Living between bridges

Living between bridges

Monday, August 15, 2011

O espírito de Yamato

Estava no meu escritório em Díli quando o sismo de 9,0 abalou o Japão. Imediatamente recebi contactos via Skype dos meus colegas em Tóquio assegurando-me que estavam bem. Eu não entendia, algo de insólito se passava pois os terramotos são um acontecimento normal no Japão e já tínhamos atravessado alguns juntos. Falavam-me dos vários fogos em Tóquio e nos feridos causados pela queda dos vidros das janelas.
Mantive contacto com os meus colegas, amigos e familiares através das redes sociais (Facebook e Twitter) e, alguns, através de email. As comunicações de voz fixa e móvel não respondiam às solicitações.

Em 3 dias registaram-se mais de 400 sismos de distintas intensidades, alguns dos meus amigos abandonaram os seus apartamentos que se moviam como navios.


O momento singular sucedeu quando um dos nossos colegas, que almoçara com clientes em Akihabara, zona de electrónica e manga, me dizia que durante o terramoto o único pensamento que tinha era de que não queria “encontrar a eternidade” em Akihabara, território dos “geeks”, cromos e “otakus”.


Nessa hora no Japão, muitos terão pensado que chegara a hora do “big one” para o qual se tem preparado e planeado, pois o Japão é uma sociedade em que para se viver há que tomar e manter múltiplos cuidados.


Quando se constrói uma habitação há que contar com os efeitos da actividade sísmica, com os tsunamis nas linhas costeiras e com os deslizamentos de terras nas encostas das montanhas. È necessário ainda ter cuidado para que não invadam a casa as inúmeras cobras venenosas, as vespas gigantes que injectam um veneno que ataca o sistema nervoso central e provocam uma morte lenta em agonia e não esquecendo outros intrusos como ursos, macacos e lobos.


Num ambiente tão difícil, onde os erros individuais podem arrastar catástrofes, não se pode esperar encontrar uma generosa tolerância a erros ou falhas. Planeamento cuidado das actividades, coordenação de equipas e uma execução imaculada tem sido desde há séculos o modo de vida. Nestas ilhas, parcas de recursos mas plenas de perigos, vive desde há mais de 5000 anos o povo Yamato; os Japoneses. Um povo que mantém a sua singularidade pois nunca foi invadido (excepto final da 2ª Guerra Mundial). Suficientemente distante do continente asiático para manter os invasores à distância e convenientemente próximo para receber as influências de outas civilizações.
Durante um dos nossos projectos na área das energias no Japão, podemos constatar que as tarefas fundamentais dos bombeiros não são o combate ao fogo e catástrofes mas sim a elaboração de normas de segurança e a fiscalização e prevenção de situações que podem originar desastres.


Mas o planeamento e uma atenção maior às coisas da razão, como o Padre Luis Froes afirmava, são temperadas com uma elevada sensibilidade, emotividade e sentido de estética. As condições da natureza e os espartilhos sociais inibem-nos de libertar as emoções mas a escrita marca o pensamento.


 Consideremos a palavra rio, que na língua japonesa é representada pelo caracter chinês (kanji) . Quando um japonês pensa num rio visualiza uma imagem, tem uma emoção que activa o hemisfério direito do cérebro; emoções. Por outro lado, quando um ocidental pensa sobre um rio, está a elaborar sobre um conceito e é o lado esquerdo do cérebro que se activa; racionalidade.
Este povo depara-se com um dos momentos mais difíceis da sua história. Não são apenas os da destruição dos terramotos e do Tsunami mas sobretudo a resolução dos perigos que emanam das centrais de energia atómica.


Eu penso e acredito que a determinação, a dedicação e o esforço do povo Japonês, bem como o eternamente presente espírito de Yamato irão demonstrar ao mundo que há sempre um horizonte azul, mesmo nos momentos em pensamos nada mais haver do que trevas.


Eu acredito: Gambare, Gambare, Gambare Nihon!

In Visão, 17 DE Março de 2011

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Vectores para o desenvolvimento da Região Norte

O desenvolvimento do Porto durante a Idade Média, bem como nos séculos 18 e 19, alicerçou-se no comércio internacional e no relacionamento externo. É necessário reinventar e relançar essa atitude, essa aventura. Precisamos que os nossos agentes de transformação viajem e cultivem activa e estruturadamente a diplomacia económica e cultural da Região Norte.

