„J-BIG – Japan Business in Germany“

Shiseido“We develop product lines where the expertise is strongest.”

Shiseido is one of the world’s largest cosmetics groups, with an impressive history dating back to Japan’s opening up to Western trade and the transformations of the Meiji era that accompanied it. Founded in Tokyo in 1872 as Japan’s first Western-style pharmacy, the company fully embraced the motto of the time: ‘Japanese spirit and Western …

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Shiseido</span>“We develop product lines where the expertise is strongest.”

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“J-BIG – Japan Business in Germany” is the e-mail magazine dedicated to Japanese companies and their business activities in the German market.

Interview Archive

jwhisky.de„The key to success is treating producers and end customers fairly and with integrity.“

With jwhisky.de and jsake.de, Juergen Liebenau and his business partner have built up a leading European online retailer specialising in Japanese whisky and sake. It all began in …

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">jwhisky.de</span>„The key to success is treating producers and end customers fairly and with integrity.“

Molten„Our aim is to contribute holistically to sport and to those who engage with it.“

Founded in 1958 in Hiroshima, Molten Corporation has grown from a small post-war rubber manufacturer into one of the world’s leading producers of sports balls. Today it is …

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Molten</span>„Our aim is to contribute holistically to sport and to those who engage with it.“

Toshiba“We have always been where technology changes society.”

Toshiba celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2025 and looks back on an equally eventful and influential history. It all began in 1875 with a telegraph workshop in Tokyo, …

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FANUC“We are wherever our customers are.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">FANUC</span>“We are wherever our customers are.”

Mitsui & Co“Our philosophy is challenge and innovation.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Mitsui & Co</span>“Our philosophy is challenge and innovation.”

Ursula Gräfe“The work of translators receives far more attention these days than it used to.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Ursula Gräfe</span>“The work of translators receives far more attention these days than it used to.”

Kazuko Yamakawa / Feiler“We weren’t just developing and selling products; we were creating art in everyday life.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Kazuko Yamakawa / Feiler</span>“We weren’t just developing and selling products; we were creating art in everyday life.”

Konishi“We are like one company: Sales in Germany, production in Japan.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Konishi</span>“We are like one company: Sales in Germany, production in Japan.”

OMRON“We focus on expanding our business with Germany as the key market.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">OMRON</span>“We focus on expanding our business with Germany as the key market.”

Sapporo Nishiyama“The ramen market in Europe has enormous growth potential.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Sapporo Nishiyama</span>“The ramen market in Europe has enormous growth potential.”

Hotel Asahi“Even as competitors: The hotel industry exchanges ideas and learns from each other.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Hotel Asahi</span>“Even as competitors: The hotel industry exchanges ideas and learns from each other.”

YUMIKO“The film ‘Black Swan’ made our brand instantly famous.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">YUMIKO</span>“The film ‘Black Swan’ made our brand instantly famous.”

Gerhard Wiesheu“Taking time is Japan’s strength.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Gerhard Wiesheu</span>“Taking time is Japan’s strength.”

Komatsu“Electrification and automation shape the future of mining.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Komatsu</span>“Electrification and automation shape the future of mining.”

TANAKA“We continually pursue the opportunities inherent in precious metals.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">TANAKA</span>“We continually pursue the opportunities inherent in precious metals.”

Medicaroid“In the future, a surgeon in Japan could operate a patient in Europe”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Medicaroid</span>“In the future, a surgeon in Japan could operate a patient in Europe”

Sponsored Interview: FRANKUS“We support Japanese companies throughout their entire lifecycle in Germany. “

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Sponsored Interview: FRANKUS</span>“We support Japanese companies throughout their entire lifecycle in Germany. “

HORIBA “New developments bring new business opportunities.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">HORIBA</span> “New developments bring new business opportunities.”

Sekiguchi“In the 1970s, German-speaking countries quickly became the central market for Monchhichis worldwide”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Sekiguchi</span>“In the 1970s, German-speaking countries quickly became the central market for Monchhichis worldwide”

ANA“The Tokyo-Frankfurt connection is one of our highest-revenue routes worldwide.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">ANA</span>“The Tokyo-Frankfurt connection is one of our highest-revenue routes worldwide.”

Storymaker “In the beginning, I was incredibly naive.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Storymaker</span> “In the beginning, I was incredibly naive.”

JVCKENWOOD“It’s challenging to compete in the car audio market with two brands at the same time.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">JVCKENWOOD</span>“It’s challenging to compete in the car audio market with two brands at the same time.”

Daiichi Sankyo“A company that is only interested in profit will not be successful”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Daiichi Sankyo</span>“A company that is only interested in profit will not be successful”

Epson“Sustainability is part of our Japanese DNA – and we focus on it every day.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Epson</span>“Sustainability is part of our Japanese DNA – and we focus on it every day.”

Sony in the 80s“Sony has always prioritised creativity and technology.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Sony in the 80s</span>“Sony has always prioritised creativity and technology.”

Josef Goehlen“In the 70s, we produced German-Japanese anime cult series with love, poetry and humour.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Josef Goehlen</span>“In the 70s, we produced German-Japanese anime cult series with love, poetry and humour.”

Yokogawa“With a new focus on green energy, we want to make a positive contribution to society.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Yokogawa</span>“With a new focus on green energy, we want to make a positive contribution to society.”

