Now and Zen Japan

It's a truly inspiring chat with the incredibly positive and humble entrepreneur, Anthony Griffin. He's the brains behind Saga Consulting, a company dedicated to helping organizations and individuals share their stories with the world. They specialize in global communications, offering top-notch copywriting, digital marketing, and cross-cultural coaching. Anthony also pens insightful articles for Kokoro Media on LinkedIn, where he shares his passion for Japanese language learning and provides tips for taking your skills to the next level.

In our conversation, Anthony and I both share three essential yet culturally impactful Japanese words that every beginner should learn. We also delve into a variety of topics, including:

• Techniques for acquiring new clients as an entrepreneur
• How Saga Consulting supports Japanese companies in expanding internationally
• Common hurdles Japanese companies face when going global
• Balancing Japanese cultural norms with personal style
• Anthony's expertise in working with "Foreign Curious" companies
• Lessons learned from working for a Japanese company
• Early cultural missteps in Japanese corporate life
• Recommended Japanese language apps for rapid learning
• Simple language tips for fostering better community relations
• Favorite untranslatable Japanese word
• Unique Japanese words beginners should master

You can connect with Anthony Griffin on LinkedIn, learn more about Saga Consulting at consultsaga.com, and read his articles on Kokoro Media. For more episodes of Now and Zen Japan, visit nowandzen.jp. And if you're looking for Japan adventures in a camper van, discover Dream Drive. 

Discover the art of mastering public speaking, enhancing your presentation skills, and unraveling the secrets to impactful storytelling. Join Dr. Greg Story, the esteemed president of Dale Carnegie Japan and bestselling author of "Japan Sales Mastery" and "Japan Business Mastery," as he shares invaluable insights into successful sales techniques, post-COVID sales process shifts, and a myriad of topics explored in his books.

In this engaging conversation, we delve into the question of whether Greg's six podcasts might be considered "too much content." He regales us with true-life experiences that beautifully complement his business tips, insights, and advice, drawing from his rich background as a 6th-degree black belt in Karate with 38 years of experience in Japan. The episode unfolds as a captivating discussion on how actions and choices can profoundly impact one's life and career. Other topics covered are:

• The significance of public speaking skills in advancing your career
• Tips to ease nerves before a public presentation
• Strategies to "bullet-proof" yourself against challenging audience questions
• Greg's simplified four elements of a successful presentation
• The rationale behind his decision to "niche-down" with six podcasts instead of one
• Greg's biggest "pet-peeve" when listening to other presenters
• In-depth exploration of the contents and background of his bestselling books
• The transformative influence of Karate on Greg's life, perspective, and career
• The profound meaning behind his favorite untranslatable Japanese word, "Zanshin."

Greg Story: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregstory/
Dale Carnegie Japan: https://www.dalecarnegie.com/ja/locations/japan
Japan Dale Carnegie TV: https://www.youtube.com

Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

More Now and Zen Japan Episodes HERE 

Meet a true Hospitality Professional. Mr. Matthias Sutter, the Rep. Director of Shangri-La Hotels Japan and the GM of the Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo.  We discuss Japanese customer service, how different nationalities have different hospitality expectations, his two requirements for anyone to succeed in the hotel business, and how starting off in Food & Beverage helped craft his strong sense of hospitality.  We also talk Trip Advisor, hotel rankings, and the guest comments he likes the most.  If you are curious about how luxury hotel GM's think, practice, and teach customer service and hospitality, this episode is a must-listen. Other topics we cover:

• Why hotels are an "El Dorado" for customer service
• The three topics to never discuss with hotel guests
• Different cultures have different interpretations of hospitality
• Japanese service vs. other Asian countries
• Preparations for the Shangri-La Kyoto opening
• Guest comments which led to innovative and successful promotions
• Hotel "brands" have separate DNA, thus some customer focus differences   
• Japanese "guest comment" tendencies
• The Free Unsolicited Business Idea   

The Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo: https://www.shangri-la.com/tokyo/shangrila/

Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

More Now and Zen Japan episodes: https://www.nowandzen.jp/

The phrase "Do what you love and you never have to work another day in your life" fits Mac Salman perfectly. Mac left the finance  industry and pursued his passions - Travel, Japan, and tasty spirits. We discuss his customized tour business Maction Planet where he has never conducted the same itinerary twice. Then his pivot to Kanpai Planet when the pandemic halted Japan tourism. We discuss these two businesses and life in Tokyo while we sample three "Japan Related" tequilas.  Mac is an inimitable and articulate British gentleman who does his homework. He brings insider knowledge and back stories to Shizuku,  Cascahuin, and Don Suenos tequilas and their fascinating Japan connections. Even if you are not a big fan of whiskey or tequila, Mac's stories and insight make for a very lively and enjoyable conversation.  Other topics we discuss: 

