Last Friday, I had the chance to attend the Japan Society Gala, held at the Grand Hyatt at SFO Airport, a fitting location for an evening celebrating international connection. Just outside the windows, a Pokémon-themed ANA jet was parked on the tarmac, having brought the CEO of ANA all the way from Japan especially for this event. That detail alone speaks volumes about the significance of the evening.
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During a recent visit to Nashville, Tennessee, I was reminded of how deeply interconnected our world can be, and how mindfulness often lives in the quiet spaces between cultures.
What many don’t realize is that Nashville, known for its vibrant music scene and Southern hospitality, shares a special bond with Kamakura, Japan, as official sister cities since 2014. Kamakura, a coastal town just south of Tokyo, is steeped in Zen Buddhist history, home to ancient temples, the iconic Great Buddha and a serene atmosphere that invites reflection.
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In Midnight in Broad Daylight, Pamela Rotner Sakamoto paints a powerful portrait of the Fukuhara family, illustrating their resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship and discrimination during World War II. Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the strength found in family bonds and the enduring spirit of those who face adversity.
Happy Halloween! Whether you're dressing up, indulging in spooky sweets, or just enjoying the festive vibes, October 31st is a day for fun, and in Japan, Halloween has taken on a life of its own.
When I first experienced Halloween in Japan, I was struck by how different it felt from the Western version I grew up with and I now see in my California town. Instead of carving pumpkins and door-to-door trick-or-treating, the holiday here is more about costumes, creativity, and community. Adults and teens take to the streets in elaborate outfits, turning places like Shibuya into a living cosplay runway. From anime characters to horror icons, the range of costumes is as imaginative as it is impressive.
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When I first moved to Japan, I thought Sports Day was just a school thing, kids running around in matching caps, parents cheering politely from the sidelines. But over the years, I’ve come to appreciate it as something much deeper: a joyful, communal celebration of movement, teamwork, and the simple pleasure of being outside.
This year, Sports Day スポーツの日 was held on October 13, giving everyone a well-earned long weekend. Originally created to commemorate the opening of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, it’s now a national holiday that encourages people of all ages to get active and celebrate health. And let me tell you, Japan knows how to do this with style.
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The Japanese proverb 「長いものに巻かれろ」, “Let yourself be wrapped around by something long”, has always struck me as both wise and frustrating. It’s a reminder to go along with the powerful, to avoid resistance, and to survive by adapting. In many ways, it reflects the quiet pragmatism that runs through Japanese society: harmony over conflict, tradition over disruption.
But as someone who has spent years working with Japanese professionals and helping expats navigate life and business in Japan, I’ve often wondered: What happens when we stop wrapping ourselves around power, and start becoming powerful ourselves?
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This past week, I had the opportunity to join an HR conference in Northampton, Massachusetts, organized by one of our valued clients: an integrated global trading and investment company with a footprint in trading, investment, solutions, and business enterprise. The setting was intimate yet dynamic, with 30 onsite participants and 20 joining online, all eager to engage in meaningful dialogue around global HR practices.
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A Japanese expat manager recently received a surprise during their annual performance review in the U.S.: a comment from their American team that they were “distant and hard to approach.” The manager was stunned. In Japan, maintaining formality and emotional restraint is often seen as professional. In the U.S., it can be interpreted as cold or disengaged.
This moment revealed a deeper issue: the feedback gap between jinji and U.S. HR.
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In a recent ruling, Mizuho Bank Ltd. successfully defended itself against a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit brought by a former U.S.-based vice president. While the legal outcome favored Mizuho, the case highlights a deeper issue that many global Japanese companies face: the perception of bias and the need for culturally intelligent HR practices. 最近の判決において、みずほ銀行株式会社は、米国拠点の元副社長による差別および報復に関する訴訟に対して、成功裏に自己防衛を果たしました。法的な結果はみずほ銀行に有利なものでしたが、このケースは、多くのグローバルな日本企業が直面しているより深刻な課題を浮き彫りにしています。それは、偏見の認識と、文化的知性を備えた人事施策の必要性です。
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