This conversation is one of the most amazing I've had since starting Now and Zen Japan. This episode could certainly change your life. Especially if you suffer from unhealthy lifestyle habits. Prepare to be blown away by Kaki Okumura's wisdom, demeanor, and insight into well-being and nutrition.  Kaki breaks down Japanese based wellness concepts through her "Four Essential Pillars to Healthy Living" in a very convincing and non-preachy way.  She is a writer, an illustrator, a wellness coach, and very well could be a therapist or nutrition teacher. In addition to her fascinating backstory  which includes her experience with food being a source of stress and anxiety and how healthy eating does not have to be a sacrifice,  we get into her business as a writer on Medium, starting her own business just after university, and the various revenue streams she has built for herself. Just start listening to the first 5 minutes and for sure you will be hooked and inspired by her simple and empathetic message. Other topics we discuss: 

• Improving your overall well-being based on Japanese concepts
• Being overweight OR underweight negatively effects mental health
• Why eating healthy in the US is a challenge whereas its pretty simple in Japan
• The power of balanced meals, moderation, and portion management
• How retired sumo wrestlers lose weight
• What Japanese can learn from the US about healthy living
• Why ginger is included with so many Japanese meals
• Food is closely linked to environment, experiences, and emotions
• Is "organic" really healthier?
• Variety, and why this is nutritionally important  
• How much can one make writing for Medium?
• The Free Unsolicited Business Idea
• Kaki's two favorite untranslatable Japanese words

Kaki's Website: https://kakikata.space/

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

Grow website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
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

It's a real feel-good conversation with uber positive and incredibly humble entrepreneur Anthony Griffin.  He is the founder of Saga Consulting where he "helps organizations and individuals tell their story to the world".  It's global communications through excellent copy-writing, digital marketing, and cross-cultural coaching.   Anthony often writes insightful and though-provoking articles for Kokoro Media on LinkedIn. He is especially passionate about Japanese language learning and frequently offers tips on how to take ones Japanese to the next level.  We both offer our three suggestions for basic but "culturally impactful" Japanese words every beginner of Japanese language should master. Other topics we discuss:

• New client acquisition techniques for entrepreneurs
• How Saga Consulting helps Japanese organizations expand internationally
• Biggest stumbling blocks for Japanese companies when trying to expand overseas
• Balancing "trying to do it the Japanese way" vs. keeping his own personal style
• Working with "Foreign Curious" companies is his sweet spot, explained
• What working for a Japanese company taught him  
• Early cultural missteps from Japanese corporate life
• Best Japanese language Apps for quick learning
• Simple language tips for building better relations in your community
• Favorite untranslatable Japanese word
• Swap culturally unique Japanese words beginners should master 

Anthony Griffin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonygriffin/
Saga Consulting: http://www.consultsaga.com
Kokoro Media: https://kokoro-jp.com/

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

Grow website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
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

We all miss traveling, and this episode I get to speak with long-time, airline professional, Don Bunkenburg.  Don is the Senior Director in Japan for the Lufthansa Group. Which includes Swiss Airlines, Austrian Airlines, and Germany's Lufthansa. We talk about how Lufthansa competes in the Japan market renowned for its level of service and hospitality, the "No risk culture" similarities between Germany and Japan,  how each airline in the group tailors their service offering to reflect the culture of each country, the steps required to actually fill up an airplane day after day, how Lufthansa changed from a process driven service delivery to a personalized service offering to earn the only European airline ranking of "5 Star" airline, and why the definition of "On Time Departure" is a little more important in Japan than some "other" countries. Other topics of discussion:

• How Don, an American, deciding to take a Summer job to improve his German, led to a 30 years plus career working for Germany's largest airline
• Do Airline rankings really matter and how this relates to customer service investments
• What is "Swissness"
• The unique service differentiation between Austrian, Swiss, and Lufthansa
• His regret regarding a different, missed opportunity in the aviation industry
• How the special relationship shared with ANA gives Lufthansa a big advantage
• The biggest challenge of working in Japan
• Safety 1st vs. Service 1st. Do Western airlines and Asian Airlines perceive this differently
• Lufthansa's response to the COVID Pandemic
• Why Brazilians make up a significant % of travelers between Japan and Germany
• The Free Unsolicited Business Idea

