Our Competitive Advantages
Many years of consulting experience with broad knowledge in the areas of market entry support and innovation management
Well experienced in market studies, business strategies, joint developments with companies, and joint research with academia in Japan, as well as M&A and CVC
Insights into several markets and industries on a B2B level, e.g. chemicals, automotive, health care, pharmaceuticals, paint and coatings, and construction industries
Existing network to many corporations and SME, research institutes, universities, (governmental) institutions, venture capital organizations, and M&A agents in Japan
Deep understanding of Japanese culture and business customs, as well as intercultural, cross-border management
Provision of a one-stop solution by cooperating with reliable partners in other consulting areas like legal advice, tax & accounting, communications, back office, or recruitment
Support of the Master of Business Engineering program at Steinbeis University as well as other universities and NPOs in Japan with lectures and mentorship
Membership in several foreign chambers of commerce in Japan
Our Team
Dr. Ralf Mayer, Founder and Executive Consultant studied chemistry in Germany and joined a leading chemical company after his PhD. He had been working for 15 years in different managerial positions and came to Japan in 2013, where he held the position of General Manager and Head of Regional Development. In this position he gained the knowledge about the peculiarities of the Japanese business customs and how to develop business in Japan. In 2017 he founded San-Ten Consulting in order to support foreign companies doing business in Japan and expand their activities in this highly rewarding market. He knows the consulting business from both sides and always strives for a custom-tailored, hands-on consultation that is leading to practical results by having the feet on the ground for our clients.
You can find a more detailed background & experience overview of Dr. Ralf Mayer on his LinkedIn profile.
Makoto Rexrode, Senior Consultant, MBA Makoto was born and raised in Nagasaki. She has a Bachelor of Economics from Nagasaki University and MBA from Concordia University, Montreal Canada. In addition, she has lived in Sweden and the U.S. She has extensive experiences in market research from various industries. After returning to Japan in 2018, she joined San-Ten Consulting as a Senior Consultant in 2020. With her strong communication and research skills combined with her work experiences from overseas, she specializes in building a cultural bridge between Japanese and foreign companies. Makoto is perfectly bilingual in Japanese and English.
Name and Logo of San-Ten Consulting
Moreover, the three points also stand for a traditional business philosophy in Japan from the Edo period (1603-1868) called Sanpoyoshi (三方良し) which means, that a business is only considered “good” if it is good for the seller (売り方), the buyer (買い方) and the society (世間). In this spirit, San-Ten Consulting wants to contribute to the society by supporting balanced business between companies in and outside Japan.