Frequently Asked Questions

Makana Partners is a boutique executive search and talent advisory firm based in Yokohama, Japan, specializing in senior and executive leadership placements across Japan and Asia. Founded by Yan Sen Lu and partnered with Horton International since 2022, we connect high-growth companies with bilingual, globally-minded leaders across the C-suite and specialist functions. ‘Makana’ is the Hawaiian word for ‘gift’ — reflecting our belief that every client, candidate, and opportunity is a gift, treated with care and integrity.

Our consultants have between 10 to 15 years of recruitment experience. They are able to walk you through the intricacies of recruiting professionals across various niches and can advise on how to mitigate challenges in finding talent in Japan. Over the years, they have built extensive networks that are not easily accessible through direct sourcing. As a boutique search firm, we have very few hands-off clients, allowing us to have maximum reach. Unlike other search firms that work on many searches concurrently, we focus on only a handful of searches at any one time to ensure we dedicate the proper resources to achieve results.

Recruitment consultancies add value by sourcing professionals whose experience and qualifications best match a company’s staffing needs. At Makana Partners, we specialize in permanent recruitment across all professional industries at the senior-executive level, taking a consultative, non-prescriptive approach to introduce bilingual professionals relevant to companies competing in Japan and the global market.

We charge a hiring organization only after the successful placement of a candidate in the case of a contingent search, or through installments in the case of a retained search. While terms vary between industries and functions, our fee structure is highly competitive with market rates.

Contingent search compensates the recruiter only upon successfully placing a candidate—often non-exclusive and rapid, typically for lower-to-mid-level roles. Retained search involves an upfront fee for a more exclusive, thorough process, generally for higher-level or executive roles, with payment made irrespective of outcome—guaranteeing a dedicated, comprehensive search.

We identify the highest-quality bilingual, globally-minded candidates at the senior-to-executive level. With access to some of the largest databases in the world—plus our consultants’ networks—we have effectively unlimited reach. The majority of professionals in our database possess business-level English fluency.

Contact us today. One of our recruitment specialists will reach out to tailor a solution to best fit your unique staffing needs.

Our mission is to identify the best talent in the market. Through consistent research and relationship-building, we expand our network to connect clients—from successful startups to multinationals—with exceptional individuals. If you heard from us, we’re interested in learning more about you and how we can support your career aspirations.

If you have previously met one of our consultants, your information is stored in our database. We also research publicly available information and rely on referrals from professionals in your industry to identify outstanding talent.

Our goal is to share valuable information about your profession and industry—helping you understand your market value and available opportunities. From career counseling to resume reviews and interview preparation, we support you at every step.

Many professionals we connect with aren’t actively searching. We aim to build long-term relationships and provide valuable insight—helping you make the perfect move whether that’s soon or years from now. We won’t spam you with irrelevant opportunities.

None. There are no hidden costs or obligations for candidates. All our offerings—including career consulting and application support—are completely free of charge.