Studio Consulting · F&B & Retail · Japan
Turning an intention into a project you can execute.
You keep control. We help you avoid the costly mistakes and make your project executable in Japan, from the first floor plan to opening night.
Why we exist
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Good projects don't fail on paper.
In Japan, an F&B or retail project rarely fails for lack of capital or concept. It fails for lack of execution:
- No local network.
- No processes.
- No self-running systems.
- No follow-up once the shutter is up.
We watched the same mistakes repeat for more than ten years.
So we built Dodai to do the opposite: advise differently, execute before promising, and never import recipes that have not been tested on Japanese ground.
What we cover
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The whole machinery of the Japanese market.
Market study & location
Catchment area, local competition, foot traffic, seasonality, what the neighbourhood is really worth.
Lease & property negotiation
Deposit, reikin, renewal, exit clauses: we read the lease with you, in Japanese.
Licences & legal
Alcohol, hygiene, operating permits, fire safety: the licences without which you do not open.
Hiring & team
Profiles, contracts, trial periods, team culture: we help you build your first Japanese team.
Suppliers & sourcing
Ingredients, furniture, tableware, uniforms: the network it takes years to build on your own.
Brand & identity
Name, logo, guidelines, tone of voice: adapted to the Japanese market without losing your DNA.
Go-to-market & digital
Site, social media, press relations, influencers: the launch plan that makes your opening exist beyond your own circle.
CRM, automation & data
Loyalty, campaigns, dashboards: the systems that leave you self-sufficient after opening.
This list is not closed. If your subject is not on it, tell us anyway: we will say plainly whether we can handle it.
The field before imported theory.
Formats
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Three ways to entrust us with a mandate.
Mission
A precise, bounded need with a clear deliverable. A space to find, a menu to rework, a site to launch.
Project
End-to-end support, from study to opening.
Mandate
Operations or steering entrusted to us over the long term. On its own, or as a handover to Studio Operator.
Who it's for
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Whatever your starting point.
You have a concept and capital.
What you lack is the manual for the Japanese market: lease, licences, hiring, suppliers. We handle the machinery.
You already run several locations.
You know your concept inside out; what you lack is the key to the Japanese market. We handle adaptation and setup.
You want to build a brand, not just open a storefront.
Identity, customer experience, attention to detail: we carry the same level of ambition as you.
You already have a business up and running.
To structure it, optimise it, take it to a new level, or fix one precise issue. We pick up wherever you are.
Let's talk
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Let's talk about your project.
Book a 30-min callA first conversation, no strings attached. We listen to your project and tell you what makes sense.
References
They trusted us.
- APÉRO
- L'Œil de Tokyo
- Y'all
- SOLA
- Maison Dodu
Projects run in Japan, from the first study to opening day.