Various information about Japanese companies, Japanese corporate culture, Japanese business people's thinking, etc.
Characteristics of the Japanese: Strengths and Weaknesses
By Ryoji Shimada, staff writer It is said that Japanese people are diligent, and I think that has not changed. If you ask a Japanese person or perhaps a foreigner what the characteristics of the Japanese are, the answer will probably be the same :diligence. Diligence is a good characteristic, not a bad one. So […]
Understanding "Rongo to Soroban" in English by Eiichi Shibusawa
Not only as a business person but as the father of capitalism in Japan If I were to ask you who you know as a Japanese businessman, who would you name? You might name Masayoshi Son of Softbank, Kazuo Inamori of Kyocera, Konosuke Matsushita of Panasonic, or Tadashi Yanai of Uniqlo. But as of 2021, […]
Japan's Elderly Care Business Using Technology
Using Technology for Japan's Elderly Care Business By Ryoji Shimada, staff writer Japan Moving Toward Promoting Nursing Robots for Elderly In rapidly aging Japan, efforts are accelerating to make more practical and affordable robots for helping the elderly perform daily tasks to cope with a projected future shortage of caregivers. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government […]
5S in the Japanese Workplace (5)—Shitsuke: Sustaining through Discipline
5S in the Japanese Workplace (5)—Shitsuke: Sustaining through Discipline The final "S" in the 5S series looks at Shitsuke (sustaining). In a nutshell, it means keeping the previously introduced 4S as your daily routine. Shitsuke (しつけ or 躾) Shitsuke is usually written with Japanese hiragana syllables rather than the kanji characters derived from Chinese. The […]
Japanese Food Going International: Sushi, Ramen, etc.
(The photo is Osechi Ryori*: Japanese New Year Feast) Japanese Food Going International: Sushi, Ramen, etc. The world as it concerns food in the 21st century is an extraordinary spectacle. On the one hand are the famine and food shortages among developing nations, on the other is gluttony and obesity. Heightened global interest in Japanese food […]
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 […]
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 […]