November 2020– date –
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You Can Hear the Sound of Silence in Hokkaido in Winter
【Funny Japanglish by the Prime Minister】 In 2000, the then Japanese Prime Minister wanted to make greetings in English at the first summit meeting with President Clinton. He tried to cram the following exchange of basic phrases: "How a... -
Where Is “Home”? A Journey from the Soul to the Shovel
If you think "the Earth is your home," you've clearly never dug a car out of a Hokkaido blizzard in Tokyo-style sneakers. Explore the deep, humble definition of home through the lens of Pico Iyer and a very cold business traveler. -
Myths About Efficiency and Rationalization You Probably Still Believe
【All the cities become similar to each other】 Before the COVID, I traveled around the world. When it was best in efficiency but worst in working environment, I visited five countries in a week. Such hasty trips got me disoriented. For ... -
Do You Know Zappos? A Great Lesson Learned from Their Business
【The customer-obsession policy of Zappos creates many loyal customers】 The other day, right after passing through the cashier of a supermarket, a pack of eggs slipped from my shopping basket and fell to the floor. In that moment, every... -
The Truth of Consumer Behavior: Love It or Not Rather Than Good or Bad
【MBA frameworks are no longer sufficient】 AIDMA, PDCA, SWOT, PEST, 3C, 4P, STP, KGI, KPI, etc. I was so excited when learning these business frameworks in an MBA course more than 10 years ago. I naively believed I had gotten a key to t... -
The Beautiful Illusion: Why Our Eyes are Wired to Change
In Japan, we say you’ll get used to an "ugly" face in three days. Join me as I explore why my friend’s movie-star girlfriend wasn't what I expected, the cynical wisdom of Japanese proverbs, and how CondeHouse convinced the world that a knot in a piece of wood is more beautiful than a perfect surface. -
The Heritage of Trust: Why “Made in Japan” is a Time Machine
In 1955, Doc Brown thought Japanese tech was a joke. By 1985, it was the best in the world. As Tesla overtakes Toyota, join me as I reflect on the hard-won legacy of "Made in Japan," the emotional history of our manufacturing ancestors, and why CondeHouse is committed to preserving this global trust for the next generation. -
Why Spring Bursts Brightly in Hokkaido
【A home is a place to long for from a distance】 A journey itself is worthless, but it's what we learn from a journey that counts. It is a part of the subject of my previous article. As some of the readers may notice, it is inspired by ...
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