About PSPINC and Japan

Finger-Pointing Safety Checks: An Everyday Japanese Practice That Improved New York's Subway Safety

 

For Japanese people, it is a very familiar sight.

 

Train operators and conductors point at signals, gauges, and indicators while verbally confirming what they see. This practice is called "Shisa Kanko" (Pointing and Calling), a safety method developed in Japan's railway industry more than a century ago.

 

The idea is simple. Human beings can overlook things or make assumptions, even when looking directly at them. By physically pointing at an object and verbally confirming its status, workers engage their eyes, ears, voice, and body at the same time. This significantly reduces the likelihood of human error.

 

In Japan, the practice is so common that many people hardly notice it anymore. However, safety experts around the world have studied its effectiveness.

 

One of the best-known examples is the New York City Subway. Train operators point to a designated marker when their train stops at a station. This simple action confirms that the train has stopped in the correct position and helps prevent operational mistakes.

 

Studies have shown that pointing and calling can dramatically reduce human errors. As a result, the technique has been adopted not only in railways but also in factories, power plants, transportation systems, and other industries where safety is critical.

 

Today, we often hear about artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced technology. Yet one of the most effective safety innovations is surprisingly simple: point, look, and say it out loud.

 

It is a reminder that not all innovations require complex technology. Sometimes, a simple idea that improves human performance can have a lasting impact around the world. What seems ordinary in Japan may, in fact, be an innovation that helps make the world safer.

Japan’s Aesthetics of Subtraction "引き算の美学" : How It Differs from the West and the Rest of Asia

 

Have you ever heard of the Japanese concept of “the aesthetics of subtraction”?

 

It is a philosophy deeply rooted in Japanese culture, design, and craftsmanship. Rather than asking, “What can we add?”, it asks, “What can we remove while preserving what truly matters?”

 

In the West, a similar idea is often expressed by the phrase “Less is More,” popularized by the German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The goal is often functional efficiency and rational design. You can see this influence in modern architecture, industrial design, and products such as those created by Apple.

 

Japan shares some of these principles, but the underlying philosophy is different.

 

In a traditional Japanese tea room, a Zen rock garden, calligraphy, or ikebana (flower arrangement), empty space is not considered unfinished. Instead, the space itself has value. What is left unsaid, unseen, or unfilled invites reflection and imagination. In Japanese culture, simplicity is not only about efficiency—it is also about creating a sense of calm, balance, and appreciation for subtle beauty.

 

Looking across Asia, many cultures have historically embraced grandeur and richness. Traditional Chinese palaces, for example, often emphasize scale, decoration, and symbolism. In modern Asia, consumers frequently value products that offer many features and functions.

 

Of course, there are exceptions everywhere. But in general, Western minimalism often focuses on practicality, many Asian markets favor abundance and capability, while Japanese design seeks to reveal the essence of something by removing what is unnecessary.

 

This principle extends beyond art and design into business.

 

Successful companies do not grow simply by adding more products, services, or features. Often, their greatest strength comes from identifying what truly creates value and having the courage to eliminate everything that does not.

 

The aesthetics of subtraction is not merely minimalism.

 

It is the ability to recognize what is essential.

 

That may be one of Japan’s most unique contributions to the world of design, craftsmanship, and even business thinking.

Owakon

 

One word you often hear among younger Japanese people is "Owakon" (オワコン). It is a shortened form of "Owatta Content" (終わったコンテンツ), which literally means "finished content."

 

The term is commonly used to describe something that people believe has passed its peak, lost popularity, or no longer has a future. A declining TV show, an aging social media platform, a video game with fewer players, or even a business can be labeled as "Owakon."

 

Japanese people enjoy shortening words and phrases. Examples include Pasokon (Personal Computer), Rimokon (Remote Control), and Cospa (Cost Performance). "Owakon" follows the same pattern.

 

What makes this word interesting is that it often reflects perception rather than reality. Throughout history, many things have been called "Owakon." Email was considered outdated. Blogs were said to be dead. Desktop computers were supposedly being replaced by mobile devices.

 

Yet all of these still exist and continue to serve important purposes.

 

The same is true in business. Just because something is no longer the newest trend does not mean it has lost its value. Many successful companies operate in mature markets and continue to serve loyal customers for decades.

 

There is a difference between being out of fashion and being without value.

 

The next time you hear someone call something "Owakon," it may be worth asking: Is it really finished, or has it simply moved beyond the spotlight and found a sustainable place in the market?

The Right Tool for the Right Job

 

In Japanese, there is a phrase: 適材適所 (Tekizai Tekisho) — "the right person in the right place" or, more broadly, "the right tool for the right job."

