Izakaya!!

Several dozens of small Izakaya places weaved tegether along with small aisles. The smell of Toriyaki, sounds of Kanppai, exciting dialouges... So many businessmen wearing suits sitting side by side, and enjoying the please night breeze and drinks. More importantly, they enjoy the moments of openness, frankness, and bonding.

To enjoy the real Japan. Go there near Shinjuku sations. You will find the cold blooded-like Japanese business men's warm hearts. Like any other country, drinking is bonding experience. But, this place in Japan shows so dramatic contrast in the office and out-of-office.

Cheers!

Environmentally Friendly Japan

Many of my relatives and friends who visited my house for travelling in Japan usually find a lot of fascinating things. Out of many things that they were surprised, one common question that I've got is “Why does the bus TURN OFF the engine while it is waiting in the stop sign?” When I first came back to Japan, this is also one of the same questions that I asked to my Japanese colleague. The answer is “TO REDUCE CO2”. Natural counter-question is that “Isn't it more energy consuming if it turns on and off so frequently?” I found that there is scientific validation that it reduces gases emission more by minimizing idle engine time like the Japanese bus company does.

Japan Truly Stand For the Leader of Environmentally Friendly Economic Growth

JAPAN is well known for its environmental global leadership exemplified by Kyoto Treaty in 1993 to reduce global warming gas emission. I was curious about how good Japan is in terms of “ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ECONOMIC GROWTH”. I thought that “GDP per CO2 emission” would be a good measure to assess a country’s environmentally efficient economic value creation. Luckily, I found the measure in wikkipidia. Click the link if you want to know the detail. Out of all the country, Japan ranked top 23rd. However, when we look at the top 20 GDP countries(where I believe more comparable given economic activity level), there are only 5 countries(Switzerland, Sweden, France, France, Netherlands, Italy) ahead of Japan in terms of GDP per emission.(find below table). Considering the 5 European countries economy is more reliant on financial, tourism, agriculture than Japan, Japan is truly the leader in energy efficient economic growth in similar industrial structure. Look at the US and China!! No wonder why they don’t want to comply global treaty!

World Leading Companies in Energy/Environmental Conservation : Toyota, Sanyo

Toyota’s outpacing to GM is famous story in US car market. While there are many other factors of Toyota’s success, visionary thinking and persistent effort to create energy efficient vehicle has finally paid off. Toyota’s hybrid car: Prius is so famous, and it is out of stock now especially when oil price reaches beyond $100 a barrel now. Energy sucking monstrous Hummer and Trucks produced by GM is losing ground, and GM is suffering to catch up the technology and commercialization capability gap. To buy time, they are playing dirty tricks by lobbying US congress through anti-trust restriction against the Japanese car maker.
Sanyo/Panasonic/Sony are the world dominant in solar powered panel business in the world.

So, why is Japanese company strong in energy efficiency field?

Energy Dependency and Crisis, Population Density, Environmental Disaster, Harmonious Culture

It is irony to find interesting but understandable learning from the “GDP per emission chart” one more time. Oil production countries like US, Russia, Middle Eastern Countries, China are so poor in the measures. It is universal that scarcity stimulate needs and creativity. Japan is 100% energy dependent. On top of that, oil crisis in 1970s created the urgency to take action to build economic structure/system to be more efficient. Broad based energy saving/efficiency measures were adopted to government, companies, and citizens.

When it comes to environmental hazard, Japan has experienced terrible disease(itai-itai) caused by toxic contamination of cadmiums. This has elevated national awareness to put strict environmental measures against water contamination through manufacturing sites.

Population density may be another factor to make Japanese to be more environmentally conscious. Japan is 23rd is population density measures, and #4 among OCED nations following South Korea, Netherlands, Belgium.

Finally, Japan is country of “harmony”. Environment is critical social capital that is being shared with others and nature. The “Wa” must require this interaction medium to be healthy. Otherwise, the close and fragile eco-system is very easy to break in this densely populated country.

Watch-out Government Environmental Initiative for business leaders

Japanese government impact to business in regulation is still very strong. It is wise for foreign business leaders to be fully internalizing the environmental policy in Japan and its impact. The best way is to visit the Ministry of the Environment. Take a look at the core policy. I am listing down several key initiatives and information that may need business leaders’ attention.

