ビジネス日本語講座

In this episode, I reflect on the meaning of “Kyogyo” — so-called vain or hollow work. In Japan, the word often carries a negative tone, suggesting something useless or unproductive. Yet I argue that Kyogyo gives life its warmth and meaning. Through my experience working for a free paper in Vietnam, I saw how even “impractical” work can create atmosphere, emotion, and human connection. If “real in...

In this episode, I explore why people are drawn to unreasonable, stubborn craftsmen in an age ruled by AI’s perfect efficiency. Machines are polite, logical, and tireless—but they lack a soul. We humans sometimes crave friction: to be challenged, even scolded, by someone who truly cares about their craft. Behind every gruff artisan lies lonely pride, fear, and passion—the emotions that make their...

In this episode, I explore why Japanese society makes it difficult to feel truly free. From postwar reconstruction to today’s hyper-organized culture, Japan has built a system of invisible control—not through laws, but through “air,” the pressure to conform and avoid standing out. People learn to restrain themselves, trading individuality for harmony, until even thinking too deeply becomes inconve...

In this episode, I reflect on Japan’s love of saunas and the popular phrase “totonou”—to “get aligned” or “feel refreshed.” While harmless and pleasant, I see in this idea a symbol of Japan’s preference for safe, conflict-free topics and emotional neutrality. Talking about saunas, like talking about the weather, never offends anyone—but it also provokes no thought. I explore how this cultural tend...

In this episode, I discuss why you should never tell your boss or coworkers that you want to quit your job. Many employees, feeling anxious or uncertain, seek advice inside the company—but this is often a trap. Most colleagues and managers speak only from a salaryman’s perspective, and once you reveal your intention to resign, you may be seen as a traitor or lose trust immediately. I explain the p...

In this episode, I explore the “favorite dishes” and “strange delicacies” of Japanese salaryman language. One common favorite is the phrase saiteki-kai (“optimal solution”), used so casually in meetings that it feels like handing out rice balls—filling but uninspiring. Then come the exotic “delicacies”: buzzwords like evidence, synergy, and commit, often overused until they lose real meaning. Draw...

In this episode, I ask whether Japan’s stubborn “shokunin” spirit can truly succeed in overseas workplaces. Japan’s manufacturing excellence has long been admired, but when proud, uncompromising engineers are sent abroad, their attitudes sometimes clash with local staff and culture. In Japanese firms, hierarchy and the company brand once protected such behavior, but in local companies without that...

In this episode, I reflect on a deep issue I have observed in Japanese companies: many executives seem to have lost the ability to truly trust their employees. Drawing on my own background in sales, I share how freedom once allowed workers to grow, while today’s environment of GPS tracking, rigid manuals, and excessive reporting has created a culture of micromanagement. I compare this with the bro...

In this episode, I explore the hidden meaning behind the Japanese slang “shimerareru” (to be subdued) and connect it to a universal human tendency: relying on external authority to impose power. Starting from delinquent street talk, I expand the discussion to Japanese history under the Tokugawa shogunate, the Meiji Constitution, and the postwar system, then compare it with Britain’s monarchy, Thai...

In this episode, I explore why the phrase “communication skills” often makes me feel uncomfortable, even to the point of dislike. In Japan, from job interviews to workplace evaluations, communication ability is treated as a universal virtue. Yet much of what is praised as “skill” seems closer to pleasing others—pouring drinks at the right moment, reading the room—rather than true dialogue. I refle...

In this episode, I reflect on the value of living without constantly seeking rewards. Modern society often measures every action by efficiency, goals, or profit, but such thinking can make life feel narrow. Through examples from language learning, exercise, workplace relationships, and even a childhood memory, I explore how “acting without expecting anything in return” creates trust, reveals true...

In this episode, I explore Japan’s cultural resistance to side jobs, focusing on the expression “wearing two pairs of waraji”—a metaphor for taking on more than one role. I share my own experience working in Bangkok, where a company strictly prohibited outside work, and reflect on how such restrictions reveal the conservative nature of many Japanese firms. Why is pursuing a dream seen as irrespons...

