Looking Back at a Premonitory Article on Media Credibility
In August 2015, I published an article on media credibility on the company blog, at a time when the digital transformation of journalism was still widely framed as an opportunity …
Reputation, Identity and Global Perception: The Karolina Shiino Case and Japan’s Image Abroad
The controversy surrounding Karolina Shiino, crowned Miss Japan 2024 and later stepping down from the title, has gone well beyond the boundaries of a beauty pageant. While the episode was …
Common Misconceptions Among Foreign Professionals in Japan and Japanese Companies Abroad
In our experience working with Japanese organizations and international professionals operating in and from Japan, a number of recurring misconceptions continue to affect cross-border projects, internal alignment, and long-term performance. …
Defending the Value of Original Content
In today’s digital ecosystem, high-quality content has become a strategic asset for media outlets, companies and organisations alike. However, situations still arise that reveal a persistent lack of respect for …
Expat Adjustment: Understanding Cultural Adaptation in Japan
An increasing number of foreign professionals in Japan encounter difficulties that are often attributed to specific incidents or misunderstandings, but which, at their core, stem from an underestimation of cultural …
Concepts (IV): Leadership, Responsibility and the Japanese Corporate Model
Last year, we began a series of reflections on professional and business-related concepts connected to Japan. These texts were never intended to offer lessons or prescriptions, but rather to share …
Concepts (II): Hierarchy and Professional Dynamics in Japan
Following the strong response to our previous article on key relational concepts in Japan, we would like to explore another fundamental aspect of Japanese professional culture: hierarchy. This topic remains …
Understanding Key Cultural Concepts in Japan
One of the most important lessons gained from long-term professional experience in Japan is that, while the country offers a high quality of life, living and working there is far …
Reporting “Illegal” Speech: Censorship and Political Control in Contemporary China
Contrary to common assumptions, censorship is not exclusive to authoritarian systems. Even democratic societies deploy mechanisms that limit or shape public discourse, whether through regulation, media concentration, public relations strategies …
A revealing image of the differences between Japan and Western corporate cultures
It is often said that an image can say more than a thousand words. A photograph shared a few weeks ago on Twitter by @arai_yusaku illustrates this idea particularly well. …