• Leaving the lucrative  finance industry and pursuing his passion for travel
• The philosophy of changing tour guiding from a "commodity to a profession"
• Maction Planet's 99.6% rating on Trip Advisor and why its not 100%
• 25 straight years of whisky consumption decline in Japan. That all changed in 2008
• Why he can be found at Jingu Stadium up to 50 times a year
• Sample Blanco and Reposado from Shizuku and discover its ties to Fukuoka
• Mac's amazing Sake knowledge and how he applies it to tequila tasting 
• The hierarchy of needs and the 5 reasons Tokyo is the "Greatest Metropolis on Earth"
• Taste test the Blanco and an Extra Anejo from Cascahuin created by Japanese "Tetsu" Kageda
• The background of the only Tequila brand owned by a Japanese woman - we try the Reposado and Anejo from Don Suenos 

Maction Planet: https://www.mactionplanet.com/
Trip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com
Kanpai Planet: https://www.youtube.com

More Now and Zen Japan episodes: https://www.nowandzen.jp/

Grow website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

Deanna Elstrom is a veteran brand marketer, brand strategist, and consumer insights specialist. She started her own consulting business, Somi Insights, three years ago where she combines her love of branding with a fascination of how culture influences human behavior. The Japanese consumer is a key area of Deanna's expertise where she led two major agencies before starting Somi Insights.  We discuss the the Japanese name "Somi" which she coined, we learn the big difference between "insights" and "findings", great examples of how culture influences behavior in Japan, a cultural analysis into why Japan is ranked #58 on the Global Happiness Index, and stories of her first experience in Japan as a teenager and how this  crafted her Japan journey. Other topics we cover:

• The meaning of "Somi", a made-up Japanese word
• Japan and the dilemma of happiness
• The difference Somi Insights brings to the Japan market
• Findings vs. Insights explanation with examples
• Omotenashi and Sustainability balance
• She questions my Japan kitchenware market "insights"  
• Interesting Japan beauty market discoveries 
• Her favorite untranslatable Japanese word = Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu
• The Japanese and Western interpretation of what "home" is
• "The researcher is the consumer voice, keep the consumer voice as a superpower"  

Somi Insights home page: http://somiinsights.com
Deanna Elstrom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-elstrom

Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts

Parissa Haghirian is an internationally renowned expert on Japanese Management and Leadership and a Professor of International Management at Sofia University.  She is the author of 12 books on Japanese Management, Cross-Cultural topics, and Consumer Dynamics.  We examine these as well as some cultural concepts from her latest book. We also discuss how Japanese management practice is uniquely different,  successful Japanese corporate survival strategies and what foreign firms can learn, why cross-cultural business issues are often Japan specific, and her favorite language concept "50 ways to say No in Japanese which don't actually include No". Other topics of interest:

• In-depth explanation on the fundamental differences between Westerns and Japanese management environments
• How "Constant Job Rotation" is a benefit for Japanese management
• Why are cute mascots essential in corporate Japan
• Insight on how Japanese companies are actually very open-minded
• The advantages and disadvantages of the "process driven" nature of Japanese companies 
• "Cross-cultural growth is based on mistakes, it's a tough and emotional learning process"
• Consumer dynamics and the challenges facing foreign brands entering Japan
• Explanations of Ganbaru, Gamman, and Enryo from her book "Japanese Business Concepts you should Know"  
• "The most interesting question for Japanese is how foreigners manage, and the most interesting for foreigners is how Japanese manage" The advise which led to her dedication of researching Japanese management.
• The question she wishes people had asked her, but has yet had the chance to answer - until now

Parissa Haghirian: https://www.linkedin.com
Japanese Business Concepts You Should Know: https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Business-Concepts

More Now and Zen Japan episodes: https://www.nowandzen.jp/

Grow website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts

Jeff Crawford is the president of Zo Digital, a bi-lingual digital marketing agency he founded over seven years ago. He describes many of the mistakes foreign companies make when setting up their web presence in Japan and explains how to remedy these issues. What hidden gems can be discovered in your site analytics to improve  eCom sales. Why Japanese sites are often so busy and loud. Simple and practical advise on how to increase traffic and improve conversion rates through "Authoritativeness" and "Trustworthiness". This might sound a bit technical but Jeff explains it all in a very easy to understand style. I guarantee you will become more digital marketing savvy after listening to Jeff's stories and advise. Other topics we discuss:

• The biggest mistakes foreign firms make when launching web sites in Japan
• What is a "YMYL" site (Your Money or Your Life)
• How Google ranks and evaluates websites
• Simple methods to increase your site's E.A.T. (E = Expertise)
• Isn't "User Experience" subjective?
• The best and worst way to create web "content"
• Google voice search SEO is coming
• The most important web site page for Japanese (26:23)
• Key Word research and how to master the nuance
• What many Japanese think about the typical western website 
• How much companies should invest in SEO as a % of sales
• How does understanding analytics specifically improve ones business (29:34)
• The Free Unsolicited Business Idea

Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
Jeff Crawford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffcrawford/

Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

More Episodes like this HERE: https://www.nowandzen.jp/

Introducing the remarkable and iconic veteran of Tokyo, Timothy Langley. With an impressive track record of over 40 years in Japan, Timothy is the visionary founder of Japan's premier government and public consultancy firm, Langley Esquire. What sets Timothy apart is his groundbreaking achievement as the first foreigner to work in the Japan National Diet, collaborating closely with senior Japanese politicians. His expertise extends far and wide, having served as the top Legal and Government Affairs Specialist for Apple Computer (Japan), General Counsel to General Motors (Japan), and as a director for numerous companies, ranging from ambitious startups to Fortune 100 giants.

Despite his illustrious career, Timothy is also the Host and Executive Producer of Japan's exclusive Public Affairs-related audio/video series, the renowned "Tokyo on Fire!" And the popular video series "Japanese Politics one on one". When it comes to fascinating individuals in Japan, Timothy Langley shines as the ultimate example. Other topics we cover:

• Great stories from serving as handler for Pres. George Bush during his Japan visit
• Related stories about "clash of cultures" with the Secret Service
• Why foreigners in Japan are often "Agents of Change"
• His own incredible "Agent of Change" stories
• Spices up politics and explains how and why the LDP stays in power
• Why Public Affairs is so import in Japan but yet an untapped market
• Motivation and insight for starting one of the first Japan YouTube video series - Tokyo on Fire! 
• The "Free Unsolicited Business Idea" 
• What is "Onomatopoeia" and why there are so many in Japan

Langley Esquire: https://langleyesquire.com
Tokyo On Fire! Tokyo on Fire! YouTube
More on the George Bush visit: My Memory Of George H.W. Bush
Timothy Langley: LinkedIn Profile

Great Sleep Starts Here = gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

Dive into the world of traditional Japanese sword making with craftsman Taro Asano. He is one of only a handful of practicing "Kajiya" (a person who forges Japanese swords / Katana) still in Japan. He also offers a workshop in English where people come to make their own custom-forged "Samurai knife". It's a unique once in a lifetime experience. We discuss all things Katana, how he became a Kajiya, his future plans - which include taking on a 20-year old American apprentice and creating a You-Tube channel to chronicle their adventures, and why Japanese sword/ blacksmithing  is more popular with foreigners than with Japanese. Other topics we cover:

• How long and what it takes to become a Kajiya
• His thoughts on the Master - Apprentice relationship
• Insight on forging steel and the processes he employs
• Learn why 70% of his workshop participants come from the same field
• The rules and etiquette around handling a Japanese Katana  
• Why he makes kitchen knives in addition to swords
• Is the myth you have to register your Katana with the police true?
• Plans for his 20-year old American apprentice
• The Free Unsolicited Business Idea   

Asano Kajiya: http://asanokajiya.com/en
Asanokajiya Studio (You Tube): https://www.youtube.com/channel/

More Now and Zen episodes: https://www.nowandzen.jp/
Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

Award-winning broadcaster and radio host Guy Perryman.  Guy's soothing and melodic voice has been heard throughout Japan for the past 30 years starting with the launch of Virgin Megastores in 1990 and then Tokyo's InterFM since 1997.   In addition, he's a voice actor, event producer, and writer.  He has DJ'd for British Royalty and interviewed 100's of world famous artists and businessmen from Paul McCartney and Sting to Richard Branson and designer Paul Smith. We discuss some of these interactions and hear a couple celebrity stories as well as learning about being awarded the official title of MBE from the British Government. We wrap up this episode with special Christmas song from the Watanabes, co-produced with Guy Perryman called "Christmas Hummingbird".  This song can be heard at the 45min. mark of the podcast. Other topics we cover:

• How a planned 3-month stint at Virgin Megastores turned into over 30 years in Japan
• Being nervous before interviewing world famous artists and who surprised him most
• Why celebrities often let their guard down when visiting Japan
• The power of music and importance of mentors
• His frustrations with Japanese media and celebrity culture
• Why it's nearly impossible export Japanese radio shows outside Japan
• What he collects - its not autographs
• My unsolicited  business advise for Guy Perryman 
• His unsuccessful attempts to export J-Pop in the early days
• Why "Genki" is his favorite Japanese word

 Guy Perryman: http://www.http://guyperryman.com
The Guy Perryman Show InterFM: https://interfm.co.jp/gps/
The Watanabes: http://thewatanabes.com
Christmas Hummingbird: https:/.youtube.com/watch?v=X7FEas03Xjg

Great Sleep Starts Here = gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts