From Alignment to Action: Rethinking U.S. - Japan Space Business Cooperation
This preliminary study shed a light on the underlying dynamics that hinder robust U.S.-Japan space collaboration at the commercial level. It seeks to move beyond traditional accounts of policy or regulatory friction to uncover deeper, often less visible cognitive and cultural barriers that hinder trust-building between Japanese and American stakeholders at the interpersonal, human-to-human space business development.
Key Insights
Perceptions of Risk
Japanese firms’ strong preference for extensive risk mitigation creates negotiation fatigue for their U.S. counterparts but ensures exceptional reliability once contracts are signed.
Expectations on Politics
U.S. companies tend to evaluate partnerships primarily based on commercial and operational value, whereas some Japanese companies place excessive expectations on political-level alliances to drive U.S.-Japan commercial collaboration.
Clarity of Implementation
While Japan’s space policies are clear and ambitious, their short-term objectives and implementation often requires more information (and decisions), delaying business decisions and sometimes creating motivational frictions with U.S. partners.
Commitment to Make Changes
Institutional barriers like ITAR and CFIUS are challenging but manageable; the deeper problem is whether both Japanese and U.S. firms have the internal resources, compliance capacity, financial stamina, and leadership commitment to sustain cross-border ventures.
Please refer to the full report for details.
From Alignment to Action: Rethinking U.S. - Japan Space Business Cooperation
Sosuke Nagayama
