What we do

Six practice areas.
One mission.

Depth and specialisation — not breadth for its own sake. Every practice we offer is grounded in two decades of on-the-ground Japan–India experience.

01

HR Consulting

Organisational complexity multiplies at the intersection of two labour markets. Japanese companies operating in India face a landscape shaped by distinct employment law, radically different workforce expectations, and cultural communication styles that can make or break team cohesion.

We design HR frameworks from first principles for Japan-affiliated companies in India — structuring roles, building performance systems, and running Employee Satisfaction Surveys that surface cross-cultural friction before it becomes attrition.

  • Salary structuring & compensation design
  • HR policy & handbook development
  • Employment contracts & documentation
  • Skill & competency framework design
  • Performance management system setup
  • Statutory compliance & labour law
  • Merger & acquisition HR support
  • Employee Satisfaction Surveys (ESS)
Key outcomes
01

Reduced attrition in cross-cultural teams

02

HR compliance aligned to Indian labour law

03

Measurable improvement in employee satisfaction scores

03

Corporate Training

Intercultural misunderstanding rarely announces itself. It accumulates in silences, in meeting dynamics, in feedback that never lands, in relationships that never quite form. Our training programs are designed to surface these patterns and give teams the frameworks to navigate them with confidence.

Developed in close partnership with Japan Intercultural Consulting, our programs draw on decades of research into Japanese and Indian business culture. We deliver bespoke workshops, communication seminars, and leadership programs — adapted to your industry and the specific cultural fault lines your teams face.

  • JIC 19-Dimensions cultural assessment
  • Japan business culture for Indian teams
  • India business culture for Japanese assignees
  • Cross-cultural team building
  • POSH awareness & sensitivity training
  • Leadership & communication workshops
  • Customised case studies & role plays
Key outcomes
01

Measurably improved cross-cultural communication

02

Faster onboarding for bilateral leadership hires

03

Reduced misunderstanding-driven project delays

04

Corporate Events

High-value bilateral relationships are rarely built in formal meetings. They form over carefully curated encounters — the right people in the right room, with the right facilitation. Our events practice designs and manages business interactions between Japanese and Indian stakeholders at every level.

From trade delegations and executive networking dinners to Japan–India business forums and cultural exchange programs, we handle strategic design, logistics, protocol, and facilitation. Our access to business and government networks on both sides means we can convene conversations that would otherwise take years to arrange.

  • AOTS conference & event management
  • Japanese delegation support & protocol
  • Executive networking and business dinners
  • Japan–India business forums and conferences
  • Japan–India business networking
  • Cultural exchange programs
  • VVIP protocol and diplomatic event support
Key outcomes
01

Accelerated relationship-building between bilateral stakeholders

02

Access to curated networks on both sides

03

Events that generate durable business outcomes

05

B2G Relations

Japan and India have built an extensive bilateral policy architecture — spanning skill development, infrastructure, trade facilitation, and investment promotion. For companies that understand how to engage it, this represents significant opportunity. For those that don't, it is a source of delay and uncertainty.

Our B2G practice helps companies navigate government relationships on both sides. We provide strategic advisory for Japan's Skill Development Programs, support regulatory navigation, and facilitate introductions to the relevant ministries, departments, and policy bodies.

  • Government liaison and relationship facilitation
  • Japan Skill Development Program (JICA/JITCO) advisory
  • Regulatory navigation and compliance support
  • Ministry and departmental introductions
  • Bilateral policy engagement strategy
  • Public sector tender and procurement support
Key outcomes
01

Smoother regulatory approvals and clearances

02

Access to government skill development funding

03

Credibility with bilateral policy stakeholders

06

Market Entry

Entering a new market is an act of judgement as much as execution. Which partners can be trusted? Which regulatory requirements are critical? Which market segments offer the highest probability of early traction? For Japan–India market entry, these questions carry particular weight.

Our market entry practice provides the strategic grounding, local intelligence, and operational support to make expansion successful. We work with Japanese companies entering India and Indian companies entering Japan — providing in-market research, partner identification, entity setup advisory, and ongoing counsel through the critical first years.

  • India market entry strategy & advisory
  • Business partner identification and vetting
  • B2G facilitation & government relations
  • Corporate translation & interpretation
  • Strategic advisory for Japan–India JVs
  • Entity setup and operational launch support
  • Ongoing market advisory and monitoring
Key outcomes
01

Evidence-based market entry decisions

02

Vetted local partners with aligned interests

03

Faster path to first commercial milestones

Our methodology

The JIC 19 Cultural
Dimensions.

Developed by Japan Intercultural Consulting over decades of research, this globally-proven framework identifies, measures, and bridges cultural gaps between Japan and India. Before every intercultural session, we survey participants across all 19 dimensions — allowing us to precisely customise content for your team's actual daily challenges.

19 Cultural Dimensions
3 Interest Levels Measured
EN · JP Bilingual Delivery
Custom Session Design
01
Risk Propensity
リスクに関する感覚

Risk Avoidance vs. Risk-seeking — how much information and planning do people need to feel comfortable moving forward?

02
Decision-making Style
意思決定の方法

Top-down vs. Consensus — how many people are consulted in order to reach a decision?

03
Verbal vs. Non-verbal
言葉中心か非言語的か

Highly Verbal vs. Highly Non-verbal — are things spelled out clearly in words, or is it necessary to read between the lines?

04
Role Clarity
役割の明確度

Clear Roles vs. Ambiguous Roles — do people have clear job descriptions, or pitch in flexibly as needed?

05
Power Structure
力構造

Egalitarian vs. Hierarchical — are people treated differently based on their status?

06
Conflict Resolution Style
コミュニケーションは直接か間接か

Direct vs. Indirect — do people feel comfortable showing disagreement openly?

07
Task vs. Relationship
任務遂行中心か人間関係中心か

Get the Job Done vs. Emphasise Relationships — do people just focus on their to-do list, or spend time nurturing relationships?

08
Attitude Toward Change
変化への態度

Tradition & Status Quo vs. Progress & Novelty — the latest and greatest, or if it's not broken don't fix it?

09
Business Relationship Time Frame
ビジネス関係の時間軸

Short-term vs. Long-term — do you expect to be working with the same people 10 years from now?

10
Individual / Group Relationship
個人主義か集団主義か

Individualism vs. Group-oriented — do people like to do their own thing, or be part of a team?

11
Conversation Pace & Silence
会話のペースと沈黙の利用

Slow, Much Silence vs. Fast, Little Silence — are people fast talkers, or more deliberate in their speaking style?

12
Value of Time
時間の価値

Time is Precious vs. Ample Time — how much of a priority is speed?

13
Process vs. Results
プロセス重視か結果重視か

Is how you do it important, or just what you end up with in the end?

14
Emotional Expressiveness
感情表現

Expressive vs. Reserved — do you wear your heart on your sleeve, or keep a stiff upper lip?

15
Formality
フォーマルかカジュアルか

Formal vs. Informal — the degree of protocol and formality expected in interactions.

16
Work / Life Balance
仕事と生活のバランス

Lifestyle is Highest Priority vs. Work is Highest Priority — work to live or live to work?

17
Independent Action
どれほど独立的に働くか

Act Independently vs. Coordination and Collaboration — do you take the ball and run with it, or do a lot of reporting and discussing?

18
Control over Environment
環境への制御感

You Control Environment vs. Environment Controls You — are you in control of your destiny?

19
Teaching Style
OJTか教室学習か

Apprentice Style vs. Classroom Style — would you prefer to learn something on the job, or take a class about it?

How we use the framework

Before every intercultural session, Maalabay administers the JIC 19-Dimensions survey to participants, measuring their interest level (Low / Medium / High) across each dimension. This allows us to precisely customise session content, focusing on the dimensions most relevant to your team's actual daily challenges — making every program practical, targeted, and immediately applicable.

Bespoke by design

Every engagement
is bespoke.