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The FocusCore Podcast

The FocusCore Podcast

By: Dr. David Sweet
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Meet interesting and inspiring and entertaining people who show why Japan is a unique, fulfilling and sometimes frustrating place to do business. We will discuss how to hire, train and retain talent. How to create values that motivate, and review best practices that have worked and attempts that have failed. David will be speaking to company presidents, CEOs, CFOs, HR professionals, coaches, consultants as well as sharing with you some of my own experiences and opinions discovered over the years in this great country. The focus is simple: To explore how to succeed in business in Japan.Copyright 2026 Dr. David Sweet Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Growing Global Brands in Japan: What Headquarters Gets Wrong with Per Rasmussen

    Growing Global Brands in Japan: What Headquarters Gets Wrong with Per Rasmussen
    Jun 30 2026
    In this FocusCore Podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Per Rasmussen, President and Representative Director of Millet Mountain Group Japan. Per brings over 30 years of leadership experience at the intersection of European consumer brands and the Japanese market, having led iconic companies including Lego, Braun, Gillette, Groupe SEB (T-Fal), and now Millet. He shares how leadership in Japan has evolved and why the nemawashi(根回し) approach (consensus-building before decision-making), is key to sustainable team management. Per explains the critical role of bridging headquarters and local organizations, warning that leaders who arrive too "HQ-heavy" often fail to listen to what the Japan team actually needs. He discusses how Millet localized its product and market strategy for Japan, moving beyond elite mountaineers to serve everyday hikers, and the patience required to build brand recognition in a crowded market. Per also recounts how he created the electric kettle category in Japan from zero, growing it to nearly 2 million units annually. The conversation covers omni-channel retail challenges, the limits of data-driven analysis for smaller organizations, and what Per wishes he had known when he first arrived in Japan 35 years ago.The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary GuideIn this episode you will hear:Why nemawashi(根回し) is essential for leading Japanese teamsHow "HQ-heavy" leadership fails in JapanMillet's Japan market segmentation strategyCreating the electric kettle category from zero to 2 million unitsOmni-channel retail challenges in JapanWhat 30+ years in Japan has taught Per about patience and trustAbout Per Rasmussen:​Per Rasmussen has built his career at the intersection of European brands and the Japanese market, bringing more than three decades of leadership experience in Japan.He currently serves as President and Representative Director of Millet Mountain Group Japan, where he leads the local development and growth of the French outdoor brand.With deep expertise in strategy, consumer-centric product and marketing development, and multi-channel retail operations, Per is known for translating global brand ambition into locally relevant, sustainable growth. He is also recognized for building strong Japanese teams and serving as a trusted bridge between global headquarters and local organizations.Outside of work, Per spends much of his time in his small garden, where he grows chilies, herbs, and tomatoes, turning them into powders, sauces, pickles, and pastes that he shares with the younger staff in his office. He is also a keen observer and small-time collector of Japanese pottery. Per's wife is Japanese, and the couple met in Denmark, marrying in 1983 before moving to Japan in 1989. They have two adult sons, both based in Copenhagen, Per's home country of Denmark. Per and his wife are avid intermediate skiers, and he is looking forward to returning to scuba diving next year, staying active at the gym to prepare. Japan's food, sake, shochu, and wine scene also remains a favorite pastime, often paired with domestic travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations and time with local friends.Connect with Per Rasmussen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/per-rasmussen-3b58321b/Millet Japan Website: https://www.millet.jp/?srsltid=AfmBOorafRuzcjjgEtFWy186m7zJtupcFZWiHb-ylDwbJBXrW1KVVms-Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejpFacebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda.“Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.
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    54 mins
  • No Nonsense Job searching for the Japan Executive

    No Nonsense Job searching for the Japan Executive
    Jun 14 2026

    Many executives trying to find jobs in Japan rely on passive tactics—applying on LinkedIn, meeting recruiters, and polite networking, then get frustrated when nothing happens, despite market claims of talent shortages. David Sweet explains that most job-search advice is built for mid-management, while executive search firms and recruiters primarily serve client mandates, often resulting in “crickets” for candidates; LinkedIn applications also rarely reach decision-makers. Instead, executives should stop waiting to be rescued and run their search like B2B sales: build a strategy and target list of 40–50 companies (dream firms, PE-backed growth, APAC HQs, market entrants), research via chambers, trade shows and media, then reach out directly to presidents and senior leaders with a research-focused message. Use meetings to learn needs, competitors, and expand networks, staying patient given fewer senior roles.

