In this episode of the FocusCore Podcast, Tokyo-based certified meditation teacher Misha Yurchenko discusses the importance of mindfulness, especially in corporate settings. With over a decade of experience, Misha shares his journey through burnout and how it led him to found Tokyo Mindfulness. The conversation covers how mindfulness can be integrated into daily life and corporate culture, the distinct roles of mindfulness and meditation, and practical advice for new leaders. This insightful discussion offers actionable steps for leaders and individuals seeking to enhance their well-being and productivity.

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide

In this episode you will hear:

• How Misha overcame his severe burnout from his venture-funded startup
• Why the Western concept of mindfulness is not so common in Japan
• The importance of short, consistent mindfulness practices
• Corporate examples such as the story of Rakuten’s successful implementation of mindfulness programs

About Misha:

Misha Yurchenko is a Tokyo-based certified meditation teacher with over a decade of meditation experience. He has attended retreats worldwide, practicing a range of techniques. After experiencing extreme burnout from his venture-funded startup, he retreated to the mountains for a month of meditation. He later founded Tokyo Mindfulness, dedicated to helping others break free from their limitations. Misha combines meditation, breathwork, and nervous system healing in a practical and integrated approach to assist people in letting go of the ego, releasing old habit patterns, and finding inner freedom. He is the author of several books, writes a weekly Substack, and lives in Nerima with his family.

Connect with Misha :

Website: https://tokyomindfulness.com/

Events & Retreats: https://www.meetup.com/pro/conscious-living-japan/

Community & Newsletter: https://tokyomindfulness.substack.com/

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

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/

“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.

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide

Welcome back to the FocusCore podcast with host Dr. David Sweet. This week we are talking about leadership and business mastery with Dr. Greg Story, President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training Japan. Greg is an author of a suite of books focusing specifically on mastering various aspects of doing business in Japan. He also releases multiple podcasts weekly and is a certified master trainer in all of the major Dale Carnegie training courses. So join us for this enlightening conversation about leadership, communication and the unique dynamics of doing business in Japan.

In this episode you will hear:

• How Greg started Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training Japan
• Why on the job training is not working for Japanese companies anymore
• About Greg’s books teaching mastery in business and leadership in Japan
• The importance of middle management in retaining quality talent
• How technology like AI is changing recruitment in Japan

Things mentioned in the episode:

Dale Carnegie Tokyo Website

Dr. Greg Story’s author page on Amazon

Dr. Greg Story’s podcast page on Apple Podcasts

About Dr. Greg Story:

A Ph.D. in Japanese organisational decision-making, and a 40 year veteran of Japan, he has broad experience, having been Country Head of four organisations in Japan.

He launched a “start up” in Nagoya, and completed “turn-arounds” in both Osaka and Tokyo for Austrade.

In 2001 he was promoted to Minister Commercial in the Australian Embassy and the Country Head for Austrade.

In November 2003, Dr. Story joined Shinsei’s Retail Bank, which interestingly was a special combination of “start-up” and “turn-around”. He had 550 staff in his Platinum Banking Division, responsible for two-thirds of the revenue of the Retail Bank, eventually becoming the Joint CEO of the Retail Bank.

In July 2007, Dr. Story became the Country Head for the National Australia Bank in Japan.

In October 2010, he became President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training Japan. He is a Master Trainer and an international award winning Sales Leader with Dale Carnegie. He is a thought leader and has written eight books: Japan Sales Mastery, Za Eigyo (The 営業), Japan Business Mastery, Japan Presentations Mastery, Anata mo Purezen Tatsujin (あなたもプレゼンの達人), Stop Wasting Money On Training, Toreningu de Okane Wo Muda Ni Suru No Wa Yamemashoo (トレニングでお金を無駄にするのわやめましょう) and Japan Leadership Mastery.

He is an Adjunct Professor in the International Business Faculty of Griffith University. A 6th Dan in traditional Shitoryu Karate, he applies martial art philosophies and strategies to business issues.

Connect with Dr. Greg Story:

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

Connect with David Sweet:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp

Facebook: :

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here:

2025 Salary Guide

Welcome to the first episode of 2025 for the FocusCore podcast!

This week we are joined by yet another amazing guest at the forefront of marketing and business leadership in Japan, Ricardo Tasca. Ricardo is currently the General Manager and Representative Director of Hill’s Colgate (Japan). Ricardo has years of experience leading marketing innovation and success in Japan, Brazil, Mexico and New York. In this episode Ricardo shares some unique experiences of being a leader in the pet care industry in Japan, as well as discussing global trends and innovations in marketing and brand management happening now and in the future.

In this episode you will hear:

• What makes the Japan market unique
• What Ricardo sees as emerging trends in the Japanese consumer market
• How the pet care industry is evolving in Japan and globally
• The importance of sustainability to Hill’s Pet Nutrition Japan
• How investing in R&D helps brands innovate and be competitive in the market

Things mentioned in the episode:

Hill’s Food, Shelter, & Love Program: https://www.hillspet.com/food-shelter-love/my-shelter

About Ricardo:

Ricardo Tasca is the General Manager and Representative Director of Hill’s Colgate (Japan) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hill's Pet Nutrition and Colgate-Palmolive Company. He has held that position since January 1st, 2022.

