omotenashi

This episode I speak with Mary Reisel. Mary is an applied anthropologist, who has lived in Japan for nearly 20 years. Her main area of expertise is consumer psychology.  She is also a PhD. candidate from Meiji Gakuin University and her dissertation is on Japanese "Enjyo Kosai" also known as Compensated Dating and how it applies to consumption and E-Commerce. After ten years of researching this controversial subject, she explains how sexuality, intimacy, and desire are not only closely linked to consumerism but also hold the keys to everything in life. In this episode we get to hear the origins, the real motivation behind "Enjoy Kosai" and the current status of compensated dating in Japan. Other topics we discuss:

• Why intimacy in Japan is very different than in the West
• How "Enjyo Kosai" started out as a game among high-class women
• A question from a Japanese student regarding "love" which changed her views
• Marco Polo's role in her early interest in Asia and Japan
• The foreign press influence in the image of "Enjyo Kosai"
• "Enjyo Kosai" was never about sexual relations. . . 
• The history and role of Japanese "Snacks" and Hostess bars
• Is "Enjyo Kosai" female empowerment, therapy, or abuse?
• How she did her research and how many interviews she conducted
• How shopping and sex are related to the meaning of life
• The deep psychological answer to consumerism and "Enjyo Kosai" 

Mary Reisel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mreisel/
Nightwork: Sexuality, Pleasure, and Corporate Masculinity in a Tokyo Hostess Club: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Anne-Allison/dp/0226014878
gugu Mattress Company: https://gugu.jp
Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

This episode I sit down with Katsura Sunshine, the only Western Rakugo Master Storyteller in the world and only the 2nd in the history of traditional Japanese Rakugo. He shares his fascinating journey from Canadian playwright and musical producer to Master Japanese Rakugo Storyteller.  We dive into the details of his three-year apprenticeship, the hardships and rewards. How he became an international Rakugo ambassador not only on Off-Broadway but around the world. Toward the end of the podcast we even get to hear a short traditional Rakugo story translated into English. Other topics we discuss: 

• The genius story behind why his Master made him bleach his hair blond
• Why he does not localize the traditional Rakugo stories when presenting in English
• How he got his first big break to internationalize Rakugo
• The differences between stand-up comedy and Rakugo
• Indentured servitude for three years and menial jobs is part of the apprenticeship
• The real meaning and purpose behind the apprenticeship
• How he convinced his Master to take him as an apprentice
• New Yorkers reaction when seeing him in kimono in public
• Rakugo stories are very family friendly, but there is an "adult" version as well

gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Katsura Shinshine's Website: https://www.rakugo.lol

This episode I sit down with Jared Campion the co-founder of Dream Drive, a customized Camper Van rental company. Only a little over one-year old, Dream Drive is seeing its business expand exponentially despite the current situation. How did the original idea for   Dream Drive come about and what were the many hurdles in Japan for a foreigner to start a customized rental van company in Japan. Despite extremely high capital investment for a niche Japanese market, Jared's dream for Dream Drive is coming true. Other topics we discuss: 

• The reasons all Camper-Vans are customized "in-house"
• Difference and advantages of a Camper Van vs. traditional RV
• The biggest challenges starting his business
• How he defines his business as "Luxury Hotel on Wheels"
• What is a "Base Camp Network" and how this is the actual long-term goal of Dream Drive
• The interesting intinerary differences between domestic customers and inbound tourists
• We debate five new business ideas for Dream Drive presented by AH
• Why Japan is better than New Zealand for "Best done by Camper Van"
• How travel by Camper Van is actually cheaper than by train or plane in Japan

gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Dream Drive Japan: https://www.dreamdrive.life

This episode I continue my conversation with Tim Sullivan. Specifically, he talks about the hundreds of cross-cultural training seminars he conducted for Hawaiian Airlines prior to their launching Japan flights. It's full of great anecdotes and amazing cultural insight. We also discuss the Japanese apology, and how he moulds his rule-breaking ways to fit accepted Japanese norms. This is a short episode and well worth a listen: Quality over quantity for sure. 

gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Tim Sullivan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-sullivan-3528486/
Intercultural Twilight Zone: https://japaninsight.wordpress.com