 

A good example of this principle can be found in Japan's new Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel, JS Sakura (OPV-901), launched on October 14, 2025.

 

At first glance, some people may wonder why the ship appears lightly armed compared to Japan's powerful Aegis destroyers. It lacks the advanced air-defense radar systems and missile batteries typically found on frontline warships. The reason is simple: Sakura was never intended to fight major naval battles.

 

Instead, its primary mission is to patrol Japan's territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, especially in areas where foreign vessels frequently approach or challenge Japanese claims. These situations require a visible and capable presence, but not necessarily a heavily armed destroyer.

 

For many years, Japan has relied on expensive Aegis destroyers to perform some of these routine patrol duties. While highly effective, using billion-dollar air-defense ships to monitor fishing fleets, coast guard vessels, and everyday maritime activity is not always the best use of resources.

 

The Sakura-class was designed to assume much of this day-to-day presence mission, allowing Japan's Aegis fleet to focus on the tasks for which it was built: fleet air defense, ballistic missile defense, and high-intensity combat operations.

 

The lesson applies equally well to business. Many organizations assign their most valuable resources to routine tasks simply because they are available. Over time, that becomes costly and inefficient.

 

Success comes from matching resources to the mission. That is the essence of 適材適所—putting the right tool in the right place.

Only in Japan: Anime-Painted Weapons

 

Japan may be the only country where you can see a combat aircraft or military helicopter decorated with anime characters and have people line up to take pictures.

 

The helicopter in the image is a good example. It is a fully operational attack helicopter, designed for a serious military mission, yet it is covered with colorful anime artwork. To many people outside Japan, that combination seems strange. Military equipment is usually painted to look intimidating, while anime characters are associated with entertainment and popular culture.

 

However, in Japan, the two can coexist.

 

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) have often used anime, manga, and mascot characters as part of public relations campaigns. Special paint schemes appear at air shows, military festivals, recruiting events, and anniversary celebrations. These designs help attract visitors and create interest among younger generations who may not otherwise pay attention to military activities.

 

This reflects a uniquely Japanese cultural trait: the ability to blend serious subjects with creativity and friendliness. Japan is a country where high-speed trains have mascots, police departments have cartoon characters, and even government agencies use anime-style artwork to communicate with the public.

 

The result is something that would be difficult to imagine elsewhere—a heavily armed attack helicopter decorated like a character from an anime convention.

 

Whether you love it or hate it, it is certainly memorable. And perhaps that is exactly the point. When people remember the artwork, they also remember the organization behind it.

 

Sometimes the most effective way to gain attention is not to look more threatening—but to look uniquely Japanese.

Kintsugi Is Not About Gold — It Is About Value

 

Kintsugi is the traditional Japanese art of repairing broken pottery using lacquer mixed with gold, silver, or other precious materials. Today, many people admire Kintsugi because the repair itself becomes part of the object's story. In some cases, the repaired piece is considered even more beautiful and valuable than before it was broken.

 

However, there is an important point that is often missed.

 

Kintsugi was never intended to make something worthless valuable. Historically, people did not repair ordinary, disposable items with gold. They used Kintsugi to preserve something that already had value—whether that value was financial, artistic, historical, or sentimental.

 

Recently, some products have been intentionally broken and then repaired with Kintsugi techniques simply to create a unique appearance or increase market value. While the craftsmanship may be impressive, this misses part of the original philosophy. The purpose of Kintsugi was not to create value from damage. It was to preserve and honor value that already existed.

 

In other words, Kintsugi is not merely a repair technique. It is a method of preservation. The gold does not create the importance of the object; it acknowledges the importance that was already there.

 

Before admiring the gold-filled cracks, it may be worth asking a simple question: What made the object valuable before it was broken?

 

That question may be the true spirit of Kintsugi.

Did You Know Who Created the First Men-in-Pants / Woman-in-Skirt Toilet Sign?
Most people assume the familiar restroom sign—a man in pants and a woman in a skirt—was invented in the United States. Surprisingly, its roots trace back to Japan and the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

 

When Tokyo hosted the Olympics in 1964, organizers faced a major challenge. Millions of visitors were expected from around the world, many of whom could not read Japanese. To overcome language barriers, a team led by art director Masaru Katsumi and designer Yoshiro Yamashita developed the world's first systematic set of Olympic pictograms for sports and public services. These symbols included wayfinding icons for telephones, first aid, information desks, and restrooms.

 

The success of these pictograms was remarkable. They proved that simple images could communicate instantly across languages and cultures. The Tokyo system became the foundation for later Olympic pictograms and public signage around the world.