Prior to that, Ricardo served for three years as the Marketing Director of Hill's Colgate (JAPAN) Ltd.

From 2016 to 2018, Ricardo served as Associate Director of the Global Marketing and Innovation Team for Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

Ricardo joined Colgate Palmolive in his native Brazil in 2003 as Assistant Brand Manager. He progressed through positions in Marketing and Retail Marketing, becoming Group Brand Manager for Colgate Toothpaste in 2009.

In 2010, Ricardo moved to Colgate Palmolive Mexico, to lead the Latin America Innovation for Mouthwashes and Sensitive Toothpaste. In 2012, moved to Colgate Headquarters in New York as the Marketing Manager of the Global Toothbrushes business, leading global strategy & innovation for key segments of the category.

Ricardo holds a degree in Business administration from the FAAP University in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Connect with Ricardo:

Website: https://www.hillspet.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-tasca-11914418/

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/

“Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by...

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide

On this episode of the FocusCore podcast we are joined by global leadership expert Paul Dupuis. Paul has over 25 years of professional experience in multiple countries across Asia including Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and India. He is also the founder and CEO of Take-5 Global K.K., a consultancy firm focused on coaching, business advisory, leadership development and M&A in Japan and India. Paul joins us to share some of his insights into being a great leader in Japan and globally, as well as how to grow and develop successful leaders in your company.

In this episode you will hear:

• What foreign companies admire about Japanese business culture
• Universal tenets of good leadership
• How to succeed as a business leader in Japan
• The importance of listening more than you speak
• How trust helps empower and enable people to be great leaders
• Paul’s 5 E’s of leadership from his book; The E5 Movement

Things mentioned in the episode:

Paul’s book; The E5 Movement: https://e5-movement.com/

The Japanese version; The 5 Golden Rules of Leadership:

https://e5-movement.com/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E

Hockey Foundation Website: https://hockeyfoundation.org/

About Paul Dupuis:

Paul Dupuis is the founder and CEO of Take-5 Global K.K., a consultancy firm focused on coaching, business advisory, leadership development and M&A in Japan and India.

Paul has over 25 years of professional experience in multiple countries across Asia including Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and India. Prior to founding Take-5 Global K.K., Paul was CEO & Chairman of Randstad Japan (2021-2023) where he led one of the largest operating companies for Randstad globally to achieve exceptional revenue growth and record profitability. During his tenure as MD and CEO of Randstad India (2017-2021), he led the turnaround of the company to become the leader in the Indian market. Paul was recognized by Great Place to Work® Institute (India) as one of India’s Best Leaders in Times of Crisis 2021. From 2011-2013 he was based in Singapore as Head of Asia for en-japan (TSE 4849.t).

A recognized thought leader, Paul frequently appears in media, and is a guest speaker at MBA schools and professional associations across Asia on topics related to Japan & India, with a focus on transformational leadership, high performance, team building, strategy and organizational development. He is a member of the MBA Faculty at GLOBIS University Graduate School. He is a non-executive Board Member of T.Hasegawa, a publicly listed company (TSE 4958). Paul is a member of the Board of Directors of HOPE International Sustainable Development Agency (JP), focusing on clean water projects and microcredit programs in Cambodia, Sudan and the Philippines, with a mission to help the neglected poor become self-reliant.

Paul is fully bilingual in English and Japanese. He published his first book on leadership, The E5 Movement in June 2020. In 2023, the best-selling Japanese version was published: The 5 Golden Rules of Leadership.

Paul is an active member of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), and is the Vice-chairman of the marketing committee of the Japan Ice Hockey Federation. He is a passionate ice hockey...

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here:2025 Salary Guide

This week on the FocusCore podcast, host David Sweet is joined by Simon Jelfs, Managing Director of FocusCore Japan. In the episode David and Simon discuss the biggest talent trends that will impact Japan’s recruitment landscape in 2025. These trends include things like new technologies and work structures impacting business in general, as well as the future of HR and recruitment specifically. This conversation is essential listening for companies looking to adapt and be competitive in Japan’s ever evolving market in the new year!

In this episode you will hear:

• The real challenges and opportunities of AI in recruitment
• Why cybersecurity, data analytics, and adaptability are more essential than ever
• How HR is driving growth through upskilling, reskilling, and strategic planning
• The importance of a strong Employee Value Proposition when attracting talent
• The future of flexible work models in Japan

About Simon Jelfs:

​Simon is from the UK and has over 20 years accounting and finance recruitment experience in Tokyo. He is the Managing Director of Focus Core which focuses on providing executive search in Japan.

Connect with Simon Jelfs:

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

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/

“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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan.

2025 Salary Guide

The latest Focus Core Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide

Welcome to the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast. In this episode we are talking about the field of Genomics and how the applied genomics technology company, Illumina is pushing the boundaries of genomic biotechnology for research and in applied medicine. Our guest is General Manager and Representative Director of Illumina KK, Arjuna Kumarasuriyar. Arjuna has commercial experience in sales, marketing, channel management and commercial operations, as well as an academic background in biotechnology and molecular biology. In the episode we dive deep into what genomics is and how it is evolving, as well as hearing some of Arjuna’s insights into Japan’s unique business landscape.

In this episode you will hear:

• What the term genomics means and how it differs from genetics
• What made Arjuna change his study from medicine to biotechnology
• About Illumina’s work in biotechnology
• How the technology Illumina is developing is fundamentally changing healthcare around the world
• What Arjuna has learnt about doing business in Japan
• How AI technology might impact genomics

About Arjuna Kumarasuriyar:

Arjuna Kumarasuriyar has Commercial experience in sales, marketing, channel management and Commercial Operations in the life sciences sector. The majority of Arjuna’s career has been in genomics with Illumina covering business across the Asia Pacific region. The first eight years of his career at Illumina were in sales, marketing and sales management roles. The next eight years he established and grew a commercial operations function to support the rapidly expanding commercial team in Asia through analytics, processes, technology, training and back office functions.

Arjuna has been General Manager and Representative Director of Illumina KK since January 2023. He is passionate about finding ways for teams to perform at their best whether it is shaping organizational structures and culture or getting into the operational enablement to enable efficient and effective customer value creation.

Arjuna has a Bachelors in Biotechnology and a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Queensland, Australia. He joined Illumina in 2007 after working in R&D, quality assurance, and technology transfer roles for several biotech companies and government agencies in Singapore and Australia.

Connect with Arjuna Kumarasuriyar:

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

X: https://x.com/ArjunaK

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/

“Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and...

The latest Focus Core Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide

Welcome back to the FocusCore podcast. In this episode we are talking to a titan of the food industry in Japan, Paul Kraft. In his over twenty years experience, Paul has launched and led multiple brands to succeed in the Japanese market. He is now the Founder and President of JapanIQ, a company that specializes in helping companies avoid missteps and drive growth in the unique Japanese business landscape. In this episode we discuss the Japanese retail food market, what works, what doesn’t, and future trends we can expect to see unfold in the coming years.

In this episode you will hear:

• About challenges Paul faced when he first started working in Japan
• How the Japanese grocery market differs from other countries
• How Paul, and JapanIQ, has helped foreign companies avoid common pitfalls of doing business in Japan
• The leadership qualities Paul looks for when hiring in Japan
• Insights into Japanese consumer behavior now and in the future

About Paul Kraft:

Paul Kraft helps medium-sized foreign firms expand and optimize their footprints in the perplexing Japanese market. With over 20 years in the trenches navigating Japan Inc., Paul knows what lasts, what languishes, when to pivot, and when to start from scratch.

Paul took HARIBO gummi bears from #8 to #1 in 4 years, led Starbucks’ CPG entry into the Japanese mass market and department stores – including #1 at CVS. He launched the HoneyBaked Ham restaurant chain in their first-ever international market and grew Nestle Nespresso’s Japanese foodservice business by 20+%.

Paul specializes in Route-to-Market Analysis, Partner Identification, Hiring (and Firing), Empowering the Local Team to Speak Up, Value Chain Analysis, Strategic Planning, Translating Brands to the Japanese Market, Forecasting, Market Research, Marketing Communication, Japan Crisis Management, Live TV Interviews, Thought Leadership, Meeting Retailers, Launching New Products, Quality Control Checks, Factory Audits, and Market Audits.

Connect with Paul Kraft:

Website: https://www.japaniq.com

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

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JapanIQ

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/

“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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan.

The latest Focus Core Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide

On the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast, host David Sweet discusses the current Media and Marketing landscape in Japan with John Flanagan, President and Managing Director of A+E Networks Japan and SE Asia. John has 30 plus years experience in the Media industry in Japan and has seen it evolve, including the rise of streaming services and the current advances in AI technologies. John also has extensive marketing experience and has some great advice for foreign business leaders looking to effectively market to Japanese audiences.

In this episode you will hear:

• About the unique marketing landscape in Japan
• The importance of understanding your target market
• How the media industry is currently evolving
• The importance of good storytelling when it comes to marketing
• Some of the challenges facing streaming services in Japan and globally

About John Flanagan:

John Flanagan is President and Managing Director of A+E Networks Japan and SE Asia. Flanagan is a media professional with over 30 years' experience in Japan. His career highlights include launching J:COM and running marketing at 20th Century Fox and iTunes in Japan. Flanagan also teaches marketing part time at Japan’s largest MBA school, GLOBIS University. He graduated from Colorado College, which included one year's study at Waseda University in Tokyo. Flanagan later attended INSEAD.



Connect with John Flanagan:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnflanaganasia

A+E Networks Website: https://jp.aenetworks.com/

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/

“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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan.

2025 Salary Guide