOs, CFOs, HR professionals, coaches, consultants as well as sharing with you some of my own experiences and opinions discovered over the years in this great country. The focus is simple: To explore how to succeed in business in Japan.

  1. 3d ago

    Leading Teams, Talent, and Omotenashi in Japan with Meret Brunner

    In this FocusCore podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Meret Brunner, Hotel Manager of The Peninsula Tokyo, a Swiss-trained hotelier who has led luxury hotel operations in New York, Bangkok, London, and Tokyo, including serving as Director of Rooms at The Dorchester and playing a key role in the pre-opening of The Peninsula London. Meret explains how The Peninsula replaced hundreds of service standards with a small set of core principles, why “omotenashi” comes down to reading the air, and why she sees herself first and foremost as a culture carrier. She shares how the hotel built its own in-house recruitment team, treats every interview as a Peninsula experience, and keeps people through a clear three-month onboarding plan, regular round tables, and genuinely listening to new colleagues. They also discuss visa changes and international talent, women in leadership and career conversations, avoiding burnout in a 24/7 business, and her key advice for international executives arriving in Japan: success is not achieved individually. The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear: Why The Peninsula replaced hundreds of service standards with a few core principlesOmotenashi as "reading the air" before guests have to askHow to attract top talent in Japan by making hiring a brand experienceOnboarding, listening, and work-life balance that drive retentionOpening The Peninsula London versus running an established icon in TokyoWhy success in Japan is never achieved individually About Meret: Meret Brunner is a Swiss hospitality executive with a distinguished career across The Peninsula Hotels, currently leading operations at The Peninsula Tokyo as Hotel Manager. Having progressed through key roles in New York, Bangkok, London and Tokyo, Meret brings a rare combination of international perspective and deep operational expertise. Known for an energetic and visionary leadership style, she excels in building high-performing teams, driving commercial performance, and translating strategic ideas into tangible results. Her time in Tokyo has been a defining chapter, immersing herself in one of the world's most sophisticated and demanding luxury hospitality environments. Through a deep understanding of Japanese service philosophy, particularly omotenashi, she has successfully balanced global brand standards with local cultural expectations, strengthening consistency, quality, and guest experiences at scale. Recognized for her ability to challenge convention and inspire change, she has focused on elevating service culture, driving operational excellence, and aligning teams around a shared vision of excellence. Her leadership is characterized by a strong emphasis on people development, adaptability, and the ability to navigate complexity with both clarity and creativity. Today, her role in Tokyo reflects a continued commitment to refining luxury hospitality through innovation, cultural alignment, and a relentless focus on delivering exceptional, personalized guest experiences. Connect with Meret: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meret-brunner-4a70584/ The Peninsula Tokyo: https://www.peninsula.com/en/tokyo/5-star-luxury-hotel-ginza?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ptk_prop_row_t3_int_eng_sem_goog_con_brand_em_txt_hotel-alwayson_alwayson_hotel-brand-en_na&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23437912926&gbraid=0AAAABCDBF6cS4tZwEF8Jl847DpkbKwQSk&gclid=CjwKCAjwotzWBhBFEiwA1JhPoGFluMRURd8G3xFAiAfzwQ9Gg1roqpk2-aO3r45BLfapNW5HjDlUahoCX_UQAvD_BwE Connect with David Sweet: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda. “Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

    Leading Teams, Talent, and Omotenashi in Japan with Meret Brunner

  2. Oct 14

    Leading Through Change and Building Trust in Japan with Glen Argyle

    In this FocusCore podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Glen Argyle, President and Representative Director of Baxter Japan, a New Zealand-born, fluent Japanese speaker who has spent nearly 30 years in Japan and held senior roles at Takeda, Syneos Health, Bayer, and Baxter. Glen explains why the idea that Japan is slow to change is a myth, describing how setting a clear burning platform and engaging teams early makes implementation lightning fast. He shares how he led Baxter Japan through a major spinoff and integration, how listening first, giving trust first, and replacing blame with joint problem-solving helped bring voluntary turnover down from 21% to 3.3%, and why leaders must let teams make mistakes within clear guardrails. They also discuss AI in healthcare and pharma, why country managers should personally interview, network, and even poach top talent, and the three competencies he believes future executives need: vision, clarity, and resilience. The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear: Why "Japan is slow" is a myth, and how early engagement speeds up changeLeading a spinoff and integration without a culture of blameHow listening and trust first helped cut turnover from 21% to 3.3%Why leaders should personally interview, network, and poach top talentHow AI is reshaping healthcare and the talent it needsVision, clarity, and resilience: the three leadership competencies for the VUCA era About Glen: Glen Argyle is the President and Representative Director of Baxter Japan. Originally from New Zealand, he moved to Japan nearly 30 years ago after graduating from the University of Otago, and later earned his MBA from Temple University in Japan. Fluent in Japanese and deeply bicultural, he has held senior executive roles at Takeda, Syneos Health, Bayer, and now Baxter, leading multi-hundred-million-dollar operations and guiding organizations through major transformations in Japan's healthcare market. Connect with Glen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glen-argyle/ Baxter Japan: https://www.baxter.co.jp/ja Connect with David Sweet: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda. “Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

    Leading Through Change and Building Trust in Japan with Glen Argyle

  3. Sep 30

    Leadership, Trust and Resilience in Japan with Naomi Mano

    In this FocusCore Podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Naomi Mano, Founder of Luxurique and Chairperson of the Japan MICE Association, a US-born Japanese national with over 30 years of experience in marketing, branding, and hospitality. Naomi explains why she left corporate roles at IBM and Fidelity to build her own company, and what it took to launch a luxury business in Japan as a woman entrepreneur in 2007. She shares her view that entrepreneurs need grit, mental strength, and physical stamina, and describes how she leads a team of nearly 50 by managing her own reactions and adapting how she communicates with each person. They discuss building trust with traditional artisans and turning personal relationships into corporate ones, serving ultra high net worth clients, and pivoting during COVID by building a keyword-based travel platform with government grants. Naomi closes with her advice on defining success by your own values and never giving up on your vision. The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear: Why Naomi left corporate life to build her own company in JapanWhat entrepreneurs really need: grit, mental strength, and physical staminaHow to lead a growing team by managing your own reactionsHow to turn personal trust into lasting corporate relationships in JapanHow Luxurique pivoted during COVID with government grantsWhy success should be defined on your own terms About Naomi: Naomi is a US-born Japanese national with over 30 years of experience in marketing, branding, and hospitality. She began her career at IBM and contributed to the Nagano Olympic Marketing Committee, before taking on regional marketing roles across Asia Pacific. Her background gives her strong insight into Japanese culture and how to make it accessible to international visitors. In 2007, she launched and led the Japan operations for Quintessentially, a global luxury lifestyle service provider. She later founded Luxurique in 2014 to create high-end cultural experiences, events and to support the growth of luxury inbound tourism in Japan, while also advising organizations and governments on strategies targeting high-net-worth travelers. Naomi is the author of Omotenashi no Genso (Illusion of Hospitality), chairperson of the Japan MICE Association, and a doctoral candidate at Keio University researching sustainable tourism. She is widely recognized as an industry thought leader, regularly speaking at major travel events and featured in leading international publications. Connect with Naomi Mano: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-mano-6444a65/?isSelfProfile=false Luxurique: https://www.luxurique.com/ Connect with David Sweet: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda. “Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

    Leadership, Trust and Resilience in Japan with Naomi Mano

  4. Sep 14

    Cultivating the Japan Executive Bench: AI, Talent Strategy, and Leadership Lessons with Lars Schandorff

    In this FocusCore Podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Lars Schandorff, Senior Director of People & Talent for APAC Supply Chain with a global American company. With over 17 years of experience spanning Denmark, Singapore, Dubai, and Japan, Lars has built talent strategies for organizations including British American Tobacco, Seadrill, and Maersk, from managing an $8 billion global portfolio to building the entire talent ecosystem for a $1 billion greenfield factory in Japan. Lars and David discuss how to cultivate a sustainable Japan executive bench instead of relying on expats indefinitely, why executive presence looks different depending on culture, how to keep leadership teams stable through high-stakes transformation, why speaking Japanese is as much about respect as communication, what an "AI native" organization actually looks like in Japan, and what Lars sees as Japan's biggest talent challenge over the next five years. The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear: How to build a sustainable local executive bench in Japan instead of relying on expatsWhy "executive presence" reads differently across American, European, and Japanese leadership culturesHow to keep leaders and teams steady through high-pressure transformation and M&AWhy fluency in Japanese is, for Lars, primarily a signal of respect rather than just a skillWhat an "AI native" organization looks like inside a Japanese business, and the infrastructure gap between companies who can afford closed AI systems and those who can'tLars's prediction for Japan's biggest talent acquisition challenge and opportunity over the next five years About Lars: Lars Schandorff has built his career around a consistent thread: helping organizations grow their people even as the ground shifts beneath them, whether that ground is a collapsing oil price, an acquisition, or an entry into a wholly new market. With more than 17 years of experience spanning Denmark, the Middle East, Singapore, and Japan, he has spent his career designing talent strategy for some of the most demanding transformation environments in global business. He currently serves as Senior Director of People & Talent for APAC Supply Chain at a leading American company, where he oversees the talent agenda across 11 complex markets. Before that, Lars held senior talent and HR roles at British American Tobacco, Seadrill, and Maersk, building the entire talent ecosystem for a $1 billion greenfield factory in Japan, managing workforce architecture for an $8 billion global portfolio at Seadrill, and helping launch multi-billion-dollar energy projects across Singapore and Korea. Lars's path to Japan began in Copenhagen, where he studied East Asian studies before joining the Japanese Embassy in Denmark. From there he moved into Maersk's shipping and drilling operations, spent time in Dubai building a global leadership development function, and eventually returned to Japan, where he has now lived and worked for the past eight years. Fluent in Japanese, Lars approaches his work in Japan with a simple philosophy: as a guest in the country, it is on him to adapt, not the other way around, an outlook that shapes how he builds trust with the leaders and teams he supports. Connect with Lars Schandorff: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lars-schandorff-178baa7/ Connect with David Sweet: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda. “Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

    Cultivating the Japan Executive Bench: AI, Talent Strategy, and Leadership Lessons with Lars Schandorff

  5. Aug 31

    Building Trust as Social Infrastructure for an Aging Japan with Yasuhiro Tokunaga

    In this FocusCore Podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Yasuhiro Tokunaga, Representative Director and CEO of HomeServe. Yauhiro explains how he moved from structuring multi-billion dollar public-private infrastructure projects across the Middle East and Asia at Mitsubishi Corporation to building a subscription-based home repair platform that protects Japan's aging households. He describes HomeServe's rapid growth from 70,000 to over 400,000 contracts, and the alliances he built with nine electric utilities, Japan Post, and local governments by learning to speak each partner's language and interests. Tokunaga-san shares how trust, transparency, and long-term thinking replace one-shot negotiation tactics, how AI and customer data are shaping HomeServe's next stage, and his advice to foreign companies for building lasting partnerships in Japan. The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: I2026 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear: Why Yasuhiro left multi-billion dollar global infrastructure deals to build a subscription home-repair businessHow HomeServe grew from 70,000 to over 400,000 contracts through utility and government partnershipsThe key to winning trust with conservative, bureaucratic Japanese institutionsThe biggest misconceptions foreign companies have about doing business in JapanHow AI and customer data will shape HomeServe's next stage of growthLessons on transparency, trust, and long-term thinking from negotiating a $1.2B project in Qatar About Yasuhiro: Yasuhiro Tokunaga has built his career around a single aspiration: protecting people's everyday lives through social infrastructure. With extensive experience across Japan, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, he has spent his career developing solutions to some of society's most fundamental challenges. He currently serves as Representative Director and CEO of HomeServe, where he is focused on bringing greater peace of mind to households across Japan. Before joining HomeServe, Yasuhiro worked at Mitsubishi Corporation, leading public–private partnership projects in water infrastructure with a total portfolio of approximately ¥200 billion (around US$2 billion). His experience includes leading landmark projects in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Sri Lanka, as well as working with governments and international organizations including the World Bank, IFC, Asian Development Bank, and African Development Bank. At HomeServe, Yasuhiro has applied this experience in large-scale infrastructure to a different kind of everyday challenge. He has helped grow the company's home repair subscription business from 70,000 to hundreds of thousands of contracts, while building partnerships with electric-power companies, Japan Post Holdings, and local governments. His work is driven by the belief that trust, collaboration, and social innovation can help solve the hidden challenges of everyday life and create greater security for households across Japan. Yasuhiro holds an LL.B. from Kyoto University, an LL.M. from Washington University in St. Louis, and completed the Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School. Connect with Yasuhiro Tokunaga: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasuhiro-tokunaga-774495b/ HomeServe Website: https://www.homeserve.co.jp/ Connect with David Sweet: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda. “Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

    Building Trust as Social Infrastructure for an Aging Japan with Yasuhiro Tokunaga

  6. Jul 31

    Summer Re-release #2 - Telling the Truth: Journalism, Creativity, and Stories Beyond Borders with Yuri Kageyama

    During July and August, we'll be taking a short break from recording new episodes. To keep the conversations going, we'll be re-releasing some of our favourite recent episodes. So whether you're catching up or listening again, we hope you enjoy these episodes while soaking up the summer sunshine. We'll return in September with brand new conversations! In this FocusCore podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Yuri Kageyama, an Associated Press reporter who grew up in both the US and Japan, attended international school and Huntsville High, and became bilingual through her father’s engineering career with NASA and IHI. Kage recounts being hired on the spot by The Japan Times, learning newspaper reporting and production, then choosing AP over other offers to write her own stories; AP sent her to Detroit during peak Japan-bashing, where she covered autos, crime, and policing and learned to focus on telling people’s stories despite prejudice. She discusses thinking and writing primarily in English, the cultural complexity of Japanese politeness, and AP’s fact-based standards amid today’s fragmented media environment. Yuri describes covering the Fukushima nuclear disaster and creating the multimedia performance/film “News from Fukushima,” including AP script review, then reads her poem “Fukushima” and reflects on the disaster’s ongoing impact, collaboration with artists, and balancing journalism with poetry. The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear: Yuri's journey to becoming a bilingual reporter with the Associated PressThe cultural and language challenges she navigated between Japan and the USInsights into the creative process behind "News from Fukushima" and its impactHer experiences covering pivotal events like the Fukushima disasterThe blend of journalism and poetry in exploring complex narratives About Yuri: Yuri Kageyama is a reporter with the Associated Press. She grew up in the US and in Japan, and is a graduate of Cornell University, and she holds an MA in interdisciplinary field of sociology, anthropology, and social psychology from the University of California Berkeley. She is also an outstanding polymath as a celebrated poet fiction writer, essays journalist, filmmaker, and songwriter. Connect with Yuri: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurikageyama/ Website: http://yurikageyama.com/ Connect with David Sweet: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda. “Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

    Summer Re-release #2 - Telling the Truth: Journalism, Creativity, and Stories Beyond Borders with Yuri Kageyama

  7. Jul 14

    Summer Re-release #1 - Transforming HR Practices in Japan with Brent Conkle & Dan Ring

    During July and August, we'll be taking a short break from recording new episodes. To keep the conversations going, we'll be re-releasing some of our favourite recent episodes. So whether you're catching up or listening again, we hope you enjoy these episodes while soaking up the summer sunshine. We'll return in September with brand new conversations! In this episode of the FocusCore Podcast, host David Sweet speaks with Brent Conkle (President and CEO) and Dan Ring of Global Leadership Solutions about the high cost of leadership mishires, especially their impact on morale, engagement, and turnover. They discuss Japan’s tight talent market and introduce their Second Opinion Service (SOS), which uses the Garuda AS suite of assessments to measure universal leadership competencies, stress sensitivity, and role fit with reliable, evidence-based results that can be customized to company and local culture. The conversation covers common hiring biases (prestige, likability, referrals), the value of data to align local and HQ decisions, and how the same methodology can support selection for management programs, succession planning, and onboarding through transition coaching. They also discuss AI’s role in hiring and share advice on making better critical hires. The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear: The underestimated impact of leadership on team morale and engagementThe critical role of the Second Opinion Service in improving recruitment outcomesStrategies for successful onboarding and reducing turnoverThe relevance of stress sensitivity in high-pressure work environments like JapanThe future of strategic HR and how AI could reshape candidate assessment About Brent: Brent Conkle is the President and CEO of Global Leadership Solutions Co., Ltd., bringing over 25 years of global experience in HR leadership, consulting, talent acquisition, and executive coaching across North America, Europe, and Asia. A certified HR professional and executive, leadership, and career coach, Brent is known for helping leaders cut through complexity, lead transformational change, and elevate performance with a strong focus on measurable ROI and long-term impact. Throughout his career, Brent has supported startups, corporate turnarounds, and major APAC transformation initiatives, consistently driving sustainable growth by enhancing employee engagement, retention, and organizational performance. His approach centers on developing stronger leaders and building highly engaged, high-performing workplaces. In addition to his role as CEO, Brent has served as a Regional Global Employment Advisor at the U.S. Department of State, where he supported foreign service officers and eligible family members with career strategy and professional development across international postings. He also works as a Transition & Executive Coach with Randstad RiseSmart, guiding professionals through strategic career transitions both within and beyond their organizations. Brent is the co-author of The Practical Leader: A Guide to Creating Highly-Engaged and High-Performing Organizations, offering practical tools and insights for workforce development. His mission is to coach global leaders to achieve outstanding results in their careers while creating organizations that are exceptional places to work. About Dan: Daniel Ring is an experienced Human Resources professional with over 12 years of expertise across Europe and Asia. He has a strong background in strategic HR initiatives, particularly in change management and talent development, and is passionate about leveraging technology to improve workplace practices and enhance employee experiences. In his role as a consultant with Global Leadership Solutions, Daniel works closely with organizations to support leadership development and address challenges such as organizational change and employee engagement. He focuses on equipping leaders with the tools and strategies needed to align people practices with business objectives. Daniel’s career has included roles such as Senior HR Business Partner at Broadridge Financial Solutions and Head of HR at NatWest Markets Japan. In these positions, he helped implement global career frameworks, redesign leadership structures, and streamline HR operations. His regional experience has given him a broad understanding what it takes to deliver for diverse, international organizations. Daniel is committed to helping organizations and their leaders develop effective strategies for building strong teams and achieving sustainable success in today’s evolving business landscape. Connect with Brent: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentconkle/ Global Leadership Solutions: https://getglsjapan.com/ Connect with Dan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danpring/ Connect with David Sweet: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda. “Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

    Summer Re-release #1 - Transforming HR Practices in Japan with Brent Conkle & Dan Ring

  8. Jun 30

    Growing Global Brands in Japan: What Headquarters Gets Wrong with Per Rasmussen

    In this FocusCore Podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Per Rasmussen, President and Representative Director of Millet Mountain Group Japan. Per brings over 30 years of leadership experience at the intersection of European consumer brands and the Japanese market, having led iconic companies including Lego, Braun, Gillette, Groupe SEB (T-Fal), and now Millet. He shares how leadership in Japan has evolved and why the nemawashi(根回し) approach (consensus-building before decision-making), is key to sustainable team management. Per explains the critical role of bridging headquarters and local organizations, warning that leaders who arrive too "HQ-heavy" often fail to listen to what the Japan team actually needs. He discusses how Millet localized its product and market strategy for Japan, moving beyond elite mountaineers to serve everyday hikers, and the patience required to build brand recognition in a crowded market. Per also recounts how he created the electric kettle category in Japan from zero, growing it to nearly 2 million units annually. The conversation covers omni-channel retail challenges, the limits of data-driven analysis for smaller organizations, and what Per wishes he had known when he first arrived in Japan 35 years ago. The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary Guide In this episode you will hear: Why nemawashi(根回し) is essential for leading Japanese teamsHow "HQ-heavy" leadership fails in JapanMillet's Japan market segmentation strategyCreating the electric kettle category from zero to 2 million unitsOmni-channel retail challenges in JapanWhat 30+ years in Japan has taught Per about patience and trust About Per Rasmussen: ​Per Rasmussen has built his career at the intersection of European brands and the Japanese market, bringing more than three decades of leadership experience in Japan. He currently serves as President and Representative Director of Millet Mountain Group Japan, where he leads the local development and growth of the French outdoor brand. With deep expertise in strategy, consumer-centric product and marketing development, and multi-channel retail operations, Per is known for translating global brand ambition into locally relevant, sustainable growth. He is also recognized for building strong Japanese teams and serving as a trusted bridge between global headquarters and local organizations. Outside of work, Per spends much of his time in his small garden, where he grows chilies, herbs, and tomatoes, turning them into powders, sauces, pickles, and pastes that he shares with the younger staff in his office. He is also a keen observer and small-time collector of Japanese pottery. Per's wife is Japanese, and the couple met in Denmark, marrying in 1983 before moving to Japan in 1989. They have two adult sons, both based in Copenhagen, Per's home country of Denmark. Per and his wife are avid intermediate skiers, and he is looking forward to returning to scuba diving next year, staying active at the gym to prepare. Japan's food, sake, shochu, and wine scene also remains a favorite pastime, often paired with domestic travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations and time with local friends. Connect with Per Rasmussen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/per-rasmussen-3b58321b/ Millet Japan Website: https://www.millet.jp/?srsltid=AfmBOorafRuzcjjgEtFWy186m7zJtupcFZWiHb-ylDwbJBXrW1KVVms- Connect with David Sweet: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda. “Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

    Growing Global Brands in Japan: What Headquarters Gets Wrong with Per Rasmussen
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About

Meet interesting and inspiring and entertaining people who show why Japan is a unique, fulfilling and sometimes frustrating place to do business. We will discuss how to hire, train and retain talent. How to create values that motivate, and review best practices that have worked and attempts that have failed. David will be speaking to company presidents, CEOs, CFOs, HR professionals, coaches, consultants as well as sharing with you some of my own experiences and opinions discovered over the years in this great country. The focus is simple: To explore how to succeed in business in Japan.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. David Sweet
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Dr. David Sweet
  • Show Website
    The FocusCore Podcast