About

J-Spin is an independent Japanese public relations firm specializing in B-to-B marketing communications for high tech and automotive related companies.

We are one of the few Japanese firms that offer an integrated marketing approach that blends media and influencer relations with online marketing services.

Our bilingual consultants have helped tech start-ups to established global companies build their brand and trust in a country with a unique media landscape and business protocols.

Awards & Recognitions:

Asia Pacific PR Award finalist for Employee Communications Campaign of the Year

Platinum PR Award for Product Launch

Asia Pacific PR Award for
Technology Product Launch

Asia Pacific PR Award finalist for Employee Communications Campaign of the Year

Platinum PR Award for Product Launch

Dalton Pen Award for Media Relations

Asia Pacific PR Award for
Technology Product Launch

Platinum PR Award for Product Launch

Dalton Pen Award for Media Relations

Platinum PR Award for Product Launch

OUR FOUNDATIONS

Here are the four underlying foundations behind every campaign we initiate

Build the Brand

Raising awareness and building the brand reputation in Japan. This requires consistent ongoing engagement with your key local targets – educating and relationship building over time-which is more of a marathon than a sprint.

Differentiate

Creating separation from local competing products or services by highlighting the differentiated value propositions.

Localize the Story

Creating and pitching content that is relevant to the Japan market and target customers. Also taking into account local features of the Japan market such as the right language, media protocols, accurate translation and interpretation.

Connect

We maintain an extensive network of media contacts to generate high profile coverage of our clients across a broad range of press from tech and business media outlets as well as target vertical media (Finance, Manufacturing, Automotive, Telecom/Broadcasting, Supply Chain).
In addition, we have the support of a network of Japan influencer tech experts from various fields such as governmental agencies, tech associations and universities.

Meet the Founders

J-Spin co-founders Shimizu Yoshitaka—a Japanese native who studied and worked in the United States —and David Huerta—an American who has lived in Japan for over 20 years—came together in 2003 to form J-Spin, a Japanese public relations firm with a uniquely multicultural foundation that has been successful in attracting both Japanese and western clients, primarily in the technology sector, although more recently it has developed a strong capability in the automotive arena.

David Huerta

Oversees new business development initiatives and remains actively involved in a number of client accounts. For over 20 years David has provided strategic counsel developing communications strategies to various technology companies from well-established multinationals to start-up ventures seeking to gain a stronger foothold in the Japanese market. Prior to founding J-Spin, David has honed his Japan market PR skills and knowledge by working for 7 years at two local Japanese PR agencies. During his tenure, he established the IT practice for the agencies and doubled the growth of the division’s business.

David has a master’s degree in International Policy Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, a graduate school of Middlebury College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Philosophy from Michigan State University and speaks English, Japanese and Spanish.

Shimizu Yoshitaka

Brings over 25 years of experience in technology and business-to-business marketing. Throughout his career Shimizu has demonstrated the ability to connect clients with right audiences through a combination of traditional PR. Influencer marketing and Web 2.0 approaches. For decades he has been developing and managing PR programs in Japan for both foreign and domestic companies from small start-up ventures to blue-chip multinationals seeking to gain a stronger foothold in the Japanese market. He also successfully executed semiconductor product launch campaigns in Japan winning various PR awards. Shimizu attended Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota where he graduated with B.A. degree. While living in the US he also traveled extensively visiting 20 different states. Educated in both Japan and the U.S., Yoshitaka is bicultural and fluent in both Japanese & English.

An Integrated Approach

In addition to its multicultural management team and bilingual staff, J-Spin is distinguished by an integrated approach that blends together media and influencer relations with online marketing capabilities and a senior leadership team (both Yoshitaka and Huerta together have more than 55 years of communications industry experience) that is able to offer strategy and planning as well as implementation, helping clients deal with cultural and language differences, issues of protocol and logistical obstacles associated with the Japanese market. Over the years we have built-up an extensive network of media contacts and tech industry influencers such as governmental agencies, industry organizations & academia to generate high profile coverage of our clients.

Think Global, Act Local Focused Tech & Auto PR Agency

For clients who are seeking to drive a public relations campaign regionally or globally , we offer our clients all the benefits of a large global agency without sacrificing budget, flexibility and on-the-ground control. In addition, our size allows us the flexibility to have senior experienced consultants personally oversee and be involved in all client PR campaigns. Also we are focused in specializing in B-to-B marketing for tech and automotive related companies unlike larger agencies “one stop shop” approach trying to cover all industries. We are not afraid of being a specialist, besides….really “Standing for everything is just another way of standing for nothing”.

We have a heritage of strong, award-winning creative work, having picked up an Asia Pacific PR Award in the Product & Promotion: Technology category, a PR News Platinum Award in the Product Launch category, and a Dalton Pen Award for Media Relations over the past years.

Looking for a trusted communications advisor in Japan?

Let J-Spin help tell your story to the Japan market.