About Musubi Tech

Mission

Foster multiculturalism and innovation between the Japanese and International tech communities.

Our Vision

We see a future generation of multicultural entrepreneurs and tech leaders in Japan who believe in building products to solve problems beyond a nation's borders. These ambitious, mission-driven Japanese & International tech professionals (product managers, UX designers, and engineers) believe that working together translates to mutual growth. Their commercial success and impact on the world will strengthen Japan’s economy and secure its position as a global powerhouse in technology.

Value Propositions

Empower the next generation of entrepreneurs and tech leaders at startups, scale-ups and venture companies in Japan to… 

  • take greater risks by receiving moral support from a community that cherishes risk-taking, authenticity, and compassion.
  • mitigate commercial risk quickly by using modern product delivery methods and by acculturating quickly to deeply understand a foreign culture.
  • attract & retain diverse talent by creating workplaces that foster respect, growth, and a strong sense of belonging.

The Story

transcription from video:

The Promise

“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.

Ready or not!

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.

  • My belief is to “Bring your authentic self to work”…  In Japanese culture, I learned “Leave the informality at the drinking events”
  • “Fail and learn fast”… “Making mistakes limits career growth”
  • “HI, I’M JOE! I’M SO EXCITED TO MEET YOU!”… Okay, you’re scaring me. (inner monologue)”

Who am I? What am I doing wrong? Do I really belong here?

Do we belong?

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.

Introducing Musubi Tech

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.

A monumental but solvable challenge, if done together

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.”

Why the name むすびテック?

むすび

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

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.

The Team

Joe Baz, Founder

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.

The Volunteers

We have a team of volunteers helping to advance Musubi Tech’s vision. Our team of collaborators is always growing, take a look at the opportunities available.

Company Profile

Trade Name

Musubi Tech G.K.

Business Contents

Business Association
Information Technology

Date of Establishment

July 9, 2024

Representative Director

Joe Baz

Office

1445 Matsudo, Matsudo, Chiba, 271-0092 Japan