Peter Galante is the founder of JapanesePod101.com, an educational podcast production company that since its creation in 2005 has had over 60 million downloads.

With over 1000 Japanese lessons and a very active support community, JapanesePod101.com now caters for language learners of all levels. In addition to professionally produced audio and video podcasts, JapanesePod101 provides extensive lesson notes, and a range of additional services to support self-study.

Peter’s story is an inspirational one – starting out with just himself and and friend working round the clock to get the podcasts out. They’ve since grown to take on a large number of staff all around the world, and have been able to invest in projects such as recording audio for every entry in Jim Breen’s legendary Edict dictionary.

This podcast is broken down into two parts. In part one, we focus on the JapanesePod101 learning method, with Peter detailing what’s in the package.

In part two we talk business – what motivated Peter to start the company? What challenges did he face – and how did he use Mixi to overcome a particular issue?

Peter also generously offers listeners of this podcast a 25% discount off all JapanesePod101.com products – just enter the coupon code ‘tame‘ at the checkout.

How to Listen

Please note that the podcast feed only contains Part 2, in which we discuss doing business in Japan.

To listen to part one please click here

Download Part 1: The JapanesePod101 method

Download Part 2: Doing business in Japan

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 13:08 — 12.0MB)

1 Comment | In: Business Owners, Internet, Language, education | tags: business, education, japanese, Language, online, peter galante, podcasting, teaching. | #

In this episode of Making it in Japan, we’re talking with John Daub, the founder of Weblish Media Ltd.

Weblish Media Ltd., established in 2007, is an educational entertainment network, distributed via iTunes to over 100,000 regular subscribers.

Weblish videos are frequently featured by the iTunes Japan Store, and rank ahead of mainstream media companies such as Discovery Channel and CNN. His video series Vocabulary Generator was ranked the No. 1 video in Japan for 10 weeks, and the network has up to a million downloads per month.

In this interview, John tells us of his motivation for starting the company, and why he chose to use iTunes as a distribution platform.

We also discuss the merits of education using online tools and downloadable podcasts – is this the end of the eikaiwa – English language school – as we know it?

Humour plays an important part in John’s videos – hear how llama’s and horses help his viewers with their studies.

John also provides some great advice for those wanting to start up in business in Japan. Questions covered include

• What are the cultural differences that you should be aware of.
• What is Jetro, and what kind of help can you expect to get from them?
• Who should you go to for your corporate bank account?
• What happened when John tried to place an ad in Hot Pepper?
• What’s the most important thing that he recommends people do in order to succeed?

John’s site can be found at Weblish.net, or search for Weblish in the Apple iTunes store.

How to Listen

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:48 — 25.4MB)

No Comments | In: Broadcast Media, Business Owners, Internet, Language, education | tags: daub, education, english, itunes, john, Language, podcast, video, weblish. | #