ビジネス日本語講座

In this episode, I discuss the hidden expiration date of being “cool.” Quietness can be seen as attractive when we are young, often mistaken for confidence, depth, or mystery. But as we grow older, the same silence can quickly turn into a weakness. What once looked cool may start...

In this episode, I examine the growing issue of unpaid medical bills by foreign visitors in Japan—not from an emotional or nationalist perspective, but from the standpoint of institutional design. Most foreigners follow the rules, yet Japan’s healthcare system, built on the assum...

In Japanese manufacturing and construction industries, knowledge is often used not to solve problems, but to dominate conversations. This episode explores the phenomenon of “knowledge mounting” — people who flaunt expertise to assert superiority rather than create value. Drawing ...

In Japanese corporations, communication is often evaluated not by logic or substance, but by volume, speed, and physical presence. This episode explores why loud voices are mistaken for competence, authority, and leadership in corporate settings. Using real workplace observations...

In many Japanese corporations, senior executives clearly understand organizational dysfunction, structural contradictions, and employee exhaustion. Yet they rarely speak openly—inside or outside the company. This episode explores why silence is not ignorance or weakness, but a ra...

In this episode, I examine why golf in Japanese corporate culture is not simply a form of casual communication. Using the historical concept of the fumie—a test of obedience rather than belief—I argue that corporate golf functions as a loyalty test. What is really being measured ...

In this episode, I examine why introverted people often feel disadvantaged in modern society. This is not a criticism of introversion itself, but an analysis of social structures that reward extroverted behavior. I discuss how phrases like “you don’t need to change” can offer sho...

In this episode, I explore the idea that modern life is filled with subtle performances—at work, at home, and online. Using the example of a YouTube short where a man “acts” as a shut-in, I discuss how viewers can sense when a role doesn’t match reality. The real issue is not whe...

This episode explores the unique psychology of approval inside Japanese factories—closed worlds where workers validate one another through shared routines, unspoken rules, and inherited craftsmanship. Drawing from my own experience in manufacturing sales, I reveal how internal pr...

Why do people boast? And why does bragging sometimes annoy us, yet other times bring us closer? In this episode, I look back on my years working in sales across Southeast Asia and share what I learned about bragging, ego, and the deep human need for recognition. I talk about cust...

In this episode, we talk about the curious style of “humble bragging” — when someone pretends to put themselves down, but the story somehow ends as a self-praise. Why does it make us uncomfortable? Why does it feel cunning rather than charming? We explore examples, the psychology...

In this episode, I discuss the tension between free-spirited individuals and traditional corporate culture in Japan. Companies value loyalty, sacrifice, and obedience more than personal freedom — especially when it comes to overseas assignments. A worker may enjoy a luxurious exp...