In this episode, I reflect on the subtle “scent” people give off when they have not fully let go of a dream. It is not a physical smell, but an aura that reveals hidden frustrations, unfulfilled ambitions, or lingering hopes. I share my experience working in Bangkok with colleagues who carried this energy, and how it shaped my view of human struggles. Drawing on the classic drama The Great White T...

In Japan, exchanging business cards is more than just a polite introduction—it is a silent negotiation of status and identity. In this episode, I explore how Japanese salarymen use a single card to measure hierarchy: company size, job title, and organizational prestige. Drawing on my own experiences in Japan and Southeast Asia, I explain why business card etiquette matters, how hidden power dynami...

In this episode, I explore a unique theme: “The Job Center for People Who Want to Boss Others Around.” Human desires take many forms—some want love, some want comfort, others pursue self-realization or wealth. But one common and rarely discussed desire is the urge to feel superior and show authority. I look at professions where this tendency appears most clearly—doctors, lawyers, teachers, constru...

In this episode, I reflect on the contrast between city life and rural life through my own experiences and cultural references. Urban living offers the convenience of freedom and anonymity, but it also fosters isolation and a sense of disconnection. By contrast, rural communities provide natural beauty and close human ties, yet their dense networks can feel overwhelming, even suffocating for outsi...

In this episode, I explore the question: does an easy job really exist? Society often insists that no work is ever easy, but my own experiences suggest the truth is more complex. I discuss how the meaning of “easy” differs—whether physical, mental, or relational—and share examples from my past: exhausting moving jobs, low-pressure route sales in Thailand, and creative but highly controlled office...

In this episode, I talk about survival strategies in Japanese companies where manuals are valued above creativity. I share my own experience working as a pharmaceutical route salesman, where even greetings and gestures were strictly controlled. While manuals bring efficiency and consistency, they often suppress innovation and produce managers who rely on micromanagement. I explain why strictly fol...

After living in Southeast Asia for ten years, I returned to Japan and was struck by how little had changed. Unlike the folktale of Urashima Tarō, where the hero comes back to a world transformed, my “reverse Urashima” experience was finding a society that felt almost the same. From 100-yen coffee at convenience stores to the rigid business manners expected abroad, I reflect on the comfort and frus...

In this episode, I talk about one of the most practical yet rarely discussed skills in Japanese corporate life: making excuses when you need to skip work or arrive late. From the safest option of claiming illness to more questionable reasons like family emergencies, I explore which excuses are believable and which can damage your reputation. I also explain cultural aspects such as train delay cert...

In this episode, I explore the hidden survival skills required in Japanese corporate culture, focusing on the art of mastering subtle “insidiousness.” I explain how reading the atmosphere, using sarcasm and irony, and strategic positioning often define who thrives in the workplace. Through real examples, I reveal how these tactics are valued inside companies but remain meaningless once you step ou...

In this episode, I question the traditional Japanese belief in “career consistency.” In many Japanese companies, being recognized as a true professional often requires staying in the same job for decades. Even dull or unfulfilling work can be valued if endured long enough. Drawing on Shibusawa Eiichi’s famous quote and contrasting it with Fukuzawa Yukichi’s humor and openness, I reflect on how the...

In this episode, I reflect on why workplace relationships matter more than job content itself. From my experience, what truly shapes comfort at work is whether our values, or “work sense,” align with colleagues and especially bosses. I compare two contrasting types: the “relaxed type,” who values balance and free time, and the “stoic type,” who prioritizes work above all. I also share insights fro...

In this episode, I explore the question: under what conditions can long working hours be justified in Japan? I talk about the restaurant industry, where staff shortages and ambition often drive people to extreme overtime, and I recall the old “Can you work 24 hours?” culture that once shaped Japan. I also compare Japan with Europe, where long vacations and family time are valued. While I respect w...

In this episode, I talk about why learning to “slack off” is essential for both employees and freelancers. Slacking off doesn’t mean abandoning responsibilities, but rather finding small ways to rest, recharge, and create breathing space. I share my experiences in Bangkok—skipping work to wander around Siam Paragon or browsing Japanese books in Phrom Phong—and how those breaks kept me balanced. Fr...