ビジネス日本語講座

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...

In Japan, exchanging business cards is more than just a polite introduction—it is a silent negotiation of status and identity. In this episode, I explore how Japanese salarymen use a single card to measure hierarchy: company size, job title, and organizational prestige. Drawing o...

In this episode, I explore a unique theme: “The Job Center for People Who Want to Boss Others Around.” Human desires take many forms—some want love, some want comfort, others pursue self-realization or wealth. But one common and rarely discussed desire is the urge to feel superio...

In this episode, I reflect on the contrast between city life and rural life through my own experiences and cultural references. Urban living offers the convenience of freedom and anonymity, but it also fosters isolation and a sense of disconnection. By contrast, rural communities...