Lance E. Lee Podcast from Tokyo

Michael Cobra Suwa, a former professional boxer and current executive manager at Cryo Tokyo, teaches boxing and emphasizes the significance of defense in the sport. He trains his students to prioritize circular fluid movements for self-protection rather than solely concentrating on offense. Cryo Tokyo offers cryogenic therapy treatments that are becoming increasingly popular among athletes and hav...

Today we have David Pinsker, co-author of "Stories from the Genba" (featured in the Frank Foley episode), whom I coincidentally met at a social event. David discusses his upbringing in a close-knit family, sharing cherished memories. He pursued modern languages during his college years and arrived in Japan in 1979 to teach English communication. David said that the James Bond 007 film "You Only Li...

Gabriella White MCIJ ~ Quadruple Major Honors Dunelm has traveled the world on a wide variety of business missions and is officially the most-watched face of the world’s top corporate multilingual broadcasting channels online, which she has led as a Product Manager, Script Supervisor, and Presenter, spanning across thousands of series with an ongoing following surpassing 2 billion and counting, a...

Fifteen years strong, the partnership between Eric and Yoko Dahler has created a bespoke wine-tasting experience for a wide clientele through their teamwork and sales techniques. Yoko is a graduate of ICU, and while working with Sumitomo Life Insurance, she met her husband, Eric, at a social event. They have raised three sons and are currently devoted to their wine business, residing in the pictur...

The tales that shape life's path are truly inspiring, and Tom Byer's skillful recount of the vital moments that defined his journey is just that. Soccer became Tom's passion from a young age, and it paved the way for his multifaceted career as a professional player, coach, media entertainer, writer, researcher, and consultant. Notable milestones include representing Nestlé MILO as an ambassador at...

Despite our backgrounds and upbringings, I found it remarkable that Vesselin Popovski and I held similar perspectives on leadership, the teaching profession, rites of passage for manhood, the evolving era, embracing technology, and parenthood. Vesselin, who had a profound interest in philosophy during his childhood, pursued international relations at a prestigious Russian university. His commitmen...

Chuck Wilson, an esteemed fitness figure, has profound expertise in martial arts, specifically judo, and is significantly impacting his students. Despite grappling with childhood illness and perceiving himself as physically weak, Chuck experienced a pivotal moment when he was encouraged to lift weights at school, unveiling his innate talent. Driven to conquer his fears and enhance his capabilities...

Photographer Matthew Jordan Smith has captured a wide range of individuals, including celebrities and top-tier athletes. In 2021, he achieved a historic milestone by immersing himself in the Tokyo Olympics village and documenting the international athletes. Matthew's passion for photography began at age 10, and he has remained dedicated to his unique perspective behind the lens. He attributes his...

Naoko Yamazaki, the second Japanese female astronaut, captivated me with her narratives. Her fascination with the cosmos blossomed during her childhood in Hokkaido, where the star-studded night sky mesmerized her. She pursued aerospace engineering at Tokyo University and advanced to the master's course. For her first venture abroad, Naoko spent a year as an exchange student at the University of Ma...

Kent Gilbert, a long-term ex-pat in Japan, shares a common goal with many others who have spent significant time in the country: giving back to Japan. Originally an attorney with Baker McKenzie and armed with an MBA, Kent stumbled upon a television career in Japan, appearing in two highly popular shows, Sekai Marugoto How Much and Sunday Morning. As the first foreign talent on Japanese television,...

Kenneth F. Arbour and his wife Noriko form a formidable team in the luxury real estate sector, aiding numerous ex-pat families in their transition to life in Tokyo. Armed with a master's degree in urban and regional planning from the University of British Columbia, Kenneth has devoted 37 years to Century 21, diligently catering to the needs of the expatriate community with his exceptional team. Ha...

Ambitious and talented Noriko Kagami left her fashion industry job for a three-year solo trip across Europe, residing in Paris, a Portuguese village, Switzerland, and London. As a child, she excelled academically and in sports but chose to pursue her artistic inclinations. During her self-discovery journey, Noriko worked as a chef in Switzerland, a Japanese instructor, and a receptionist in London...

