California to Tokyo: Insights on Navigating Global Business at G-angle

Our team is responsible for the full client experience for our international partners, managing every stage of their journey with us; from the initial outreach and lead nurturing all the way to contract negotiation and project delivery.

Our job is to facilitate seamless communication and foster strong client relationships, ensuring a smooth transition through each phase of the sales funnel, including prospecting, account management, and closing.

We also act as a bridge between our clients and the production team, working to overcome language barriers and optimize workflows to make sure our creation process is as seamless as possible. We have a very diverse range of creative services, including voice recording, music production, 2D illustration, and even anime production, which gives us the unique opportunity to play an active role in every step of the creative journey!

Our global business team is split into two specialized groups: one dedicated to the Chinese-speaking market and another focused on English-speaking clients. 

As the leader of the English-focused team, I oversee a client base spanning several regions, with a strong focus on the United States, particularly in the gaming industry. In addition, we have a growing presence in Europe and South Korea.

While we’ve established solid foundations in the U.S., Europe, and East Asia, we are now exploring opportunities in emerging markets. Personally, I’m particularly interested in the Middle East, as it’s a relatively untapped industry with immense potential, especially in the gaming and creative sectors. Supporting the growth of these markets is both professionally rewarding and an exciting way to expand our global reach.

I believe that G-angle is a great environment where ambitious people can turn big dreams into reality. Here, you’ll have the chance to help build markets from the ground up, take ownership of meaningful projects, and see your actions directly contribute to company growth as well as the success of some of the most creative and innovative projects in the industry. Seeing your name in the credits of your favorite games and anime is also a huge plus!

We pride ourselves on being more than just an outsourcing company. As a global creative partner, we work closely with our clients to bring their visions to life in ways that are exciting, innovative, and uniquely tailored to their needs. Whether it’s a small indie project or a large-scale production, we take ownership in every project to ensure it surpasses expectations and breaks new ground.

At G-angle, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute directly to some of the most exciting projects in the video game and entertainment industries, all while growing professionally and expanding your creative horizons.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of being able to attend numerous business trips and industry events across the globe, each offering unique opportunities to connect with professionals and expand my perspective.

One standout experience was attending the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2024 in San Francisco, North America’s largest game industry expo. Unlike the more structured and formal trade shows commonly seen in Japan, GDC had a vibrant, festival-like atmosphere. I even held our first client meeting in the park next to the expo center, which felt like a really refreshing and unconventional way to build relationships and exchange ideas.

Our focus at GDC 2024 was to expand the visibility of G-angle’s services, particularly our professional voice recording offerings for English-speaking markets. We also used the opportunity to visit local recording studios and meet prominent voice actors to strengthen partnerships and explore new opportunities in the global gaming industry.

Another memorable experience was attending G-STAR 2024, Korea’s largest gaming exhibition. We collaborated with our trusted business partners, DIGITAL HEARTS Seoul and GameWith, to showcase our services. During the event, we highlighted our voice recording and music production support services, building new connections and reinforcing existing relationships.

One of the most rewarding aspects of overseas business trips is the opportunity to experience cultural differences firsthand. The gaming industry is full of passionate people, where creativity and energy are universal, making it easier to connect with like-minded professionals and foster meaningful business relationships while making lifelong friends.

Personally, I approach every interaction with the mindset of forming a genuine connection/friendship, treating each encounter as a valuable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn and grow both personally and professionally. The welcoming and supportive nature of the gaming industry has made it easy to build a strong network while forming lasting friendships along the way.

Like many others, my fascination with Japan began in childhood through Japanese video games, sparking a lifelong interest in the country’s culture.

As a high school freshman, I participated in a one-month homestay program in Okayama at the suggestion of my dad. From the moment I stepped off the bullet train, the hospitality of my host family was unparalleled and left a profound impression on me, even though I couldn’t speak a word of Japanese at the time. Struggling to express myself became a huge turning point, which motivated me to improve my communication skills, build confidence, and dedicate myself to mastering the Japanese language.

Later, during my junior year of college, I studied abroad at Waseda University, where I deepened my understanding of Japanese language and culture. That experience gave me insight into what it’s really like to live independently in Japan, and I was blown away by Tokyo’s vibrant energy and unique charm.

Tokyo struck me as the perfect balance of excitement and comfort: a city with incredible convenience, cultural richness, and a reassuring sense of safety. After graduating from college, I knew I wanted to return to Japan and quickly decided to build my career here.

Like many others before me, my journey in Japan started out as an English teacher at an elementary school. The kids were adorable, and their energy was infectious, but I knew from the start that I wanted to pursue a career in international business.

After a brief tenure at the school, I transitioned to a role in international sales at an electronics manufacturer. This was an invaluable opportunity to gain experience in international business; meeting clients from around the world and engaging in high-stakes negotiations and partnership building. While the work was fulfilling, I struggled with a sense of disconnect, as the products were highly specialized and didn’t align with my personal interests.

This led me to make a bold decision: to pursue a career in the gaming industry, where I could work in an environment surrounded by things I love and collaborate with colleagues who share similar passions. While interviewing with various game developers and related companies, I came across G-angle and decided to apply.