This episode I sit down with cross-cultural educator Mr. Tim Sullivan. He’s a very down to earth and culturally astute ambassador for Japan and foreign relations. His excellent Japan understanding comes from his study of cultural anthropology and Japanese story-telling Rakugo. For his corporate seminars he uses a storytelling approach vs. academic speak and on this episode he tells us numerous educational and entertaining stories including of his experience as a corporate mediator between waring US and Japan engineering teams, another about Mt. Fujii and how this majestic mountain is culturally perceived differently by Japanese and western cultures, and finally his most humbling yet inspiring moment in Japan, which took place in a Blues Bar. In addition, we discuss Japanese humor, Peter Drucker, which culture really invented the "Ikigai" concept, and how through his intervention, Americans learned to embrace the Japanese Hanseikai - the self reflection meeting. Other topics we discuss: 

• Living with a Japanese rock and roll star and his days as a "roadie"
• How to use Kakubari in a cross-cultural way with non-Japanese
• Process oriented vs. Goal oriented: The Japanese decision-making process explained 
• Why American's might refer to Mt. Fuji as a "Son of a Bitch!"
• The "Iceberg" model of visually analyzing cultural differences
• A Japanese concept he employed to defuse toxic US-Japan corporate relations
• How storytelling Increases engagement in in cultural seminars
• Culturally accepted sarcasm and irony in Japan
• Discuss his new collaborative book "Simple English for Japanese Medical Professionals" and the background of this project

gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Tim Sullivan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-sullivan-3528486/
Intercultural Twilight Zone: https://japaninsight.wordpress.com
Simple English for Japanese Medical Professionals: http://www.nanzando.com/books/02241.php

This "remote "episode I sit down with Omotenashi Consultant Paul Willis. Didn't know this was an actual job? Neither did I, which is why I was very interested to speak with Paul. "Omotenashi" has become a buzz word in Japan and internationally ever since Tokyo was selected to host the 2020 Olympics, and is the cornerstone of why Japanese hospitality is considered the best in the world. Paul has extensively researched Omotenashi, the background, culturally where it derives from, and has constructed a "schematic" in which he breaks down six components behind Omotenashi. Usually these details are reserved for his seminars, but luckily in this episode, he shares his findings along with numerous examples and stories. Other topics we discuss: 

• What led him to become an Omotenashi Consultant
• The role "consistency" plays in Omotenashi
• How Western hospitality often requires the guest to initiate the process of getting good service
• His Omotenashi "research" in Kyoto
• His most disappointing Japan "service" experience in Japan
• The dark side of Kodawari (attention to detail)
• Explain how he "sells" his Omotenashi service to organizations
• The future of Digital Omotenashi
• His greatest success story and proudest accomplishment

gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Omotenashi-CX Customer Experience Consultancy: https://omotenashi-cx.com
Paul Willis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwillis888/

This episode I sit down with the ultimate Kagoshima spokesperson Alex Bradshaw. It's rare to meet a foreigner so personally invested in any specific region of Japan. His knowledge of history, traditions, and the ability to weave these stories into a tourism proposition is amazing! He is currently Head of Overseas Business for the award-winning, World Heritage site Sengan-en and an advisor to the Government of Kagoshima. How he manages these two roles make up the crux of our interesting conversation. If you have never visited Kagoshima before, you will definitely want to after listening to Alex! You're  guaranteed to hear a couple new thought-provoking perspectives on Japanese culture. We chat and share craft beers at Yona Yona Beerworks in Ebisu. Other topics we discuss: 

• Culturally, "Added-Value" is Japanese tourism USP
• Interesting backstory on Kiriko glassware
• How his current role was meant to be a kind of "wrecking ball"
• Introduces a hidden gem of travel destinations
• Why there are so many garish signs at tourism sites and his improvement advise
• Fascinating history lesson about Satsuma (Kagoshima)
• How Japan sells itself on "Mystery"
• Discuss Japanese artistic Bokashi and corporate Nemawashi 
• What he would implement to improve tourism, if he were in charge of the JNTO (Japan National Tourism Agency)
• Winning Best Attraction at the World Tourism Awards
• Interesting facts about the Kagoshima drinking culture

gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
SENGAN-EN: https://www.senganen.jp/en/
Alex Bradshaw: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-bradshaw/

