World
GlobalDigital identity / crypto onboarding
100,000+
From zero to 100,000+ verified users through offline execution
GTM-BPO for global companiesTokyo
Japan market entry, executed.
Most companies do not fail in Japan because of the product. They fail because they cannot execute locally. KUROGO acts as your execution team on the ground — market validation, localization, distribution, marketing and daily operations — so you can find out whether Japan works before you build a company here.
No entity required. No local hires required. Engagements start from a defined budget, a retainer, or pure revenue share.
Executed for
Japan
Also delivered for Toe Beanies and YOOZ across consumer, hospitality and platform categories.
The market — Shibuya, Tokyo124m consumers
Why JapanKUROGO
A high-value market that is difficult to enter
- 3rd
- largest economy in the world
- $4T+
- GDP
- 124m
- consumers with high purchasing power
- High
- customer lifetime value
One of the largest economies in the world
- Third largest economy globally
- $4T+ GDP
- Strong purchasing power and high-LTV customers
A premium-oriented consumer market
- High demand for quality and trust
- Strong brand loyalty once established
- Willingness to pay for differentiated products
But entry is structurally difficult
- Language and cultural barriers
- Complex distribution and decision-making processes
- Strong domestic competition and relationship-driven business
Japan is not just a market — it is a system. Without local execution, expansion fails.
The problem01 — 04
Why most global companies fail in Japan
Not because of the product. Because of what happens after the product arrives.
01
Poor localization
- Direct translation with no cultural adaptation
- Messaging that does not resonate with Japanese users
02
The wrong go-to-market motion
- Applying US/EU playbooks that do not fit Japan
- Over-reliance on digital with no offline integration
03
High upfront cost
- Hiring a local team before demand is validated
- Setting up an entity before there is anything to invoice
04
No execution on the ground
- No local presence and no real-time iteration
- Slow feedback loops and missed windows
The modelKUROGO
Build, test and scale — without the risk
We act as your local execution team in Japan, covering everything from market validation to full-scale growth.
01
Execute, don't advise
We do not deliver a strategy deck and leave. We launch, test and optimize in market, and we are accountable for what the numbers do afterwards.
02
Start fast, learn faster
Launch within weeks, not months. Then iterate continuously against real market feedback until the offer, the pricing and the channel fit.
03
Low-risk entry
No entity, no local hires, no office lease before you know Japan works. Performance-based structures let you validate the market with limited downside.
04
External team to internal team
We are built to be replaced. As Japan revenue justifies headcount, we hand over the playbook, the relationships and the operating cadence to your own hires.
What we doKUROGO
End-to-end execution in Japan
We operate as your local team, handling everything from market entry through to growth. Take one line or take all of them.
01
Go-to-market strategy
from $4,000 / month ~
Market sizing, competitor analysis and positioning, turned into a Japan-specific launch plan rather than a translated version of your global one.
02
Web marketing & user acquisition
from $12,000 / month ~
Paid and organic acquisition across the channels Japanese buyers actually use, run as a performance program with reported ROI.
03
Influencer & creator marketing
from $7,000 / month ~
Direct access to a Japanese creator network through our marketing partner, with sourcing, negotiation and performance tracking handled end to end.
04
Social media management
from $5,000 / month ~
Japanese-language accounts run by native operators — content planning, publishing, community management and response handling.
05
PR & media relations
Press outreach and media partnerships into Japanese outlets, where relationships — not press releases — determine whether you get covered.
06
Event & pop-up activation
from $2,500 / day ~
End-to-end event execution — venue negotiation, build, staffing and on-site operations — so you can run a physical launch without a local team.
Proven executionKUROGO
From zero to scale — executed on the ground in Japan
Audion
FranceDigital audio monetization
Japan GTM strategy and key partnerships secured ahead of a stealth entry
Remoteli
Africa / GlobalRemote tech talent
Market validated, then a full local execution team built and operated as exclusive partner
namastay
GlobalHospitality technology
A Japanese sales team built and run, expanding from lead conversion to full-cycle execution
Engagement modelsKUROGO
Flexible models, aligned with your growth
We structure partnerships around your stage, your risk tolerance and how fast you need to move.
A
Hybrid — retainer + performance
We act as your extended Japan team with dedicated resource across business development, partnerships and strategy. A monthly retainer is combined with performance-based commission.
Best for speed and scale — the equivalent of having a country manager from day one, backed by an existing network.
B
Pure revenue share
A fully performance-based model tied to Japan revenue. Lower upfront commitment, with scope defined around your needs — from lead generation through to full sales execution.
Best for low-risk market validation.
C
Budget-based engagement
We execute against a defined budget and clear KPIs — partnerships, campaigns, timelines. A structured, project-based approach with full transparency.
Best for controlled, goal-oriented expansion.
TeamKUROGO
Built by operators, not advisors
Hands-on experience building, scaling and localizing businesses in Japan — including our own.
Tenichi Liu
Chief Executive
Former Amazon operator with deep expertise in e-commerce and operations, leading execution and growth strategy in Japan.
Ryoya Hironaka
General Partner, iFund
Investor and operator focused on global go-to-market, building partnerships and market expansion strategies.
Kojiro Myojin
Board Member
Former YouTuber with a 1M+ audience, driving influencer marketing and distribution through strong creator networks.
Park Miri
Korea Team
Bilingual operator leading Korea-related initiatives, with experience in brand planning, business operations and cross-border execution.
InsightsKUROGO
Field notes on selling into Japan
All insightsQuestionsKUROGO
What global teams ask before they start
Do we need a Japanese entity before working with you?
No. Most clients start without one. We operate as your local execution team under our own entity, which is the point of the model — you validate demand before you take on the cost and the compliance load of a Japanese subsidiary. When the numbers justify incorporating, we support the transition.
How is this different from hiring a consultancy?
A consultancy delivers a recommendation. We deliver the outcome the recommendation was for. Our team runs the campaigns, negotiates with the partners in Japanese, staffs the events and operates the storefronts. Our commercial structures are partly performance-based, so we carry some of the risk of being wrong.
How long before we see results?
Launch happens within weeks of scope being fixed, not months. Early signal — traffic quality, partner responsiveness, conversion behavior — is typically readable inside the first 60 days. Whether Japan is a real revenue line usually resolves within two to three quarters.
What does it cost?
Indicative starting rates are published on the pricing page — from $4,000/month for local project management up to $12,000/month for full web marketing, plus 10% Japanese consumption tax. Most engagements combine a retainer with a performance component, and several clients run on pure revenue share instead.
Which sectors do you work in?
Consumer brands, e-commerce, hospitality technology, digital platforms and B2B software have all shipped through this model. The common factor is not the sector — it is that the product needs local execution, local relationships or physical presence to sell in Japan.
Next step黒衣
Let's test Japan — fast
Entering Japan does not have to be slow or expensive. Describe the product and who buys it today, and you get a straight read on whether Japan is worth doing now.
No heavy commitment. Just real execution.