Thought Leadership

When Titles Fail: Japan’s Elite Officials and the Collapse of Public Speaking Power

Japan’s bureaucratic and diplomatic elite rise through rigorous exams, elite schools, and endless hours of ser...

Episode #200: Fear And Loathing In Japan

A recent Spa magazine survey of 1,140 full-time Japanese male employees in their 40s revealed deep frustration...

Episode #201: How To Resolve Internal Conflicts

In today’s hyper-connected, always-on business landscape, technology has made communication instant—but not al...

Episode #202: Productivity Not Immigration

During the economic “bubble years,” Japan’s rapid growth created a massive demand for workers in the so-called...

Western Leadership Meets Japan — Why Meritocracy Fails Without Cultural Adaptation

In the West, leadership is a meritocracy. The most talented, ambitious, and hard-working rise to the top and a...

Why Change in Japan Is So Hard — And How to Overcome It

Whether you’re a new supplier, a global executive expanding operations, or a leadership coach introducing a ne...

Episode #203: Leaders Need To Skate To Where The Puck Will Be

In both ice hockey and business, success depends on anticipation. Wayne Gretzky famously said he skated “to wh...

Episode #204: Sontaku -The Secret Sauce For Leaders In Japan

How can Japanese leaders prepare for a future where human capital is scarce and employee expectations have evo...

Episode #205: Tatemae, Honne and The Gaijin Boss

Many Western executives arrive in Japan confident in their leadership skills, only to find themselves disorien...

Episode #206: Japan Still Scared Of Its Own Shadow

Despite being the world’s third-largest economy, Japan continues to underperform on the global stage. This con...

Episode #207: Where Is My Praise

A recent SPA! Magazine Japan survey of 1,140 full-time male employees in their 40s revealed the top frustratio...

Episode #208: A Soft Skills Revolution Required

A Spa magazine survey of 1,140 full-time male employees in their 40s revealed Japan’s chronic workplace dissat...

Episode #209: How To Resolve Internal Conflicts

Business is evolving faster than ever before. With powerful technology in our hands 24/7, we live in an always...

Episode #210: International Japanese Staff Armageddon

Japan’s supply of internationally experienced, English-speaking staff has been shrinking for years. After peak...

Episode #211: Twelve Steps To A Win-Win Conflict Resolution Part One

Why do internal conflicts drain productivity and damage team morale in Japanese and multinational companies al...

Episode #212: Twelve Steps To A Win-Win Conflict Resolution Part Two

Why do even high-performing teams in Japanese and multinational companies struggle with internal conflict?When...

Episode #213: End Your Fear Of Failure

Even accomplished executives often carry a quiet, persistent fear — the fear of failure, of losing everything,...

Episode #214: The Fog Of Busyness

In today’s hyper-connected world, leaders face an overwhelming flood of information and demands. The speed of ...

Episode #215: Customer Service

Every interaction between a company and its customers — whether online, through a chatbot, or face-to-face in ...

Episode #216 The Olympics' Generation

How will Japan’s next generation reshape the workforce? Business leaders are about to face the greatest shift ...