This episode I share craft beers with Andrew Silberman, Chief Enthusiast of the Advanced Management Training Group and author of the book "Get a G.R.I.P." The Global Readiness Improvement Plan. With nearly 30 years of corporate training in Tokyo focused on coaching, leadership, and presentations, he is a very riveting guest. We share some super insightful topics and a lot of laughs. It's another podcast from the Ivy Place in Daikanyama and the best 40 minute investment you will make today. Other topics we dive into: 

• The inspiration behind writing the book "Get a G.R.I.P" 
• Discuss negative vs. positive reinforcement in Japanese business
• Examine Daniel Pink's theory of motivation and how this applies to Japan
• Why he chose Chief Enthusiast rather than CEO as his official title
• Three ways to harness positive psychology from The HBR
• Turn the tables on Andrew (the guest) with some sentence-completion tasks
• Learn a new Japanese version of PDCA (try not to laugh)
• The joys of saying and sharing the Japanese word Otsukaresama
• How Japanese business is akin to a marathon
• Takeaways readers of "Get a G.R.I.P." should expect
• How corporate training has changed in 25+ years

gugu Sleep Company https://gugu.jp
The AMT Group: https://www.amt-group.com
Buy the book Get a G.R.I.P. https://www.amazon.co.jp/Get-G-R-I-P-
Andrew Silberman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsilberman/

This episode we get the low-down on all things subculture in Japan with Mr. Brett Bull. Brett is the founder of Tokyo Reporter, an English language website focused on salacious and scandalous news from Japan. It's not all cherry blossoms and sushi, get the background on why and how he started Tokyo Reporter and many other stories from the underbelly of Japan. We share craft beers at Ivy Place in Daikanyama. Other topics we get into: 

• How he originally got started reporting Japanese scandalous stories even before Tokyo Reporter (TR)
• Discuss ideas how to monetize his site
• There is a template in Japanese for every crime news story
• Comments on the TR Facebook page is where all best interaction takes place
• Explains the legal loop-holes regarding "girls bars" 
• The real reason behind the "No Dancing" laws in Japan
• His end-game (goal) in operating the TR website
• Why he doesn't want to have 1million unique readers
• The one topic he would love to focus on if he had free access to cover anything
• Avoiding meiwaku (causing trouble to others) is very strong in Japan, but so is the concept of "shoganai" (it can't be helped) and how this applies to Right Wingers

gugu Sleep Company https://gugu.jp
Tokyo Reporter site: https://www.tokyoreporter.com
Tokyo Reporter Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thetokyoreporter/

(NOTAS COMPLETAS DEL CAPÍTULO AQUÍ: https://www.jaimerodriguezdesantiago.com/kaizen/55-marcos-cartagena-super-guerreros-minimalismo-y-los-50-de-fukushima/)

Es curioso cómo ha evolucionado nuestra relación con Japón. Antes de ayer, en los 90, esos poetas llamados No me pises que llevo chanclas resumieron en una canción las sensaciones que a la inmensa mayoría de los españoles nos producía aquel país. 

Y aquí estamos, 30 años más tarde y con nuestras ciudades y los supermercados llenos de opciones para comer sushi. Todos conocemos a alguien que haya ido a Japón de viaje, si no lo hemos hecho nosotros mismo, y hemos visto hasta la saciedad, reportajes, documentales y películas. Y sin embargo, seguimos sabiendo muy poco de su auténtica cultura.

El caso es que hace ya bastantes meses Marcos Cartagena, el invitado de kaizen de hoy, tuvo la generosidad de enviarme su libro. Se llama “El Sistema Hanasaki: los nueve pilares de Japón para una vida centenaria con sentido”. Siempre digo que tengo cierta cautela con muchos de los libros o contenidos de desarrollo personal. Así que con esa misma cautela le dije que lo leería.

Y la verdad es que su libro, independientemente de si te interesa el desarrollo personal o no, está lleno de aprendizajes interesantes sobre la cultura japonesa, de la que seguimos sabiendo muy poco y que es, a la vez, muy diferente y muy complementaria con la nuestra.

