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Artwork for Disrupting Japan

Disrupting Japan

Tim Romero
Japan
Venture Capital
Startups
Entrepreneurship
Japan Logistics
Robotics
Generative AI
Digital Transformation
Innovation
Silicon Valley
Physical AI
Collaboration
Hydrogen
Green Energy Transition
Integral AI
Women In VC
Hacobu
Foreign Founders
Artificial Intelligence
Longevity Technology

Disrupting Japan gives you candid, in-depth insights from the startup founders, VCs, and leaders who are reshaping Japan.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes261Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsTech NewsBusinessEntrepreneurship

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Artwork for Disrupting Japan

Latest Episodes

Welcome to Disrupting Japan, straight talk from Japan’s most innovative founders and VCs. This is our 250th episode, and I wanted to give you something special; something I have been thinking about more and more as my career in startups and venture c... more

YouTube

I have a short in-between edition for you today. Last month at Venture Cafe's big global gathering in Tokyo, I had a chance to sit down on stage with two old friends of the podcast, and we talked about where physical AI is heading in Japan. This conv... more

YouTube

New technology is always introduced with the promise of the good it can do for humanity. Most of the time the promised good never come to be. This is largely a structural problem ib how startups are funded, and some founders are creating a better way... more

YouTube

You might think that large Japanese companies have trouble innovating. Unfortunately if you believe that, you would be correct. Recently, however, there are a few reasons for hope. The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, and Japan... more

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Recent Guests

Kaname Hayashi
Founder and CEO of GrooveX
GrooveX
Episode: What’s next for Physical AI in Japan?
Yosuke Kaneko
Founder of Sora Technologies
Sora Technologies
Episode: Why its hard for startups to use technology for good
Kenji Tateiwa
Founder of Agile Energy X and former long-time employee at Tepco, specializing in renewable energy solutions using Bitcoin mining
Agile Energy X
Episode: Corporate venturing as a path to innovation in Japan
Hiro Yamazaki
Founder and CEO of Umami United
Umami United
Episode: How to sell vegan foods to meat lovers
Ernie Higa
Pioneer of Western fast food brands in Japan, known for bringing Domino's Pizza and Wendy's to the country.
First Kitchen and Wendy's Japan
Episode: What everyone gets wrong about branding in Japan
Bilal Kharouni
CEO of Ekei Labs, focusing on longevity testing and support services.
Ekei Labs
Episode: What role can startups really play in human longevity?
Chiamin Lai
General partner at Firstlight Capital and director at Japan Venture Capital Association
Firstlight Capital
Episode: Will Japan ever regain its lead in robotics?
Shri Ddani
A successful American founder with multiple exits totaling over $1.5 billion, now focusing on Japanese startups as a venture capitalist.
Global Hands-On VC
Episode: Why so many Japanese VCs won’t invest in Japan
Taro Sasaki
Founder of Hacobu, a startup focusing on digital transformation in logistics
Hacobu
Episode: Can startups save Japan’s logistics industry?

Host

Tim Romero
Host of Disrupting Japan

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 234 ratings
  • A Wonderful Introduction to Japanese Business Culture

    Living in Japan for almost 5 years, Tim Romero’s insights to the Japanese startup has been extremely educational. However, what I enjoy the most are guests’ answers to Tim’s nuanced questions. These responses pull the curtain back on Japanese business culture. Rather than mere anecdotes, listeners will quickly recognize behavior patterns and ‘tru-isms’ that will help practitioners better understand Japanese views on risk, talent management, recruiting, investment, etc.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Juan Doh!
    United States7 months ago
  • AI?

    With OpenAI in the news once again for being at the heart of another child suicide and considering the myriad of other problems associated with the technology, it's tone deaf to record an episode dedicated to AI startups - not to mention off topic. This isn't what I come to a Japan podcast for.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    anotherunnecessaryopinion
    United States8 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Very interesting view into the Japanese business world

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Debuggernaut
    Japan2 years ago
  • Maybe the only podcast on these topics?

    I have listened to this podcast when I lived in Japan (2017-2020), and today I started to listen new chapters too. The quality hasn’t changed a bit. Keep them coming and good luck!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Naniwagirljin
    New Zealand3 years ago
  • Invaluable Insight for Entrepreneurs in Japan

    I first started listening to the Disrupting Japan podcasts back in 2015 when I was at a loss on how to understand Japan. I came from Canada with the naive assumption that I could duplicate my successful business model here in Japan. Wow was I wrong.

    With no word of a lie, I binge listened to every Episode. It rapidly became my go to podcast whenever I wanted to better understand the mindset of the Japanese Entrepreneur or any entrepreneur in Japan. I love how Tim interviews his guests and posi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Danpape.org
    Japan3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise accessibility for non-native speakers and ESL listeners.
High-quality coverage of Japan's startup ecosystem with strong guest diversity.
Tim Romero consistently asks incisive questions and pulls meaningful insights from guests.
The host's interviewing style is engaging and informative.
Positive sentiment about content relevance and practical takeaways.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Corporate venturing as a path to innovation in Japan
Q: What would you change about Japan to make it better for startups and innovation?
I would set up the right incentive system to align the interests of in-house startups with their growth and success.
Corporate venturing as a path to innovation in Japan
Q: How does the rest of the team feel about being Tepco employees and possibly not fully committed?
The team has mixed feelings, with some loving the work but others holding back due to the safety net of Tepco employment.
Corporate venturing as a path to innovation in Japan
Q: Are you taking advantage of demand response as well?
Yes, utilities have been taking advantage of demand response, but the economic incentives have not been sufficient to manage variability in renewable energy generation.
Corporate venturing as a path to innovation in Japan
Q: What is Agile Energy X doing and what's the problem you're trying to solve?
Agile Energy X aims to introduce renewable energy in Japan using flexible demand, including Bitcoin mining, to help balance the grid.
What everyone gets wrong about branding in Japan
Q: How did you manage the localization strategy for Wendy's to ensure it succeeded where it failed twice before?
By combining Wendy's with the existing local chain First Kitchen and adapting the menu and store designs to better fit Japanese consumers.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Disrupting Japan

What is Disrupting Japan about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show provides candid, in-depth conversations with startup founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders focused on Japan's innovation scene. Episodes center on technology, entrepreneurship, and cross-border ventures, with frequent emphasis on how culture, policy, and corporate dynamics shape the Japanese startup landscape. Noteworthy is the ability to surface practical insights for building companies in Japan—from branding and growth strategies to navigating regulatory environments and collaborations with large corporations. The format's strengths lie in long-form interviews that unpack real-world challenges, successes, and lessons from diverse leaders, making it valuable for listeners considering Japan-centric startups, VC activity, or c... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Disrupting Japan?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Disrupting Japan:

1. English News - NHK WORLD RADIO JAPAN
2. 解説!1日5分ビジネス英語
3. Hapa英会話 Podcast
4. NHKラジオニュース
5. Business Daily

How many episodes of Disrupting Japan are there?

Disrupting Japan launched 12 years ago and published 261 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Disrupting Japan?

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What guests have appeared on Disrupting Japan?

Recent guests on Disrupting Japan include:

1. Kaname Hayashi
2. Yosuke Kaneko
3. Kenji Tateiwa
4. Hiro Yamazaki
5. Ernie Higa
6. Bilal Kharouni
7. Chiamin Lai
8. Shri Ddani

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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