Alguns Vectores para o desenvolvimento da Região Norte:

1- Internacionalização - Abrir a Região Norte a outras geografias.

A Região Norte tem de ser ambiciosa, não se pode limitar ao país e ao mercado interno, realidades sempre condicionadas pelo poder central. Tem de escapar a essas “fronteiras” desenvolvendo o relacionamento com outras geografias, sobretudo com as que estão para além das interacções das centralidades. Ir mais longe, lançar pontes com os pólos de desenvolvimento internacionais, Europeus, Americanos e Asiáticos

2 - Conhecimento – Subir na cadeia de valor

O custo global da mão-de-obra na indústria transformadora em Portugal é de 11,32 €/hora versus 1,89 na Bulgária e 3,41 na Roménia, mas 34,74 na Dinamarca, 27,8 na Alemanha e 16,39 em Espanha. Poderemos tirar vantagens deste posicionamento, sobretudo nas actividades de maior exigência e qualificação dos recursos humanos.
Os investimentos em unidades tecnologias e de elevada complexidade efectuados pelos investidores internacionais, nomeadamente pela Siemens, confirmam a excelência e a competitividade dos nossos técnicos e engenheiros.

3 - Criatividade e Inovação, reinventar o futuro.

Criatividade é o acto de criar novas ideias, conceitos e soluções. A inovação não é um tema de figuras bizarras e excêntricas mas sim a capacidade de fazer mais ou melhor com menos recursos. É também nestas áreas que temos de investir os nossos esforços para o desenvolvimento. Entre outras iniciativas, urge reforçar o relacionamento internacional das três universidades da Região Norte: Porto, Minho e Aveiro, assim como dos respectivos institutos de investigação.

Seguindo o caminho destas ambições, seremos capazes de rentabilizar os nossos principais recursos: o mar, o vale do Douro, a floresta e, o mais importante de todos, as pessoas.

Paulo Vieira

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Mount Fuji on a January Sunrise


A January morning view of Mount Fuji, from my window in Shinjuku

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Chrstmas

My dear Friends

An everlasting Merry Christmas


Thursday, December 10, 2009

Negotiating with Japanese counterparts

Some points I have retained while interacting with Japanese people, some have been addressed in these Fora by other group colleagues, namely the issue surrounding soft no. I would like to stress 6 points that I found vital in my past experiences.

First and fundamental, do your homework and prepare presentations preferably with bilingual text (other + Japanese). I notice a very different attitude on Japanese people when they are surprised with a document written in Japanese. But be extremely careful with the translation; always get quality control on your Japanese texts by another entity.

Second, do not to engage in negotiations under a strong effect of jet lag. In my first trips to Japan very nice Japanese people were always waiting for me at the first day and take me for long sessions with dinner party and so on. Don´t fall on that “pleasant trap”. Arrive, head to your Hotel and get to sleep at the convenient local time, even if you have to induce sleep. This way you reduce fatigue and reinforce control of emotions, which you’ll really need during negotiations. This a basic issue but it is the most common mistake. It has been quite unpleasant to see persons, who normally behave correctly in their own country, having an odd behavior under the effects of jet lag. Play it safe, it is hard to negotiate with people in a different business and cultural environment so don´t make it impossible.


Always take interpreter with you, preferable two: One for language and another, preferably a local, to tell you more than the words that were said, in other words a cultural interpreter. So many times I found out that what one said, what one heard and what one meant were quite divergent issues.


Be prepared to make several trips and several presentations to the same persons before reaching a conclusion. For each new time, improve your presentation considering the questions people posed but keep saying the same over and over. Unlike most western styles, you have to repeat every time the same message. Actually, Japanese people enjoy it, It´s like Kabuki: If it´s beautiful you must repeat it again and again.


While in meetings, Japanese people keep saying yes and shaking their heads as if they were agreeing with everything one says. As a matter of fact, what they really mean is that they are listening or paying attention, no agreement whatsoever.

Negotiations and presentations are Tatemae (formal) moments. If possible as negotiations develop invite your counterparts for an early dinner in order to create a hone (casual) moment. Many negotiations come to a conclusion after an animated dinner takes place but be very careful: don´t push too much on those occasions, issues often come naturally.

This is not much, and there is not much elaboration on these lines. Anyway, I believe it is such a waste to see people forgetting these simple and basic requirements while negotiating with Japanese counterparts.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Winning in Japan? YES WE CAN!

Japan is a different environment for business, without any doubt.

