イベント

Cross-Cultural Creative Design for Japanese Brands

日本ブランドのための異文化間クリエイティブデザイン

Deadline : 10/23 Fri

Description

JCCC会員サービス委員会 産業・経済担当では、Fast Accounting社より講師をお迎えし、「Cross-Cultural Creative Design for Japanese Brands」（「日本ブランドのための異文化間クリエイティブデザイン」）と題したセミナーを開催いたします。※本セミナーは英語で行われます。

The JCCC Membership Services Committee will host a seminar featuring a speaker from Fast Accounting titled “Cross-Cultural Creative Design for Japanese Brands.” 

 **This seminar will be conducted in English.**

Seminar Topic:

Many Japanese companies entering the United States face significant creative and strategic hurdles in brand translation. Beyond the common mistake of stripping away authentic Japanese design assets, Japanese enterprises often encounter a complex landscape of varied American consumer sensibilities. A central challenge lies in navigating contrasting cultural philosophies: the deeply rooted Japanese virtue of understated modesty and quiet mastery versus the American market expectation for direct, confident brand positioning. Furthermore, the traditional instinct to withhold creative communication until an offering reaches absolute operational perfection often leads to lost market momentum in fast-moving, digital-first Western ecosystems.

This interactive seminar explores how Japanese organizations can bridge these cultural divides through strategic art direction and visual communication. Utilizing the Spectrum of Sensibilities and the Kitsunaka Model, we examine how to map brand identity across cultural customs, celebrate authentic craftsmanship, and articulate core value propositions with clarity and conviction rather than perceived boastfulness.

As a live case study, we walk through the recent visual rebrand of Tokyo-based Fast Accounting. We explore how bold art direction, intentional typographic hierarchy, and proactive early-stage design deployment turned cognitive naming hurdles into distinct market strengths. Attendees will gain actionable design frameworks to evaluate their current brand assets, harmonize Japanese aesthetic integrity with North American audience expectations, and establish an authentic, high-impact visual presence in the U.S. market.

【日本語要約】日本ブランドのための異文化間クリエイティブデザイン

日本企業が米国市場でブランドを展開する際に直面する、文化や消費者感覚の違いを踏まえたブランディングとビジュアルコミュニケーションについて解説します。日本らしい美意識や職人性を大切にしながら、米国市場で求められる明確で自信のあるブランド発信を実現するための考え方やデザイン手法を、Fast Accounting社のリブランディング事例を交えてご紹介します。参加者が自社のブランドやデザインを見直し、米国市場でより効果的に発信するための実践的なヒントを学べるセミナーです。

是非奮ってご参加ください。

【開催概要 Information】

◇日時（Date and Time)：2026年10月29日（木）2:00pm 受付開始、2:30pm-4:00pm 講演、4:00pm-5:00pm 懇親会

Thursday, October 29, 2026  (Registration starts 2:00pm, Seminar 2:30pm-4:00pm, Networking 4:00pm-5:00pm

◇場所（Place)：Schaumburg Corporate Center（1F Conference Room) ：1501 E Woodfield Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173　　　

◇講師プロフィール /（Speaker Profile）：

Michael William Foster is a creative director and visual communication executive with 25 years of design experience and over a decade of dedicated work within the Japanese creative and business landscape. As the CEO and Lead Creative of Boojazz Studios, he specializes in bridging American and Japanese design philosophies through strategic art direction, brand identity systems, and hybrid creative frameworks. His methodology is anchored in the Kitsunaka Model, an organizational system designed to align Japanese visual sensibilities with Western audience expectations.

Michael currently serves as Creative Director for Fast Accounting, leading the brand's visual identity, digital design, and U.S. market creative localization. An active member of the Japan America Society of Chicago, he recently moderated high-level panel discussions on AI, innovation, and creative impact. His design leadership includes developing anime-inspired visual communication programs for major Japanese corporate initiatives, translating complex scientific concepts into compelling graphic narratives.

A recognized voice in cross-cultural creative trends, Michael hosts the podcast Showtime at Japan Expert Insights and is developing the feature film From Chicago to Osaka, a visual narrative project designed for international audiences. His career spans brand direction for institutions including the Zhou B Art Center, GradeMe AI, the U.S.-Japan Business Council, and the British Embassy in the United States, with early television creative work garnering interest from studios such as DreamWorks. Michael is an active member of the Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, the Chicago Japanese Club, and the Japanese American Service Committee. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Communications. Outside of his commercial design practice, Michael is an established abstract painter working in acrylics and India ink to explore information architecture and visual data landscapes. He is based in Naperville, Illinois. 

◇参加費（Regstration Fee)：JCCC会員（会員企業にご勤務の方含む）無料、非会員 $50

JCCC Members: Free, Non-JCCC Members: $50

◇定員（Capacity)：100名（定員になり次第、受け付けを締め切らせていただきますので予めご了承ください。）

100 (Please note that registration will close once the maximum number of participants has been reached.)

◇登録締切日（Registration Deadline)：10月23日（金）

Friday, October 23, 2026

◇お問合せ（Contact)：JCCC事務局