Japan's Rice Innovation: Prewash Rice (musenmai)
Drycleaning Rice: The Toyo Rice Center process retains flavor and nutrition The idea of washing rice may be alien to Western people who are used to getting rice out of a box. But in fact, from India to Korea, it is a pan-Asian practice. Rice grown and packaged in America go through a cleaning process […]
A Revolutionary in the Intercity Bus Industry: Japan’s Express Bus Industry
At the lounge one might find powder rooms, dressing rooms, resting rooms and even shower rooms. Internet connections are free, as are various drinks including nourishing miso (soy bean paste) soup. You can check in your luggage and sleep or watch your favorite movies…What is this business? A hotel? An airline? Indeed, its president has […]
The Magic of Leaves: Business of Selling Leaves in Japan
The producer who gave purpose in life and independence to senior citizens, and vibrancy to a depopulated area Even after turning 100 years of age, if people can find “the joy of having a role,” new flowers will continue to bloom throughout their lives. Once senior citizens understand that there are things that even […]
Impressions about Japan and Japanese People
Source: Dentsu Inc. survey of 9,212 valid respondents, ages 20-59, in the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, India, U.K., France, Germany, Russia, USA, Canada and Australia. In July of this year, the Dentsu ad agency released the results of its survey on “Japan Branding,” conducted in 16 foreign countries […]
How to Get Your Ideas Heard in Japanese Style Decision Making
How to Get Your Ideas Heard in Japanese Style Decision Making Getting Japanese companies to embrace new ideas takes a bit of work. What should you do when you are a foreigner working in a Japanese company? By P. Pringle An Opportunity Too Good To Pass up This is an example of navigating the Japanese […]
Making Made-in-Japan Porcelain: Noritake
As 66% of the land in Japan is covered by forest (mori in Japanese), Japan may rightly be called the foremost “forest country” among the world’s developed nations. Indeed, such forests even exist within Japan’s major cities. “Noritake no Mori (Noritake Garden)” is approximately 15 minutes by foot from JR Nagoya station. Covering an extensive […]
Spirit of the SAMURAI in Japan: Through the Blue-eyed Karate Student
Japan is home to many world-famous martial arts. Sumo, Karate, Judo, Kendo, Aikido ... and the Ninjas have a martial art called Ninpo, which is necessary for assassins. The common denominator of all these is the relationship between master and student. This way of doing things and thinking can be found in many Japanese companies. […]
Japanese Common Business Practice: "Nemawashi"
By P. Pringle A CEO’s Complaint A couple of years ago, I met the promising new American CEO of a Japan-related company. He is a talented, fast-track executive who is successful in the industry. When I met him, he was very frustrated. He complained about all this “noise” coming from Japan. He said that various […]