Cultural Brand Strategist: Managing expectations across borders. Bridging the gap between Western brand identity and Japanese cultural reality, backed by three decades of technical, creative, and marketing leadership.
I am a legitimate American (to some "The Murican") and Western business face, not the stereotyped one. Author's Note: I write in my authentic voice, not corporate jargon. Sanitizing my language to fit traditional decorum would compromise the lived reality on the page and contradict the exact thesis of this work. Being American is not … Continue reading The White Face Fallacy: Who Really Opens the U.S. Market for Japanese Brands
It feels like every time I am at Blue Sparrow Coffee, I hear someone asking what is “Japanese iced coffee.” While at Blue Sparrow, I chuckled out loud even with the dude across from me on a Zoom call of sorts when reading their FAQ because it literally says: “This is by far the most … Continue reading Cultural Critique: When “Japanese” Becomes an Unearned Quality Mark
Ambitious Scale Meets Branding Dilution – Lessons from a Failed U.S. Expansion Source Material: September 2, 2016 article (updated 2021) on oishii-desu.com, cross-referenced with later public outcomes. Shared to protect Japanese brand integrity and help them succeed in the U.S. market without dilution or missteps, not to criticize. Executive Summary Ramla Inc. (founded 1980 in … Continue reading Brand Audit: Ramla Restaurant Group