The FocusCore Podcast cover art

The FocusCore Podcast

The FocusCore Podcast

By: Dr. David Sweet
Listen for free

Meet interesting and inspiring and entertaining people who show why Japan is a unique, fulfilling and sometimes frustrating place to do business. We will discuss how to hire, train and retain talent. How to create values that motivate, and review best practices that have worked and attempts that have failed. David will be speaking to company presidents, CEOs, CFOs, HR professionals, coaches, consultants as well as sharing with you some of my own experiences and opinions discovered over the years in this great country. The focus is simple: To explore how to succeed in business in Japan.Copyright 2026 Dr. David Sweet Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • No Nonsense Job searching for the Japan Executive

    No Nonsense Job searching for the Japan Executive
    Jun 14 2026

    Many executives trying to find jobs in Japan rely on passive tactics—applying on LinkedIn, meeting recruiters, and polite networking, then get frustrated when nothing happens, despite market claims of talent shortages. David Sweet explains that most job-search advice is built for mid-management, while executive search firms and recruiters primarily serve client mandates, often resulting in “crickets” for candidates; LinkedIn applications also rarely reach decision-makers. Instead, executives should stop waiting to be rescued and run their search like B2B sales: build a strategy and target list of 40–50 companies (dream firms, PE-backed growth, APAC HQs, market entrants), research via chambers, trade shows and media, then reach out directly to presidents and senior leaders with a research-focused message. Use meetings to learn needs, competitors, and expand networks, staying patient given fewer senior roles.

    The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary Guide

    In this episode you will hear:

    • Move beyond mid-management job search strategies
    • Craft a list of dream companies and take the direct approach
    • Utilize resources like chambers and trade shows for in-depth research
    • Engage executives in meaningful dialogue, not just job requests

    David Sweet Bio:

    ​David Sweet is the Founder and CEO of FocusCore Japan, based in Tokyo. FocusCore provides a broad range of services from executive to talent management and leadership consulting. His particular focus is in Human Resources.

    Prior to establishing FocusCore Group, David was a Director with the Tokyo consultancy Wall Street Associates, leading operations, training, and recruitment in multiple sectors. He also worked for 10 years in the U.S. Treasury Department in labor relations and organizational development.

    He is the author of six books, including "Sweet Sales", "Sweet Success", and "Recruit!". He is also a Certified Executive Coach. David earned a MA in Communications from Regis University and a PhD in Leadership Development.

    Are you enjoying the FocusCore Podcast? Please take a few minutes and leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts! Scroll down the show page, select leave a rating, and tap ‘Write a review’.

    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/

    This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda.

    “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.
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • Unlocking Explosive Growth: Strategies with Steve Bleistein

