Ryo Hasegawa, Fun Japan Communications, Inc.

[Official Website of Fun Japan Communications, Inc.]

Fun Japan Communications, Inc., with their mission of becoming a bridge between Japan and the rest of  Asia, brings the best Japan has to offer to users across Asia.

This time, we asked them about their experience receiving support from YoYoYo Marketing.

■First, could you tell us about your business?

Our mission is to act as a bridge between Asia and Japan, and we offer a variety of services. Specifically, we manage websites and corporate social media, support overseas market expansion, and operate our own e-commerce site for product sales and market research in the Asia region.

We also provide communication platforms that allow Japan-loving members from across Asia to connect and create communities, with the aim of fostering greater ties between Japan and Asia.

We primarily work with corporate clients and local governments, but we also offer services to overseas members, exploring new revenue models from these markets.

Through these various initiatives, we have gained significant support from many people. As a result, we have achieved substantial growth, with over 1.3 million website members and more than 4.6 million followers on social media, making us one of the largest-scale operations of this type in the Asia region.

■Before considering support from YoYoYo, what challenges were you facing?

Although we had expertise in business, we felt that there was a lack of resources in areas such as operations, promotions, and marketing when we decided to start our e-commerce efforts. Particularly, there was a shortage of talent capable of handling these aspects internally, and we were searching for a company that could fill this gap.

In exploring various options, we determined that it was crucial to find a company that could not only provide support from experienced professionals but also offer flexible support systems and practical expertise. That led us to approach your company for assistance.

■What impressions did you have after requesting marketing support?

Amidst limited internal resources and frequent changes in personnel, it was difficult to maintain a steady workflow. In this context, Yoyoyo not only handled simple task requests but also engaged with our team closely, acting almost like an internal team member and proving to be a trustworthy partner.

In particular, we have greatly benefited from the fact that they provide constant and relevant proposals and new ideas without requiring us to prod them, particularly for advertising. Additionally, as we are a company that is constantly looking to challenge ourselves despite our limited resources, their flexibility and ability to make detailed adjustments has been very reassuring.

Our partnership has lasted over three years, and they have become an indispensable presence, acting like a full-commitment team member and playing a crucial role as part of our team.

■What measurable results have you achieved?

With the introduction of Yoyoyo’s EC consulting, our sales grew approximately fivefold, reaching a peak of 5 million yen per month. This success was driven by effective operational support and the impact of marketing strategies.

Additionally, we faced the challenge of lacking marketing expertise and mindset within our own sales team. Yoyoyo provided marketing training for our team, and through this our entire team acquired new marketing knowledge and perspectives, ultimately leading to an increase in the number of proposals and orders. Not only that, but the training also shifted the team’s mindset, fostering a more proactive approach to marketing activities. This was a significant and visible result.

■What are your future plans?

Our goal is to continue growing the entire business, and we are moving forward with specific actions to achieve this. While sales and profits are important, our main focus is on expanding our membership base through various platforms and services. We believe this foundation is key to our growth.

Next, we aim to further increase sales and profits, while closely analyzing the results of advertising and events, and quantifying those results. Based on this data, we plan to refine our new initiatives and develop more effective strategies.

We will also continue to explore new possibilities through various trials and challenges across different platforms. While there are challenges related to our EC product strategy due to the lack of buyers, we are determined to move forward steadily through continuous renewal. We will continue to embrace flexibility, tackle challenges, and further develop our business.

Ultimately, with our mission of becoming a bridge between Japan and Asia in mind, we aim to go beyond the boundaries of a single organization and become a HUB that facilitates connections and exchanges between people.

■What do you expect from Yoyoyo Marketing in the future?

We are already very grateful for the support you have provided, and you have met our expectations. Moving forward, we believe the challenge lies in strengthening our internal structure so that we can further enhance the effectiveness of our marketing efforts.

Since marketing plays such a crucial role in our entire business, our ideal scenario is for all employees to be involved in marketing, working together as one company. To achieve this, your continued professional support is indispensable, and we may ask for even more assistance in the future. We would greatly appreciate it if you continue to support us as a trusted partner.

■What type of companies would you recommend Yoyoyo Marketing to?

I would recommend Yoyoyo Marketing to any company that wants to achieve results through marketing. However, it is particularly beneficial for companies that feel their in-house web marketing is lacking or those that do not have enough personnel involved in marketing. While Yoyoyo’s support is effective for large companies as well, I feel that smaller companies with limited resources would benefit the most through working together with you.