Marcos es una de esas personas que tuvieron un sueño y se empeñaron en hacerlo realidad. Creció fascinado con Japón, a los 18 años se propuso que un día se iría a vivir allí y no paró hasta conseguirlo casi 10 años después. A día de hoy, Japón es básicamente su forma de vivir, porque además de seguir siendo un enamorado de su cultura, Marcos ha fundado una agencia de viajes especializada, cómo no, en viajes a Japón.

En la entrevista de hoy, hablamos un poco de todo. Muchísimo sobre la cultura japonesa, claro, pero también sobre el budismo y su relación con filosofías occidentales o de cosas mucho más peregrinas como Bola de Dragón. Yo me lo pasé muy bien grabándola, así que espero que tú también disfrutes de esta conversación con Marcos Cartagena.

¿Te gusta kaizen? Apoya el podcast uniéndote a la Comunidad y accede a contenidos y ventajas exclusivas: https://www.jaimerodriguezdesantiago.com/comunidad-kaizen/

This episode is a follow-up with 32-year Japan entrepreneur Ruth Jarman. She is the founder of Jarman International, and the author of six books in Japanese. We focus on two of her books: "33 Reasons Japanese should be Proud" and "39 Reasons Japanese are Great" and discuss some of these reasons including her Top 3.  We dive into some cultural analysis complete with personal experience and stories. She is full of infectious energy and passion and together we share many laughs, unique insights, and of course a couple beers at The Rigoletto in Shibuya. Other highlights from our conversation:

• Japanese are comfortable in being "under the wire" or "avoiding the limelight"
• "Taking it to a higher level" or "Give one's All" is ingrained into Japanese psyche 
• How attracting foreigners is one part of the Japanese government's revitalization strategy for rural Japan
• Why Japanese maintain an extreme focus on the "long-term view" of everything
• Her greatest accomplishment in her 32-years in Japan
• The fundamental Japanese concept of always "Being Wached"
• Did you know that in 2018, 45% of all 20 year-olds in Shinjyuku ward were non-Japanese?
• We both share our "themes" for 2020 and a couple of Japanese puns

gugu Sleep Company https://gugu.jp
Jarman International https://www.jarman-international.com
Ruth Jarman https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthjarmanjapan/
All Ruth's books at Amazon ルース・ジャーマン
The Rigoletto Shibuya https://rigoletto/shibuya

This episode I sit down with 32-year Japan entrepreneur Ruth Jarman. She is the founder of Jarman International, a company assisting Japanese destinations and organizations connect with foreign visitors through customized marketing, curated business strategies, and training programs to help them grow and globalize. Or as Ruth likes to say "helping Japan ease into the international age". She is full of infectious energy and passion, and has a lot of great stories. Together we share many laughs, unique insights, and of course a couple beers at The Rigoletto in Shibuya. Other highlights from our conversation:

• How a Japanese superhero TV program first got her into Japanese
• Japan as a destination is bursting with "content"
• Japanese as hosts, need to understand that foreigners (guests) are probably nervous with interactions, and not the other way around
• Why she promotes destinations which are very diverse and distant from each other
• Discovering the hidden jewels of Kobayashi City which convinced her to represent them
• Amazing story of Japanese Caviar 
• How she creates top-of-mind awareness for her destinations with inbound tourists
• Japanese denim is a good example of Japanese cultural modesty
• Discuss "High-Context" communication styles

gugu Sleep Company https://gugu.jp
Jarman International https://www.jarman-international.com
Ruth Jarman https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthjarmanjapan/
All Ruth's books at Amazon ルース・ジャーマン
Kobayashi City https://kobayashi-machi.com/en/
Home of Japanese Caviar https://www.japantimes.co.jp/
The Rigoletto Shibuya https://rigoletto/shibuya

This episode I chat with Timothy Connor, a successful, long-term Japan resident. His absence of imbibing proves that drinking beers is NOT required of any guest on Business & Beers.  Nonetheless, we discuss in-depth, retail in Japan and how his business Synnovate, specifically his new concept "Responsive" is helping companies adopt a more customer-centric focus through improved customer experience. Timothy believes the future of retail is the customer as the point of sale.  It's more than just a discussion about buzz-words, please join in on this innovative customer approach conversation at Shibuya's TGI Friday's. Some highlights include: 

