Musubi Tech, founded by Joe Baz in July 2024, is on a journey to tie the International & Japanese tech communities together so that new ideas, connections, and opportunities can flourish in Japan.
transcription from video:
“I promise we will come back to Japan.” It was a promise I made to my wife’s father 12 years ago when I sought his blessing for our marriage.
2020 found my father-in-law alone. Alone during the pandemic. It pushed my wife and I to honor our promise.
The timing was actually perfect. Our two kids, who were ages 4 and 7 at the time of our move, spoke Japanese well. They hadn't fully established roots in America yet, so this was the perfect time for them to become multicultural.
So, in March 2023, we moved to Japan.
I was ready. At least I thought I was.
I’d been in the field of UX and product management for 20+ years and I had an excellent track record of delivering business results. I ran and sold my own business for 10 years. I started a community (pause) ...still being operated today with over 5,000 members.
Getting a job should have been easy, right?
“How is your Japanese?”
That question stung like a Suzumebachi.
Finding work when my Japanese abilities were still basic proved to be a major obstacle.
Furthermore, the culture I grew up with didn’t mix well here.
Who am I? What am I doing wrong? Do I really belong here?
I’m Joe Baz. I learned a lot in the past year, but the journey into the unknown continues.
I do belong here. But this story isn’t really about me.
This story is about International tech professionals who struggle to meet the expectations of their peers, supervisors, or direct reports. Or how to collaborate effectively due to cultural barriers.
You do belong here!
The inverse of this story is equally important. It’s about the Japanese tech professionals that work with international people, but struggle to collaborate or build a shared understanding of a particular topic.
You, too, belong here!
This journey into the unknown. It’s scary. It’s unpredictable. But you don’t have to go alone.
Musubi Tech’s mission is to foster multiculturalism and innovation between the International and Japanese tech communities in Japan.
We will do this by tearing down the cultural barrier that blocks these two isolated communities, and encourage the sharing of ideas, experiences, and connections.
We will do this by teaching modern-day product, design, and engineering thinking, methods, and frameworks so that all tech professionals can solve problems in the best way possible.
We believe that we can raise a generation of multicultural tech leaders in Japan who are empathetic, open-minded, and willing to empower teams.
We also believe that we can help tech professionals design and build better products in Japan.
Musubi Tech focuses on creating high-quality in-person and online experiences that help the growth of International and Japanese tech professionals.
Together, we can create a thriving community that leverages the strengths of both Japanese and International tech communities.
In the words of Margaret Mead, an American cultural anthropologist: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
Musubi Tech’s mission is to fosters multiculturalism and innovation between the Japanese and International tech communities. We will do this by creating upscale events and online content that serve both the International and Japanese communities at startups and mid-sized enterprises.
Musubi Tech’s vision is to raise a future generation of cross-culturally savvy tech professionals who are equipped to solve the world’s most complex challenges from within Japan. Additionally, it aspires to be a valuable resource and influencer of government policies that may affect the advancement of innovation in Japan.
むすび is short for むすびます, which means to tie or bind together, and connects with our mission and vision. It also means 🍙, which is a staple food of the Japanese community.
テック is a foreign word to represent technology. Equally important, the combination of the hiragana (domestic) and katana (foreign) characters symbolize the unity we aspire to create between the International and Japanese communities.
むすびテック was founded in July 2024 by Joe Baz, a former entrepreneur, community builder, and activist.
Joe’s experience spans over two decades of helping B2B SaaS businesses grow through the power of research and design.
For a more in-depth look at Joe’s history and motivations, see the interview on Joe Baz written by Paul Roberts.
We have a team of volunteers helping to advance Musubi Tech’s vision. Our team of collaborators is always growing, we’d love to get to know you, so please get in touch.
Musubi Tech G.K.
Business Association
Information Technology
July 9, 2024
Joe Baz
1445 Matsudo, Matsudo, Chiba, 271-0092 Japan
