Who we are
At CarterIGNITE, we believe the world doesn’t need another consultancy handing out advice and walking away.
We’re here to close the gap between insight and impact. To help bold teams turn ambition into real traction in Japan.
We’re a team of practitioners, not just planners. We’ve built ventures, advised governments, sat on both sides of the negotiation table, and translated between cultures when it mattered most. We’re not afraid to challenge your thinking, but we’ll always walk beside you from start to finish.
Our philosophy is simple:
Impact over activity: Real-world results, not just pretty decks.
Fearless guidance: We’ll speak the hard truths to help you win.
Cultural intelligence: We live the nuance, not just observe it.
Partnership mentality: We work with you, not for you.
We only take on projects where we can deliver real value and where clients are ready to do it right - with humility, ambition, and respect for the Japanese context.
We’re not the biggest team, but we are relentlessly committed. Every project is led by senior partners. Every decision is made with our full attention. Every outcome is shared.
Together, we’re rewriting what market entry and growth look like in Japan. Not as outsiders, but as trusted, fearless guides.
"We built CarterIGNITE because the gap between ‘knowing’ and ‘doing’ was costing too many great ideas their shot at real impact. We’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen to you."
— Dominic Carter
What makes us different isn't just experience - it's how we use it.
Most consultancies deliver insights and disappear. We stay in the trenches with you, challenging assumptions when necessary and walking beside you through execution. Where others offer polite translations, we provide fearless cultural navigation grounded in decades of market intelligence.
Our approach defies traditional consulting models. We're selective about partnerships because we take genuine responsibility for outcomes. When a project isn't the right fit, we'll tell you honestly - and connect you with someone who can help. When we see potential, we go the extra mile, turning market understanding into measurable success.
We call ourselves cultural guides, not consultants. The difference? We don't just study Japan, we immerse our partners in it. Our community of over 2,000 Japanese users provides real-world validation that transforms product development. Our cultural safaris create "aha moments" that no simple report can deliver.
This human-centered approach, combined with our proprietary Market Performance Index and modular service engine, creates something genuinely unique: a partner who bridges global ambition with Japanese cultural reality.
40+
Market Researchers
25+
Years of experience
What makes us different?
We’re Built for Outcomes
We don’t just advise - we partner, execute, and own results with you. Success is measured in market traction, not the length of our slide decks.
Modular, Senior-Led, and Empathetic
You get senior partners at every step, with a modular system that flexes to your real needs. We only take on projects where we can make a genuine difference.
Cultural Fluency Meets Commercial Drive
We bridge cultures with empathy and precision. From user safaris to boardrooms, we translate between ambition and reality, making global innovation truly land in Japan.
Our Team
Senior-led expertise meets cultural fluency. Our team doesn't just understand Japan, we help you feel it, navigate it, and succeed in it.
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