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Marketing Tips
What Are the Basic Human Values? We’re Useless If Productivity Is Most Important
【The days of Kaizen activities are like the highlight of Apollo 13】 The spaceship was about to penetrate the atmosphere in the shortage of electric power. The crews and the ground staff of NASA knew enough about it. While running out o... -
Marketing Tips
How to Make Waiting Times into Fun and Enjoyable Moments
Do you know a photo-sharing app called Dispo? Humans basically dislike being kept waiting, but even such primitive human nature may be changing among the new generation people somehow. -
Marketing Tips
Is Written Communication Dead? What You Need to Know
【Did you read or watch Harry Potter?】 About 15% of Junior high school students can read sentences but not understand their meaning. The news created a sensation in Japan some years ago. That may or may not be true, but I think that wou... -
Japan Travel in the Know
Simple Rules for Enjoying Your First Japanese Onsen
Let me tell you the first rule of Hot-spring club: Bathe three times at least. Averagely, we Japanese people bathe three times for a stay of one night: Soon after check-in, before going to bed, and soon after getting up next morning. Accordingly, we can enjoy a sunset, night sky, and sunrise in an open-air bath. -
Japan Travel in the Know
The 22-Year Paradox: Why Kyoto’s Ancient Woodwork Still Stands After 1400 Years
Why is Kyoto so popular? It’s the ancient capital and the destination for nearly every Japanese school trip (a beautiful, chaotic spring ritual). But here’s the paradox: Japan’s legal durable life for wooden buildings is only 22 years. This is absurd, considering Hōryū-ji Temple was built 1,400 years ago! The secret lies in ancient wisdom: using nail-less flexibility to withstand earthquakes. This same principle—accommodating wood’s expansion and contraction—is incorporated into our IPPONGI table, making it a piece of history you can use daily. -
Marketing Tips
The Perfectly Imperfect Ball Pit: Turning Furniture Waste into Eco-Friendly Fun
The ball pit is a classic Japanese childhood memory, especially from the old rooftop department store playgrounds. We created an elevated version using high-quality hardwood waste from our furniture production. Here is the delightful irony: The balls are imperfectly round to cut costs, but this inefficiency created an unexpected secondary effect—the irregular shapes grant the pit significantly higher fluidity, resulting in a superior play experience. While we aim for 100% wood utilization (joining pieces longer than 150 mm), the smallest offcuts remain a challenge. We seek ambitious consumers who see a sophisticated future for our beautiful, durable wooden balls after the kids "leave the nest." -
Marketing Tips
What Is Originality? Don’t Try to Be Unique If You Want to Be Unique
【Originality is a characteristic only of a genius】 A student in the art class challenged his teacher, saying "it's meaningless to learn art. Art is something to feel, and our originality may be stunted by learning. " The teacher answer... -
Marketing Tips
Why Dad Sneakers Are Back?
【To want to be unique is a desire we can't resist】 The world's top three makers of sports footwear are Nike, Adidas, and do you know what comes next? It's Puma, though I thought it was New Balance. I like sneakers and buy at least one ... -
Marketing Tips
How to Communicate the Essence of a Product
【EV will drastically change car design】 The deadly battles of rebellions against authorities have just begun everywhere in the world. It's about the battles over EV market share. The famous ones of the rebellions are Google, Apple, and... -
Japanese Culture and Traditions
The Japanese Floor Trap: Why We Can’t Quit the Carpet (Even with a Sofa)
A deep, often humorous analysis of Japan's "floor life" culture. We examine the architectural wisdom of tatami, the ritual of removing shoes, and the political reasons why the most comfortable sofa still can't beat the floor. As a furniture maker, I discuss this cultural paradox and introduce the design philosophy behind our MOLA sofa—a personal hideout designed for true, unrestricted relaxation.
