01 — Trust
Consistency since 1974.
Five decades of continuous presence in Japan, built on transparency, accountability and long-term relationships with international clients.
Operating from Tokyo since 1974
Japan Market Entry & Business Development
From market validation and partner search to local business development, company setup and operations, PMC FDIV helps international companies enter and grow in Japan with one accountable team on the ground.
The partner you call first in Japan.
One Tokyo-based team across the full market-entry journey, from feasibility and partner search to business development, setup and local operations.
02 — Local Intelligence
Deep understanding of Japan.
Local insight into Japanese business practices, decision-making processes and market dynamics, helping clients understand what moves the market and how to act effectively.
03 — Excellence & Commitment
Senior standards at every stage.
Experienced executives work directly on each mandate, combining strategic judgement with hands-on execution from first assessment through implementation.
One-Stop-Shop for Japan.
Two complementary practices under one Tokyo-based team, combining market entry and business development with the operational infrastructure needed to establish and grow in Japan.
01
Business Development
Market entry strategy, partner and distributor search, customer development, commercial representation and M&A support, helping you move from first assessment to real business in Japan.
02
Operational Services
EOR, Company setup, accounting, payroll, HR Support, compliance & directorship, customer support, administration, Recruitment, everything required to run a reliable local presence without building the full structure from day one.
Our services, end-to-end.
Eight expertises that deploy alone or as an integrated mission, according to the maturity of your Japan project.
Our heritage
50 Years in Japan.
Our longevity brings something difficult to replicate: deep local knowledge, trusted relationships and the perspective that comes from supporting businesses through multiple market cycles.
Since 1974, we have built our approach around continuity, local understanding and long-term commitment, qualities that matter in a market where trust is earned over time.
A Tokyo-based partner. Decoding Japan since 1974.
A Franco-Japanese team helping international companies enter, operate and grow in Japan, combining local market knowledge, execution capabilities and long-term relationships.
For more than five decades, PMC Japan has supported international companies navigating a market where success depends on local understanding, trust and sustained engagement.
We bring strategy, business development and local operations under one roof, giving our clients one accountable team in Tokyo from first assessment to long-term growth.
Local presence. Continuity. Execution.
Senior-level execution, embedded in your Japan growth.
Not a generic consultant, but an engaged partner. Hands-on, long-term, committed with remuneration aligned on concrete operational milestones.
With 35 years
of experience connected to Japan, Fabien combines a strong academic background, an MSc in Engineering and an MBA from INSEAD, with experience at McKinsey and senior executive roles in international companies.
As former CEO of Bluebell, Puma Japan and Loewe Japan (LVMH), he brings first-hand experience in market entry, brand development, multichannel strategy, team building and the realities of running a business in Japan. Today, he applies his knowledge to helping companies turn their Japan ambitions into measurable results.
Fabien Debaecker
Representative Director
Some of the firms we've helped grow in Japan.
Trusted by the best Partners
SYNAPSE MEDICINE
Dr. Louis Letinier, Co-founder & CMO
PMC helped us localise our clinical decision platform for Japan with rigour and pace. Their regulatory and go-to-market guidance gave us confidence from day one.
UMIAMI
Martin Habfast, Co-founder
Entering Japan required more than translation — PMC built the operating rhythm we needed to test, learn, and scale with local partners.
Exotec
Jule Briatta, Head of People
PMC's support and local expertise were key to our success in Japan, especially during COVID. Their team coordinated recruiting, interim management, and operational kick-off, completing our first contract despite the most difficult circumstances.
TREEFROG THERAPEUTICS
Frederic Desdouit, former CEO
PMC mapped our PMDA pathway with clarity and speed. Their regulatory expertise saved us months of uncertainty and kept our Japan timeline on track.
DENTAL MONITORING
Arnaud Berthier, Chief Market Access Officer
From first meeting to Tokyo launch, PMC was the single partner we needed. No vendor chain, no gaps — just senior people who understood our category.
NUTRIMUSCLE
Theo Copolata, Group CEO
When we decided to bring Nutrimuscle to Japan, PMC Japan gave us something no report could: a true understanding of the market....More than a consultancy, they have been a real partner: close, committed, and invested in our success. We could not have asked for a better companion for our first steps in Japan.
Before entering Japan, here are the questions that matter.
Six questions we regularly hear from international companies assessing the Japanese market. Have another? Talk to us.
More than 50 years in Japan have given PMC something that cannot be built overnight: trusted relationships and a deep understanding of how business gets done locally. We do not simply provide contact lists or introductions. We identify the right stakeholders, open the right doors and stay involved until opportunities become concrete.
No. A Japanese subsidiary can generally be established even if all directors are non-residents of Japan. However, local presence may still matter in practice for banking, immigration, licensing, leasing and day-to-day administration. PMC helps clients design the right structure from the outset, balancing legal requirements with the practical realities of operating in Japan.One important nuance: this applies to a Japanese subsidiary such as a K.K. or G.K. A Japanese branch office must have at least one representative who is resident in Japan.
Yes. PMC can serve as your on-the-ground commercial representative before you establish a Japanese entity. We can develop the market, engage potential customers and partners, manage distributor discussions, and build a qualified pipeline, allowing you to gain traction and validate the opportunity before committing to a permanent structure in Japan.
Every mandate is different, so our fees are tailored to the scope and level of support required. After an initial discussion, we provide a transparent proposal with clearly defined deliverables, timing and fees. Our objective is simple: to align the investment with the business outcomes you are seeking.
There is no single timeline for entering Japan. Market validation can often be completed within 6–10 weeks, while commercial development is typically a longer process shaped by the sector, sales cycle and level of localization required. We structure each engagement around clear decision points, so you can assess progress before committing additional resources.
Our experience spans healthcare and life sciences, food and biotechnology, industrial technologies, automation and logistics. Across sectors, PMC focuses on the same challenge: turning market opportunity into concrete business development and sustainable growth in Japan.
Contact
Let's talk about your project in Japan.
Send a short brief — a paragraph is enough. We reply within 48h with an indicative scope, named lead, and a calendar slot in Tokyo or Paris.
