About Us

Our Journey to Excellence

At Understanding Japan we are dedicated to enhancing European-Japanese economic and business interactions. We specialize in bridging cultural gaps between Japan and the western businesses world. Our expert guidance empowers companies and organizations to thrive in the Japanese business world. We offer tailored eLearning and consultancy services to enhance your international partnerships.

Understanding Japan – The Founder

Ulrike Fröhlich

Ulrike Froehlich has been a consultant and trainer since 2006, with over two decades of professional engagement with Japan. Her solid academic foundation includes a Master’s degree in Japanese Studies, Economics, and Sociology, which complements her extensive firsthand experience working with governmental bodies and industries in both Japan and Germany.

Professional Experience

Ulrikes’s diverse career encompasses roles such as:

Governmental Positions: Serving the Nagano Prefectural Government and the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO), where she gained invaluable insights into Japan’s economic landscape.
Corporate Engagements: Working experience at Toshiba, providing her with a deep understanding of Japanese corporate dynamics.
Quality Management: Being trained to audit and advise companies on the EFQM Excellence Model (European Quality Management), ensuring organizational excellence.
Academic Contributions: Lecturing at the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University in Lörrach on ‘International Business’, sharing her knowledge with the next generation of business leaders.
Intercultural Workshops: Leading seminars and workshops across Europe, including cities like Budapest, Lisbon, and Manchester, to prepare European companies for successful business engagements with Japan.

Leadership and Innovation

Ulrike has demonstrated significant leadership in the educational sector, heading a further education division where she spearheaded initiatives to integrate digital solutions into learning. Her enthusiasm for digital innovation has led to the development of e-learning platforms and the introduction of a Japan Business GPT, ensuring that clients have access to cutting-edge resources for their professional development.

Personal Journey

Ulrike’s passion for Japan began with her first visit in 1992, igniting a lifelong dedication to understanding and bridging cultural divides. Fluent in Japanese, she combines her language skills with deep cultural insights to facilitate effective communication and collaboration between European and Japanese businesses.

Ulrike has written many articles about building international teams, understanding different ways people communicate, and working together online. Her writings help people learn how to work well with others from different cultures and places.

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Discover how our expertise in Japanese business culture and cross-cultural training has empowered clients to achieve success. Read our client testimonials and success stories.

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Our Mission

At Understanding Japan, our mission is to bridge the cultural and business gaps between Europe and Japan. We are committed to fostering meaningful cross-cultural collaboration by providing tailored seminars, training sessions, and consulting services.

Embracing the power of digital learning, we offer flexible eLearning solutions, ensuring that professionals worldwide can access our expertise in Japanese business culture and intercultural communication.

We believe that understanding leads to success. By equipping individuals and organizations with the knowledge and skills to navigate Japanese business culture, we empower them to build strong, lasting partnerships that drive innovation and sustainable growth.

Our Core Values

Cultural Respect
We deeply value and respect diverse cultures, recognizing that understanding is the foundation of effective intercultural communication and collaboration.

Sustainability
We are committed to providing our clients with profound and enduring insights into the Japanese business environment. Additionally, we advocate for environmental sustainability and are dedicated to implementing eco-friendly business practices.

Digital Innovation
We embrace the digital world, leveraging innovative eLearning solutions to make our expertise in Japanese business culture and intercultural communication accessible to professionals worldwide.