Listen to us on Spotify┃Apple Podcasts┃Castbox┃Player FM┃YT Music ┃Radio Public┃YouTube
In this episode of the Scaling Japan Podcast, we welcome back Rina Sakuraba, Founder and CEO of Coaching Leaders Japan. Rina is a certified ontological leadership coach with deep experience working with Japanese executives and multicultural teams.
She unpacks the cultural nuance of ne-mawashi, Japan’s pre-meeting consensus-building process, and explains why it is often misunderstood or misused by foreign leaders. Rina also explores how coaching can shift the power dynamic in Japanese teams by creating psychological safety, building trust, and encouraging more open dialogue across ranks.
Whether you’re managing Japanese staff, building alignment across teams, or working to improve communication in complex environments, this episode offers both a tactical and emotional framework for leadership success in Japan.
Want more episodes on scaling in Japan?
Subscribe here to receive future updates via LinkedIn newsletter.
Show Notes:
00:00 – Introduction
03:00 – Why Ontological Coaching is Important
07:55 – What is Ne-mawashi
15:02 – Purposes of Ne-mawashi in Japanese Culture
25:05 – How to Set a Comfortable Environment for Sharing Concerns
30:00 – Challenges Leaders Face with Ne-mawashi
39:27 – Techniques for Better Practice
Links from Guest Appearance:
Reach out to Rina Sakuraba on LinkedIn
AIM B2B – Integrated Marketing & PR in Asia
This episode is sponsored by Custom Media, Tokyo’s leading integrated marketing and PR agency since 2008, helping global brands expand across Japan and APAC. They have recently rebranded to AIM B2B.
AIM B2B offers:
• Localized storytelling to build trust in Asian markets
• Strategic performance marketing for measurable growth
• Account‑based marketing (ABM), paid media, GEO, and SEO
• HubSpot‑certified CRM and marketing automation
• Data‑driven implementation with cultural expertise
Coaching with Tyson
Looking to take your business to the next level?
Let our host Tyson Batino help you scale your business from $100,000 to $10,000,000 with his coaching and advisory services. Click here to learn more
