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 — especially in complex business situations.
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
20+ years of experience in Japanese–European business relations
Deep understanding of Japanese decision-making, communication, and business culture
Focus on real-world business situations — not theory
Clients from industries such as automotive, pharma, tech, and higher education
Combination of advisory, team development, and eLearning
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.
Ulrike Fröhlich is a strategic advisor for Europe–Japan business collaboration, supporting leaders, executives, and international teams in navigating complex and high-stakes situations. Her work focuses on real business challenges — from communication and decision-making to negotiations and long-term collaboration.
First-hand Experience
Ulrike has worked in Japanese organizations and public institutions in both Japan and Germany. She does not only understand Japanese business culture — she has experienced it from the inside and navigated it herself.
As a European professional, she also understands the challenges, uncertainties, and typical misunderstandings that arise when working with Japanese partners. This dual perspective allows her to bridge both sides in a practical and realistic way.
Experience & Approach
With more than 20 years of experience, a background in Japanese studies and international business, and leadership experience, Ulrike combines deep cultural expertise with strategic thinking and practical implementation.
Her approach goes beyond traditional intercultural training: she works directly on real business situations, helping organizations build clarity, alignment, and effective collaboration with Japanese partners.
Today, Ulrike combines advisory, team development, and eLearning to create practical, scalable solutions for organizations working with Japan.
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 experienced 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: