Build and grow your sports
business in Japan
HALF TIME helps global sports organizations hire the people they need in Japan and reach the decision-makers who matter — with one bilingual team in Tokyo.
30,000+registered professionals
1,500+roles handled to date
6,000+conference attendees
Since 2017based in Tokyo
* All figures as of October 2026.
Build your team in Japan
Hiring in Japan is hard without a local network and the language to use it. We find people who have both.
- Permanent Recruitment
- Staff to management roles, on a success fee. No upfront cost.
- Executive Search
- CXO and department head roles, retained or contingency.
- Employer Branding & RPO
- For organizations with no HR presence in Japan.
- Where we are strongest
- Executive and management talent, business and strategy roles, and bilingual people who work between headquarters and Japan.
Talk to us about hiring →
Grow your presence in Japan
Japan's sports industry runs on a closed network. We own the media, the conference and the relationships that reach it.
- Sponsored Content
- An article in HALF TIME Magazine with 10,000 page views guaranteed, plus a newsletter to 30,000+ members.
- Conference Sponsorship
- A talk or booth at HALF TIME Conference, in front of 500+ attendees.
- Event Production
- End-to-end planning and operation, run in English and Japanese.
- PR & Content Creation
- Press office, media relations, brand films and websites.
Talk to us about marketing →
HIRING
JUVENTUS FC
Building sponsorship sales in Japan
The club had no Japanese speakers in-house. As a retained search we set the target profile and ran first-round interviews, leading to one hire.
Bundesliga International
Pinpoint hiring for its Asia office
We placed a highly specialized hire in the Asia office of Germany's Bundesliga, with strategic advice throughout the process.
Octagon
Bilingual hires for a US sports marketing agency
Three hires to date, including the Japan Country Manager and two account managers.
We have also run searches for Manchester City, Manchester United and the NBA.
MARKETING
East Asia Super League
Japan PR for its first tournament
PR strategy, media relations, press conference and social media, earning around 1,300 articles — approximately ¥120M in advertising value.
Science in Sport
Brand films for its Japan launch
For the UK sports nutrition brand's launch we produced brand films, delivered in 15 versions including the main film and social cuts.
Avery Dennison
Japan launch of the Embelex solution
Two newsletter sends, around 30,000 deliveries, drove more than 400 visits to the landing page.
We also produced Bundesliga International's first business event in Japan and delivered conference sponsorship for WSC Sports.
01
We own the platform,
not just a network
HALF TIME Magazine, HALF TIME Conference and a database of 30,000+ members are all ours. We do not buy reach from other media — we have it, so we can put your message directly in front of the right people.
02
Hiring and visibility from one team
Most agencies do one or the other. We do both, so the people you hire and the market they sell into are handled together, under one contract if you want it.
03
Built for cross-border work
Our CEO launched a UK search firm's Japan business from Singapore. Our COO is based in Bangkok. Our Head of Communications led market entry PR for an international brand in Japan.
- STEP 01
Inquiry
Tell us what you are trying to do in Japan. We reply within two business days.
- STEP 02
Intro Call (30 min)
A call in English to turn your goal into a scope of work. No preparation needed.
- STEP 03
Proposal
Scope, timeline and fee, in writing.
- STEP 04
Delivery
One point of contact throughout, from kickoff to reporting.
Frequently asked questions //
Can we work with you entirely in English?+
Yes. Our team can handle discovery, proposals, contracting, delivery and reporting in English.
Do we need a Japanese entity to sign a contract?+
No. We can contract directly with overseas entities.
What currency do you invoice in?+
We primarily invoice in Japanese yen. Other arrangements can be discussed.
How soon can we start?+
We typically begin with an introductory call and can confirm timing in the written proposal.
What time zones do you work in?+
Our Tokyo-based team regularly works with clients across Asia, Europe and North America.
Can you handle both hiring and marketing under one agreement?+
Yes. Hiring and marketing can be combined under one scope and agreement.
What is the minimum budget?+
Budgets depend on the scope. Contact us and we will recommend an appropriate starting point.
// Let's build your position in Japan's sports industry
Tell us what you are trying to do in Japan — hiring, visibility, or both.
We reply within two business days.