At first, I didn’t know much about the company, but as soon as I walked into their office for the interview, my perception completely changed—it instantly became my top choice! (laughs)

I was greeted by a personalized welcome message on the entrance display, a warm greeting from the staff, and even a custom drink menu with my name printed on it. This thoughtful hospitality left a deep impression on me and reminded me of why I chose to move to Japan in the first place.

Another thing that truly set G-angle apart was the creative energy and vibrant atmosphere that filled the office, which made G-angle stand out as my clear first choice.

While working at G-angle, I had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the biggest companies in the industry. When I was scouted by a major gaming company—one that had created some of my favorite games growing up—I felt it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Although my time at G-angle had been the highlight of my career, I made the very difficult decision to take on this new challenge. Two years later, however, I found myself returning to G-angle.

Working at a large, international gaming company, I gained invaluable experience working on major projects that provided unique insights and opportunities.

However, I also realized that with the scale of a larger organization comes a sense of being just a small cog in a big machine. Tasks and roles often felt narrowly defined, leaving little room for personal initiative or creativity.

At G-angle, the environment is entirely different. Here, anyone, regardless of position, is encouraged to propose ideas and take on new challenges. I came to realize that this kind of dynamic and empowering workplace suited me far better, providing a much deeper sense of career fulfillment.

I also gained a new appreciation for the importance of a transparent and supportive work environment. At G-angle, there’s a unique sense of security in being able to work as your authentic self, which I realized was something truly special. This supportive culture fosters personal growth, and I’ve seen new staff quickly come out of their shells after joining—a transformation I’ve never witnessed anywhere else.

Even after leaving G-angle, I stayed connected with some of the staff as lifelong friends. One of them encouraged me to return, and with their support, I decided to rejoin the company.

That said, I was incredibly nervous when I went back for the interview after such a long time away. I didn’t know what to expect and thought that my earlier decision to leave might be held against me. (laughs)

But as soon as I arrived, I was welcomed back with warm smiles, which immediately put me at ease, and it felt as if I had never left.

Having experienced both the structure of a large corporation and the flexibility of G-angle, I gained a deeper understanding of myself and how teams can operate effectively. Thanks to these experiences, I’ve been able to apply those insights in my work every day.

One of the biggest challenges is navigating the cultural differences between international clients and our production teams in Japan while finding a balance that satisfies both sides.

When interacting with our in-house creators and clients, I focus on fostering mutual respect and blending the best aspects of overseas business culture, such as flexibility and creative freedom, with Japan’s world-renowned standards of customer service and quality. This process can often be even more challenging than generating sales!

A particular challenge lies in managing differing expectations around speed and the level of detail in production instructions.

For example, international clients often provide broad guidance like, “Make something like this!” and expect us to fill in the gaps creatively. In contrast, Japanese production teams typically rely on detailed, meticulously written instruction documents.

This disparity can sometimes cause Japanese creators to find it challenging to work with such open-ended instructions and can be intimidated by the prospect of producing something that doesn’t explicitly match client expectations.

My role is to bridge these cultural and professional differences, ensuring smooth communication and production workflows. This involves more than just translation; it requires interpreting client information through the lens of industry experience and presenting it in a way that gives Japanese creators clarity and confidence, while always maintaining alignment with client goals.

Through this process, we aim to deliver high-quality results that satisfy the expectations of both our clients and our production teams.

The Global Business Development Department is a relatively new team, composed of members from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.

Because of this, I focus on delivering a “best of both worlds” approach to our clients—combining our sense of speed, flexibility, and multilingual expertise with Japan’s unique strengths, such as exceptional customer service and the spirit of omotenashi (hospitality).

This approach allows us to address a wide range of client needs while fostering strong, lasting relationships built on trust and mutual respect.

As I mentioned earlier, our team is relatively new compared to our Japanese counterparts, and our brand isn’t as well established overseas as it is in Japan.

That’s why I make it a point to approach each and every project and client with the same level of care and enthusiasm, making every effort to offer proposals tailored to their unique needs.

One of the most rewarding moments for me is receiving feedback from clients after presenting several flexible, client-focused solutions. Hearing their gratitude and comments like, “We’ve never worked with a company that goes this far for us,” makes all the effort worthwhile and reinforces why I’m passionate about what I do.

Our overseas team values agility and creativity, bringing together members with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

We embrace a “Work hard, Play hard” mentality, cultivating a friendly and supportive environment where colleagues often feel more like friends. We strive to create an inclusive atmosphere that respects each member’s unique background and native language, ensuring everyone feels comfortable and valued working together.

One of my goals is to build a team that serves as a positive, uniting force within the company, one that teams from other departments are eager and excited to collaborate with!

Outside of work, we frequently organize informal social events, such as fighting game tournaments, cherry blossom picnics, and occasional casual gatherings over drinks. It’s a treat to be able to work alongside people you genuinely enjoy spending time with, both in and out of the office.

At G-angle, you’ll have the opportunity to turn your passions into a career while working in a way that feels authentic to you!

For those who enjoy collaborating with others and want to use their creativity in their work, you’ll find this to be an exciting and inspiring environment. Right now, we’re focused on expanding our Global Business Development team, with a particular interest in individuals with Korean language skills and sales experience.

If you’re someone with an international background who loves to take on new challenges and is passionate about building a career in games and entertainment in Japan, reach out to us! Our team is welcoming and open-minded, making G-angle a great place to dive into the industry as a foreigner in Japan.