    The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary Guide

    In this episode you will hear:

    • Move beyond mid-management job search strategies
    • Craft a list of dream companies and take the direct approach
    • Utilize resources like chambers and trade shows for in-depth research
    • Engage executives in meaningful dialogue, not just job requests

    David Sweet Bio:

    ​David Sweet is the Founder and CEO of FocusCore Japan, based in Tokyo. FocusCore provides a broad range of services from executive to talent management and leadership consulting. His particular focus is in Human Resources.

    Prior to establishing FocusCore Group, David was a Director with the Tokyo consultancy Wall Street Associates, leading operations, training, and recruitment in multiple sectors. He also worked for 10 years in the U.S. Treasury Department in labor relations and organizational development.

    He is the author of six books, including "Sweet Sales", "Sweet Success", and "Recruit!". He is also a Certified Executive Coach. David earned a MA in Communications from Regis University and a PhD in Leadership Development.

    Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review’.

    Connect with David Sweet:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp

    Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/

    Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/

    This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda.

    “Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.
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    22 mins
  • Unlocking Explosive Growth: Strategies with Steve Bleistein

    Unlocking Explosive Growth: Strategies with Steve Bleistein
    May 31 2026
    In this Focus Core podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Steve Bleistein, CEO of Tokyo-based Relansa, Inc., and author of Dauntless Leadership, about rapid growth and leadership for international companies in Japan. Steve argues Japan is “no enigma” because value and leadership fundamentals are universal, and “we can’t do this because this is Japan” is an excuse that abdicates agency. He cites skincare company Takami’s fast growth by bucking department-store conventions, using limits to drive innovation, and focusing on direct customer acquisition and lifetime relationships. On leading change, he advises leaders decide the “what” while teams help with the “how,” cater to the vanguard, take action before buy-in, and ignore or remove naysayers. He also discusses hiring leaders who speak truth to power and think strategically, building internal leadership benches, poaching external talent, keeping HR from pre-vetting executives, understanding real decision-making dynamics, defining empowerment, and adapting to demographics through customer/market shifts and productivity-enhancing technology.The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary GuideIn this episode you will hear:Why universal business values succeed in Japan and beyondBusting the myth of Japan’s business market being 'slow' or 'encrypted'The role of innovation in breaking traditional market normsHow to implement industry-defining leadership strategiesAddressing and adapting to the needs of an aging Japanese marketOvercoming the ‘Japan barrier’ in multinational corporationsAbout Steve:Steve is the CEO and founder of Tokyo-based Relansa, Inc., and a recognized expert on rapid business growth for international companies in Japan. He works closely with CEOs and senior leaders to help organizations achieve faster and more sustainable business results in complex cross-cultural environments.A fluent Japanese and French speaker, he is known for bridging Western and Japanese business thinking, advising global brands including Adidas, Godiva, Novo Nordisk, Danone, BMW, LVMH, L'Oréal, Lenovo, and Michelin, among many others.He is the author of seven business books, including Strategy On Your Own Terms, Disrupt or Be Disrupted, Dauntless Leadership, Indomitable Selling Capability, Rapid Culture Change, Charismatic Disruption, and Rapid Organizational Change.He has appeared on Bloomberg News as a commentator on Japanese business issues and has contributed articles to all three of Nikkei’s leading business publications in both English and Japanese.In addition to his consulting work, he serves as President of the Entrepreneur Committee at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan, where he leads the popular “Conversation With” leadership series featuring senior executives from companies such as Danone, Lenovo, BMW, Unilever, Cartier, and Domino's Pizza Japan. He has also served on the board of Tsukuba International School since 2014.He holds a Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales, an International MBA from the University of South Carolina, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan.Connect with Steve:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenbleistein/Website: https://stevenbleistein.net/Newsletter: https://stevenbleistein.net/#newsletterregoGrowth Zone podcast: https://stevenbleistein.net/feed/podcast/the-growth-zoneApple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-growth-zone/id1892800069.Podcast: https://stevenbleistein.net/podcast-2/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejpFacebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda.“Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.
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    55 mins
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