2021– date –
-
What Is the Strength of UNIQLO, over GAP, ZARA, and H&M?
【Massive change UNIQLO made】 Most of you would have visited UNIQLO shops, I believe. At the moment, they have more than 800 shops only in Japan; about 1500 shops in more than 20 countries. I'm not UNIQLO-native. It is around after grad... -
Guns, Wood, and the Japanese Spirit of “Better Than the Original”
Did you know "Pan" is Portuguese? From the accidental arrival of bread and guns to the 16th-century arms race that terrified colonial empires, join me as I explore Japan's "improvisational genius" and how we’re using that same spirit to take our Hokkaido furniture to the global stage. -
The Soul of Hokkaido vs. The Polish of Tokyo: A Design Revolution
Being from Hokkaido is a conversational superpower, unlike the "handicap" of being from Northern Kanto. But while our seafood is world-class, our design has often been "stuck in the 80s." Explore how architect Sou Fujimoto is changing Hokkaido's image—and why I need you to buy Tsuboya’s sweets so they can eventually buy our furniture! -
The Canvas Paradox: How a Sustainable Sapporo Hotel Eased My Chairman’s Travel Trauma
We shared the kind of misery that forges a very Japanese, unbreakable bond. I subjected my Chairman to the cheapest hotels worldwide—often in rooms where you couldn't open a suitcase. Now, the new Royal Park Canvas in Sapporo offers a blueprint for sustainable travel, built with the quality and consciousness that finally won his approval. -
What We Should Consider Before We Make a Company Mission
【The reason why I don't use food delivery service】 Uber Eats, Wolt, Foodpanda, etc. Food delivery businesses appear to be prosperous everywhere in the world. In addition, many restaurants have started to-go service, and accordingly, ma... -
The Hidden Complexity: Why Japanese Craftsmanship Must Be Simple (The Ferrari Paradox)
An Italian spends the world's last day with a lover; a Japanese person finishes work. We analyze the Ferrari Paradox. Discover the secret articulated by Ferrari designer Ken Okuyama, who sketched a history-making concept in just 15 minutes: "What looks simple is not simple. It’s designed to look simple." -
Common Misconceptions About Logging for Wooden Furniture
【More choices make us less happy】 I can always make prompt decisions. This is one of the few things I'm proud of in my abilities. The trick is always trying to narrow down choices. Some people (who love fashion, for example) may say "W... -
The Bear Invasion: Why “Leaving Nature Alone” is a Deadly Mistake
Last year, a bear in Hokkaido didn't just attack—it hunted. Join me as I explore the disturbing shift in bear behavior, the collapse of Japan’s "buffer zones," and why the act of making furniture is a vital defense against the deadly consequences of leaving nature alone. -
Customers Don’t Even Know What They Really Want
【We don't know what we really want】 A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them. This is what Steve Jobs said. As the old saying goes, people don't know themselves as well as they know others. Sometimes, ... -
Good vs. Bad Products: What’s the Difference?
【Talent or hard work】 Do you believe in talent or hard work? This is the topic that has been debated since the beginning of history. I know I'm a little exaggerating, though. Making the topic even more complicated, some people say "Har...