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

Grow website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
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

Frank Foley is a charismatic 30-year Japan professional with a deep understanding of character licensing,  content marketing, and IP management. He was the country manager for Guinness World Records Japan where he successfully shifted the business model from wacky and crazy to a more Japan focused local strategy. Even participating in the record-setting worlds largest beef skewer event. Frank has represented IP entertainment brands from the Rolling Stones and Ariana Grande to children's educational brands including Thomas the Train. Frank is currently the owner of Next Big Thing which is actually the name of one of two TV shows he is pitching to Japanese networks. You will hear about both shows in this episode.
Other topics of discussion:

• Corporate world record-setting success stories
• "You Gotta Hear This" the untapped Japanese pop music opportunity
• The benefits of Thomas the Train toilet paper
• Differences between representing music artist IP brands  vs. fictional IP brands
• Japan Initiatives to differentiate and localize for foreign brands
• The length of Ishigaki's world record setting beef skewer
• How one gets into the Guinness World Records
• Culture as an USP - What keeps him optimistic about Japan's future
• Why Japan is a good "testing ground" for foreign product innovation
• The next big thing for Next Big Thing 

Frank Foley:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankfoleyjapan/

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

Grow website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
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

Part 2 of my interview with author Robert Whiting about his recent best selling memoir "Tokyo Junkie" 60 years of bright lights, back alleys, and baseball. In this episode, Bob tells great stories about colorful foreign players and well-known Japanese baseball stars. Part 2, we talk mostly about the baseball stories from his memoir, but also get into the important story of how writing his first book "The Chrysanthemum and the Bat" completely changed his life. Together with episode #1 this is another important and rare opportunity to hear the history and evolution of Tokyo, from one Olympics in 1964 to the the current Tokyo 2020 games as lived and experienced by a true story teller, Robert Whiting. Other topics we discuss:

• The real reason Nomo went to the US to play for the Dodgers
• NY Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui's adult video collection story
• Being interviewed by  Larry King
• Reminiscing the time spent with Sadaharu Oh
• The Yomiuri Giants 10 Commandments for foreign ball players
• How the export of Japanese players to the Major League has changed Japanese baseball 
• Why there are fewer gaijin cultural transgressions these days
• The backstory behind a keepsake he received from a fan . . .  and former US President
• Why gaijin "used" to get an expanded strike zone
• Bob's favorite untranslatable Japanese word

Robert's Books (Tokyo Junkie): https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Whiting/
Robert Whiting: https://tokyojunkie.com/

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

Grow your website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
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

I have been a big fan of Robert Whiting ever since I read "Chrysanthemum and the Bat" back in high school in the 1980's. Numerous, critically acclaimed books later, I sit down with Bob to discuss his latest book, a memoir, "Tokyo Junkie" 60 Years of Bright Lights and Back Alleys . . . and baseball.   We discuss his firsthand insights into six decades of entertaining, dangerous, bizarre, and heartfelt experiences sandwiched between the 1st Olympics in 1962 to the current 2021 games. This is part 1 of a 2 part podcast interview. This episode covers the "Bright Lights and Back Alleys" of Tokyo Junkie with the 2nd episode covering "Baseball" and more.  This is a rare, oral history of raw and underground Tokyo told by the person who lived it, from Soldier to Degenerate to The Professional to The Rojin - Robert Whiting. Other topics we cover:

• What it's like to have your life threatened by the Yakuza (twice)
• Why writing a Memoir was a "painful" process
• The big break which changed his life
• Befriending gangsters and its repercussions
• Back stories of mafia and politics
• What led to the writing of his 1st book
• After 60 years in Japan what he misses most about the "good old days"
• News of his next book, a sequel to "Tokyo Underworld" 
• Most "Gratifying" professional achievement 
• Interview tips for a certain podcaster ;-) 

