The New Connections Network
New Connections has built a strong network centered on Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, and supports business expansion by working hand in hand with specialists and companies in each region.
TPS (KAIZEN) Network
Our CEO’s grandfather, Shigeo Shingo, co-created the Toyota Production System (TPS) together with Taiichi Ohno. That heritage has been handed down through the generations, driving improvement (kaizen) activities around the world. Later, through the North America–centered work of Ritsuo Shingo, the Japanese-coined English word “Kaizen” took root; in partnership with the Shingo Institute in Utah, we are expanding these activities across North America, Europe, and China — and, going forward, into Southeast Asia as well.
The Experts Behind New Connections
Lawyer
An expert in Chinese law who supports Japanese companies. A lawyer with an extensive track record in China and fluent in Japanese. He studied in Japan from 2010 to 2013, and has since provided legal services mainly to Japanese companies across China. He has resolved labor issues for more than 100 Japanese companies and has built trust across a wide range of legal fields, including corporate legal-risk management, contract review, and labor disputes. He also visits clients in Japan in person to provide close, attentive support, and is trusted as a partner who backs corporate growth on the legal side.
General Manager, Major Japanese Real-Estate Company
As the Chinese arm of a major Japanese real-estate company, they provide real-estate support for Japanese companies and expatriates, centered on the Tianjin area. They handle everything from contract negotiation to post-move-in follow-up and trouble resolution, earning the trust of many expatriates and Japanese companies. Fluent in Japanese and known for responding within two hours, they are highly regarded for handling unexpected issues after move-in. They help create an environment where you can settle in with peace of mind, and also support inbound invitations to Japan and short business trips.
Tour Conductor / Manager
Formed by alumni of major Japanese travel agencies. Their strength is designing original tours unlike those offered by others. We propose a tour tailored just for you and handle on-the-ground operation and support. The guides are, of course, fluent in Japanese. They accompany you throughout the entire itinerary, so you can rest easy about any unexpected troubles that arise abroad.
We can also arrange inbound tours to Japan and plan tours in China and Southeast Asia.
Naoki Inoue
Representative, Vined Production
General Manager, Fuju (Tianjin) Consulting Management Co., Ltd.
Graduated from the Faculty of Sociology at Nankai University in 2009, and that same year joined “JIN Magazine,” a media outlet for the Japanese community in Tianjin, where he handled editing, planning, writing, and design. After becoming editor-in-chief in 2011, he oversaw the operation of emerging media — including official WeChat accounts — and the production of video content. In 2021 he became independent and founded Fuju (Tianjin) Consulting Management Co., Ltd., providing services such as video production, website creation, and image design for Japanese companies expanding into China. He has since moved his base of operations to the Kansai region.
Yuji Nakayama
Representative Director, Water X Technologies, Inc.
Representative, Hesui Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
For 15 years at a major housing-equipment manufacturer, he drove the planning and development of toilet and bathroom products for markets in Japan and abroad. After launching a development base in China and leading global product development at the head of a multinational team, he became independent in 2019. He has planned and launched numerous new businesses. Drawing on his hands-on expertise at a large company and his zero-to-one startup experience, he supports small and mid-sized companies with new-business planning and overseas expansion, as well as AI-agent-powered business automation and web marketing. He completed the Globis MBA program and holds the “TOC for Innovation” Master Executive certification from Goldratt (Israel).
Diana Chua
Director, Singapore New Connections
At a major mattress manufacturer and at Aisin Asia’s Singapore branch, she handled sales and marketing for the Japanese high-performance mattress “ASLEEP” and for shower toilets. She is well-versed in ASEAN markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar.
Today, as Director of Singapore New Connections, she draws on her deep understanding of client brands and her on-the-ground experience to drive the rollout of high-quality products across Asia, centered on Singapore.
Li Xin
Manager, Hesui Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
After graduating from Kanazawa University, she worked at a Japanese company and then supported business development at a Silicon Valley firm. She later joined Water X, where she works in management and marketing. For SNI, she handles video production and web marketing. She is based in Nanchang, China.
Naho Mizuno
Major Life-Insurance Company
A sales professional active mainly in the Kansai region. Her strength is the rich network she has cultivated over many years, born of her bright personality and sincerity. Trusted and highly regarded by many company CEOs, she is a professional whose network spans not only insurance but a wide range of products and services.