“Global, Naturally.” No-one is a “foreigner,” we are all “global citizens”

Pacific Meta has nurtured an environment that enables everyone to work globally. Could you tell us a little about how you respond to language barriers and cultural differences?

I believe that it’s important to have respect.

In other words, you need to place yourself in the other person’s shoes. For members whose native language is not Japanese, we take that into account so that they can feel comfortable in the workplace. Our image is that everyone comes together as “global citizens.”

For example, our company slogan is “Global, Naturally.”

This slogan is an expression of the idea that is deep-rooted in Pacific Meta, namely that we should all think globally and respect each other as a natural part of what we do.

It’s natural for us to speak in simple Japanese for those people whose native language is not Japanese, and it’s also natural to employ people who work completely remotely from overseas. It’s also natural for there to be time differences, and if we have a foreign client with a different language or culture, it is natural to adapt to that culture.

Although there are many people who come from a global background, or who want to work on the global stage, in Japan many of these people don’t have an opportunity to put their globally oriented skills to use.

It is those people who I want to join us at Pacific Meta, because we aim to be a company where people with a determination to succeed globally find it easy to work and can really thrive.

It is those people who I want to join us at Pacific Meta, because we aim to be a company where people with a determination to succeed globally find it easy to work and can really thrive.

Shota Iwasaki / Born 1995
In September 2016, while studying at the University of Tokyo, he founded Shukatsu Net Co., which he sold to DMM.com in 2018, before establishing Pacific Meta in August 2022. Aiming to be a bridge between Japan and the world in the Web3 domain the company is deploying its Web3 strategic consulting business globally.

 

Recognition of Japanese startups overseas

When working to expand globally I think a particular challenge is that there is low recognition of Japanese startups overseas. What is Pacific Meta doing to boost recognition and overcome this challenge?

As many people working in the Web3 industry already possess a global perspective, it’s perhaps a domain where there is already a relatively good degree of recognition.

That is why we receive contacts from people overseas who are thinking about expanding into Japan, and in addition to that we also actually go overseas ourselves, seeking to nurture real, in-person offline connections.

It’s important for us to meet face-to-face with people overseas and talk with them to confirm that we can mutually trust one another.

It’s also important to understand and make the most of overseas social media. The main social media for business overseas is LinkedIn and I also connect with new people on LinkedIn to exchange information and post about my activities.

We send out messages in English through press releases and on X (formally Twitter), and recently we’ve also been exchanging information and creating relationship values on Instagram. It’s these steady and ongoing efforts that are important.

 

Are there any other initiatives or things you are doing?

We call each other “Bro” or “Sis” at work and I think it’s important to build friendships in each region.

For example, I’m really close with my Korean friends and sometimes they stay at my house when they visit Japan. It’s because of these connections that I sometimes receive investment offers from Korean angel investors.

It’s my experience that whenever I make an overseas business trip I always find a new friend I can work with. It’s funny because I’m not actually a particularly diplomatic persons (laughs). If you have a local friend in countries overseas it makes work and business easier to progress.

Increasing the number of globally active companies

What are your thoughts on the future for the Web3?

Web3 is a borderless domain.

Although there are some differences between the Web3 business world in Japan and overseas, Japan needs to keep up with global trends.

The world of Web3 is growing rapidly and Bitcoin’s value has increased in a long perspective. This is an area that is attracting more and more attention overseas, but in Japan it has not yet quite reached that level.

Web3 in Japan has not yet adapted to overseas technologies and trends. This is an area where you cannot be successful without an understanding of the global situation, and we believe it is our mission to support the Web3 business.

Today, just as was the case in the early days of the internet, many people are really enthusiastic about Web3.

Its value lies in the fact it makes international money transfers simple and faster with lower transfer fees, and the blockchain also has the sense of being a database.

Furthermore, the use of tokens makes it possible to do things that could not be done with stocks. For example, it is possible to distribute stock options to users and vendors.

These are the appealing elements of Web3 that will work to create value in some form or another in the society of the future.

In Japan, the government is promoting blockchain technology, but leading Web3 companies should also play a role in leading the development of the industry.

My belief is that Pacific Meta is particularly well-placed to act as a bridge between Japan and other countries.

The “Pacific” in our company name stands not only for the ocean of the same name, but also for “peace,” and “Meta” signifies “Web3” or “going beyond.”

 

What do you see as challenges for the future and what led you to identify these challenges?

I love Japan’s startup ecosystem and what I really want to do is make a contribution to Japan’s startup and business scenes.

Even so, when I talk with people overseas I realize that Japan’s globalization is really lagging behind the rest of the world.

Even here in Asia, people in Korea and China take global expansion as something that is a natural progression. They are knowledgeable about global affairs, can speak English, and have high levels of business and financial literacy.

In contrast, in Japan, even students attending top-ranked universities and talented entrepreneurs have little such awareness, creating a stark difference with other countries. This is something that we absolutely need to improve.

We need successful case studies to achieve a breakthrough. The truth is that Japan has produced mega-ventures in the past, which acted as pioneers, leading the way for many other startups to follow in their footsteps.

In the same way, if we can succeed overseas and become a world-class company, I believe that following us there will be more successful examples. That’s how I hope to contribute to the startup scene in Japan.

 

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