Staple-free Stapler in Japan
With the ongoing campaign to sort waste for more efficient recycling --- as well as wider utilization of paper shredders --- more people are opting not to use metal stables when fastening sheets of paper. Now “Harinacs” from stationery maker KOKUYO has introduced a new system that enables neat fastening of papers using the paper […]
Garigari-kun Ice Cream and Its History
Garigari-kun Ice Cream and Its History Garigari Kun is the ideal ice pop for hot summer days. Its “You win, get one free” fun system, unforgettable cropped-haired character, and commercial song are well known. Shaved ice that children could eat in one hand was the concept behind the development of Garigari Kun. It has now […]
Office Etiquette for Eating and Drinking
Office Etiquette for Eating and Drinking One of the etiquette in Japanese offices is drinks and food. Can we eat and drink at work in Japan? The answer is not general. Each company has its own culture. Most companies allow you to drink on the job. Some foods are not good. Some places don't permit […]
What do you do on a commuter train?
The coronavirus has led to a culture of telecommuting, but now that the virus has stopped spreading, people are starting to go to work again. It is not unusual for people living in the suburbs of Tokyo to spend an hour each way to work. So what are they doing on the train? Read a […]
What do you worry about most when thinking about nursing your elderly parents?
Psychological burden Physical burden Elderly care service fees Finding a good elderly care facility Not knowing much about elderly care Having to consult with strangers about the care Administrative procedures The potential negative effects on my own career or job Reputation of my family Others Source: HUMA CORP. (Conducted among Japanese of all ages)
What is Monjayaki?
Monjayaki and Its History Monjayaki a Specialty of Tokyo’s Shitamachi Has Its Roots in Monjiyaki Monjayaki is mostly eaten in the Kanto region where Tokyo is situated. Of the monjayaki, the most well known is probably the monjayaki in the Tsukishima district of Tokyo’s shitamachi (traditional shopping and entertaining district). (See its official Tsukishima Monja […]
Japan’s Newly Made Innovative Products
Move It! “Hakobunder,” an eco-friendly Cycle Trailer from Aichi Prefecture-based Belair Systems, features a gutterless joint (patent applied for) designed to attach to the seat post of most bicycles. The noise-free joint has been specially designed to guard against lateral tipping over. The manufacturer foresees such applications as transporting waste for discarding, working home vegetable […]
Only Fast-food Chain in Okinawa
A&W Root Beer, the venerable American fast food chain, only operates in Japan’s southernmost prefecture, Okinawa. I suppose the main reason is because of the large concentration of U.S. military on the island. Unlike the paper cups used by other fast food chains, the root beer (which contains no alcohol) consumed on the premises is […]
The Principles of Cheap, Good, and Fast for Business Success
The Principles of Cheap, Good, and Fast for Business Success Many stores are closed due to the new coronavirus, but services essential to daily life are still running. Not only supermarkets and convenience stores but also barbershops are one of them. Recently, there are more places where you can cut your hair at around 1,000 […]
How can we make the sale in Japan?
How can we make the sale in Japan? By Ryoji Shimada “Cold calling is not standard in Japan” Some non-Japanese people ask “What I really want to know is how to do cold calling with the Japanese. I want to know how to call up and make the pitch for a sale.” In my experience, […]