Conversational Commerce in Japan: How OpenAI Could Reshape E-commerce
A new frontier in online shopping is opening in the United States, and its tremors are already being felt across the Pacific. The launch of "Instant Checkout" on ChatGPT, powered by a partnership between OpenAI and Stripe, signals the dawn of a new era.
Japan's Immigration Shift: A Guide for Foreign Business Leaders
A palpable sense of uncertainty is rippling through Japan’s foreign business community as significant shifts in Japan Immigration Policy come into view. Recent updates to the Business Manager Visa and new draft rules targeting Permanent Residency Japan status have sparked a critical debate.
My Philosophy on Connecting Tokyo's Leaders
As the founder of the Delphi Network, I’ve built my career on a simple belief. The highest level of leadership is forged not in isolation, but in conversation. It requires a constant flow of strategic business insights, the kind you cannot get from a report.
Forging Connections: September 2025 Cocktail Party Recap
In a dynamic global city, the quality of your network determines the scale of your success. The Delphi Network’s Autumn Cocktails on September 24th was a powerful demonstration of high-level executive networking in Tokyo.
Can You Manufacture Luxury?
There are moments in business that crystallize a complex problem into a single question. For me, that moment arrived over a typically tasty lunch at The Oak Door in Tokyo, and the question was this: Can luxury be manufactured? More specifically, can you take a product born from science and imbue it with the “soul of“ luxury?
A New Era for Business in Japan: Navigating the 2025 Visa Changes
Successfully launching a business in Japan is a goal for many global entrepreneurs, representing a gateway to one of the world's most advanced economies. However, this venture now requires a far more strategic approach to Japanese market entry and a significantly larger capital investment due to major policy shifts.
Delphi Select: The Executive's Guide to Vetted Venues and Peace of Mind
For senior leaders, effective Executive Venue Selection is not a luxury; it is a critical component of professional success. The choice of a venue can dictate the outcome of a high-stakes negotiation, influence a client's perception of your brand, or determine the productivity of an entire afternoon.
The Japan Paradox: Key Insights for Foreign Business from Q1 2025
The landscape for foreign business in Japan presents a critical paradox, according to key findings from Q1 2025. Global headquarters are rediscovering the market, pouring in capital with high expectations for growth.
The Shifting Sands of Entrepreneurship in Japan: Navigating New Realities
The landscape for foreign entrepreneurs in Japan is undergoing a significant transformation. Recent changes to the Japan Visa Rules, particularly concerning the Business Manager visa, are creating new biz challenges and forcing a re-evaluation of strategies for both aspiring and established foreign business owners.
Founder's Journal: Navigating Japan's Q2 Business Climate
The second quarter of 2025 has been defined by a palpable sense of volatility and strategic reassessment. For any CEO operating within the current Japan Business Climate, the challenges are multifaceted, ranging from turbulent financial markets to a fracturing Global Supply Chain.
Gambling Man by Lionel Barber: A Review
Masayoshi Son finds his best possible biographer in Lionel Barber, the former editor of the FT. Barber (Dulwich School and St Edward’s Hall, Oxford ) has elegant establishment credentials, but he also has an entertainingly thuggish streak, like those upper-class SAS army officers who join special units because they rather enjoy the murder and mayhem.
Q1 2025: Navigating Risk, Data, and Growth in Japan
The first quarter of 2025 provided a critical opportunity to reassess strategy and vision. For those engaged in Executive Leadership Japan, navigating the complexities of the market requires more than just data; it demands a trusted Lived Experience Forum. This period highlighted a renewed focus on intentional risk, the indispensable value of authentic information, and the power of a connected community through the Delphi Network.
Bridging Continents: The Delphi Network’s Vision for Cross-Border Energy Collaboration
In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, climate urgency, and rapid technological transformation, cross-border energy collaboration has become both a necessity and a challenge. The complexity of aligning national priorities, regulatory environments, and private sector incentives often stalls progress just when acceleration is most needed.
What European Developers Should Know About Partnering with Japanese Investors
Japanese investment in European infrastructure is on the rise, particularly in clean-tech, smart city development, and sustainable mobility. Yet for European developers, municipalities, and climate-focused startups, partnering with Japanese investors is not as simple as aligning on spreadsheets and pitch decks. It involves understanding distinct business cultures, adjusting timeline expectations, and navigating cross-border complexities.
From Vision to Reality: Japanese Green Technology in European Energy Projects
The strategic alignment between Japan, Ireland, and Wales represents a new frontier in global climate cooperation. While the foundational logic is built on shared long-term vision and patient capital, the true impact lies in the practical application of advanced Japanese green technology.
Why Japan Is Looking to Ireland and Wales for Clean Energy Partnerships
The global clean energy transition is accelerating—but not at the same pace everywhere. While many regions are still figuring out how to attract the right capital, talent, and technology, Ireland and Wales are quietly positioning themselves as key players in the next phase of green energy investment.
Hachijojima Island: The Ultimate Corporate Retreat Destination
My journey to Hachijojima Island late last year revealed an extraordinary and untapped asset for strategic business gatherings. This remote volcanic island, technically part of the Tokyo metropolis, presents itself as the ultimate Tokyo retreat destination.
Seizing the Moment: Your Guide to the Japan Investment Opportunity
While many foreign executives grapple with the defensive measures required by a cheap yen, a far more compelling narrative is unfolding for the forward-thinking investor. Beyond the immediate balance sheet pressures lies a generational Japan investment opportunity, one that transforms macroeconomic headwinds into a powerful tailwind for growth.
Navigating the New Reality: How the Cheap Yen is Reshaping Business in Japan
The ground is shifting beneath the feet of foreign executives in Japan. As the yen tumbles to multi-decade lows, the profound cheap yen impact is forcing a complete re-evaluation of every foreign business strategy.
The Delphi Network Begins Strategic Digital Infrastrcuture Work with Matt Ketchum
The Delphi Network has begun a long term transformation of its internal operations, and that work starts with upgrading its digital systems. At the center of this transition is the digital oversight of Matt Ketchum, known as MKUltraman, whose approach ties every decision to a stronger digital foundation and cleaner infrastructure.