One thing I can say for certain about being bilingual is how it enriched my life. Being able to communicate fluently in both English and Japanese gives me access into Japanese and English speaking people's cultures, knowledge and opportunities. Because I did not consciously become bi-lingual, just a chance gift I received in my life,… Continue reading Learning a new language
Category: Insight
Insight, inspiration
Free address (sometimes referred to as hot desking or non-territorial) office within althernative workplace strategy (AWS)
Since 1990’s, major companies in the United States have been implementing alternative workplace strategies (AWS), which is about how and where employees work. With advancement of information communication technologies (ICT), as long as data and information was accessible online and internal and external communication could be done in timely manner either virtually or physically anywhere,… Continue reading Free address (sometimes referred to as hot desking or non-territorial) office within althernative workplace strategy (AWS)
Outliers: The Story of Success
I have a habit of re-reading the books I find I like and worthwhile over and over again. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell is one of those books. Gladwell talks about how sheer time one spends doing the thing she enjoys are directly tied with achievements and success tied to that activity. The example he used… Continue reading Outliers: The Story of Success
Japanese SNS Activities by Market Sector
About 3 years ago, I found myself doing some SNS based PR work for my friends, and one project lead to another. It has been exciting and fun to be on this new ground, and like everything else before in my life, work came in not as result of formal education, but learning by reading… Continue reading Japanese SNS Activities by Market Sector
Mentoring
Recent posting by Sonic Rim’s Uday Dandavate on Anthrodesign group mail caused me to think about my own experience with search for mentor. (Thank you, Uday!) About 7 years ago, I felt a keen need for a mentor of my own gender. Maybe it was because of “coaching” boom in Japan at that time, and… Continue reading Mentoring
Update on affect of the great earthquake
Undercurrent would be something that Japanese over generation has been familiar with, which is surviving the natural disaster and rebuilding after great crisis. We are warned that another big earthquake is due, this time with epicenter of the quake even closer to Tokyo, but this time on the west side of it. We are still… Continue reading Update on affect of the great earthquake
Research conducted in Tokyo now
Product/service development, design research related people like ethnographers, interview moderators, recruiters, coordinators, interpreters, etc. have been keeping busy in Tokyo since latter part of last year, as overseas companies are again very interested in researching Japanese market. After the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake in March 11, 2011, it has of course been an interesting study… Continue reading Research conducted in Tokyo now
History is no longer created by limited few writers
Joe Paterno, former football head coach at Penn State, passed away last Sunday. Because of his position, power and influence he had over the past decade, so many people has been reacting in various ways over what has been called the biggest US college scandal and the way Penn State fired Paterno unceremoniously to handle… Continue reading History is no longer created by limited few writers
Recent Ethnography Research, Particularly of Recruitment Challanges in Japan
Over the past three years, I have become more and more concerned with the difficulty in creating highly exciting learning session for foreign inspiration/innovation seeking customers of both design companies and end user companies. It has a lot to do with recruiting process for people to research. I see following problems in recruiting, some of… Continue reading Recent Ethnography Research, Particularly of Recruitment Challanges in Japan
Happy New Year
Best wishes for the year 2012! At the end of 2011, I felt the important end to a phase in my life that lasted for 7 years. Call it, learning to be a leader phase. Of all the places, I learned how to be a leader from spending lots of time with my family. I… Continue reading Happy New Year
Identity integrity of adults and children in internet world, physical world
Having children was the best thing I have ever done. Ever since my first son was born 26 years ago, my children taught me more than anybody else I know. Living together with mother-in-law, husband and children was the next best thing. As researcher, I would always be stimulated. One of the most amazing things… Continue reading Identity integrity of adults and children in internet world, physical world
Human evolution to live out in the space
I might have written on this subject before, but the thought keeps coming back. Perhaps it deserves to be revisited again so here it goes. The earth is getting too crowded. Water supply is short, food supply is short for the current and growing population, they say. If one feels like rationing is the way… Continue reading Human evolution to live out in the space
Reasons for manufacturers to have physical shop in internet shopping era
Amazon package has become a part of everyday life for Japanese living in Tokyo area. Like Starbucks, it has come to be recognized without any sort of mass media advertisement. In advanced countries, combination of IT, logistics, e-money (including credit card), good packaging, and other factors made Internet shopping easy, satisfying, and mostly safe. So… Continue reading Reasons for manufacturers to have physical shop in internet shopping era
Social Media Balance Out Traditional Media, And Japanese Responsibility Starts at The Bottom
6 weeks after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, NHK online news announced that 27,931 people are dead or missing, and over 136,000 people are still living in evacuation in extreme hardship at Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures. As the rest of Japan slowly but steadily recover from the earthquake, recovery is still far away for… Continue reading Social Media Balance Out Traditional Media, And Japanese Responsibility Starts at The Bottom
Robot EVERYBODY Appreciates
At the InnoRobo I attended in March, we talked a lot about how the robots will be integrated into our lives. Here is a concrete case. Robot that everybody appreciates. Robot that was vital to diagnosing the Fukushima Nuclear Power plant. The 2011/04/17 Yomiuri Online article reads: On the 17th, Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) succeeded… Continue reading Robot EVERYBODY Appreciates
FUJIKO SUDA 