 

In 1972, designer Otl Aicher refined the concept for the Munich Olympics, and in 1974 the U.S. Department of Transportation adopted a standardized pictogram system that spread globally through airports, train stations, and public buildings. The restroom signs we see today are direct descendants of those earlier designs.

 

So while Japan did not invent the idea of pictograms themselves, the 1964 Tokyo Olympics created the first comprehensive international system of public-service pictograms, including restroom symbols. In many ways, the familiar toilet signs we recognize today can trace their lineage back to Tokyo 1964.

 

Next time you see a restroom sign, remember: one of the world's most successful visual languages began in Japan over 60 years ago.

Japan Establishes National Intelligence Council

 

Japan has taken a major step toward strengthening its national security and intelligence capabilities.

 

On May 27, Japan's Diet passed legislation creating a new National Intelligence Council, a high-level body responsible for coordinating intelligence gathering and analysis across the Japanese government. The council will be supported by a newly established National Intelligence Bureau, expected to begin operations as early as July.

 

For many years, Japan's intelligence functions have been spread across multiple organizations, including the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Defense, the Public Security Intelligence Agency, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Critics have often argued that information sharing between agencies was limited and that Japan lacked a centralized intelligence command structure comparable to those found in other major nations.

 

The new National Intelligence Council is intended to serve as the government's central intelligence coordination body, improving the collection, analysis, and sharing of information related to national security, foreign influence operations, cyber threats, terrorism, and regional security concerns.

 

Government officials have described this reform as only the first stage of a broader effort to modernize Japan's intelligence system. Future discussions are expected to include legislation aimed at countering foreign espionage activities, often referred to as a "spy prevention law," as well as the possible creation of an independent foreign intelligence agency similar in function to the CIA in the United States or MI6 in the United Kingdom.

 

Supporters argue that Japan faces increasingly complex security challenges in East Asia and needs stronger intelligence capabilities to protect national interests. At the same time, lawmakers have emphasized the importance of maintaining privacy protections, preventing political misuse of intelligence resources, and ensuring appropriate parliamentary oversight.

 

If additional reforms move forward, this could become one of the most significant intelligence and national security reorganizations in Japan since the end of World War II.

Thank You for Attending Our Marketing Seminar

 

Yesterday, PSPINC had the pleasure of co-hosting a marketing seminar with the Japan-America Society, and we were delighted to welcome so many attendees.

 

The highlight of the event was hearing from the CEO and Marketing Director of Ezell’s Famous Chicken, one of Seattle’s most recognized local businesses. They shared valuable insights about business growth, branding, and marketing, giving attendees a unique opportunity to learn directly from experienced industry leaders.

 

After the seminar, we continued the evening with a networking session, where everyone had the chance to enjoy Ezell’s Famous Chicken while meeting and connecting with fellow participants. It was wonderful to see so many engaging conversations taking place throughout the room.

 

We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the Japan-America Society for providing wine, other beverages, and bottled tea. Their support helped make the event both enjoyable and welcoming for everyone who attended.

 

Thank you to all who joined us. It was a great opportunity to learn, share ideas, and build new connections within our community. Events like this remind us how valuable it is to bring people together to exchange knowledge and experiences.

 

At PSPINC, we hope to continue hosting events like this in the future. Whether you attended this event or are considering joining us for the first time, we look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming seminars and networking gatherings.

 

Thank you again for your support, and we hope to see you soon.

Compromise and Continuous Improvement

 

The Japanese word “Dakyō” (妥協) is often translated as compromise, and many people see it as something negative. They associate compromise with lowering standards, giving up on ideals, or accepting something less than what was originally intended.

 

However, after many years in business, I have come to believe that compromise itself is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

The reality is that nothing is perfect the first time. Products, services, software, business plans, and even organizations are developed by people, and people are not perfect. If we refuse to compromise at all, projects never get completed, products never get released, and opportunities pass by while we continue chasing perfection.

 

Of course, too much compromise can be dangerous. Lowering standards too far can damage quality, customer trust, and ultimately the success of a business. The key is understanding where the limits are.

 

This is where another important Japanese concept comes into play: Kaizen (改善), or continuous improvement.

 

Rather than waiting for perfection, the idea is to create something that works, deliver value, learn from experience, and then improve it. Step by step, the product, service, or process becomes better over time.

 

Many successful Japanese companies became known for this philosophy. They understood that perfection is rarely achieved at launch. What matters is the commitment to keep improving.

 

Compromise is not the goal. It is often a practical necessity. Kaizen is what prevents temporary compromises from becoming permanent weaknesses.

 

Nobody creates something perfect on the first attempt. What matters is having the discipline, humility, and determination to make it better tomorrow than it is today.