• Explains the concept behind "The Customer as a Point of Sale"
• What makes the Japanese consumer "unique"
• "Don't game the system, work the system"
• Explains his new customer-centric service "Responsive"
• Why cooking demos don't work at factory outlet shops
• His definition of Omotenashi - "Invisible Service"
• Debate the effectiveness of retail Net Promoter Score
• What is the customer experience "Secret sauce"
• Andrew introduces some of Zwilling Japan's new customer-centric initiatives
• How "Image" rather than potential profits got the old Tokyo Classifieds (now Metropolis magazine) into the Tokyo subway kiosks

This episode is sponsored by the gugu sleep company http://gugu.jp
Timothy Connor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyconnor/

This episode I sit down with one of the sharpest Japan inter-culturally minded people I've ever met. Rochelle Kopp is a Japanese business culture expert and cross-cultural communications specialist and is the founder and Managing Principal of Japan Intercultural Consulting. We share drinks and eye-(ear)-opening facts and stories about Japanese business norms. Its another podcast from the Grand Hyatt's Oak Door bar. Just give the first 5min a listen, I'm sure you will want to continue to the end. Other topics we dive into: 

• The reason Japan loves cute mascots for nearly everything
• Why Ikebana (flower arrangement) is analogous for Japanese on-the-job-training
• The reason Employee engagement in Japan is one of the lowest in the world
• "Periodic Personnel Rotations" a typical corporate tradition which holds back Japanese business
• Why a large number of Japanese are in jobs they have no motivation for and how this results in the low labor productivity
• Discuss the article "30% of Japanese managers feel stress when dealing with foreign employees"
• The Japanese government's efforts to improve employees work-life balance
• Rocelle's take on the future of Japan
• How the Japanese generation-gap is changing the way people work in Japan

gugu Sleep Company https://gugu.jp
Japan Intercultural Consulting https://www.japanintercultural.com
Rochelle Kopp https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochellekopp/
The Rice-Paper Ceiling, Valley Speak, The Lowdown, and other books from Rochelle Kopp
https://www.amazon.com/Rochelle-Kopp
The Japan Times articles https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/rochelle-kopp/

This episode I sit down with Michael Howard to discuss his new book "The Salaryman".  A humorous, manga-illustrated memoir from an American who tried and failed (?) to fit into Japanese office culture for almost a decade. We discuss some of the back stories from his book and analyze the reasons Japanese salaryman culture is the way it is. He is a great writer and a good story-teller as well. Together we fall into the U.S.-Japan business culture gap over beers (and margaritas) at Hacienda in Daikanyama. Some other highlights from our conversation:

• How he became such a talented and entertaining writer
• Why he kept a secret blog before writing "The Salaryman"
• Learning that one of his bosses was . . .  "Connected"
• The positives of working at Japanese companies
• What happens when I accidentally spill a beer on his book
• Explains the ease & profitability of KDP self publishing 
• Teases a potential second book and it's scandalous main story (11:00) 
• The torture of Japanese "meeting" culture
• What is "Manner Mode"
• The Onsen and the Hospital stories
• Would he ever work for a Japanese company again?

gugu Sleep Company https://gugu.jp
The Salaryman https://www.amazon.co.jp/Salaryman
Also available Direct: http://www.thesalarymanbook.com
Contact Michael: michael@thesalarymanbook.com

This episode we get into Hospitality and Retail with professional sales and leadership trainer Masako Yamamura.  We discuss Omotenashi, Bartenders, Commissions, Fortune-tellers, Gin . . . and the numerous differences and similarities between the retail and hospitality industries in Japan.  We are at the NAMIKI667 Bar at the Hyatt Centric in Ginza where the staff were a bit scared to wait on us.  They might need some of Masako's awesome training.  Some other highlights from our conversation:

• The "official" reason she started her own company
• What the hospitality industry could learn from the retail industry
• Why culturally "commission" sales is not popular with Japanese
• Her definition of "Omotenashi" and why she hated the Olympic O-MO-TE-NA-SHI presentation
• An interesting & delicious gin cocktail recipe
• Using hospitality concepts in retail can differentiate your brand from competition
• Why a 5-star hotel experience in Japan is not as positive vs. overseas
• Reminisce about contracting her training sessions on a "contingency" basis
• Why Japanese "Just In Case" mentality holds back true hospitality
• How Omotenashi can lead to world peace
• Not having the qualifications when working at the Mandarin Oriental
• Least popular jobs for todays Japanese youth
• Her pessimism regarding the future of Japan
• A story about a fortune-teller's shocking but reaffirming message

gugu Sleep Company https://gugu.jp
My Solutions https://www.my-solutions.jp
Masako Yamamura
https://www.linkedin.com/in/masako-yamamura-88060517/

