We guide global businesses to success in Japan

What we do

We empathically explore the needs, behaviors and preferences of consumers to inform the intelligent design of products and services. Investing in iterative research with the end-user in mind creates an efficient pathway to intelligent design.

The systematic investigation of user interactions, behaviors, attitudes, and preferences provides valuable insight to drive the design and optimization of consumer experiences. A multi-modal approach ensures nuanced understanding for better design and longitudinal improvements.

Tapping into the power of focus groups and ethnography expertise, our team unmasks the unique faces in Japanese culture. We deftly manage cultural nuances and uncover emerging trends to shape strategy and innovations.

Surveys and quantitative data analysis can be used to validate qualitative findings for greater confidence in research. Quantifying the opportunities in Japan often require a more large-scale look at trends and emerging business opportunities.

Captivating what truly resonates with people requires deep cultural immersion and understanding. Transformative insights can be gained from a kaleidoscope of methods, including studies on semiotics, trend-watching immersive experiences, and even pop-up consumer videos.


With years of studying the Japanese market and a serious focus on the senior population, our team is uniquely situated to provide game-changing insights about the opportunity in this aging market. We know the needs and even aspirations of this formidable group of consumers.

Brands that Trust our Team

CarterJMRN helps you unmask Japan.

At Carter, we lay the foundation for your marketing activities in Japan, including market entry, with innovative consumer empathy methods that cover the gamut of immersive, qualitative and quantitative approaches.

These include cultural analysis and semiotics, trend watching, secondary desk research, depth interviews, ethnography, usability tests, focus groups and all quantitative survey methods. Experts in the facilitation of collaborative problem solving, we partner with you on your journey, implementing design-thinking approaches to translate deep customer and user understanding into creative brainstorming, concept creation, prototyping and testing.

We are your guides to unmasking and engaging the needs, desires and opinions of Japanese people and helping you to translate those into action.

Our work impacts brands every day

Product Usability Testing Pre-Launch

Our client intended to launch an online content platform in Japan. In preparation for the launch, they wanted to ga..

Testing the Acceptance of a Relaunched Skincare E-Commerce Website
Testing the Acceptance of a Relaunched Skincare E-Commerce Website

A well-known skincare client updated their e-commerce site as part of a global redesign of their brand appearance. The client wanted to run ..

Optimizing the Payment Flow of a Content Streaming Platform​
Optimizing the Payment Flow of a Content Streaming Platform​

A streaming platform from overseas wanted to explore the feedback on their payment flow to improve the intuitivenes..

Market understanding and concept research
Exploration of Consumer Behavior and Usage Occasions of Streaming Services

Our client – a popular streaming service – was looking into different avenues they might want to explore to bet..

Understanding Gaming Behaviour and Play Testing in Japan

One of the top gaming companies in the world is preparing to expand into the Japanese market. In order to strategiz..

Heated Tobacco Consumer Affective Test (Pre-recruited CLT)

An international tobacco company is interested in understanding how to improve their heated tobacco device’s usag..

What our Clients Say

Yesterday’s workshop was outstanding. The value you brought to the project far exceeded what we alone could have done. Thank you so much. We look forward to reading the report.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Yesterday’s workshop was outstanding. The value you brought to the project far exceeded what we alone could have done. Thank you so much. We look forward to reading the report.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Yesterday’s workshop was outstanding. The value you brought to the project far exceeded what we alone could have done. Thank you so much. We look forward to reading the report.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Yesterday’s workshop was outstanding. The value you brought to the project far exceeded what we alone could have done. Thank you so much. We look forward to reading the report.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Yesterday’s workshop was outstanding. The value you brought to the project far exceeded what we alone could have done. Thank you so much. We look forward to reading the report.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Yesterday’s workshop was outstanding. The value you brought to the project far exceeded what we alone could have done. Thank you so much. We look forward to reading the report.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Let's Talk

CarterJMRN is a Japan-based market research agency guiding leading brands through the journey of unmasking and engaging with the needs, desires and opinions of Japanese people. Our qualitative and quantitative experts employ UX, survey, focus group and other methodologies, coupled with a deep understanding of cultural nuances and emerging trends for insights that power excellence in human-centered decisions for bigger business impact.