Environmental Reporting Guidelines : This may not be unique to Japan, but better be familiar.
Outline of the Basic Environment Plan : This is the master plan of Japan’s environmental program.
Environmental Tax : Save money and leverage it to refine strategy and to reengineer your company’s operation

Jaeho

Lost in Translation

“Lost in Translation” directed by Sophia Coppola got Academy Award in Best Screenplay. Many western audience enjoyed this movie with its subtle storyline with the two main characters with funny comedy element. However, in Japan, although it gained lots of media attention due to “Tokyo background” and “Academy” award, the movie itself was not so popular. Mostly, Japanese questioned “why is it funny? I don’t understand why it got Academy Award.” Why is the different critique happening? Core is the cultural difference and its comprehension. Why don’t we look at several scene in the movie and let’s talk about why it is funny for American and why it is NOT funny for Japanese.

Scene #1 : Bill Murray was surprised by his clients’ and hotel employee’s greeting : Politeness/Hierarchical vs. Friendly/Equal

When jet-lagged Bill Murray just arrived in Park Hyatt hotel in Shinjuku, his only wish is to get into his room and take a rest. But, his clients(there are 4 people waiting for him at the night) suddenly came to him and introduce themselves. Each of them present their business card with two hands while bowing to Bill. Bill is surprised and don’t know what to do. This is funny situation from American audience since handshake and verbal/friendly introduction each other is common culture. However, this is NOT funny since Japanese believe that this behavior is VERY important. WHY? They are expressing their respect to the important actor by bowing and giving the name card in a certain way. In Japan, when business people meet for the first time, the scene is very commonly observed. In fact, when sharing the business card each other, there is surprising rule. If you think you are lower ranked, you need to position the height of business card lower than the other. This symbolizes who is higher/lower, and that is the sign of respect. So, watch-out!!

This respectful and hierarchical behavior and culture is also seen in the way how hotelier try to serve Bill. They jump into Bill in trying to help carrying luggage and bow him constantly. By the way, there is no tipping culture in Japan, so the action done by employees are sincerely trying to serve as part of hotel service. In US, it is too much. Hotelier is trying to be personally and friendly. It tries to make guess to feel like home. That’s the way how guest are treated comfortably. In Japan, guest is treated like a king. Real king. It is culturally ingrained and trained because that is right thing. Once you know it, that is not fun. Once you are accustomed, it is really good to be served in Japan.

Scene #2 : Elevator. Packed and no one talks. : Be conscious and don’t bother OTHERS

It is really true. In US, even when you see strangers, you tend to say something to make people connected. “Hello”, “How are you?” “Good weather!!” etc. No talk makes people very uncomfortable and not friendly. In Japan, it is opposite. When you enter into the elevator, you slightly bow(not everyone), but you never talk to the stranger. When it is packed, you don’t talk even with your friend. Why? It is small place and your talk will bother others. “Don’t bother others” is very important virtue as well in Japan. That’s why Bill feels uncomfortable, and other Japanese feel comfortable even in a packed elevator when there is no talk. From my experience, this happens in every place not only in elevator. Jammed train and bus is another good place. You will be surprised how quite it is. But imagine how terrible it will be if it is “Packed” AND “Noisy”.

Scene #3 : “Rip” vs. “Lip” : No ‘r’ sound in Japanese

“Lip it”, “Lip it”, Bill says “What lip?” “Lip my stocking!!”, You mean “Rip your stocking?” “No, I don’t want”. Need to be careful. In Japanese, the “r” sound doesn’t exist and it often create different meaning like that. Japanese has the most challenging situation to learn English compared to any other country people.

First of all, total different grammar. The wording order is different. For example, in English, we say “I go to school.” Verb first, and it is very clear in terms of the key action and key point at upfront. However, in Japanese, “I to school go” is the order of wording. Conclusion comes last. You need to be patient to understand the real intent/conclusion what you want to hear until the end of sentence. You rarely see that Japanese interfere other person’s conversation until it finishes while you often see in English speaking environment. Aside from culture, language structure is definitely one of the reason. Secondly, pronunciation. Japanese lacks many sound like ‘r’, ‘th’. In addition, all of syllabous finishes with vowel. Non finishes with consonant except for ‘n’, ‘ng’ sound. Therefore, when English word is pronounced, it sounds very strange. For example, McDonald is pronounced as “Ma Ku Do Na Lu Do”. This may have implication for brand naming. Nike is exactly pronounced as Nike, but McDonald is quite different.

Based on my living experience both in Japan and in US helped me to enjoy this movie a lot since I know both culture. Good for comedy, but this difference should be well understood when expanding business to Japan.

Check out "Lost in Translation" homepage if you want to find out the interview of Sophia Coppola.