ビジネス日本語講座

In this episode, I explore why people are drawn to unreasonable, stubborn craftsmen in an age ruled by AI’s perfect efficiency. Machines are polite, logical, and tireless—but they lack a soul. We humans sometimes crave friction: to be challenged, even scolded, by someone who trul...

In this episode, I explore why Japanese society makes it difficult to feel truly free. From postwar reconstruction to today’s hyper-organized culture, Japan has built a system of invisible control—not through laws, but through “air,” the pressure to conform and avoid standing out...

In this episode, I reflect on Japan’s love of saunas and the popular phrase “totonou”—to “get aligned” or “feel refreshed.” While harmless and pleasant, I see in this idea a symbol of Japan’s preference for safe, conflict-free topics and emotional neutrality. Talking about saunas...

In this episode, I discuss why you should never tell your boss or coworkers that you want to quit your job. Many employees, feeling anxious or uncertain, seek advice inside the company—but this is often a trap. Most colleagues and managers speak only from a salaryman’s perspectiv...

In this episode, I explore the “favorite dishes” and “strange delicacies” of Japanese salaryman language. One common favorite is the phrase saiteki-kai (“optimal solution”), used so casually in meetings that it feels like handing out rice balls—filling but uninspiring. Then come ...

In this episode, I ask whether Japan’s stubborn “shokunin” spirit can truly succeed in overseas workplaces. Japan’s manufacturing excellence has long been admired, but when proud, uncompromising engineers are sent abroad, their attitudes sometimes clash with local staff and cultu...

In this episode, I reflect on a deep issue I have observed in Japanese companies: many executives seem to have lost the ability to truly trust their employees. Drawing on my own background in sales, I share how freedom once allowed workers to grow, while today’s environment of GP...

In this episode, I explore the hidden meaning behind the Japanese slang “shimerareru” (to be subdued) and connect it to a universal human tendency: relying on external authority to impose power. Starting from delinquent street talk, I expand the discussion to Japanese history und...

In this episode, I explore why the phrase “communication skills” often makes me feel uncomfortable, even to the point of dislike. In Japan, from job interviews to workplace evaluations, communication ability is treated as a universal virtue. Yet much of what is praised as “skill”...

In this episode, I reflect on the value of living without constantly seeking rewards. Modern society often measures every action by efficiency, goals, or profit, but such thinking can make life feel narrow. Through examples from language learning, exercise, workplace relationship...

In this episode, I explore Japan’s cultural resistance to side jobs, focusing on the expression “wearing two pairs of waraji”—a metaphor for taking on more than one role. I share my own experience working in Bangkok, where a company strictly prohibited outside work, and reflect o...

In this episode, I reflect on the subtle “scent” people give off when they have not fully let go of a dream. It is not a physical smell, but an aura that reveals hidden frustrations, unfulfilled ambitions, or lingering hopes. I share my experience working in Bangkok with colleagu...