4 Useful Japanese Concepts You Need to Know
Thinking in the Land of The Rising Sun.
Japan went off-grid for more than 200 years at the start of the 1600s. No foreigners, limited trade, and no travel outside the country.
Japan didn't follow the same civilisation developments as the West. They relied on just themselves, which taught them valuable lessons.
We'll explore interesting concepts from Japanese culture to give you new perspectives on how different societies operate. It’s sure to broaden your decision-making horizons.
I spent three weeks in Japan in late spring this year. I joined a running group from Tokyo, where I met local people and foreigners who found their place in the country. I heard many amazing stories which amplify concepts you’ll read about in this article. These observations reflect patterns I noticed during my time there but of course it's subjective.
Kaizen — Continuous Improvement
How can Tokyo, with more than 14 million inhabitants, operate smoothly?
The answer is: continuous improvements at every corner.
In the subway trains, there are special screens which show you your position relative to the points at the station, so before going out, you know where to exit the station. You know how to walk, where to stand, and where a perfect place to rent an umbrella is.
All these small optimisations seemed to result from many intermediate steps that led to the final outcome. It's rare in European cities, where once something is designed, it often stays the same for years.
I heard for the first time about kaizen thanks to Toyota, and how they used it in manufacturing. Their production lines rely heavily on continuous improvements, which have helped them get an advantage over their competitors.
Your perspective: We tend to do things as we were doing them before, without pausing and focusing on improvements. Kaizen can be used in every aspect of our lives. — Think of processes, habits, or your routines that can be slightly improved regularly.
Mottainai — Reuse / Legacy
I was surprised to see the bus from the 80s right after landing in Tokyo. It took passengers to the terminal. But there was nothing wrong with these buses except the surprisingly old look. They still served the purpose, renovated with shiny new parts and engines.
The concept of reusability is deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Their 200-year period of isolation taught them how to live sustainable, reusable lives.
You see it in their continued use of cash, too. Why replace all the tickets and vending machines when they are working? Cash is still widely used, and there are many places where you can't pay by card.
Software used in public spaces, in ATMs and ticket machines was dated as well. But why should it follow modern design? The legacy system kept working for years, with only incremental improvements. Japanese engineers might be among the few who don’t feel the urge to rewrite everything.
Your perspective: Focusing on repairing things that have served for years, in some cases, might be a better option than buying or building something new.
Aimai — Ambiguity In Communication
In Kyoto, when the host of an event wants to let you know it's time to go home, they might point at your watch and say: "Oh, a beautiful watch, where did you buy it?" — which obviously means that you need to go home.
The concept of "aimai" translates to vague or ambiguous. In Japan, being direct may disrupt their social harmony.
A wonderful quote from my friend, as she described what the Japanese language is all about, when I asked her to explain:
I think with Japanese, you learn to understand beyond words
Beyond gestures
“Reading the air” is the thing for us (it’s not there all the time)
Sensing things in the atmosphere
Japanese culture depends a lot on context, which is passed beyond words (I covered low/high context cultures in the article on nodding).
Your perspective: Dealing with cultures that pay more attention to context rather than just words serves as a great reminder that culture shapes how we think and operate among people. Keep in mind that people with whom you are working may have different styles of communication. If they are from different cultures, make sure to understand the differences.
Ikigai — The Reason
There is one job in Japan that wouldn’t exactly bring me joy, but somehow, some of these workers appeared to enjoy it.
Nearly every big building in Tokyo has two dedicated people who help cars get in and out of its underground parking lots. These roles can be easily replaced by traffic lights. I observed these people, some were doing dancing moves while pointing at cars, and others were genuinely smiling.
Ikigai refers to the deep, personal reason you get out of bed in the morning. It's a sense of purpose that motivates your life. Promoted by the book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, which describes how centenarians are living (people 100+ years old) — and the hypothesis is that “ikigai” is key to their longevity, being active and driven even at an old age.
It's a reminder of how important it is to have something that drives you and gives you a reason to live. The drive should require some action or commitment — it might be just your job done well.
Your perspective: Defining your vision, which drives you every day, helps you wake up in the morning and stay driven throughout the day. When leading teams, discovering what motivates your people is important to keep them happy, or understand why they quit.
Summary
I visited Shimoda, on the Izu Peninsula — the place where the period of isolation ended with the arrival of Captain Perry from the US. Westerners arrived, but the changes in culture that developed throughout that period remain, and these concepts are still spreading to the West.
Whether rethinking how you communicate, finding meaning in everyday work, or simply improving a daily habit, these concepts can change how you operate.
Thanks for reading!
— Michał
& Special Thanks!
To the incredible people I met in Japan: the Namban Rengo running group, Adler Hsieh from Tokyo Tech Lead, and Kelvin (the Perspectiveship reader from Tokyo).
Post Notes
Discover Weekly — Shoutouts
Articles that might help you explore new perspectives, which I’ve read recently:
Here's My Take of Tech Working Culture in Tokyo by Adler Hsieh
You’ll Never Catch Up with AI. That’s Not the Point By Rafa Páez
:)
Thanks for the mention! Glad that you enjoy your trip and learning in Japan :)