About PSPINC and Japan

Kabukimono — The Rebels and Trendsetters of Early Japan

6月

19日

Kabukimono — The Rebels and Trendsetters of Early Japan

When people hear the word kabuki, they usually think of Japan’s famous traditional theater with elaborate makeup and dramatic performances. However, the origin of the word goes back to a group of eccentric warriors known as Kabukimono (歌舞伎者).

The word comes from the Japanese verb kabuku (傾く), meaning “to lean” or “to behave differently from the ordinary.” Kabukimono were warriors, often samurai or masterless samurai, who lived during the late Sengoku and early Edo periods. They rejected conventional behavior and expressed themselves through extravagant fashion, unusual hairstyles, oversized swords, and bold, sometimes shocking, manners.

Some kabukimono were admired for their courage, individuality, and loyalty, while others gained a reputation as violent troublemakers. One of the most famous figures associated with this culture was Maeda Keiji, a legendary samurai remembered for his flamboyant appearance and fearless personality.

The famous Japanese theater Kabuki (歌舞伎) inherited this spirit of being unconventional. Although the characters mean “song, dance, and skill,” they were chosen mainly for their sound and to express the dramatic nature of the art.

In many ways, the kabukimono were the “rebels” or “rock stars” of their time—people who challenged society’s expectations and created a style that became part of Japanese cultural history.

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/560580/kabukimono-the-rebels-and-trendsetters

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Kenichi Uchikura
President / CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.
ken.uchikura＠pspinc.com
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ABOUT PSPINC

PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), based in Bellevue, Washington founded in 1987, has provided web hosting, email hosting, and internet solutions since 1997. The company operates data centers in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and multilingual service.

For more information or to discuss your needs, please call (800) 232-3939 or (425) 957-0808, or email Info@PSPINC.com

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#Business #CrossCultural #Entrepreneurship #History #Innovation #Japan #JapanInsights #JapaneseCulture #Kaizen #Leadership #Management #Networking #PSPINC #Seattle #Technology #USJapan

Kantō-daki and Oden — A Story of Japan’s Regional Taste

6月

19日

Kantō-daki and Oden — A Story of Japan’s Regional Taste

Last night, I went to dinner with a potential new business partner in Shinbashi, Tokyo, and we enjoyed Kantō-daki (関東炊き). What I ate last night was the original Kantō-style Kantō-daki—very dark in color, as you can see in the images. The dark appearance comes from a broth that uses a stronger soy sauce base.

Kantō-daki originated in the eastern part of Japan, the Kantō region around Tokyo. When this dish was introduced to the Kansai region, people adapted it to their own taste. Instead of a heavy soy sauce flavor, Kansai cooks created a lighter broth based on dashi, a traditional Japanese stock made from kombu seaweed and bonito flakes.

That lighter Kansai style is what many people today recognize as oden. It is the style commonly found at convenience stores throughout Japan—light in color but full of deep umami flavor.

I grew up in the Kansai region, so when I was a child, we called this dish Kantō-daki, even though the Kansai version had already evolved into a lighter, different style. It is fascinating how a dish that literally means “Kantō-style simmered food” became part of Kansai culture and changed into something uniquely Kansai.

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/560577/kantdaki-and-oden-a-story-of-japans

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Kenichi Uchikura
President / CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.
ken.uchikura＠pspinc.com
Twitter | Facebook | Linked In

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ABOUT PSPINC

PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), based in Bellevue, Washington founded in 1987, has provided web hosting, email hosting, and internet solutions since 1997. The company operates data centers in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and multilingual service.

For more information or to discuss your needs, please call (800) 232-3939 or (425) 957-0808, or email Info@PSPINC.com

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#Business #CrossCultural #Entrepreneurship #History #Innovation #Japan #JapanInsights #JapaneseCulture #Kaizen #Leadership #Management #Networking #PSPINC #Seattle #Technology #USJapan

You Are Not Allowed to Charge Extra for Credit Card Use in Japan

6月

18日

You Are Not Allowed to Charge Extra for Credit Card Use in Japan

When traveling internationally, one of the interesting differences you notice is how countries handle credit card processing fees.

In the United States, it is common to see signs that say “Credit Card Fee 3%.” This means customers who choose to pay by credit card are charged an additional fee to cover the merchant’s credit card processing costs.

Japan is different. In general, merchants are not allowed under their credit card merchant agreements to charge customers a higher price simply because they use a credit card. Instead, the cost of accepting credit cards is usually treated as part of the overall cost of doing business and included in the price of products and services.

From a merchant’s point of view, credit cards offer convenience and can increase sales, but they also come with processing fees. The question is who should bear that cost—the individual customer who uses the card or all customers through the product price.

