The Formula 1 Grand Prix held annually at the Suzuka Circuit is one of Japan’s most high-profile international sporting events. This year, a globally recognized AI unicorn from the UK attracted significant attention as an official sponsor. During the event, JAYID supported the company’s media engagement efforts through strategic press invitations and media briefings, helping advance its Japan market entry and long-term growth strategy. In Japan’s AI media landscape, relationships with top-tier journalists, particularly those who shape the editorial direction of leading business newspapers and magazines, are critically important. For this initiative, we invited highly influential journalists, including editorial writers and editors-in-chief, and facilitated in-depth discussions around media perspectives, industry narratives, and the editorial thinking of major publications. These conversations became an extremely valuable opportunity in shaping the company’s future growth and communications strategy in Japan.

We will be providing anniversary media strategy support for one of Japan’s leading childcare and babysitting service companies as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. Having supported the company since the early days of JAYID, we are drawing on years of experience and insight to help shape a multidimensional narrative, one that expresses gratitude to employees, customers, and society, while also highlighting the company’s contribution to the evolution of Japan’s childcare environment. Approaching the project not only from a strategic communications perspective, but also through the lens of someone who understands the company almost like an internal team member, as well as from the viewpoints of customers, media, and society, we are proud to support this important milestone.

As a leading France-based photo editing software company prepared for its full-scale entry into the Japanese market, JAYID was responsible for developing and proposing its public relations strategy in Japan. While the company enjoys strong recognition and a solid user base globally, it had not previously established a dedicated PR function in Japan. As a result, its communications in the Japanese market were limited to short-term and fragmented initiatives. This meant that the product’s technical strengths and competitive advantages were not being fully conveyed, and the brand had yet to be positioned within the unique cultural and media context of Japan. Drawing on extensive experience supporting foreign and global companies entering the Japanese market, JAYID redesigned the core communication strategy, identifying story angles that genuinely resonate with Japanese journalists, creators, and users. Rather than focusing solely on product specifications or feature-driven messaging, JAYID proposed multiple strategic narratives based on key considerations, including: Why this product should be discussed in Japan now How it connects with Japan’s photography culture and creative community Which audiences need to understand its value, and at what level JAYID goes beyond localization, translating global brand value into locally meaningful narratives that resonate in Japan and support long-term brand building.

This year, I had the privilege of returning to Chiba University to deliver a lecture on global careers and entrepreneurship, marking my fifth consecutive year teaching at the institution. Under the theme of how individuals who will shape Japan’s future should make decisions in an increasingly uncertain world, I engaged with more than 300 students. Rather than focusing solely on success stories, the lecture intentionally included candid reflections on my own failures, detours, misjudgments, and moments of frustration. By sharing these experiences honestly, I sought to convey the weight and responsibility of choosing one’s own path in a life that only comes once. Special attention was given to female students, addressing the complex relationship between marriage, childbirth, and career. In a world without simple answers, I emphasized the importance of making these decisions deliberately, while also speaking frankly about the very real challenges of returning to a career after stepping away from it. As Japan inevitably becomes more deeply connected to the global community, the ability to adapt to change will no longer be optional. Looking only inward and prioritizing short-term stability risks narrowing one’s future choices. I encouraged students to broaden their perspectives early, design their careers with the world in mind, and actively shape their own possibilities in a global context.

The Saudi Arabian international summit FII PRIORITY ASIA was held over two days on November 30 and December 1, drawing a distinguished audience from Japan and around the world. From Japan, senior political leaders participated, alongside key figures from the financial sector, including the heads, CEOs, and chairpersons of Japan’s three major megabanks. From the business community, Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group, also took the stage. More than 100 journalists from leading domestic and international media outlets attended the summit, which concluded to great acclaim and strong international attention. When media outreach first began, many Japanese media outlets responded candidly that they were unfamiliar with “FII.” However, through carefully structured media briefings, localized messaging tailored to the Japanese context, and clear communication of FII’s value through data-driven narratives and key thematic messages, the summit succeeded in generating significant media interest and engagement. As a result, FII PRIORITY ASIA achieved broad visibility in Japan, firmly establishing its presence as a high-level global platform connecting policy, finance, and innovation.