The list of Takaichi's policies that I don't agree with is long, but on the bright side she has promised to revise what she has (accurately) called the "warped" subsidy system that encourages the mega solar projects sprouting up all over the countryside. www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...

Are you a non-Japanese HR professional or people manager working in Japan? Would you like to gain a globally recognized HR certification while also deepening your understanding of how HR works in Japan? Bilingual GHR Certification Program, starting 10/2 www.ghrjapan.org/en/bilingual

Are you a non-Japanese HR professional or people manager working in Japan? Would you like to gain a globally recognized HR certification while also deepening your understanding of how HR works in Japan? Bilingual GHR Certification Program, starting 10/2 www.ghrjapan.org/en/bilingual

Question I've been getting from clients -- how to sight-see in Tokyo when it's too hot to be outside? Put together a few ideas, including some good museums! japanintercultural.com/free-resourc...

Japan Intercultural Consulting has opened a new branch in Canada🍁 With veteran Japan-market experts based in Toronto and Vancouver, we’re ready to support Canadian firms doing business in Japan—and Japanese firms operating in Canada. 👉 Read more here: japanintercultural.com/about-us/new...

My firm is looking for a new Representative in Mexico. Please share this posting with anyone who you think might be a good fit. Needs to be trilingual (Japanese/Spanish/English) and have experience working at or with Japanese firms in Mexico. www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/42...

Presentation for university students, 8/8 evening in Yurakucho: "How Women Can Step into Leadership in Japan" * Find out what you can do now to prepare yourself for a future leadership role Registration here: www.globalvillage-yhouse.com/pages/119/#p...

Presentation for university students, 8/8 evening in Yurakucho: "How Women Can Step into Leadership in Japan" * Find out what you can do now to prepare yourself for a future leadership role Registration here: www.globalvillage-yhouse.com/pages/119/#p...

Networking event for HR practitioners in Tokyo (both Japanese and non-Japanese) Monday August 4th in Roppongi. www.ghrjapan.org/en/event-det...

Thanks much to everyone who joined us today at Jingu Gaien despite the heat. The Diet members and experts who spoke were all inspiring! If you haven't yet signed Hirao-san's petition to save Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, you can here: www.change.org/save_chichib...

Tomorrow (Saturday) morning in Jingu Gaien, big event to try to save the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium. As you can see below, we have a lot of prominent politicians attending including the newly elected LaSalle Ishii. 10 am at the rugby stadium east entrance.

Join Us Saturday, July 26 at 10:00 AM to Protect Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Urging the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to reject a forthcoming application to dispose of this important public asset. Details: www.change.org/p/protect-ji...

Great graphic in this Asahi article. Sansei seems to have grabbed most of its voters from either Kokumin or Undecided. digital.asahi.com/articles/AST...

Thought this was an interesting analysis: Japan's "fearful fringe" -- about 10% of the population: carterjmrn.com/blog/introdu...

Leading up to tomorrow's Upper House election, highly recommend this analysis of each party's stance on environmental issues. Please share with those who may be interested. kikonet.org/content/3804...

This must be what makes summers in the city so pleasant.

On Wednesday a coalition of experts in urban planning, architecture, etc. presented an open letter to Toshiko Abe, the minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, asking the for the Jingu Gaien redevelopment project be reassessed. apnews.com/article/japa...

Question I've been getting a lot recently: “I’m openly gay. How can I best navigate potential questions about my personal life during the social parts of my visit to Japan?” Figured that many people likely have the same question, so decided to write about it. japanintercultural.com/free-resourc...

Honored to join the board of Osaka-based Air Water Inc., a diversified company with leading edge technology in industrial gas distribution, healthcare and foods.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election is tomorrow, Sunday June 22nd. Check out this handy list of which candidates will protect and expand Tokyo's trees and greenery. And tell everyone you know to be sure to vote! note.com/tenco_venexi...

Working Effectively with Americans seminar in Nagoya, on July 3rd Taught by myself and our Michigan Representative Yoshi Ieda, who has long experience in the auto industry. Details here in both English and Japanese: www.kokuchpro.com/event/ac0ca5...

Highly recommend the Ukiyoe in Play exhibit at the Tokyo National Museum, till 6/15. @gaijinmommy.bsky.social I thought of you when I saw this one!

In case you need this for conversation, Japanese translations of TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) include「トランプはいつも怖じ気づいてやめる」 from CNN. AFP uses the slang, while explaining it in brackets, with「トランプはいつもチキって〈おじけづいて〉退く」. Bloomberg has「トランプはいつも尻込みする」, while the Nikkei and Mainichi have「トランプはいつもビビってやめる」.

So which Japanese pop star do we think bore Musk's child? www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/u...

