Japan-to-U.S. market entry
Market research, U.S. localization of products and packaging, retail, restaurant and distributor partnerships, and coordination between your Japan headquarters and the U.S. team.
Japan-to-U.S. market entry, based in Los AngelesWe help Japanese food brands sell in America.
Tokyo Design Production (TDP) is a Los Angeles-based production company that helps Japanese food manufacturers, restaurant brands and businesses enter and grow in the U.S. market. We handle menu and product development, market research and test sales, branding, social media and PR, food festival vending, permits and on-site operations, all with one team from plan to execution.
CLIENTS & EVENTS
Brands and events we've catered and vended for
From catering for film studios and apparel brands to vending at music festivals, film festivals and anime conventions.
SERVICES
Everything a U.S. launch needs, in one team
Menu & product development
Flavor, portion and price adjustments for American consumers, chef collaborations, and new uses for Japanese ingredients such as BBQ, burgers, salads and Asian fusion.
Research & test marketing
Grocery shelf audits, competitor and price research, tastings and surveys, chef interviews, and test sales at events and pop-ups.
Events & sampling
Food festivals, Japanese festivals, farmers markets and pop-ups: vendor booking, booth design, equipment, staffing, operations and in-store product sampling.
Permits & operations
Support with Temporary Food Permits, health and event permits, certificates of insurance (COI), vendor applications, logistics, trucks and rentals, working with licensed local specialists where required.
Branding, PR & social media
Brand concept, logos, guidelines, packaging, menus and signage, Instagram and TikTok management, short-form video, press releases and creator partnerships.
Restaurant launch
Restaurant concepts, U.S. menu localization, site research, costing and pricing, operations manuals, and multi-unit or franchise development.
HOW WE WORK
From idea to execution, in seven steps
- 01
Research
Market, competitor and consumer research on the ground.
- 02
Development
Products, menus and brand adapted for the U.S.
- 03
Creative
Logos, packaging, signage and promotional materials.
- 04
Marketing
Social media, PR, advertising and creator partnerships.
- 05
Experience
Events, tastings and test sales.
- 06
Execution
Sales partners, permits, insurance and local operations.
- 07
Growth
Results analysis, improvements and expansion.
PRICING
Plans
Turning Japanese ambitions into a real U.S. launch. From market research and events to long-term growth, we support you based on your goals.
MARKET ENTRY
Market Research & U.S. Entry
From $10,000per project
Wondering whether Americans will buy your product?
We research the market, competitors and price points, and propose a plan for entering the U.S.
EVENT SALES
Event Sales Representation
Custom quote
Already booked for an event?
We handle preparation, sales and booth operations, including staffing and equipment rentals.
EVENT PRODUCTION
Full-Service Event Support
From $6,000 / dayFrom $12,000 for 2 days
Want to promote your product or test the market at an event?
From booth planning and product or menu decisions to on-site operations and a post-event report.
ONGOING SUPPORT
Ongoing Business Support
From $6,000 / monthmonthly
Ready to keep growing in the U.S.?
Local communication and coordination, sales and partner development.
ANNUAL PARTNERSHIP
Annual Total Support
From $40,000 / monthmonthly, year-round engagement
Committed to the U.S. market?
Research, product development, marketing and events, combined into year-round support.
All prices are in USD and vary with scope, length and scale. Third-party costs such as booth fees, ingredients and travel, and how staff and equipment are billed, are explained in your quote.
WORK
Selected work
Design, product development and business support, as well as events: projects handled by TDP and work by TOKYO YAKISOBA, the Los Angeles food brand run by our founder.
- 150+events a year with TOKYO YAKISOBA
- 100+vending locations across the U.S.
- 18brands and events (shown here)
FEATURED WORK
GINDACO × Dodgers
TDPDesign
Designed food wrapping paper and promotional visuals for the collaboration products, bringing the brand's world to life.
KADOYA
Supported tasting-menu development for the U.S. market, menu design, cost and ingredient documents, and presentations for buyer meetings.
Soma Suisan
For a pop-up in Honolulu, handled everything from banners, menu planning and ingredient sourcing to sales-flow design and on-site operations.
Aiya & TENKATORI
Supported banner and menu design, sales promotion and on-site operations.
TOKYO YAKISOBA
A Los Angeles-based food brand sharing Japan's street-food stall culture. Through events and catering, we have built hands-on experience from planning to on-site operations.
ALO
Provided corporate food catering as TOKYO YAKISOBA, helping create memorable food experiences.
Also
- Company 3Food truck catering for a film production company
- ColemanCatering for a location scout
- VolcomCatering
- MaxfieldCatering for an apparel company
- Newport Beach Film FestivalEvent vending
- Sushi & wagyu catering
- Yakiniku TamuraSales strategy, banners and menus, in-store merchandising
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does Tokyo Design Production do?
Tokyo Design Production (TDP) is a Los Angeles-based production company that helps Japanese food manufacturers, restaurant brands and businesses enter and grow in the U.S. market. We handle menu and product development, market research and test sales, branding, social media and PR, food festival vending, permits and on-site operations, all with one team from plan to execution.
Who do you work with?
Japanese food and beverage manufacturers, restaurant and food brands, and Japanese companies with U.S. subsidiaries. Past projects include GINDACO × Dodgers, KADOYA, Soma Suisan and Aiya & TENKATORI.
How much does it cost?
As a guide: Market Research & U.S. Entry from $10,000 per project, Full-Service Event Support from $6,000 per day ($12,000 for two days), Ongoing Business Support from $6,000 per month, and Annual Total Support from $40,000 per month. Event Sales Representation is quoted individually. Third-party costs are billed separately.
Can you handle permits and insurance for food events?
Yes. We support Temporary Food Permit, health and event permit applications and arrange certificates of insurance (COI), working with licensed local specialists where required.
Where do you operate?
We are based in Los Angeles and work mainly in Southern California. Ask us about projects in other U.S. regions.
CONTACT
Tell us about your brand
Email info@tokyodesign.pro or use the form. We reply in English or Japanese.