Japan’s hospitality has the reputation of being second to none, but is this really true? Can Japanese service staff go that extra mile for consumers? What are some of the things that people find disturbing about Japanese hospitality? Listen now for a balanced deconstruction of Japan’s world renowned hospitality!

• Japanese airlines have amazing hospitality.
• Restaurant staff in Japan are very efficient and polite, but not particularly friendly.
• The hosts’ expectations of service are much higher because of what they are used to in Japan.
• Shop staff in Japan do not chat amongst themselves when customers are present.
• It’s difficult and uncommon to return goods to a store in Japan.
• Japanese service staff cannot deviate from protocol or think on their feet. 
• Burke shares the arduous process of applying for tickets for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
• The slogan for the Tokyo Olympics is “Omotenashi”, meaning great hospitality, but do the Japanese really connect with customers?
• Why do some people find Japanese hospitality disturbing? 
• The customer is “God” in Japan whereas the customer is “King” in other countries.
• There are never heated confrontations between customer and staff in Japan. The staff always accepts responsibility.
• Japanese service staff take insults and abuse from complaining customers, even if the customer is in the wrong. 
• Word of the day: “Namara”, a word from Hokkaido meaning “very”.
• People with tattoos are not allowed in onsens/hotsprings/public baths in Japan.
• Ben’s friend gets kicked out of an onsen because he had a tattoo.
• Onsens may become more lenient towards tattoos during the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
• The hosts talk about getting tattoos.
• Burke talks about his fraternity brothers getting branded (ouch!).

With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics just around the corner, Japan’s hospitality has come into question. Their slogan, “Omotenashi” which means great hospitality, has been criticised in the press,  https://metropolisjapan.com/omotenashi/ because, as the hosts can testify, the Japanese cannot deviate from protocol, which at times can be very frustrating to the customer. However, compared to Western countries, these are only small grimes to an almost perfect system. You won’t find a waiter abusing a customer for not leaving a tip in Japan! 

Japanese hospitality is about 85% there, and they are definitely improving, and by putting a little more effort into considering consumer needs they will surely be the undisputed world champions of hospitality!

Website:

http://podcast.voicesinjapan.com

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Natasha Lampard is a major reason Webstock is one of the world’s top design and tech conferences. She explains how her passion for the web intersected with her childhood fondness for throwing parties to create a festival that attracts the most talented, inspiring leaders in the industry to come from around the world to New Zealand to share their expertise and their stories.

Tash does everything with a lot of heart and soul. You experience that when you go to Webstock and it's what's so inspiring about our conversation.

Some key themes emerged from our conversation that I want to highlight:

• First off, the importance of giving a damn: sweating the details,
  constantly improving your craft, deeply caring about the impact of
  your decisions, and staying focused on who will be impacted by those
  decisions.
• Which leads to the next theme. As makers, the work we do
  is in service of others. Our work needs to serve a wide range of
  people, who don’t all think the same, don’t all look the same and
  don’t all behave the same. Natasha describes her belief in a Japanese
  philosophy called Omotenashi – a spirit of service and hospitality.
  We have to be mindful of the responsibility we have as makers to
  think about the long term impact on society, not just our short term
  personal gains.
• And finally, the power of words. How words are the
  starting point for great ideas, words inspire people, words set a
  mood, words also connect us, words help us understand the greater good that we can all achieve together.

Below are links to some of the people, ideas and talks we discussed:

• Natasha gave an inspiring talk about Omotenashi and how it relates to the design & tech industry
• Natasha also wrote a short essay on Omotenashi
• Sacha Judd's funny and fascinating talk on how the tech industry can and must embrace diversity
• Sacha Judd's slides and notes from her Webstock talk
• Nat Dudley's revealing talk on design patterns that unconsciously exclude and alienate people
• Anil Dash's talk on creating businesses that are more humane