Mike Skurko, the initial gymnast I spotted in a double backflip, also happens to be one of the earliest I CAN Gymnastics instructors and the creator of the I CAN instructors' manual. Frequently he’s traveled back “home” to Tokyo to work with clients for @PRE Consulting Inc and on this most recent visit on behalf of @TrustInSoft.” Following a brief stint in writing, Mike transitioned into the realm...

Jonathan Bethune, an intellectually and musically talented individual with an IQ of 160, is a member of Mensa and aspired to join the Philharmonic Orchestra until his teens. However, during his time at NYU, he decided to switch his major to English education and ventured to Japan in his early twenties to teach English at both private Japanese schools and language institutes. Presently, Jonathan ma...

Brian Nelson was my reliable wingman during the TAC presidency, and although he typically prefers relaxing and socializing in Hawaiian shirts, I felt honored to see him donning a suit for this recording. Brian took me by surprise with his revelation of a three-year stint as a professional basketball player in Japan! His entrepreneurial aspirations were nurtured since childhood, and after several b...

Timothy Connor's passion for languages led to a year in France during college, where he acquired fluency in French and a desire to make it his home. Timothy returned to the United States to complete his finance degree, and at a suggestion from his Japanese language professor, he applied to the JET program, which brought him to Iwate. Later, he pursued his design aspirations at Esmod Japan. Buildin...

Despite facing the challenges of autism and speech difficulties during his childhood, Lowell Sheppard overcame these obstacles and pursued his dreams with unwavering determination. At 12, he accomplished the Miles for Millions Walk, covering 35 miles and raising funds for Haiti. This achievement transformed his self-perception. Today, at 68 years old, Lowell finds great pride in his family and gra...

Decades ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Lance B. Stuart, and it was truly delightful to reconnect with him during his recent visit to Tokyo. Lance, an alumnus of St. Mary's International School, holds great admiration for the discipline, values, and camaraderie he experienced. Following his time at Harvard Business School, Lance collaborated closely with Kenichi Ohmae at Mackenzie's Tokyo branc...

Motivated by his Disney Imagineer uncle, young @Dennis Hubbs aspired to become an engineer. He diligently pursued his studies, landing a job at Honeywell. However, Dennis ultimately opted for a career in law to ensure stability, obtaining his degree from American University. Swiftly employed in Washington, D.C., he specialized in patent law, working closely with the firm's leading partner. At 32,...

Frank Foley, the author behind a captivating collection of interviews featuring foreign business figures in Japan who have built thriving GENBAs through hard work and dedication, makes his second appearance. In his account of the inspiration behind "Stories from the Genba," the writing and editing techniques employed, and the manuscript's organization, I am intrigued by Frank's passion for recount...

Trista Bridges had a carefully planned life, but her journey revealed the beauty of embracing spontaneity. As the first black family in a predominantly white neighborhood in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Trista overcame challenges that shaped her resilience, honed her self-control, and gave her insights into the experiences of being a black woman in America. At the University of Pennsylvania, Trista d...

Darryl Wharton Rigby, the filmmaker, returns for his second appearance nearly a year after his first episode. He discusses his position as an assistant professor of production at Temple University Japan. He introduces his upcoming venture, "Polaris," set to commence filming this summer if funding and casting fall into place. Darryl directs his creative energy towards teaching, granting his student...

I have known Kyle Murphy for a long time, as I taught his two children, and we became acquainted through our social circles at TAC. Kyle, who served in the US Marine Corps, developed an affinity for Asia while stationed in Vietnam and decided to remain in this region. Before joining the US embassy, he pursued a degree in Japanese history at Sophia University, furthered his studies at Purdue Univer...

Dylan Scudder's story is a captivating fairytale come true. At a summer camp, he negotiated a year-long exchange with a German boy and studied in Germany when he was 16. Dylan later completed an apprenticeship in Germany and, fluent in English and German, traveled to Japan for his third language. He met the Norwegian sociologist and peace and conflict studies founder Johan Galtung. Dylan followed...

I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying Gregory K. Adams as he recounted his remarkable life experiences, from his early years amidst Philadelphia's vibrant and diverse street life to his fraternity days at the University of Richmond. His journey continued through the MIBS program at the University of South Carolina and his studies at Waseda University, accompanied by an internship at Nissan. Greg nurtu...