Why Presenters in Japan Struggle With Too Many Slides — And How to Build a High-Impact, Story-Driven Presentation

I am a self-confessed hoarder—not just with possessions, but with presentation materials. After 548 public speeches, I’ve built a vast personal library of images, charts, frameworks, and data. Like many presenters in 日本企業 and 外資系企業, I often reuse slides and plunder older decks for valuable content.

The problem?
An obsession with “more data” makes it harder—not easier—to craft a compelling message.

We fall in love with:

• Rich research

• Impressive numbers

• Striking visuals

And suddenly our slides multiply. The sea of content becomes overwhelming, and the pruning process becomes painful.

Mini-Summary:
Slide hoarding leads to bloated presentations that confuse rather than persuade.

Good intentions are the culprit.
We want to provide “maximum value” to our audience, so removing slides feels like throwing away precious assets.

But the reality is harsh:

• Too many slides → Not enough time

• Too much data → No emotional connection

• Too many visuals → No clear message

And nothing destroys credibility faster than the classic mistake:

Racing through the last 20 slides because the presenter mismanaged time.

Audiences feel:

• Cheated

• Rushed

• Disrespected

And your professional brand suffers.

Mini-Summary:
Cutting slides hurts, but not cutting them hurts your reputation far more.

Ironically, presenters spend hours perfecting their slides—but almost no time rehearsing.

If we stopped and practiced, we’d quickly discover how unrealistic our plan is.

My TED Talk is a perfect example.
I originally built eight chapters—but rehearsal showed I only had time for seven.
Keeping everything would have forced me to rush, which is suicidal for a TED Talk watched globally… forever.

Rehearsal is the quickest and most reliable way to determine:

• What fits

• What must be cut

• What deserves more time

• What visuals are unnecessary

Mini-Summary:
Without rehearsal, overloading your deck is almost guaranteed.

Presenters often believe that “more data = more value.”
But slide after slide of:

• Bar charts

• Line graphs

• Pie charts

• Trend analyses

…creates boredom, not engagement.

Audiences don’t remember tsunamis of numbers.
They remember meaning.

That’s why storytelling is essential. Even a simple number becomes memorable when wrapped in narrative.

Example: Voice of Customer Scores

A 72% score may seem unremarkable… until we explain that:

• Japanese consumers consistently score lower than global averages

• Luxury brands discovered they needed to adjust Japanese survey results upward by as much as 30%

• That 72% score therefore represents roughly 93.6%, aligning closely with global satisfaction levels

Data alone is forgettable.
Data + story = unforgettable.

Mini-Summary:
Numbers inform. Stories persuade.

Instead of building a “power collection of slides,” ask:

“Which slides enable powerful storytelling?”

Focus your time on:

• Slides that support a narrative

• Data points that come with memorable explanations

• Visuals that deepen understanding—not clutter it

• Elements that reinforce your personal and professional brand

And always rehearse to:

• Check timing

• Validate flow

• Identify weak visuals

• Protect your delivery from being rushed

Mini-Summary:
Keep only the slides that enhance storytelling and reinforce your message.

When you cut unnecessary slides, rehearse properly, and integrate storytelling, your presence becomes stronger:

• You appear more confident

• Your message becomes clearer

• The audience connects more deeply

• Your professionalism stands out

• Your brand grows stronger

This is the foundation of Dale Carnegie’s 100+ years of global communication training and over 60 years of support for Tokyo’s business community:
clarity, confidence, and human connection.

Mini-Summary:
Less clutter = more presence. Fewer slides = greater impact.

• Hoarding slides leads to overstuffed, unfocused presentations.

• Cutting slides is essential for time control and brand protection.

• Rehearsal is the only reliable method to determine what truly fits.

• Data becomes persuasive only when paired with memorable storytelling.

• The best presentations highlight the presenter—not the deck.

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.