Expert Interview: Japan Business Trilogy 1/3: Challenges & Opps In Japan's Tech, Startup & Gaming, 
                                Industries, Ken Charles

Guest: Ken Charles, Tech Recruiting Manager, Apex KK, Japan HR Society
Host: James Santagata, Publisher, FirstPoint Japan and Principal Consultant, SiliconEdge.
Running Time: 18 minutes, 38 seconds
High Quality Version (192 kbps @ 44 khz, stereo)
challenges_opps_japan_tech_gaming_startups.mp3
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Mobile Device Version (128 kbps @ 44 khz, mono)
PictureKen Charles Tech, Startups, Gaming
Ken Charles' Profile:
Ken is a seasoned recruiter having recruited for tech positions for startups, gaming and technical positions in the financial industry in both in the US (10 years) and in Japan (3 years) and in just the first few years of entering the recruiting profession he had made over 100 placements.

Equally impressive, Ken has also founded/co-founded two startups (based in San Francisco) and helped lead them to successful exits.

Currently, Ken runs the technology recruiting practice at Apex K.K., an executive search firm located in Tokyo, Japan.

With an intimate knowledge of both technology as well as the types of candidates companies need to succeed, these are just a few of the successful placements Ken has made on behalf of his technology clients in the Japan market.
Client Successes Include:
  • Country Manager, Japan - Series B Ad Tech Startup from San Francisco
  • Japan Team Head - Pharmaceutical Safety Data SaaS Platform
  • Game Director - Series B Foreign Game Startup (2nd hire in Japan)
  • Server Side Engineer - Public Japanese Gaming Company
  • DevOps Engineer - Series B B2B Tech Startup
  • PHP Engineer - Gaming Company
  • Product Manager - American Public B2C Tech Company

  • ERP System Engineer - Award-winning ERP Vendor
  • Director, Marketing – Series B App Monetization Platform
  • Front-end Engineer - Japanese Gaming Startup (Series B)
  • BD Manager, Payments – Series B App Monetization Platform
  • Commercial IT Director - Global Pharmaceutical Company
  • iOS/Android Developer - Mobile Gaming Company
  • Country Manager - C2C Platform (Series A)
  • UI/UX Designer - Gaming Company 
Ken Charles' Contact Information:
  • Phone: +81  3-6450-6279 (from outside Japan)
  • Phone:         03-6450-6279 (from inside Japan)
  • Email: [email protected]
The Japan Business Trilogy With Ken Charles: Interview 1 of 3

Topics Covered Include:
  • Ken's background and how he got into recruiting generally and specifically how he came to Japan.
  • Why he has focused on Tech, Startups and Gaming. 
  • Is recruiting for Tech, Startups and Gaming in Japan unique and if so, why? 
  • What are the market opportunities for Gaming in Japan, especially mobile?
  • Why is the ARPU for mobile gaming in Japan so huge and growing?
  • What are the difficulties and challenges for Gaming startups in Japan?
  • Does a foreign startup (gaishikei) need to be in Japan? Can't they just run Japan "remotely"?
  • How can a foreign startups and gaming companies (gaishikei) find the right people for their local operations?
  • And more!