The answer reflects a difference in business culture. In the United States, the cost may be shown separately as a credit card surcharge. In Japan, the cost is generally built into the price that everyone pays.

The same 3% cost exists in both countries, but the way it is presented reveals a fascinating difference in business practices and customer expectations.

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/560490/you-are-not-allowed-to-charge-extra-for

For Service and Iqnury : Call 1-800-232-3989 or 425-957-0808

Kenichi Uchikura
President / CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.
ken.uchikura＠pspinc.com
Twitter | Facebook | Linked In

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ABOUT PSPINC

PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), based in Bellevue, Washington founded in 1987, has provided web hosting, email hosting, and internet solutions since 1997. The company operates data centers in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and multilingual service.

For more information or to discuss your needs, please call (800) 232-3939 or (425) 957-0808, or email Info@PSPINC.com

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#Business #CrossCultural #Entrepreneurship #History #Innovation #Japan #JapanInsights #JapaneseCulture #Kaizen #Leadership #Management #Networking #PSPINC #Seattle #Technology #USJapan

The Origin of Japanese Figures: From Edo-Era Netsuke 根付 to Modern Collectibles

6月

18日

The Origin of Japanese Figures: From Edo-Era Netsuke 根付 to Modern Collectibles

Japan is famous around the world for its incredible figure culture. Today, characters from anime, manga, and video games are made into highly detailed collectible figures that are admired by millions of fans. But the Japanese tradition of creating small, detailed figures did not begin in modern times. Its roots can be traced back hundreds of years to the Edo period and the art of netsuke.

Netsuke were small carved sculptures originally used as practical accessories. Since traditional Japanese kimono had no pockets, people carried small items such as medicine cases, tobacco pouches, and inrō suspended from their belts. A netsuke served as a toggle to prevent these items from slipping through the obi sash.

Over time, netsuke evolved from simple tools into miniature works of art. Skilled craftsmen, called netsukeshi 根付師, carved animals, people, legendary creatures, and scenes from everyday life using materials such as wood, ivory, and antler. The level of detail achieved in objects only a few centimeters in size was extraordinary.

Although modern anime figures and Edo-period netsuke serve very different purposes, they share the same Japanese appreciation for creating an entire world within a small object. In many ways, the netsuke craftsmen of the Edo period can be considered the ancestors of today’s figure artists.

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/560483/the-origin-of-japanese-figures-from

For Service and Iqnury : Call 1-800-232-3989 or 425-957-0808

Kenichi Uchikura
President / CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.
ken.uchikura＠pspinc.com
Twitter | Facebook | Linked In

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ABOUT PSPINC

PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), based in Bellevue, Washington founded in 1987, has provided web hosting, email hosting, and internet solutions since 1997. The company operates data centers in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and multilingual service.

For more information or to discuss your needs, please call (800) 232-3939 or (425) 957-0808, or email Info@PSPINC.com

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#Business #CrossCultural #Entrepreneurship #History #Innovation #Japan #JapanInsights #JapaneseCulture #Kaizen #Leadership #Management #Networking #PSPINC #Seattle #Technology #USJapan

Ken Uchikura Newsletter Vol. 394 Never Forget What Made You Successful

6月

18日

Ken Uchikura Newsletter Vol. 394 Thumbnail

Never Forget What Made You Successful

As companies grow, priorities often change; that’s natural. However, when those priorities shift too far, organizations can lose the very strengths that made them successful in the first place.

Consider an automaker. Its fundamental purpose is to build great cars—vehicles defined by superior engineering, reliability, safety, and the sheer joy of driving. That is why customers buy them. Yet when a manufacturer prioritizes financial metrics, stock prices, and short-term profits over the craft of filmmaking and engineering, product quality inevitably suffers.

The same applies to the software industry. Many successful technology firms were built on outstanding products and innovation. But when a company begins investing more energy in marketing and promotion than in development and innovation, the product itself may gradually lose its appeal. When the promotion is spectacular, but the actual product falls flat, you lose user trust.

Of course, financial management and marketing are essential to running a business. But they’re meant to support the core product or service, not replace it. The supporting cast must never become the main act. To sustain long-term success, a business must never forget what brought them to the top in the first place.

When I look at many Japanese companies today, sometimes I feel some have stopped growing. While there are certainly exceptions, too many organizations appear complacent with their current size and status, lacking a clear vision—or even the desire—for their next chapter.

In these environments, you often hear a common refrain:

"That’s how we used to do things."

Honoring history is valuable, but if you use that phrase to justify staying comfortable rather than building a future, it can become dangerous. It may indicate that the company has forgotten the challenges, risks, and innovations that originally brought it success.

Another concerning trend consists of struggling companies appointing financial or investment experts as their new CEOs, rather than leaders who truly understand the industry. Financial literacy is crucial. However, without a genuine passion for and deep understanding of the company's actual products or services, a true turnaround is nearly impossible.

Numbers alone don’t build a company. Profit exists because a business creates value for its customers. Strengthening the products, services, and systems that generate value should come first. When profit itself becomes the primary objective, the company may actually weaken the very foundation that produces it.

Money is an outcome, not a purpose. It’s a tool, but it should never be the heart of management.

Success is not a destination. It’s the starting point for the next challenge.
Never lose focus on what brought you there.
That may be one of the most important lessons—for organizations and individuals alike.

For Service and Iqnury : Call 1-800-232-3989 or 425-957-0808

Kenichi Uchikura
President / CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.
ken.uchikura＠pspinc.com
Twitter | Facebook | Linked In

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ABOUT PSPINC

PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), based in Bellevue, Washington founded in 1987, has provided web hosting, email hosting, and internet solutions since 1997. The company operates data centers in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and multilingual service.

For more information or to discuss your needs, please call (800) 232-3939 or (425) 957-0808, or email Info@PSPINC.com

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#Business #CrossCultural #Entrepreneurship #History #Innovation #Japan #JapanInsights #JapaneseCulture #Kaizen #Leadership #Management #Networking #PSPINC #Seattle #Technology #USJapan

Visited Yasukuni Shrine

6月

17日

Visited Yasukuni Shrine

Today, I visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Located near the Imperial Palace, Yasukuni Shrine was established in 1869 and enshrines those who died in service to Japan from the Meiji Restoration through World War II.

The shrine is one of Japan’s most historically significant sites and remains a place visited by many Japanese and international visitors interested in Japan’s history and culture.

During my visit, I had the opportunity to see its impressive architecture and peaceful grounds.

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/560466/visited-yasukuni-shrine

For Service and Iqnury : Call 1-800-232-3989 or 425-957-0808

Kenichi Uchikura
President / CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.
ken.uchikura＠pspinc.com
Twitter | Facebook | Linked In

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ABOUT PSPINC

PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), based in Bellevue, Washington founded in 1987, has provided web hosting, email hosting, and internet solutions since 1997. The company operates data centers in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and multilingual service.

For more information or to discuss your needs, please call (800) 232-3939 or (425) 957-0808, or email Info@PSPINC.com

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#Business #CrossCultural #Entrepreneurship #History #Innovation #Japan #JapanInsights #JapaneseCulture #Kaizen #Leadership #Management #Networking #PSPINC #Seattle #Technology #USJapan

Why Is 大和 Read as “Yamato”?

6月

17日

Why Is 大和 Read as “Yamato”?

I was recently asked why the Japanese characters 大和 are read as Yamato. At first glance, it seems strange. The character 大 is usually read as dai or ō, meaning “great,” and 和 is often read as wa, meaning “harmony” or “peace.” So how did the pronunciation “Yamato” come about?

The answer lies in Japan’s ancient history. Long before Chinese characters were introduced to Japan, the region around present-day Nara was already known by the spoken name Yamato. As that region became the political center of the early Japanese state, the name Yamato came to represent not only a place but also the Japanese people and the nation itself.

When Chinese writing was introduced, the Japanese needed a way to represent the existing word “Yamato” in written form. Over time, several characters were used, including 倭, which was the name Chinese records used for Japan. However, because the character 倭 carried meanings that could be interpreted as “small” or “submissive,” the Japanese court later chose the more favorable characters 大和, meaning “great harmony,” to write the ancient name.

This is a wonderful example of how Japan adopted Chinese culture and writing but transformed them to fit its own identity. The spoken word Yamato was preserved, while the written characters evolved to express how the Japanese wished to describe their country.

Even today, the word Yamato remains deeply connected to Japanese identity, appearing in terms such as Yamato-damashii (大和魂), or the “Japanese spirit.”

A single word can carry more than a thousand years of Japanese history.

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/560464/why-is-read-as-yamato

For Service and Iqnury : Call 1-800-232-3989 or 425-957-0808

Kenichi Uchikura
President / CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.
ken.uchikura＠pspinc.com
Twitter | Facebook | Linked In

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ABOUT PSPINC

PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), based in Bellevue, Washington founded in 1987, has provided web hosting, email hosting, and internet solutions since 1997. The company operates data centers in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and multilingual service.

For more information or to discuss your needs, please call (800) 232-3939 or (425) 957-0808, or email Info@PSPINC.com

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#Business #CrossCultural #Entrepreneurship #History #Innovation #Japan #JapanInsights #JapaneseCulture #Kaizen #Leadership #Management #Networking #PSPINC #Seattle #Technology #USJapan

The Man Behind Japan’s 10,000 Yen Bill — Who Is He?

