April 2022– date –

【Customer complaints are going to sell】 Why is there no lamp in the freezer compartment of a fridge? Suitcase wheels should be replaceable! I believe you have this kind of small complaints a lot in your daily life. Most of them are too...

【The rich-poor gap is seen even in trash】 In 2019, a book became a big hit in Japan. The author is an unpopular comedian working as a trash collector on the side. He wrote it was easy to find out wealthy residential areas once he sees ...

The Japanese marketing common sense says storytelling is important for product naming, but some marketing research companies recently revealed phonetic effects are also important factors. Phonetic symbolism is the name of an academic field to study these phenomena. In fact, there already have been some applications to evaluate product names.

Why is Soba, a grain historically associated with poverty, considered Japan's most elegant noodle—the ultimate first date material? I explore the Paradox of Elegance and the Pavlovian ritual of Shin-Soba (New Soba) season. I conclude with local pride, recommending OKADA, an exquisite Soba restaurant in our buckwheat heartland of Asahikawa—a Tangible Cultural Property where the historic garden view will enhance your appreciation of the elegant grain.

【The record high freight is a new normal in logistics】 I swim in a gym pool every weekend. What always irritates me is a notice on the shower-room wall. It says "We stop providing shampoo to avoid infection." Anybody, tell me how shamp...

Why does Japan practice synchronized recruitment and the Annual Corporate Baptism (Nyūsha-shiki)? I draw on my own embarrassing experience of attending three entrance ceremonies in three years to explain their function as a critical "attitude adjustment" event. I analyze the ritualistic genius of Toyota's CEO and his engine-revving speech. The analysis leads to my personal crisis: my existential dread over giving a compulsory lecture at the CondeHouse entrance ceremony next week.