I installed a set of clear drawers recently to keep the things I reach for most: medication, supplements, those small daily essentials, in one visible, accessible place. My husband is always a little amused when I come home with yet another organizing tool, but for me, there’s something genuinely calming about creating visible order. Sliding those clear drawers into place and seeing everything arranged inside felt like a tiny exhale. It reminded me so much of Japan, where organizing isn’t just tidying, it’s a form of gentle care, a way of making life feel smoother and less overwhelming.
That small moment made me realize how much I rely on order to soothe my mind. Not perfection. Not a Pinterest-level aesthetic. Just the grounded, everyday comfort of things having a place, and me knowing where that place is. It’s amazing how seeing what I need, clearly, simply, quietly lowers the background noise in my mind.
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Every January, the world seems to hum with possibility. We buy planners with crisp, untouched pages, sign up for gym memberships, and declare bold promises: “This is the year I’ll finally get it right.”
There’s something intoxicating about that clean slate, the idea that we can reinvent ourselves overnight. I used to love that feeling. I’d write lists of goals so ambitious they felt like a new identity waiting to happen. But by this week, reality would creep in. The planner would sit unopened, the gym shoes untouched, and I’d feel that familiar sting of failure. Why is it so hard to keep resolutions? And why do they feel so heavy, even when they start with hope?
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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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One of the great joys of living in Japan is discovering that the parts of the chicken many Western kitchens throw away are, in fact, the absolute best bits. Exhibit A for today’s Fun Friday deliciousness: yakitori with chicken skin, or kawa, grilled to golden, salty, slightly chewy perfection. And if you’re wondering why mine looks especially beautiful in the photo, it’s because I happen to live with a man who has quietly become an expert yakitori chef. Lucky me indeed.
There is something magical about chicken skin on a skewer. When it hits the grill, the fat starts to render just enough to crisp the edges while leaving the inside soft and rich. A quick brush of tare gives it that glossy, caramelized finish. Paired with negi, the Japanese spring onion that somehow becomes sweeter on the grill, you get this perfect balance of textures and flavors. It’s the kind of food that makes you instinctively lean forward after the first bite, already plotting the next skewer.
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When people talk about Japan, they often mention tiny apartments, compact cars and neatly packed bento boxes. What they forget is that the same philosophy of compact perfection also applies to drinks. Exhibit A in today’s picture, a very serious three year aged umeshu in a bottle that is almost the same size as my apple.
In most countries, this amount of alcohol would be called a sample or a tasting. In Japan, it is a fully legitimate product with barcode, brand story and great pride. It is just… small. One elegant sip, maybe two if you are disciplined, and that is it. A complete experience in a tiny cup.
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Last week I joined the Japan Society of Northern California’s Japan Outlook 2026 program just as Japan headed into a major election. By the time the event took place, we already knew the outcome. Sanae Takaichi won a decisive victory on February 8, confirming just how strongly her message has been resonating with voters. With the United States also recalibrating its priorities around security, immigration, and trade, both countries are entering the year in motion.
A big part of the conversation was why Takaichi’s support has surged so quickly. Both speakers explained something that many of us who follow Japanese politics have felt intuitively. Takaichi doesn’t come from the long political dynasties that usually dominate the landscape. People see her as a normal person who understands everyday worries and priorities. In a system where lineage often signals authority, her relatability is a real political advantage.
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I spent last week Thursday in a very unglamorous Palo Alto motel, and honestly, it was perfect, because the event I attended at the Japan Innovation Campus that night turned out to be far more thought‑provoking than I expected. There were so many participants that I ended up in the overflow room, which tells you everything: this topic is booming, and people are paying attention.
This was another excellent event hosted by Alchemist. The theme was “Why build in Japan?” and I came away feeling that Japan is at a genuine inflection point. There was a lot of talk about greenfield investment opportunities and a reminder that yes, Poland’s GDP is projected to move ahead of Japan’s. Not as a doom statistic, but as a signal. Japan has an opening to leap forward again, especially through soft power.
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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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