    Unlocking Explosive Growth: Strategies with Steve Bleistein
    May 31 2026
    In this Focus Core podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Steve Bleistein, CEO of Tokyo-based Relansa, Inc., and author of Dauntless Leadership, about rapid growth and leadership for international companies in Japan. Steve argues Japan is “no enigma” because value and leadership fundamentals are universal, and “we can’t do this because this is Japan” is an excuse that abdicates agency. He cites skincare company Takami’s fast growth by bucking department-store conventions, using limits to drive innovation, and focusing on direct customer acquisition and lifetime relationships. On leading change, he advises leaders decide the “what” while teams help with the “how,” cater to the vanguard, take action before buy-in, and ignore or remove naysayers. He also discusses hiring leaders who speak truth to power and think strategically, building internal leadership benches, poaching external talent, keeping HR from pre-vetting executives, understanding real decision-making dynamics, defining empowerment, and adapting to demographics through customer/market shifts and productivity-enhancing technology.The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary GuideIn this episode you will hear:Why universal business values succeed in Japan and beyondBusting the myth of Japan’s business market being 'slow' or 'encrypted'The role of innovation in breaking traditional market normsHow to implement industry-defining leadership strategiesAddressing and adapting to the needs of an aging Japanese marketOvercoming the ‘Japan barrier’ in multinational corporationsAbout Steve:Steve is the CEO and founder of Tokyo-based Relansa, Inc., and a recognized expert on rapid business growth for international companies in Japan. He works closely with CEOs and senior leaders to help organizations achieve faster and more sustainable business results in complex cross-cultural environments.A fluent Japanese and French speaker, he is known for bridging Western and Japanese business thinking, advising global brands including Adidas, Godiva, Novo Nordisk, Danone, BMW, LVMH, L'Oréal, Lenovo, and Michelin, among many others.He is the author of seven business books, including Strategy On Your Own Terms, Disrupt or Be Disrupted, Dauntless Leadership, Indomitable Selling Capability, Rapid Culture Change, Charismatic Disruption, and Rapid Organizational Change.He has appeared on Bloomberg News as a commentator on Japanese business issues and has contributed articles to all three of Nikkei’s leading business publications in both English and Japanese.In addition to his consulting work, he serves as President of the Entrepreneur Committee at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan, where he leads the popular “Conversation With” leadership series featuring senior executives from companies such as Danone, Lenovo, BMW, Unilever, Cartier, and Domino's Pizza Japan. He has also served on the board of Tsukuba International School since 2014.He holds a Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales, an International MBA from the University of South Carolina, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan.Connect with Steve:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenbleistein/Website: https://stevenbleistein.net/Newsletter: https://stevenbleistein.net/#newsletterregoGrowth Zone podcast: https://stevenbleistein.net/feed/podcast/the-growth-zoneApple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-growth-zone/id1892800069.Podcast: https://stevenbleistein.net/podcast-2/Connect with David Sweet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejpFacebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda.“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.
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • Navigating Business Longevity and Leadership in Japan with Ernest Higa

    Navigating Business Longevity and Leadership in Japan with Ernest Higa
    May 14 2026

    In this episode of the FocusCore Podcast, host David Sweet interviews entrepreneur Ernest Higa, Representative Director of First Kitchen Ltd. and Wendy's, founder of Domino’s Pizza Japan and chairman/CEO of Higa Industries, about building and leading businesses in Japan. Ernest argues that “scale” must now be global and that business life cycles are shortening, making longevity a key criterion when selecting brands. He explains the need to “think global, act local” without “going too native,” describing how Domino’s Japan required product, service, and menu innovation to match Japanese expectations for quality, hospitality, and variety. He discusses persuading US headquarters amid cultural gaps, noting there is no “cultural interpreter,” and illustrates supply-chain localization through developing preservative-free pepperoni and sausage to meet Japanese regulations and MOQs. Ernest also covers Japan’s evolving corporate governance, board effectiveness, diversity, entrepreneurial pitfalls like tax structure, leadership adaptability, post-COVID consumer recovery, inbound tourism growth, and his positive outlook for Japan’s economy.

    The 2026 FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2026 Salary Guide

    In this episode you will hear:

    • The importance of adapting global business models to local markets
    • How Ernest Higa navigated the challenges of introducing American food brands to Japan
    • Cultural nuances impacting boardroom dynamics in Japan vs. the U.S.
    • Key factors in choosing and managing leadership for international ventures
    • Why understanding cultural differences is crucial for bridging gaps with headquarters
    • Japan’s shifting economy and its impact on the global business market

    About Ernest:

    Ernest Higa is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Higa Industries Co., Ltd., Chairman and Representative Director of First Kitchen Ltd. and Wendy's. He is also a Director of Delsole Corporation (a publicly listed company), and Chairman of the Board of Councilors of the US- Japan Council and Advisor to the Commissioner of the Ministry of Culture. He also serves on the board of the Asian Cultural Council Japan Foundation, Temple University Japan, and Showa Women’s University. In 1985, he founded Domino’s Pizza Japan and became the largest international franchisee at that time, (he sold it in 2010). In 1990, he was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by the New Business Conference, and in 1998, he was awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture for “innovation in the food industry” and recognized by Toyo Keizai as one of the top 50 entrepreneurs in Japan. He earned his MBA from Columbia Business School and his B.S. from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania.

    Connect with Ernest:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernest-ernie-higa-06750b22/

    Higa Industries: https://www.higaind.jp/en/

    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/

    This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda.

    “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.
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet