International marketing consultant
Land your B2B brand in Japan without the hassle
I help brands grow big in Japan with digital marketing consulting and localized content services
Struggling to localize your marketing in Japan? I can help.
I have first-hand experience bridging the gap between global playbooks and the common "this is Japan, we do things differently" mindset and have proven experience building relationships and rapport to foster collaboration and successful outcomes.
Over the past 10+ years, I’ve led B2B marketing campaigns across Australia, Singapore, and Japan for multinational companies—especially in finance, government, and enterprise tech, working closely with global teams to deliver measurable outcomes.
Need a partner who understands both the big picture and the local reality? Let’s talk.
Let's talk10+ years
global marketing experience, mostly in F500 finance environments.
5 years
leading the Japan marketing division for a F500 corporate
1.4M USD
campaign budget managed across search, social and programmatic
Testimonials
What my clients are saying
I have had the pleasure of working with Akiko to position, plan and strategize marketing initiatives to maximize the revenue and brand awareness of Bureau van Dijk and Moody’s Analytics in Japan.
She is a strong communicator with a positive can-do attitude who understands cultural differences and is able to creatively solve complex challenges and communicate effectively with colleagues and clients of all sorts.
Henrik Bertelsen
Bureau van Dijk & Moody's
I worked with Akiko on the localization and subtitling of an English webinar on global supply chain risks into Japanese.
The content was full of highly technical terms, but she delivered a translation that was clear, accurate, and felt natural to a Japanese audience. Communication was smooth and timely throughout and she is the top of my list for the future projects.
Hirokazu Kusaba
Sayari
Services
How I can help you
Market strategy
Japan market assessment & strategy
Get clear direction on your Japan approach with practical insights and actionable recommendations based on local market experience
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Paid campaigns
Japan-focussed paid media management
Performance-driven campaign management across Google, Yahoo!, LinkedIn, and Facebook optimized for Japanese audiences
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Localization
Content adaptation for Japan
Transform your English marketing materials for Japanese business audiences with cultural nuance that drives engagement
Learn morePortfolio
My work
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
I keep things flexible and easy to work with. If you don't see your questions here, just reach out, I'm happy to help!
What kind of marketing channels do you recommend for B2B growth in Japan?
While LinkedIn is the standard for B2B and is growing in Japan, the active user number is still low and ads are expensive, so relying only on LinkedIn can lead to poor ROI. Meta ads remain strong with solid targeting options.
Other options like LINE, YouTube, Instagram, X, and TikTok can also be effective, but the right choice depends on your content and brand. Feel free to reach out to discuss what would work best for you.
How is AI changing paid ads?
Search behaviour is changing—people now make decisions through AI Overviews and other platforms, not just Google. Each channel has its own vibe (YouTube = expertise, Instagram = lifestyle, Reddit = authenticity, ChatGPT = clarity), so ads need to be tailored.
AI helps by personalizing targeting and automating creative testing. Ads still work—it’s less about being everywhere and more about being trusted where it matters.
Do you offer one-off projects or only ongoing support?
I’m flexible and I support both one-off projects and ongoing partnerships—whatever fits your needs best.
For strategy and execution work, a longer-term approach often leads to better results, as it allows time to test, learn, and optimize.
Can you join calls with our in-market stakeholders or sales team?
Yes, I'm happy to join calls with your in-house marketers or sales team. It helps ensure alignment, clarify priorities, and make collaboration smoother across regions.