I've been thinking about something recently, and I'm curious whether I'm the only one noticing it.
Over the years, a lot of people have reached out to me asking for advice. Sometimes they're interested in working in Japan. Sometimes they're looking for information about Japanese companies, introductions to people in my network, or guidance on navigating a career change. Most of the time, I'm happy to help. I've been fortunate to have many people help me throughout my career, and sharing a bit of what I've learned feels like a small way to pay that forward.
What I've noticed lately, though, is how often the interaction simply ends once the help has been provided.
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This week's Mindful Monday was inspired by a recent LinkedIn post from my friend Darren that asked three simple questions: Where were you born? Where do you live now? Where do you feel you belong?
My answers would be Belgium, the United States, and... I'm not entirely sure.
What I do know is that if you asked me where home is, I'd probably answer Japan or the U.S. It definitely wouldn't be Belgium.
That feels strange to say because I mostly lived in Belgium until I was 38. I then moved permanently to Japan, and later to the U.S. On paper, Belgium should be the obvious answer. It's where I spent most of my life.
But belonging doesn't seem to work like that.
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I've always found it slightly funny that one of my favorite ways to unwind is reading detective novels.
Most people relax by shutting their brains off. I relax by trying to solve fictional murders.
I just finished Tokyo Express by Seichō Matsumoto, a Japanese detective novel that was originally published in 1958. When I looked up the publication date afterwards, I honestly couldn't believe it. Apart from the absence of smartphones and email, it didn't feel dated at all.
The story starts with what appears to be a lovers' suicide, but two detectives become suspicious and start pulling on loose threads. Before long they're analyzing train schedules, station stops, travel times, and alibis in painstaking detail.
And somehow it's absolutely gripping.
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One of the things I love about Japan is that whenever the rest of the world identifies a problem, Japan's response is often, "Let's engineer something strangely specific to solve it."
Recently, I learned about a new invention called the "human refrigerator."
And yes, it's exactly what it sounds like.
Developed by a Japanese company that makes refrigeration equipment and vending machines, it's essentially a small booth that looks like a giant vending machine. You step inside, sit down, and cold air blasts your head, neck, shoulders, and back.
As someone who spent many summers in Japan, I immediately thought: honestly, this might be the most rational thing I've heard all week.
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When I lived in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, in 1997, one of the things I loved most was stumbling across places that made me think, "Only in Japan."
The Hanibe Caves definitely fall into that category.
Tucked away in the hills about 20 minutes from Komatsu Station, the caves are one of the strangest and most memorable attractions I've visited in Japan. Before you even enter, you're greeted by a giant Buddha head emerging from the hillside. It looks like it could wake up at any moment and go battle Godzilla.
Inside, things get even more interesting.
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This month marks my three-year anniversary with JCO. When I graduated in Japanese Studies almost 30 years ago, I could not have imagined that one day I would be celebrating a three-year anniversary at a company started by someone who shared that same academic journey.
Life rarely moves in straight lines. It tends to move in circles.
One of the most unexpected gifts of the past three years has been rediscovering a connection with Olivier. We both studied Japanese Studies, graduating around the same time, then followed our own paths through different countries, companies, and life chapters. Like many relationships, ours disappeared into the background noise of busy careers and changing circumstances.
And then, decades later, our paths crossed again.
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Last week I attended the Building California-Japan Business Connections event in San Francisco, and it reminded me why I always tell people that the Bay Area is probably the next best thing to being in Japan when it comes to connecting with Japanese companies.
What struck me before I even walked through the door was that this event was part of San Francisco International Week, a full week of programs organized by the San Francisco Chamber highlighting the region's global business connections. The Japan-focused evening was co-organized by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California (JCCNC) with support from JETRO San Francisco, which says a lot about the importance of the California-Japan relationship.
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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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