About Understanding Japan
Bridging cultures – empowering professionals to succeed with Japanese partners
20+ years of experience · EN/DE · Interactive eLearnings
Our Mission
At Understanding Japan, we help professionals, leaders, and teams build the cultural awareness and practical skills needed to collaborate effectively with Japanese business partners.
Our mission is simple: to make international cooperation smoother, more respectful, and more successful.
Our Approach
Focus
Practical
Focused on real-life business challenges
Respect
Intercultural
Bridging European and Japanese perspectives
Impact
Tailored
Customized learning journeys for your context
Why Work With Us
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20+ years of experience in Japanese–European business relations
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Clients from industries such as automotive, pharma, tech, and higher education
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Expertise in both intercultural training and digital learning design
Our Core Values
Respect
Cultural Respect
We value and respect diverse cultures, knowing that understanding is the foundation of effective collaboration.
Responsibility
Sustainability
We provide enduring insights into Japanese business and promote eco-friendly, sustainable practices.
Innovation
Digital Innovation
We embrace digital learning to make Japanese business culture accessible worldwide.
Lead Consultant & Founder
Understanding Japan was founded by Ulrike Fröhlich, intercultural trainer and digital learning developer. With a background in Japanese studies, international business, and 20+ years of consulting experience, she combines cultural expertise with modern learning solutions.
👉 Read more about Ulrike Fröhlich
Collaboration Partners
Yuki Itakura
Yuki supports Understanding Japan as
1:1 intercultural coach,
co-facilitator for live online sessions, and additionally
Japanese language instructor.
- EN/JAP
Japan Consultant & Japanese Language Teacher
Yuki Itakura from Itakura Consulting – is an excellent trainer and consultant with deep expertise in Japanese communication and intercultural collaboration.
We are delighted that Yuki cooperates with us in joint corporate trainings, combining Japanese and European perspectives. Her expertise adds a valuable dimension to our work — especially when language, culture, and communication come together.
She also co-facilitates live sessions and, additionally, offers Japanese language lessons as part of her consulting work.
Together, Yuki and Ulrike run a YouTube channel “Uli&Yuki: Intercultural Business Insights” with practical insights into Japanese business practices.
Uli & Yukis YouTube Channel:
Intercultural Business Insights
Watch us on YouTube
together with Yuki Itakura, we share short insights about Japanese business culture, communication, and real-world examples from our consulting work.
→ Visit our YouTube channel
“Yuki & Uli: Intercultural Business Insights”
Read more about the person behind Understanding Japan on the: