• Business Communication

    From Japan To The World • Since 1985

  • Introducing Open MIND

    We create, produce and promote events such as the Japanda International Open 2024 in Itoshima

    We are located in Fukuoka, Japan

    Open Mind is a family-owned and operated business, led by Bruce, Ling, and Tony Haendel

  • Open Mind focuses on three things:

     

    (1) We help Small & Medium-sized Japanese Enterprises (SMEs) reach the global market.

     

    Together with us, Japan's SMEs can sell abroad more profitably and with less effort. We guide brand development, direct PR & marketing, plan & produce digital media, create and edit text, and assist with business communication.

     

    (2) We help fast-track market-entry into Japan for products and services, teaming up with Japan-based experts.

     

    (3) We promote Kyushu as a richly enticing tourist destination. We create and guide our own tours, and assist agencies large and small with in-bound tourist projects.

     

    If you would care to discuss how Open Mind can enhance your business, please CONTACT US.

  • Open Mind

    A Range of Media and Communication Services

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    Web-Design

    Your Online Presence

    Grow Your Business

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    Copywriting & Editing

    Effective Messaging

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    Product Promotion

    Reach Global Markets

    Strategy and Marketing

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    Translation &

    Proofreading

    Japanese to English,

    English to Japanese

    And More...

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    Video & Audio Production

    Total Production & Editing

    Over 500 voiceover recordings since 1985

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    Fukuoka Plus Directory

    "All of Fukuoka In English"

    Business Directory

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    Hakata Foodie Experiences

    Food Tourism and Private Guide Services

    We are ByFood Experience Partners specializing in Yatai Food Stall tours, to Japan's best street food.

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    Japanda Badminton Academy

    Train with the best athletes and coaches in English, Japanese, or Chinese

  • What OPEN MIND PRoduceS

    We Optimize Your Media & Communication; You Focus On Your Core Business

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    Websites for International Lawyers

    Clearly Communicate In English

    Shimizu Immigration Consulting Office guides clients through Japan immigration, business formation, and offers general living advice for English-speakers setting-up shop in Japan. Open Mind chose their new domain name, shot photos, created text, and built their website, transforming their business which now reaches clients from over 30 countries.

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    Websites for Tourism

    English-language Promotion

    Japan Cycling Tours has been running bike tours in Japan for over 16 years. Open Mind created an informative one-pager for them that makes it easy for smartphone and PC users to get the information they need when planning their next adventure. The downhill video is scary.

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    Documentaries

    Award-Winning Documentary

    Documentary "Shinto: Kami No Michi" directed by Tom Sajewski (t.sajewski@dop.film)

     

    Awarded Best Short Documentary and Best Cinematography at the Roma Short Film Festival 2021.

     

    Open Mind enabled Mr. Sajewski to capture an up-close look at the world of Shinto, including an exclusive, ancient ceremony during the transition from "Heisei" to the "Reiwa" Era at Daizafu Tenmangu.

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    Photos

    Unique Visual Promotion

    Open Mind provided the main model for the August 2019 in-flight magazine cover. Photo by photograph-r.

    Video Editing

    Establishing A Brand Image

    Junno Design's top-selling wood care product line is made in Fukuoka. To convey their brand image, we re-worked their footage, adding sound to create a more compelling story.

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    Cultural Promotion

    Anticipating TOKYO 2020

    The Imagine One World Kimono Project produced 216 handmade kimonos with artisans throughout Japan. Each one is a priceless work of art, created for each nation and territory competing in Tokyo 2020. Different kimonos were featured every week on their English-language Facebook page.

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    Tourism Promotion

    Sharing Kyushu's Magic

    Our team hits Kyushu's backroads, tea fields, rice terraces, farms, hot springs, temples, historical sites, restaurants, local inns, and country homes for the Kyushu Tourism Organization (KTO).

    Acting, Singing, Modeling

    TV & Web Commercials

    Toyota dealers in Kyushu and Okinawa get *star*power from our of actor & singer partners.

    Voiceovers for TV Promotions

    An International Brand in Japan

    Open Mind recorded voiceovers in Japanese and English.

    A & W was established in California in 1919. By far Okinawa's most popular fast food outlet, their burgers, hot dogs & all-you-can-drink root beer are amazing.

  • Some OF Our ClientS

    From top brands to local heroes

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    TOTO Ltd.

    Marketing, Training

    Created marketing copy in seven languages, assisted new product promotion in Japan and the USA, coached CEO and trained the International Division in communication skills.

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    The North Face

    Product Evaluation, Logistics Programming

    Handled expedition logistics programming in Seattle. Tested outdoor products in Swiss Alps, US & Canadian Rockies, Cascade & Olympic Mountains.

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    Witt O'Brien's

    Emergency Management

    Witt O'Brien's specializes in crisis and emergency management for vessels that enter US waters. Open Mind handles mission-critical documentation and assists local staff, to better serve Japan-based clients.

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    A & W

    Voiceovers

    Recorded voiceovers for A&W Okinawa's wildly-popular tv marketing campaign.

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    Gundam

    Translation

    With Tokyo designer, T. Tajima, we made GUNDAM's inner thoughts accessible to the world in English.

    Published by Kodansha.

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    Matsuri In Kyushu

    Tourism Promotion & Strategy

    Creating tourism experiences with Hakata Foodie for Japanese festivals in Kyushu.

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    Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization

    Tourism Promotion

    Written content and images for official website: We design and produce and materials for the international market.

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    Canal City

    Marketing

    Increased customer numbers through aggressive tv/radio promo campaign with

    Dentsu Kyushu.

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    Kyushu University

    Marketing

    Marketed the university's advanced informatics technology. Established joint-research projects with top European and Australian universities.

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    Growth Next

    Translation & Editing

    Provided English-language promotional text, organized business meet-ups for

    international community.

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    Startup Fukuoka

    Business Promotion

    Operated Open Mind Booth as Fukuoka City Delegate to Latitude 54 in Tallinn, Estonia, toured venture support facilities in Helsinki, Finland.

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    International

    Congress Center

    PR & Marketing

    Managed English language copywriting for Fukuoka's main conference center.

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    Bayside Place

    Hakata

    Public Wi-Fi

    Brought public Wi-Fi to

    Bayside Place Hakata,

    increasing customer traffic.

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    Kyushu National Museum

    PR & Marketing

    As editors, Open Mind had the final word on English language promotional materials.

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    Solaria Plaza Tenjin

    Radio & TV Voiceovers

    Recorded voiceovers for seasonal promotions,

    Increasing customer numbers.

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    G20 YEA SUMMIT

    Interpreter

    Provided chief Japanese to English interpreter for G20 YEA Summit tour of Toyota Kyushu Miyata Plant and Yaskawa Electric Corporation.

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    Glocals Tour

    Website Creation

    Produced website for inbound-tour company in Kyoto, Japan

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    Experience Partner

    Japan By Food Tours

    Tour creation and operations in partnership with inbound-focused company based in Tokyo, Japan

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    Strategy & Marketing

    Advisory Services

    Assist with B-Genki's English-language copy, product-naming, product placement, & strategic introductions. B-Genki is a Division of Marukin Foods

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    Strategy & Marketing

    A Fukuoka-Based Company

    English-language copy, product-naming, product placement, strategic introductions.

  • Your Team IN Japan

    Connecting You to the World

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    Bruce R. Haendel

    Co-Founder & Director

    At Open Mind, KK, we are proud to have Bruce Haendel as a founding member of our team. Bruce is a seasoned professional in marketing and business communication, with a proven track record in promoting businesses and organizations on a global scale. His exceptional writing skills, combined with his expertise in digital promotion, make him a valuable asset to our company and our clients.

     

    Recently, Bruce, aka Hakata Foodie, has been working as an experience partner with Japan ByFood, spearheading development of their Fukuoka and Saga area food tours, primarily concentrating on expanding yatai food-stall culture in Fukuoka City. In 2024, he assisted the creation of the Yatai Concierge at Fukuoka International Airport and is now training a team of guides to assist with his popular food tours in Kyushu.

     

    Bruce regularly advises Marukin Foods CEO, Fusako Kira, an innovative CEO in Kumamoto, Japan, as she brings her new product line, B-Genki, to the global market. This year, he helped place B-Genki's healthy snack products in Japan Airlines' First-Class lounges.

     

    In addition to work for tourist boards, agencies, and food companies, Bruce still produces voiceovers for TV and internet for clients all over Japan.

     

    Bruce's work has earned him high praise from industry leaders and his commitment to connecting entrepreneurs has made him a well-respected member of the business community in Fukuoka City. His experience as a research fellow for the MIMO-MESH Project at Kyushu University and co-organizer of the popular meetup Business Casual further demonstrate his passion for innovation and business development.

     

    At Open Mind, KK, we are committed to helping Japanese SME business owners reach their full potential by providing them with international business communication services. Your business can be empowered to increase your market reach and target an international audience. We highly recommend our services to anyone looking to expand their business and reach their goals.

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    Anthony S. "Tony" Haendel

    Director/Producer

    Tony is a multi-lingual professional in marketing and sales, with exceptional writing skills in Japanese, native fluency in English, and conversational ability in Mandarin Chinese.

    With his lifetime friend, M. Sakaguchi, he is a founder at Atelierito, handling marketing and distribution of some of the most delicious baumkuchen obtainable. Together, they have built the Atelierito brand into a successful online sales business with devoted customers from Okinawa to Hokkaido.

    In October 2024, Tony served as community manager for COLIVE Fukuoka 2024.

    In December 2024, he successfully produced and led admin for the Japanda International Open 2024 in Itoshima, a badminton tournament that attracted over 400 players, staff, and guests from 8 countries including Japan, a project created for Coach Haendel Ling @ Japanda Badminton.

    Tony is currently making trips to Taiwan, Las Vegas, USA and Germany, on behalf of B-Genki, interfacing directly with buyers abroad in English, Japanese, and Chinese. He is leading the expanion into North American and Europe as the face of B-Genki.

    Further, Tony manages his own sales team working the Japan real estate market for rentals and ownership in English, Chinese, and Japanese.

    Though still quite young, Tony's work has already earned him high praise from industry and tourism leaders and his commitment to assisting digital nomads has made him a well-respected member of the business community in Fukuoka City.

    At Open Mind, KK, we are committed to helping Japanese SME business owners reach their full potential by providing them with international business communication services. Your business can be empowered to increase your market reach and target an international audience. We highly recommend our services to anyone looking to expand their business and reach their goals.

  • Open Mind Blog

    Thoughts on the future of Japan Tourism, Culture, Adventure and Business

    2023年4月1日
    Bruce Haendel of OPEN MIND has recently joined the FUKUOKA-PLUS.COM. 🌟 Discover Fukuoka with Fukuoka-Plus.com! 🌟 We are the creators behind Fukuoka-Plus.com, the ultimate resource for all things Fukuoka in English! 📍 Find Business Listings and Events: Explore a comprehensive directory of ...
    "Open Mind is a standout in website design and communication. Their attention to detail and ability to create a clear and informative online presence is truly unparalleled. They build responsive one-pagers that are easy to read on any device, making their services the perfect solution for any...
    Received this testimonial dated June 2022, from Dr. Yuichi Narukiyo, Director and Managing Executive Officer of TOTO, Ltd. : “Thanks to Bruce-san, I managed to get the job done overseas. I believe that your guidance to the members of TOTO is one of the major factors that made us successful in...
  • Contact Us

    Let's schedule a call in English or 日本語!

  • 日本語

    About Open Mind 日本語