Product Localization - usually a minimum of some form of translation is required, even if it's just translating the packaging. Get a trusted local to guide you through this and don't expect your local partner to carry this whole burden For an Internet business, there are some additional considerations. For a dot com, the information structure already exists in the form of the Internet but within that structure different forms of ecommerce have different needs. Vendors who sell services or digital products must have all the local infrastructure for payments and those who ship physical products must also go through a tangle of local tax and regulatory laws plus the intricacies of local supply chains. Getting paid can also be a challenge.
Japan has a payment acceptance service for products and services purchased from Web merchants.
With different countries having their own customs and bill paying habits, it's critical to investigate the entire payment infrastructure before your market launch in a particular country. Partnering on the Net is easier in many ways than in the real world. First, many large multi-nationals are willing to partner with smaller niche players. Their reputations are established and important to them. Their infrastructure is in place, all transactions are computerized, tracked and audited, so you'll probably get a fair deal, if not a lot of warm, personal contact.