What to Do & How to Avoid 'Em
At Kyodo PR, our main focus as a public relations agency in Japan is on leveraging our deep media relations to get our clients top-tier media coverage. Alas, every now and then we need to switch into crisis management mode wherever there is a disaster. While it's of course true that it's best to avoid crises altogether, it's critical that you have a partner in Japan that is able to do whatever they can to mitigate the damage.
When it comes to the Japanese media landscape and the nature of the newspapers here, no one in the market has a better understanding of how the country operates than we do at Kyodo PR. While no agency in the world has the ability to fully stop a crisis in the making, we're able to subtly influence the news with our approach to public relations and media disaster management.
A Dedicated Team of the Best
Most of the staff at Kyodo PR are focused on procuring positive articles in the media and therefore we try to form deep relationships with key journalists covering the industries and companies we work in and for. When it comes to a crisis in Japan though, it's often the case that the Japanese people covering the story are not the same ones that we know from our outreach.
Given everything changes once a PR crisis starts, Kyodo PR actually has an internal team of specialists that are dedicated to simply knowing how the media works and how to best dampen the damaging effects of a media firestorm. In conjunction with the normal account team, our crisis communications experts will work with you to chart a course through the chaos.
Since crisis management is a special field that requires a very different set of skills to be able to navigate all of the potential disasters and control the flow of information, those in the midst of a crisis are going to need a person with the experiences necessary for a quick recovery. We're of the opinion that Kyodo PR's team is up to the task.
We have a long track record of success and would love the chance to share our many experiences…
Our typical retainer and spot projects include some mix of the following...
• PR Strategy & Planning
• Press & Media List Management
• Press Releases & Newsletter
• Public Affairs & Crisis Management
• Executive Interviews
• Press Conferences
Perhaps Kyodo PR's greatest strength is the deep relationships that our staff have developed with the media over our six decades of business. Unlike other media markets in the world where people come and go, most gatekeepers at Japan's most influential media outlets are established veterans who have been employed at the same outlet for much of their life. Thanks to the strength of our connections, we're able to cut through the noise and deliver the message to the right person regardless of the industry.
When coupled with our expertise in the local market, Kyodo PR's exhaustive media relations mean that we're perfectly positioned to accomplish the mission, whatever it may be. We've helped many large global brands execute their market entries across a wide spectrum of industries like healthcare, gaming, technology, etc., and are well-equipped to help you achieve the communication results you deserve in Japan.
Crisis Management in Japan
In the context of a PR crisis, one of the challenges for international companies is that all of management’s instincts are going to be wrong. Like a skier trapped under an avalanche, those without both proper training and a sharp local partner are not going to know which way is up. In these instances, it’s almost always the case that the overseas brand is going to do more harm than good when trying to right the situation.
Luckily, Kyodo PR has been through this time and time again. We know how to approach even the worst media conflagrations with a poised tact that will help give your company the best chance of surviving the flurry of negative attention and nosy journalists.
While we won’t promise that we can block any and all bad articles from seeing the light of day, we can equip you to weather the storm.
While no one wakes up wanting to willfully experience a media crisis, there is always the risk of something happening, especially in certain industries that are prone to incidents. If you have an agency partner like Kyodo PR on call though, we’re always at the ready to help out should something happen. Additionally, we can also help you steer clear of any potential icebergs out there that have the potential to sink your proverbial ship if you aren’t careful.
Generally, our crisis communication and management solutions are services that we offer clients on a per-need basis. That said, we do sometimes also bake these costs into the retainer for higher-risk companies. To see what we can do for both current and future predicaments, reach out via the form at the end of this page.
Media Training in Japan
One of the best ways to handle a media crisis is to simply not get involved with one to begin with. While there are a lot of things that companies can do on the organizational level, knowing how to handle the Japanese press is also a key way to mitigate risk. While Japan might not have the hyper-combative kinds of journalists you’ll see in the West, that doesn’t mean that you can let your guard down.
Since its inception six decades ago, Kyodo PR has been helping clients learn the ins and outs of the press with our helpful media training. Over the course of a day, participants are taught everything they need to know about the media landscape in Japan. The session culminates with a mock interview that is run by actual journalists that we source via our extensive media connections.
Graduates of Kyodo PR's media training will be able to confidently walk into any and all interviews with the media and know how to handle questions from Japanese journalists in a way that is both culturally respectful and effective. If this sounds like something that you or your executive team need in Japan, let us know and we can share more details.
Get In Touch
Want to ensure that you have the best crisis communication plan in place or get trained to handle the Japanese press like a pro? Reach out via the form below and let’s schedule a call where we can discuss your current situation and needs. While we can't disclose case studies here publicly, we will be able to share some examples of how we helped companies avoid crises and disasters on the call.
Selected Work
- Conversion API, iOS, Meta, PR
Digital Marketing
As an agency, Kyodo PR has continued to innovatively reinvent the concept of cutting-edge communications since 1964. Im house, we’re able to offer the full gamut of digital marketing from casting influencers in a way that generates ROI to top tier performance marketing on Google and Meta.
Communication Strategy
We’ve now helped countless international clients navigate the complexities of the Japanese market in a way that leads to long term success. After getting a sense of what you’re working with in Japan, our PR strategists can come up with the perfect solution for your individual needs.
