Thought Leadership

Episode #194: Leaders Who Can't Listen

Why Do Strong, Driven Leaders Struggle to Listen? Dynamic, powerful, and result-driven leaders are often the e...

Episode #195: Japanese Leaders Needed Now

Why is it so hard for talented people to rise in Japanese companies? In Japan, career advancement often depend...

Episode #196: Hey Boss, Teach Your Japanese Staff How To Relax

Why Did Japan Launch the Premium Friday Campaign? Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), toge...

Episode #197: Positive Mindset For Leaders

From the moment we wake up, our minds are flooded with digital noise — emails, notifications, and breaking new...

DEI in Japan — Substance or Symbol? Why Companies Must Go Beyond Appearances

Across industries, consultants are busy selling the next “big thing.” Today, that happens to be DEI. While its...

Episode #198: Bad Business Battlefield Promotions

In both military and business contexts, the middle layer of leadership often collapses under pressure. In war,...

Episode #199: Big Brother Japan Inc Style

In many 日本企業 (Japanese companies), a deep-seated fear of failure holds back creativity and innovation. A retir...

Start the Year Strong: Leadership Reflection for a Better 12 Months Ahead

The change of year — whether January or April — offers more than a calendar reset. It’s an invitation to pause...

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...