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Tokyo The Favorite in Vote for 2020 Olympics

Tokyo The Favorite in Vote for 2020 Olympics

Posted on Sep 7, 2013 in News, Stories about Japan |

The International Olympics Committee will hold a vote in Buenos Aires on Friday to decide the host of the 2020 Olympics. According to oddschecker.com, a site that gathers odds from Internet betting sites, Tokyo bests its competitors at 11-10 (meaning a successful bet of $10 will return $11 plus the original stake). Madrid follows at 11-4 and Istanbul 5-1. Throughout the past week, the three cities’ delegations have had to face questions on their preparedness and ability to...

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Why actions in Japan speak louder than words

Why actions in Japan speak louder than words

Posted on Sep 7, 2013 in Japanese customs, Stories about Japan |

Foreigners are often upset when their Japanese counterparts break verbal commitments or fail to live up to the signed agreements. Where the foreigners themselves “fail” is that they are ignorant of the etiquette and ethics of the Japanese and do not realize that what they think is wrong, may be regarded as right in Japan. The reality behind a pleasing facade In formal official dialoge in Japan, especially with government bureaucrats and politicians, what you...

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How the Japanese perceive and use knowlegde vs. the Western way

How the Japanese perceive and use knowlegde vs. the Western way

Posted on Sep 6, 2013 in Japanese customs, Stories about Japan |

Until 1990, when Japan’s so called “bubble economy” began to lose steam, many Western business and political leaders were frustrated at the continuing momentum of Japan’s economic juggernaut- and their seeming inability to understand it, much less slow it down. The feeling that Japan was playing unfairly resulted in a backlash against Japanese management practices that were once touted as worthy of copying. This irrational reaction was soon...

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Japanese design explained: Shizen and Wabi-sabi

Japanese design explained: Shizen and Wabi-sabi

Posted on Sep 6, 2013 in Japanese customs, Japanese technology, Stories about Japan |

    Japanese design is famous the world over, but what is it exactly what we are looking at? I always believe if you know a bit of the back ground of things, it becomes easier to better appreciate the intentions of the designer and to appreciate something beyond face value. In this blog posting I aim to explain two different, but intertwined Japanese design principles.   Wabi-sabi a form of Japanese aesthetics   Wabi-sabi (侘寂) represents a...

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Nissan goes starwars

Posted on Sep 5, 2013 in Japanese technology, News, Stories about Japan |

Nissan has joined forces with the Empire. Images of stormtroopers, the shock troops seen in the Star Wars films, will be emblazoned on promotional materials up and down the country and on TV screens as the car maker enlists their help for the launch of its redesigned Juke sport-utility vehicle. Invision for DisneyConsumer Products/AP ImagesThe stormtrooper character from the Star Wars movies is helping Nissan sell its redesigned Juke SUV in Japan. In a TV ad aimed to boost...

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10 Things Japanese People love to do in Autumn

Posted on Sep 5, 2013 in Japanese customs, Stories about Japan, Things to do |

1. Dig up the old camcorder for Sports day festivals at schools. Health and Sports Day (体育の日 Taiiku no hi), also known as Health-Sports Day or Sports Day, is a national holiday in Japan held annually on the second Monday in October. It commemorates the opening of the 1964 Summer Olympics being held in Tokyo, and exists to promote sports and an active lifestyle. The first Health and Sports Day was held on October 10, 1966, two years after the 1964 Summer Olympics. October...

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