Konstantin Plett “Duesseldorf was looking for a unique selling point to promote its location – and found it in the Japanese community.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Konstantin Plett</span> “Duesseldorf was looking for a unique selling point to promote its location – and found it in the Japanese community.”

PLUS “The true value of a product lies in the fact that it brings joy to people.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">PLUS</span> “The true value of a product lies in the fact that it brings joy to people.”

Mizuho Bank“Proper understanding of our clients’ needs is our basis for all financial services”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Mizuho Bank</span>“Proper understanding of our clients’ needs is our basis for all financial services”

DoKomi “Bringing the feeling of Akihabara to Germany”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">DoKomi</span> “Bringing the feeling of Akihabara to Germany”

Takeo Ischi “As a yodeling Japanese, I have always attracted a lot of attention.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Takeo Ischi</span> “As a yodeling Japanese, I have always attracted a lot of attention.”

Olympus“The Japanese enthusiasm for soy sauce brought us to endoscopy”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Olympus</span>“The Japanese enthusiasm for soy sauce brought us to endoscopy”

Kumon “German parents have turned to our method because of the first PISA study”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Kumon</span> “German parents have turned to our method because of the first PISA study”

Rakuten “We want to bring Omotenashi to the world – on the digital path.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Rakuten</span> “We want to bring Omotenashi to the world – on the digital path.”

Takumi/Brickny “Real Japanese food for Europeans.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Takumi/Brickny</span> “Real Japanese food for Europeans.”

Audio-Technica “Everyone should be able to experience high-quality sound.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Audio-Technica</span> “Everyone should be able to experience high-quality sound.”

H.I.S. “Our service concept can be transferred to new business areas.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">H.I.S.</span> “Our service concept can be transferred to new business areas.”

Goodpatch “Looking at the digital beyond borders.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Goodpatch</span> “Looking at the digital beyond borders.”

EPOCH “Our ambition is a perfect experience for children.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">EPOCH</span> “Our ambition is a perfect experience for children.”

SMC “We’re in growth mode.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">SMC</span> “We’re in growth mode.”

TENGA “Only with passion we are capable of changing society.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">TENGA</span> “Only with passion we are capable of changing society.”

Subaru “We don’t want to satisfy the customer, we want to satisfy the customer very much.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Subaru</span> “We don’t want to satisfy the customer, we want to satisfy the customer very much.”

UNIQLO “We combine art and science to create LifeWear.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">UNIQLO</span> “We combine art and science to create LifeWear.”

ROHM Semiconductor “For many industries, semiconductors are not only relevant, but indispensable.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">ROHM Semiconductor</span> “For many industries, semiconductors are not only relevant, but indispensable.”

Carlsen Verlag “Manga is growing in Germany, and we still see a lot of potential.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Carlsen Verlag</span> “Manga is growing in Germany, and we still see a lot of potential.”

Digital Art Museum “We are building the largest museum for digital art in Europe.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Digital Art Museum</span> “We are building the largest museum for digital art in Europe.”

teamLab “The space is our canvas, and light is our paint.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">teamLab</span> “The space is our canvas, and light is our paint.”

Fujifilm “We have transformed to stay pioneers, not followers.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Fujifilm</span> “We have transformed to stay pioneers, not followers.”

Yusen Logistics „The importance of logistics as a core industrial business has been reaffirmed during the Covid pandemic.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Yusen Logistics</span> „The importance of logistics as a core industrial business has been reaffirmed during the Covid pandemic.”

Brother “Those who decry the demise of the printing business have too narrow a view of the industry.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Brother</span> “Those who decry the demise of the printing business have too narrow a view of the industry.”

Yakult “Once we enter a market, we will work hard until we succeed.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Yakult</span> “Once we enter a market, we will work hard until we succeed.”

JAL “There are surely things we can utilize from our past experiences to overcome the Corona disaster.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">JAL</span> “There are surely things we can utilize from our past experiences to overcome the Corona disaster.”

LIXIL “LIXIL’s strong technology history is essential for scaling up the GROHE brand”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">LIXIL</span> “LIXIL’s strong technology history is essential for scaling up the GROHE brand”

Asahi Kasei “We ensure that headquarters takes the European perspective into account.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Asahi Kasei</span> “We ensure that headquarters takes the European perspective into account.”

YKK “You only start to notice a zipper once it’s stuck.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">YKK</span> “You only start to notice a zipper once it’s stuck.”

Kyocera Document Solutions “We have to find creative answers to the complex questions of our time.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Kyocera Document Solutions</span> “We have to find creative answers to the complex questions of our time.”

Trend Micro “IT security is a central part of our DNA.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Trend Micro</span> “IT security is a central part of our DNA.”

Kirin “When Germans drink Kirin, it’s a testament to quality.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Kirin</span> “When Germans drink Kirin, it’s a testament to quality.”

Mitsubishi Electric “Most people interact with our products many times a day – often without realizing it.“

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Mitsubishi Electric</span> “Most people interact with our products many times a day – often without realizing it.“

Fujitsu „Our goal is to play a significant role in shaping digitalization.“

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Fujitsu</span> „Our goal is to play a significant role in shaping digitalization.“

Panasonic Industry „We are hidden in a lot of German products.”

Continue Reading <span class="company-name">Panasonic Industry</span> „We are hidden in a lot of German products.”

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“J-BIG – Japan Business in Germany” is the e-mail magazine dedicated to Japanese companies and their business activities in the German market.