Osaka, Japan
On-the-ground presence, trusted relationships, communication in Japanese. We help Ukrainian manufacturers enter the Japanese market, and Japanese companies work with Ukraine.
Why JUB
Our team lives and works in Osaka. We meet importers and distributors in person, in their offices, on their schedule.
Meetings, calls and correspondence run in Japanese. Our team includes native speakers.
Personal relationships built over years, from government level to company directors. Our co-founder Steven Thompson has been doing business in Japan for more than 30 years.
Japanese companies decide carefully, by consensus and on trust. We prepare you for that process and keep it moving.
Expo 2025 Osaka
The Ukrainian Pavilion at Expo 2025 was created by the creative agency Bickerstaff and run by a team on site. Oleksandr Hulyanych, co-founder of Japan Ukraine Bridge, was one of its coordinators. For six months he represented the pavilion at events and meetings, accompanied official delegations, and worked with Japanese companies, government and media.
The pavilion in numbers. JUB is an independent private company, separate from the pavilion and its organisers.
How we work
The market and demand for your specific product. Shelf-back economics: what the price must be at retail, and what that means for you. The regulatory route. A shortlist of vetted Japanese partners.
Personal introductions to the right people. Communication in Japanese. First meetings, prepared and attended together.
Support through negotiation to a signed deal, and long-term partnership after it.
We don't promise shelf space, contracts or volumes. We commit to the work and the process. Fees depend on the product and scope, and we discuss them on a call.
We are working with several Ukrainian manufacturers on entering the Japanese market. We don't disclose their names: confidentiality matters to us, and the same rule protects every new client.
Team
Co-founder · Japan · Ukraine
Ukrainian, based in Osaka. One of the coordinators of the Ukrainian Pavilion at Expo 2025: represented the pavilion at events and meetings, accompanied official delegations, worked with Japanese partners, government and media. Has collaborated with JICA and JETRO, and integrated digital services of Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation into a tech product. A polyglot who loves languages and getting to know other cultures.
Co-founder · Japan
American, more than 30 years in business in Japan. Owner of a network of English-language schools. Personal relationships with Japanese company leaders and media.
Our wider team is Ukrainian and Japanese, including native Japanese speakers.
In the press
For Japanese companies
日本企業の皆様へ
Looking for Ukrainian suppliers, manufacturers or partners? We work in both directions: we find and check Ukrainian companies for your needs and handle communication on the Ukrainian side.
Company
| Name | Japan Ukraine Bridge |
|---|---|
| Location | Osaka, Japan |
| Co-founders | Oleksandr Hulyanych Steven Thompson |
| Business | Helping Ukrainian companies enter the Japanese market Supporting Japanese companies working with Ukraine |
| Legal entity | Being registered in Japan |
| Contact | [email protected] +81 90 4304 0469 |
Contact
We reply within two working days.
