Japan content strategy and consulting for craft-forward brands.
I help brands tell meaningful, relevant Japan stories; stories that hold up when shared with Japanese audiences, discerning English-speaking audiences, and with the artisans and makers the stories are about.
Who is this for?
- Your brand is craft-forward or artisan-driven, and you value depth over wide-reaching virality
- You have a Japan campaign, product, or partnership coming and you want to make sure the Japanese elements (language, cultural references, craft terminology, tone, etc.) are handled correctly and with depth and care.
- Your brand does not want to be embarrassed by getting Japan wrong, making errors, looking cliche, or looking cringe.
- Your brand is aiming to target audiences with a discerning eye.
If you’re looking for high-volume, trendy content, language lessons, or translation services for legal and technical documents, I’m not your person.
Ways we can work together
1. Japan Messaging Review (Consulting)
You have campaign copy, creative, or concepts with Japanese elements (think: language, imagery, cultural references) and you want it reviewed before it ships. I review it for accuracy, nuance, and depth, and tell you what a Japanese audience (and a Japan-literate English-speaking one) will actually take away from it. If there are any issues, I’ll flag them before your project goes live. If the scope of the content is larger than just me, I’m happy to connect with qualified cross-cultural professionals in my network to get the in-depth look your work needs.
Best for: campaigns in progress, agencies producing Japan work, brands considering a Japan campaign
2. Japan Story Strategy
If your brand has a real Japan story to tell and you need help figuring out how, reach out. I can conduct research, examine story positioning/angles, and create a content plan grounded in the actual reality of Japan’s craft and culture. This pairs excellently with campaign content production.
Best for: upcoming launches, collaborations with Japanese makers, brands doing their first-ever Japan project/collab
3. Campaign Content Production
On-location photography and videography across Japan, interviews with makers conducted in Japanese (and translated into English), bilingual scripting, and even voiceovers. If your project is too big for just me to take care of, I’ll collaborate with photography and video professionals on the ground in Japan who share the same values.
Best for: brands that want someone already in Japan to research, shoot, and tell a story while keeping the overarching content strategy top of mind
4. Creative Partnerships
If you’re a considered brand looking to work together to create content for use on my own social media profiles, please email here: partnerships@arishaintokyo.com
Why me?
1. I live and work in Japan and am already integrated into creative fields where care, craft, and consideration are paramount. As a Japan contributor to the Homo Faber Guide, I interview emerging and master Japanese artisans about their practice in Japanese. I have also spent over a decade exploring the arts, design, craft, and culture of Japan. The knowledge in my work integrates information I’ve received firsthand.
2. I know content. My on-camera and editorial work on YouTube has earned over 4.5 billion impressions and 300 million views, including hosting EnglishClass101 (8M+ subscribers) since 2012. I know the difference between content that performs and content that matters (and when to apply them). I know how to read analytics and make data-informed decisions to ensure content is carefully crafted to provide real value to the audience while also giving it the best chance of success in terms of reach.
3. I’m bilingual and I’ve been based in Tokyo since 2009. I work in Japanese and English daily. Editorial credits include The Japan Times and Metropolis. I also spent five years doing media, academic, and editorial work for the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Engineering, in the Advanced Design Studies architecture lab.
Contact me now
Tell me a little bit about what you need and who you are with the brief form below.
For creative partnerships, please email me: partnerships@arishaintokyo.com