Genki? What’s Up? 72
We often think travel is about discovering new places.
This week reminded me that it's often about seeing familiar places differently.
From an hour of mindfulness at Tokyo Station to an unexpected return to Japan and a new perspective on Tokyo from a friend's apartment, here's this week's newsletter.
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Genki? What’s Up? 71
What do unexpected career opportunities, HRBP transformation, and a slightly menacing telecom building in central Tokyo have in common?
They're all featured in this week's newsletter.
Now that I'm home from a busy ten-day trip to Japan and nearly over the jet lag, I've been reflecting on the conversations, events, and unexpected moments that made the journey memorable. If you'd like a closer look at the GLOBIS reunion, G1, US-Japan Council programs, and other highlights from the trip, you'll find those reflections throughout my recent LinkedIn posts.
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Genki? What’s Up? 70
Greetings from Japan! This week’s newsletter is a little late, but I have a good excuse: I’ve been busy reconnecting with people, exploring Tokyo, and sharing some of those adventures on LinkedIn. This week’s posts range from the surprisingly serious challenge of living between two time zones to the much less serious challenge of fitting everything I want from a Japanese supermarket into my suitcase.
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Genki? What’s Up? 69
As I prepare for a return trip to Japan, I've been thinking about anticipation, meaningful work, and why some of the most interesting ideas come from looking at familiar things differently.
This week's newsletter covers everything from the GLOBIS Alumni Reunion to AI and workplace engagement, with a pumpkin-flavored detour along the way. 🎃
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Genki? What’s Up? 68
From King Kong and Godzilla to Lady Gaga at Famima and a comparison of the Empire State Building and Tokyo Skytree, this week's newsletter explores how travel, workplace change, and iconic landmarks can help us see the world a little differently.
What are we overlooking simply because it has become familiar?
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Genki? What’s Up? 67
What do a Roman Stoic philosopher, a cross-cultural HR community, and a traditional craft village in Ishikawa have in common?
They all appear in this week's newsletter and, surprisingly, point to the same idea: the value of being present, learning from others, and appreciating what truly matters.
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Genki? What’s Up? 66
The best insights rarely appear at first glance.
This week, a Japanese novel, a series of business workshops, and a temple in Ishikawa all reminded me why curiosity often serves us better than certainty.
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Genki? What’s Up? 65
I spent this week thinking about three very different mysteries:
• Why a Japanese detective novel completely fooled me
• What happens when you stop being the first person to speak in a meeting
• Why Tokyo and Osaka still can't agree on which side of the escalator to stand on
As different as they seem, they're all connected by one idea: the risks of making assumptions too quickly.
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Genki? What’s Up? 64
A chance meeting in Japantown. A reflection on employee engagement. A surprisingly fascinating story about flip flops.
This week's posts reminded me that some of the best insights about culture, connection, and belonging come from places we least expect.
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Genki? What’s Up? 63
This month marks three years with JCO, but in many ways it feels more like the continuation of a journey that began 30 years ago as a Japanese Studies student.
That reflection, combined with some thoughts on gratitude, generosity, and one of Japan's most wonderfully practical inventions, became this week's newsletter.
As always, Japan has a way of turning everyday observations into bigger lessons about people, relationships, and patience.
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Genki? What’s Up? 62
Where do you belong?
It's a simple question, but for anyone who has lived in multiple countries, the answer is often more complicated than it seems.
This week's newsletter explores the Japanese concept of ibasho (居場所), reflections on the California-Japan business community in the Bay Area, and one of the most unusual places I've ever visited in Japan. Different topics, but all connected by a common thread: the people, communities, and experiences that shape who we are.
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Genki? What’s Up? 61
What do detective novels, bilingual workshops, and a historic cemetery in Yokohama have in common?
That was the question I found myself asking as I looked back on this week's posts.
I ended up writing about how our brains love solving puzzles, the hidden mental effort involved in working across languages and cultures, and the courage of some of the earliest foreigners who built lives in Japan long before Google Translate, international schools, or even reliable communication with home.
Read more by clicking on the link!