Cross-Cultural Service Design & Multi-language Strategy

Okinawa Times feature on Rodney Little
Featured in Okinawa Times as a leader bridging Japanese and global markets.

Creative Direction & Localization Leadership

During my tenure at Lideli Corp in Okinawa, I transitioned from the Chief of the Multi-language Communication Center to Creative Director. I led the end-to-end service design for Japanese municipalities and corporations looking to bridge the gap between local offerings and international tourists.

Leading a multicultural team of native English, Chinese, and Korean speakers, I was responsible for the localization of complex enterprise systems and tourism portals. Our hallmark project was the Naha Tourism Board portal, where I oversaw the redesign and redevelopment of the UI to ensure global usability while preserving local cultural nuances.

The Strategic Vision

The objective was to transform "translation" into a holistic service model. I managed everything from monthly executive briefings in Japanese to technical alliances with firms like Cross Language (Tokyo), establishing a scalable network for real-time multilingual response.

Expertise Applied:

  • UX Strategy
  • Creative Direction
  • Information Architecture
  • Localization & Interpretation
  • UI Development Support
  • Multicultural Team Leadership

The Strategic Approach:

  1. Business Model Development: Created a collaborative network of home-based translation teams, using automated systems verified by native linguists.
  2. Municipal Collaboration: Partnered with the Naha City Tourism Association to overhaul their multi-language digital presence across English, Chinese, and Korean markets.
  3. Executive Communication: Conducted all reporting and strategy presentations in Japanese for company executives and external stakeholders.
  4. Service Expansion: Integrated advanced IT solutions, such as vein authentication systems for the Chinese market and medical tourism proposals for local clinics.
Strategic Proof: Executive Minutes

Snippet from a 2011 strategy meeting held entirely in Japanese.

6月総括 (June Summary):

・多言語の引継ぎ (ラドニーが製作に移動)

・那覇市観光協会の那覇ナビ多言語化事業

・株式会社スピークライクとの事業提携 (ラドニーが担当)

Verified management of technical alliances (SpeakLike) and regional digital products within a native Japanese corporate environment.

Impact & Results:

Our work successfully lowered the barrier for Okinawan businesses to enter international markets. By creating a centralized "Communication Center," we allowed hotels, retailers, and government bodies to respond to global inquiries in real-time without investing in massive internal infrastructure.

Operational Success

Reduced localization costs for local businesses while increasing the accuracy and reach of Japanese tourism content across 4 languages.

Cultural Proof

Recognized by major media (Ryukyu Shimpo, Okinawa Times) as a key bridge for Okinawan internationalization.

Strategic Takeaway:

This role solidified my ability to "uncover and tell stories" across cultures. It proved that successful UX in the Japanese market requires more than just language—it requires an intimate understanding of Japanese business culture and user expectations.