Episode #80: Mr. Nakatani And The Gold Plated Room

Why do so many professionals in Japan still avoid powerful presentations?

Many leaders in 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (foreign multinational companies) in 東京 (Tokyo) tell us:
“We are shy.”
“Japanese is monotone.”
“We don’t know what to do with our hands.”

This story from a snowy day in Ishikawa shows that these are not real limits — they are excuses. A young presenter, Mr. Nakatani, quietly proves that anyone in Japan can reach a global gold standard of presentation skills with the right approach and practice.

Mini-summary: The “Japanese can’t present” idea is a myth; one real presenter in rural Japan proves it wrong.

In a small gold shop near Yamashiro Hot Spring, a tour group sat in front of a full gold replica of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s tea ceremony room.
There, a young presenter named Mr. Nakatani spoke only in Japanese — but his delivery was world class:

• He changed his energy and passion to match his message.

• He used vocal variety: sometimes fast, sometimes slow and deliberate.

• He used natural gestures, linked to his words, not fake or forced.

• He watched the audience “like a hawk”, reading reactions in real time.

• He added simple humor and told clear stories about the gold artisans.

• He made direct eye contact, not eyes fixed on notes or the floor.

He said he had no formal training. He improved simply by presenting to many tour groups again and again.

Mini-summary: His success came from vocal variety, gestures, stories, humor, eye contact, and constant practice — not from native language or culture.

Many participants in our プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation skills training) worry at first:

• “We should look at the Adam’s apple, not the eyes.”

• “Japanese is monotone; we cannot use vocal variety.”

• “We don’t know what to do with our hands, so we hide them.”

But Mr. Nakatani’s example shows:

• Eye contact is a choice, not a cultural prison.

• Vocal variety exists in Japanese; people use it naturally when excited.

• Gestures can be learned and made natural with practice.

At Dale Carnegie Tokyo, we help both 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (foreign multinational companies) change these beliefs. We show that when you are “on stage,” your job is not just to talk — it is to persuade, engage, and move people to action.

Mini-summary: Culture is not a barrier; mindset is. Professionals in Japan can learn global-level presentation skills.

How can leaders in Japan build a “gold standard” presentation culture?

Leaders who want stronger communication in their teams can take clear steps:

• Treat every presentation as a chance to influence, not a task to survive.

• Train managers in リーダーシップ研修 (leadership training) and プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation skills training), not only in technical skills.

• Encourage staff to volunteer for presentations instead of avoiding them.

• Give feedback on voice, gestures, eye contact, and story structure, not just on content.

• Use エグゼクティブ・コーチング (executive coaching) to help senior leaders model the right behavior.

When leaders commit to this, excuses disappear. If one young presenter in snowy Ishikawa can “work it out” alone, then professionals in Tokyo and across Japan can certainly do it with structured training and coaching.

Mini-summary: Leaders must set expectations, provide training, and model persuasive communication so that presentation excellence becomes normal.

How does Dale Carnegie Tokyo support Japanese and multinational companies?

Dale Carnegie has been helping professionals communicate with confidence for over 100 years worldwide and over 60 years in Tokyo. We support:

• 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (foreign multinational companies) in 東京 (Tokyo)

• リーダーシップ研修 (leadership training) for managers and executives

• 営業研修 (sales training) that builds trust and drives results

• プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation skills training) to create high-impact speakers

• エグゼクティブ・コーチング (executive coaching) to raise top-level performance

• DEI研修 (DEI training) to support inclusive, global-ready cultures

Our goal: help leaders and teams move from “we can’t” to “we can — and we will.”

Mini-summary: Dale Carnegie Tokyo provides proven programs that turn communication excuses into real executive-level skills.

• The idea that “Japanese people cannot present” is an excuse, not a fact.

• Strong presentations come from vocal variety, gestures, stories, eye contact, and practice, even in Japanese.

• Leaders should push themselves and their teams to speak more often in public, not less.

• Dale Carnegie Tokyo helps 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (foreign multinational companies) build a gold standard of communication through leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI programs.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, has been empowering both Japanese and multinational corporate clients ever since.