Great new article in the Japan Times on tree issues in Japan. “A culture that once built shrines to sacred groves now routinely fells them for stadiums. The centuries of wisdom still lingers — only to be increasingly ignored or paved over.” I’m quoted too. www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/...

Opposition has grown to a megasolar project near the Kushiro Wetlands National Park in eastern Hokkaido following the discovery of nests of the white-tailed eagle — a rare and protected species.

Nikkei research shows that office vacancy rate in Tokyo has increased twelve-fold in the past three years. All those new high rise office towers are not getting filled up... (And not just high rises, small one in my neighborhood built 6 months ago still empty) www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...

Just announced that Tofuya Ukai under Tokyo Tower will close next spring. 😨 Another green spot, and another unique Tokyo place lost. No formal announcement yet but rumor is there will be a high rise development of some sort. Past article re those rumors: www.kenbiya.com/ar/ns/jiji/e...

Abroad in Japan had always been on my TO READ list. Kindle version is on sale now on Amazon in the U.S. for $1.99 so I grabbed it. Will write a review after reading! amzn.to/43nUQUp

Tokyo is now saying it will not strike a trade deal with Donald Trump unless it includes all tariffs, including those on automotive products, something the US refused to do in the bilateral talks last week. richardkatz.substack.com/p/tokyo-no-t...

Gotta love YouTube's recommendation engine. It suggested this one to me (I love fusion music). Stairway to Heaven with Gagaku (Japanese imperial court music). Worth a listen! youtu.be/RnxI0mgAqgY?...

"Once I greeted them in Japanese, that really got people's attention. It stood out from the others who were just speaking English." Fresh off a few days at SusHi Tech, Fan-Hsi Wang of Avalanche Computing (which I mentored through 500 Global) met up w/ me today to catch up. /1

Back this week! Are you or one of your colleagues visiting Japan on business for the first time? Join us for this online event to get tips and strategies for making the trip a success. From cultural etiquette to business practices, we’ve got you covered! www.tickettailor.com/events/rudli...

Looking for some good reading & language study on a rainy afternoon? Check out "Leap Before You Look," a new column written by Tomoko of our team, chronicling her life as a Japanese woman living in the U.S. In both English and Japanese, with voice track. japanintercultural.com/about-us/new...

Chipotle is expanding to Mexico? Really wish they would expand to Japan instead! seekingalpha.com/news/4432675...

Are you or one of your colleagues visiting Japan on business for the first time? Join us for this online event to get tips and strategies for making the trip a success. From cultural etiquette to business practices, we’ve got you covered. www.tickettailor.com/events/rudli...

“Mastering Cross-Cultural Communication: Essential Skills for Global HR Professionals” – April 7, 2025 Online As globalization continues to advance, cross-cultural communication has become an indispensable skill for global HR professionals. www.ghrjapan.org/en/event-det...

More of this please! (Including kayaking) Japan needs to make better use of its rivers for recreation purposes. asia.nikkei.com/Business/Tra...

“No matter who I talk to in the U.S. administration, none of them knows what Trump is thinking,” a senior Japanese government official said. “We don’t even know what Trump wants to negotiate on.” www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

The Mainichi has put up a translation of its story on the results of a corporate survey on DEI initiatives. mainichi.jp/english/arti...

“Mastering Cross-Cultural Communication: Essential Skills for Global HR Professionals” – April 7, 2025 Online As globalization continues to advance, cross-cultural communication has become an indispensable skill for global HR professionals. www.ghrjapan.org/en/event-det...

Tokyo peeps -- this looks like a cool event for a good cause. Anyone interested in forming a team with me? It's this Sunday evening. www.eventbrite.com/e/quiz-night...

Japanese company where it's ok to come in late if you are hung over? Our EMEA Representative Pernille Rudlin interviewed on Monocle Radio's The Globalist podcast about this unusual case and what it says about trends in the Japanese labor market. From 53:00. monocle.com/radio/shows/...

Scientists find two peaks of aging: At 44 and 60 Interesting how this coincides with the Japanese "kanreki" concept. www.msn.com/en-us/health...

Avoiding gluten and dairy in Japan – handling it practically and culturally. My personal experience. (Going to make a Japanese version of this to explain to clients etc. why I have weird food requirements) japanintercultural.com/free-resourc...

I’ve been hearing from Japanese who are confused by the attacks on DEI in the U.S. so I have written up something that attempts to explain what is happening in a clear way. japanintercultural.com/about-us/new...

I think I have figured out why the government is suddenly making noises about permanent residents losing their status if they don't pay their taxes etc. And it's not because they are trying to distract from the recent scandals. This article clarifies. /1 www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...