Learning Japanese is one of the best things you can do to enrich your life and increase your chances of career success in Japan. However, learning a new language demands a significant amount of time. Factor in a busy career, social and family obligations, and hobbies, and it’s easy to leave language learning by the…
JR East Japan Station Work: Your Office on the Go
Although Japan’s population continues to decline, the same cannot be said about Tokyo. Despite the government’s best efforts, the nation’s economy is increasingly centralized in its sprawling capital city. This situation is palpable in Tokyo’s packed trains and cafes where an increasingly mobile workforce scrambles to find quiet spaces for Wi-Fi- and caffeine-fueled bouts of…
Small Talk across Cultures: Adjusting to Office Life in Tokyo
When I was in college, I worked at a video game store in one of the largest shopping malls in southern California. There I learned the ins and outs of the retail business: customer service, inventory routines, cash handling, sales, and much more. However, working in a mall was also a social experience, one that…
Kasia on How to Discover Your Purpose in Life and Help Others Do the Same
The Japanese concept of ikigai can be defined as one’s “reason for living” or “purpose in life.” Living in accordance to your ikigai results in a sense of fulfillment. Kasia, founder of Ikigai Connections, has taken this concept to heart and built a business that helps people all over the world live up to their…
Iwata-san: Learning about Life and Leadership in Japanese
One of the things I love about interviewing experts and business leaders is the opportunity to learn while I work. I get to hear their experiences, process their wisdom, and share it with anyone willing to read the final product. While I was working on a recent project, a Japanese startup founder recommended a book…
How to Optimize Classes, Textbooks, and Flash Cards to Become Fluent in Japanese
A few weeks ago, I was listening to a podcast about learning Japanese, and the host divided learners into two camps: those who use textbooks and those who don’t. I immediately thought, “Wait a second, what’s wrong with something in the middle—occasional textbook use?” The thought lingered with me long after the podcast was over,…
Shimanami Kaido: A Foolproof Guide to Enjoying Japan’s Cycling Sanctuary
Seventy kilometers, six scenic islands, six massive bridges, and two prefectures—all woven together by a single blue line. This is the Shimanami Kaido: Japan’s premier long-distance cycling route. There are countless articles and videos that cover this internationally popular tourist destination. It’s convenient to have so many resources, but when I was planning my own…
How to Express Your Individuality and Maintain Harmony in a Japanese Company
Foreign professionals in Japan often struggle to communicate new, diverse ideas and opinions to Japanese colleagues in a corporate world that prioritizes harmony and consensus. Modern Japanese companies that operate globally recognize the importance of employing a diverse workforce. However, according to a survey featured in the Nikkei Asian Review, few companies have been able…
Bringing Japan to America, One Company at a Time: An Interview with Tetsuo “Ted” Kumon
As an American consultant living and working in Japan, I’m always thrilled to meet professionals who are engaged in business between my birthplace and Japan, my adopted home. When I met Tetsuo “Ted” Kumon, a U.S. market-entry specialist, at a trade show several years ago, I was intrigued by his business. In an age where…
The 3 Most Useful Japanese Learning Apps on My Phone in 2020
I’ve been augmenting my Japanese studies with technology ever since I brought my trusty iPhone 3G from the States to Japan when I moved here in 2009. Taking the device overseas reduced it to nothing more than an overweight iPod Touch, but that was enough to start exploring the nascent Apple App Store. So, I…