Robert's Books (Tokyo Junkie): https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Whiting/
Robert Whiting: https://tokyojunkie.com/

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

Grow your website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
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

This episode is #40, and the content is a little different  from the past 39 episodes in that today's guest is . . . myself.   It's actually a re-purposed podcast from Dr. Greg Story's "Japan's Top Business Interviews" podcast. I was a guest on his show in early 2021 and took that content and edited it to use for this Now and Zen's 40th episode.  The original podcast (thus this episode) we discussed my 30 year journey from department store buyer to  helping  everybody in love with culinary, achieve their ultimate kitchen lifestyle. We talk about leadership in Japan and my numerous experiences doing business in Japan, since the 1990's. Other topics of interest:

• My three key aspects of leadership
• The sales conference story where I proved to my staff they could default to the opportunity vs the risk
• Why "engagement" is low in Japan
• The family influence which got me interested in Japan
• How I was able to study Japanese in university as a high school student
• 3 pieces of advise for any new foreign leader coming to Japan
• Delegation in Japan
• Early days in Japan and struggles working at a large Japanese company
• Gaining trust as a new leader in Japan

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

Japan's Top Business Interviews: https://podcasts.apple.com

Grow website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
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

Have you ever dreamed of an ultimate luxury vacation in Japan?  If so, then Alex Debs is your man. He is the founder of Hitotoki, the Luxury Travel Designer.  This episode you will hear all the intimate details of luxury travel planning in Japan including the most demanding request his team was tasked with.  We find out how he has been coping despite the restrictions imposed by the  pandemic, the struggles as a small & specialized agency and dealing with the large Japan travel associations, exclusive itinerary suggestions for a 2-3 day-trip out of Tokyo, why he launched a club for smaller travel suppliers, and how to book a seat at the world famous restaurant, Jiro Sushi.  A fascinating look into a world most  have never experienced.  Other topics we cover:

• "Luxury Travel Designer" explained & "Luxury" defined
• Secrets to selecting the best travel guides
• How to deal with illegal requests
• The pandemic business pivot 
• Itinerary preferences differentiated by nationalities
• Why many hotels are not prepared to accept foreign luxury guests
• The "Go-To-Travel" fiasco stories and how Japan travel associations work, or don't
• Okinawa has the best luxury market potential but not yet foreign market oriented
• The business opportunity he saw which led to starting HITOTOKI 
• The Free Unsolicited Business Idea   

HITOTOKI: https://hitotoki-travel.com/
Alex Debs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-debs/
More Now and Zen Japan episodes: https://www.nowandzen.jp/

Grow your website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
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

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/
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

Everything you ever wanted to know about the grocery & convenience store business in Japan with Haribo Japan President, Paul Craft.  He is an expert on Japan's packaged consumer goods market. Paul started his Japan career 13 years ago with Starbucks Japan, then launched HoneyBaked Ham (their first ever foreign expansion), and has been the country manager for Haribo Japan since 2018.  We discuss the production of a localized Haribo TV commercial with real Sumo wrestlers, inside info on distribution and sales strategies at CVS and grocery stores, his successful experiences earning "brand legitimacy", packaging localization advise and tactics, and why chewing gum has lost popularity, not just in Japan but around the world. Other topics we discuss:

• Early days setting up the pre-packaged ready-to-drink business for Starbucks Japan
• The "Ruthlessness" of the convenience store market - demonstrated every Tuesday
• Modern vs. Antiquated = Convenience stores vs. Grocery stores
• Convincing the HoneyBaked Ham family on Japan expansion
• Gaining Japanese consumers "Stamp-of-Approval"
• Why brand "legitimacy" is so important in Japan and two examples he used
• Getting the Japan Sumo Association approval for the Haribo TV commercial
• Are Japanese flavored Gummy Bears on the horizon?
• Detailed and cultural explanation of "Ho Ren So" 
• The importance of "precedence" in Japan
• The Free Unsolicited Business Idea

Haribo International: https://www.haribo.com/en
Haribo Sumo Wrestlers: https://www.youtube.com/
Paul Kraft: https://www.linkedin.com

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