About Japanese companies and Japanese business people
Old Clothes Business in Japan

Japan's Second-hand Clothes Business Just 2,000 yen for 9 kg! This is not a meat sales counter. It is the result of an event where you stuff in as much as you can. What can you take as much of as you can stuff in? Is it fruit? Is it vegetables? No, the answer is […]

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
Gogo no Kocha (Afternoon Tea) and Its History

Gogo no Kocha (Go Go Tea) and Its History Developed as a richly aromatic black tea that could be enjoyed by adults, Gogo no Kocha (Afternoon Tea) is widely adopted as the tea beverage of choice.  Since it first went on sale, Gogo no Kocha has continued to evolve through comprehensive marketing activities that go […]

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
What is "Kamaboko"? Explaining its history and its typical manufacturer, Suzuhiro

What is Kamaboko?  Blessed with abundant fish in Sagami Bay and water from the Hakone mountains, it is said that kamaboko (fish cake) was already being made in Odawara around 1558, which was an important commercial and transport site at that time.  This kamaboko later became the perfected Odawara kamaboko that we have today.  While […]

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
Tomica's History, Japanese car toy

Tomica Minicar Appearing in 1970, Tomica greeted its 50th anniversary in 2020.  The exquisitely-detailed, reasonably-priced, palm-sized Tomica minicars have been a long seller endeared by three generations of people with many of them being enthusiastic fans.  With a total of more than 538 million minicars already sold, Tomica has been fascinating both children and adults alike.  So, […]

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
LULU, the most famous cold medicine in Japan

LULU Most people in Japan think of LULU when they hear the words household remedy. For nearly 60 years after it first went on sale in 1951, LULU has been enjoyed by the Japanese as a familiar cold remedy. Besides its effectiveness, LULU was also created taking user-friendliness and packaging into account. LULU tablets were thus sugar-coated […]

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About Japanese companies and Japanese business people
What do you do to relieve stress at work?

Stress related to work is common in all countries. Japan is said to be particularly stressful at work. What are the ways to relieve stress in Japan? I think it's different between women and men, so let's see the answers of women this time. What do you do to relieve stress at work? 1. Eat […]

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
Marushin Hamburger

Marushin Hamburger and Its History Marushin Hamburger that is well known for its TV commercial jingle “Ma~rushin, Ma~rushin Hanbāgu (Hamburger)” went on sale in the 1960s at a time when a food called hamburger was not yet familiar to the Japanese people.  This product enabled real hamburger to be easily enjoyed simply by taking it out […]

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About Japanese companies and Japanese business people
What is Japanese people’s attitude toward work?

1. I can get something other than money. (2) 2. I have misgivings about the future of my work. (1) 3. I want to keep the same job for a long time. (5) 4. I am looking for a job that suits me or one I enjoy. (3) 5. I want to experience various kinds […]

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Work in Japan: Japan Biz Cultural Words
Cup Noodle and Its History, the first instant noodle in the world

Cup Noodle's History The product introduced here is Nissin Food Products’ Cup Noodle, the world’s first cup noodle.  Fittingly, this year celebrates the 110th birthday of Momofuku Ando, the father of cup noodles.  To commemorate the 110th birthday of the great inventor is the history of its developments about Cup Noodle. It helps when you’re busy. […]

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About Japanese companies and Japanese business people
Japanese Sense of Humor on Business

Japanese Sense of Humor on Business Suzuki, one of my Japanese clients, was making an emergency visit to his company’s US subsidiary. Something had gone very wrong with one of their suppliers, and there were two days of meetings to discuss possible solutions. “I get so frustrated when the Americans start joking around. This is […]

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