Urushi (うるし 漆), Japanese Lacquer Wares
What is Urushi of Japan? Maki-e, Raden, Lacquer trees and their saps "Shikko" (漆工) is a genre of craft which uses sap from the Anacardiaceae family of trees. Lacquer trees mainly grow in South East Asian countries, and depending on the species of tree, there are three main different ingredients in their sap: urushiol, laccol […]
What is Mentaiko (Karashi Mentaiko)?
It is said that the opening of the Shinkansen or the bullet train service to Hakata or Fukuoka in Northern Kyushu, Japan was what made Karashi Mentaiko (spicy Alaska pollock roe), a local specialty of Hakata, well-known throughout the country of Japan. That is, the Shinkansen passengers having bought the Karashi Mentaiko sold as a […]
Japan in Einstein’s Eyes
By Masaomi Ise Japan has a lot of old sayings such as “Bushi wa kuwanedo takayoji (samurai are people who conspicuously use a toothpick even when they have not eaten)” that describes the samurai’s way of life in which they put honor and pride above everything else, and “Boro wa kitetemo kokoro wa nishiki (rags […]
How to Cut CO2 Emissions by 95% in Japan by electric cars
By Hiroshi Shimizu, professor of Keio University The 20th century, for the people of the nations that use a great deal of electricity, was a world of extreme comfort and convenience. But the end result has been the people of the 21st century facing grave environmental issues. The global warming crisis will not wait. The time is […]
Pros and Cons about Hosting the Olympics
By Ryoji Shimada Have you been to Tokyo before? What do you think of the cityscape of Tokyo? Don't you think it's beautifully maintained? Actually, the Olympics being held in Tokyo (as of July 28) has something to do with this. As was the case with the previous Olympics held in Tokyo in 1964, the […]
10 Secrets/Rules to Get Ahead and Promoted in a Japanese Company
Ryoji Shimada, staff writer As a non-Japanese, you might think, “I came to Japan as a temporary worker and was only planning to live here for a short time.” However, after living here in Japan, you found that it is safe, the city is clean, it is convenient, and there are many Japanese people who are kind and reserved. […]
Behind the Scenes at Ashikaga Flower Park, Impressing the World: The "Touching Junction" Drives People and Business Performance by Konami Tsukamoto
There is an arborist who has successfully revived a botanical garden that had been suffering from slow growth in visitors and financial difficulties. She is Konami Tsukamoto, president of the Hamamatsu Flower Park. She became the first female arborist in Japan, and while gaining experience as a professional who listens to the voice of trees, […]
Strengths and Weaknesses of Japanese Companies
Strengths: Continuing to do the right thing Japanese people are very good at continuing to do things in a steady manner. If you continue to do the wrong thing, you will not succeed, but there are many companies in Japan that continue to do the right thing, even if only little by little, on a […]
Work In Japan: The Wisdom Born from Your Sweat and Labor Is the True Wisdom
The Wisdom Born from Your Sweat and Labor Is the True Wisdom There are many job opportunities available for foreigners in Japan. From IT-related jobs to manual labor jobs at construction sites, there is a wide variety of work available. No matter what kind of work you do, you need to be prepared to work […]