Nathan Reaven, founder and president of www.hearjapan.com, first became interested in Japanese music when he was in Japan as a high-school exchange student.

Returning a few years later he decided to bring the music of Japan to the world, by setting up an online MP3 music store, which now features DRM-free tracks from over 2000 Japanese artists.

In this interview Nathan provides us with some insights into the music industry in Japan, talking about the closed networks and difficulties he faced in convincing labels to sign up to what was at that point an unknown marketing model.

Now well established, Hear Japan is adding 100 new albums a week, catering for all manner of tastes.

As well as talking about the music industry specifically, Nathan provides some advice for others looking to set up business in Japan.

Music played in the interview included Water On feat. Akino Arai, Ant’s Planet, Okane o haratte! and Kobune Okiba no Ie, 4 Gatsu ni Nareba, Saboten, Sakura River.

How to Listen

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:54 — 13.6MB)

1 Comment | In: Business Owners, Internet, Musicians | tags: download, drm, ecommerce, hearjapan, japanese, mp3, music, nathanreaven, store. | #

Heather Russell is founder and president of www.Rinkya.com an online shopping service for non-Japanese speakers who want to buy stuff from Japanese stores and internet auction sites.

In this interview, Heather tells us how she started Rinkya, what issues she faced as a non-Japanese women starting their own business in Japan, and demonstrates the kind of attitude needed to succeed in what is often a man’s world.

I have found Heather to be a real inspiration. She’s very kind and a lot of fun, and when it comes to business she knows what she’s talking about.

She’s also been the subject of a fair bit of media attention, not being your average company president in Japan.

See JPEG/PDF copies of a magazine articles on Heather and Rinkya.com in the Japanese language Mac People magazine:

• Original Japanese English translation
• Original Japanese English translation

Make sure you check out www.Rinkya.com – the easiest way to buy stuff online from Japan.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:32 — 6.0MB)

No Comments | In: Business Owners | tags: business, challenges, ecommerce, entrepreneur, heather, Internet, online, russell, women. | #