6月

17日

The Man Behind Japan’s 10,000 Yen Bill — Who Is He?

If you visit Japan today, you may notice a new face on the 10,000 yen banknote. The man featured on the bill is Eiichi Shibusawa (渋沢栄一), often called the “father of Japanese capitalism.”

Born in 1840, Shibusawa played a major role in transforming Japan from a feudal society into a modern industrial nation during the Meiji era. He was involved in the founding of more than 500 companies and organizations, including Japan’s first modern bank, the predecessor of today’s Mizuho Bank.

What made Shibusawa unique was his belief that business should not focus only on profit. He argued that economic success should be balanced with morality and benefit society as a whole. His philosophy was often described as the unity of morality and economy (道徳経済合一).

For many years, the 10,000 yen bill featured Yukichi Fukuzawa, the great educator and founder of Keio University. In 2024, the design changed, and Shibusawa became the new face of Japan’s highest-value banknote.

So, the next time you hold a 10,000 yen bill, take a moment to look at the man on it. He helped build the foundation of modern Japan’s economy.

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/560422/the-man-behind-japans-10000-yen-bill

For Service and Iqnury : Call 1-800-232-3989 or 425-957-0808

Kenichi Uchikura
President / CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.
ken.uchikura＠pspinc.com
Twitter | Facebook | Linked In

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ABOUT PSPINC

PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), based in Bellevue, Washington founded in 1987, has provided web hosting, email hosting, and internet solutions since 1997. The company operates data centers in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and multilingual service.

For more information or to discuss your needs, please call (800) 232-3939 or (425) 957-0808, or email Info@PSPINC.com

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#Business #CrossCultural #Entrepreneurship #History #Innovation #Japan #JapanInsights #JapaneseCulture #Kaizen #Leadership #Management #Networking #PSPINC #Seattle #Technology #USJapan

Lost in Translation: A Permanent Choice

6月

17日

Lost in Translation: A Permanent Choice
Many years ago, I saw a woman with the Japanese characters 「無料」 tattooed across her lower back.

PS: This is an AI generated image.

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/560417/lost-in-translation-a-permanent-choice

For Service and Iqnury : Call 1-800-232-3989 or 425-957-0808

Kenichi Uchikura
President / CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.
ken.uchikura＠pspinc.com
Twitter | Facebook | Linked In

__..-･**･-..__..-･**･-..__..-･**･-..__..-･**･-..__

ABOUT PSPINC

PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), based in Bellevue, Washington founded in 1987, has provided web hosting, email hosting, and internet solutions since 1997. The company operates data centers in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and multilingual service.

For more information or to discuss your needs, please call (800) 232-3939 or (425) 957-0808, or email Info@PSPINC.com

__..-･**･-..__..-･**･-..__..-･**･-..__..-･**･-..__

#Business #CrossCultural #Entrepreneurship #History #Innovation #Japan #JapanInsights #JapaneseCulture #Kaizen #Leadership #Management #Networking #PSPINC #Seattle #Technology #USJapan

The Names of Yamato, Musashi, and Shinano — What Do They Mean?

6月

17日

The Names of Yamato, Musashi, and Shinano — What Do They Mean?

The three great warships of the Yamato-class carried names that came from ancient provinces of Japan. In the Imperial Japanese Navy, battleships were traditionally named after old provinces, connecting these ships to Japan’s geography and history.

Yamato (大和)

Yamato was the ancient province centered around modern-day Nara Prefecture. It was the birthplace of the early Japanese Imperial Court and eventually became a poetic name for Japan itself. The word Yamato represents the Japanese nation, culture, and spirit, as seen in expressions such as Yamato-damashii (大和魂) — “the Japanese spirit.”

Musashi (武蔵)

Musashi was an ancient province covering most of present-day Tokyo, Saitama, and part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was one of the largest and most important provinces in Japan. The famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi took his name from this region.

Shinano (信濃)

Shinano was the ancient province corresponding roughly to modern Nagano Prefecture. It was the largest province in historical Japan by land area and was known for its mountains and central location.

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/560416/the-names-of-yamato-musashi-and-shinano

For Service and Iqnury : Call 1-800-232-3989 or 425-957-0808

Kenichi Uchikura
President / CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.
ken.uchikura＠pspinc.com
Twitter | Facebook | Linked In

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ABOUT PSPINC

PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.), based in Bellevue, Washington founded in 1987, has provided web hosting, email hosting, and internet solutions since 1997. The company operates data centers in the United States and Japan and supports businesses worldwide with reliable technology and multilingual service.

For more information or to discuss your needs, please call (800) 232-3939 or (425) 957-0808, or email Info@PSPINC.com

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