Carter Associates has fifteen full time research executives in Osaka and Tokyo, as well as field force of more than fifty. Uniting all our staff is a strong curiosity about our projects and a rigorous approach to research. We take pride in the precision of our results and our well thought-out, relevant insights. We'd like to introduce you to some of our key bilingual researchers.
Dominic Carter, President
A double major graduate in marketing and Japanese studies from the University of New South Wales, Dominic came to Japan from Australia over ten years ago to set up the Japan office of a major global research company.
Dominic has been preoccupied for the best part of his working life with getting into the mind of the Japanese consumer and figuring out what makes a business successful in the Japanese market. His interest extends not only to consumer behaviour and business practices but also to a curiosity about traditional Japanese culture and an ongoing quest to master the finer points of the Japanese language. Passionate about the relevance and precision of his methodologies and research approaches, Dominic is on a mission to take a journey of insight with every client, and take pleasure in watching them succeed. His passion doesn't just come from the experience of countless Japan research projects including developing, testing and tracking hundreds of Japanese advertising campaigns and brand strategies - it is backed by a deep empathy for what is required for businesses, brands and the people that manage them to succeed in Japan.
His career highlights include being local managing director for a top ten global research agency, founding his own business in Japan and helping some of the largest brands in the world use research to influence real improvements in local business performance. Dominic also serves as the chairman of the Marketing Programs Committee at the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. When not working, Dominic can be found sampling some of Tokyo's dazzling array of restaurants, getting inspiration for his ever-growing dining blog.
Takashi Iizuka, Chief Operating Officer
When it comes to getting things done the right way there is nobody you would rather have on the case than Takashi Iizuka. Takashi will do whatever it takes to ensure that methods are precise, data is accurate and deadlines are met without any compromise on quality. Having studied in the US, he is bilingual and a skilled communicator. He commands a high level of respect from both colleagues and clients or anyone else who has come into contact with his operational expertise. With experience in a leading global research agency and as key manager of a number of high profile, heavyweight projects in Japan, Takashi is very well placed to handle complex, customised research demands.
Shingo Kuwahara, Project Manager
Shingo is a tireless researcher who currently divides his time between our offices in Tokyo and Osaka. When overseeing projects he steers the research towards a quality execution and a thorough collation of results and analyses. Quietly confident in the precision of his methods and careful in managing the research team, Shingo is ready to deal with projects of vast and varied proportions. Beneath his mild mannered exterior he has a passion and drive that underpins his approach to his work as much as his stunning karaoke performances. A dedicated follower of fashion, he has a partiality to trends and looks at brands through the eyes of a connoisseur.
Satoshi Toyotomi, Project Co-ordinator
Originally from Osaka, Satoshi spent six years living in New Orleans. Bilingual, bicultural and fascinated by what makes people tick, he has studied and worked in both the United States and Japan. After high school he took a BA in Marketing followed up by an MBA in New Orleans. He also completed a semester in Moscow where his relentless doggedness and curiosity led him to meet Mikhail Gorbachev! In Japan, Satoshi has worked on numerous high profile qualitative and quantitative research projects across multiple industries. Outside of work, Satoshi can be found on the soccer pitch showing off his skills as a talented defender. Devoted and meticulous, he has worked on statistics and mathematics to the point where he claims he can enjoy them; he also likes to brush up on his French and double check his understanding of correct usage of the definite article in English.