Vodaphone was losing money in its Japan operations. They sent to Japan all their most shining management stars which kept a “global” mind set. No suitable integration into Japanese Society and not the proper consideration for the country´s idiosyncrasies.

As consequence of their inaptitude and ignorance, they were forced to sell their operations.

Softbank bought Vodaphone Japan and now, in these difficult times, they are succeeding and increasing profit.

Softbank profit doubles as its mobile business expands

Definitely James Abbglen was very much right. Japan´s economy is not so much protect by its law and habits, the main defense is western ignorance, incompetence and its utter arrogance.

Vodaphone executives consider that this failure was cause by the fact that Japan is a closed society and Japanese people are very closed. But who is closed and short minded: the market, the clients, or the ones that its Olympic arrogance do not care how to address them properly?

In Japan there are more than 3000 foreign capital related firms, being the majority hold by foreign. In manufacturing, foreign companies account for more than 10% of total sales and revenues.

Winning in Japan? YES WE CAN!

Just follow the basic rules of marketing: Know your costumers and make them happy.

REMEMBERING DR. JAMES C. ABEGGLEN

(Tokyo insiders in ITV Japan)

Friday, August 21, 2009

The decay of Japanese politics

Decay of Japanese politics The Japan Times Online

Shinji Fukukawa, former vice minister of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry making a clear and sound balance of the actual situation of Japanese politics.

Factors that contributed to the deterioration of Japanese politics

1 - The detachment of politics from people, there is a rising dissonance feeling amongst the Japanese Society regarding politics.

2 - The political decision-making institutions are not effectively working.

3 - The decline in the ability of political parties and individual politicians.

4 - Japanese politics has become inward-looking.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Revealing of a double sided personality or just human?

Noriko Sakai was Japan´s mama idol and, previously, Japan´s favorite “pure and innocent" girl. Noriko is famous not only in Japan but also in Taiwan, Hong Kong and even China. Actually, she is the most well-known Japanese actress among Chinese in their 30s and 40s

Curiously, she is also the daughter of an Yamanashi Yakuza and her brother, also an Yakuza, was recently arrested.

Her husband, Yukichi Takaso, a self proclaimed pro-surfer and a spoiled brat from a rich family, was arrested alleged charged of drugs possession. He was immediately detained taken to police station where the urine tests confirmed he was consuming drugs.

The “dude” is also an obnoxious “stool pigeon” as he was so quick to blow the whistle revealing that his wife was also doing drugs with him.

Some of her friends mentioned that her successful return to acting after childbirth turned Noriko into a role model for many women therefore she was under an incredible stress, far beyond what one may imagine. After all Noriko had another hidden side, she was enjoying being a head banger, tattoos and wild parties spiced up with drugs. Her first hit son was “Aoi Usagi”, Blue Rabbit but in those parties she was better known as “Shiroi Usagi” White Rabit, due to the use of cocaine.

This history does not strike so much European mind sets but in Japan it is in the deadly sin class. Public Personalities, namely stars, are supposed to be role models as everybody is watching them, when they fell off the wagon disappointment comes and there is no forgiveness, no mercy.


This takes us to the main vectors of social interaction in Japanese Society, Honne and Tatemae:

“…These two words are often considered a dichotomy contrasting genuinely-held personal feelings and opinions from those that are socially controlled. Honne is one's deep motive or intention, while tatemae refers to motives or intentions that are socially tuned, those that are haped, encouraged, or suppressed by majority norms. (Honna & Hoffer, 1986, p. 94)…”

In other words: “…Honne means one's real or true intention; one's true motive. Tatemae means a principle, a policy, a rule, a basis or a system. In daily usage they can perhaps be translated as the individual's voice and the group's voice, or as private versus public opinions. For those learning of this for the first time, it is the ability of Japanese to have two different (often contradictory) answers to a question…”

What you think (Honne) you keep mainly to yourself, what you say must contribute to the group harmony (Tatemae). This is why you can only expect nothing but kind remarks from Japanese people when you start negotiations with them. This sparks the riddle on how to recognize a “soft no” and a “soft yes”. I´ll come to this issue in a new post





Back to Noriko Sakai, her songs are nº 1 on ITunes and her CD´s sales have suddenly increased so we may finish with 2 questions:
1 - A democratic support from Japanese People?
2 – Like so many other issues in Japanese society, is Japanese mindset changing?

See: Sakai's twin personalities were falling apart before bust

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Keitai -Japanese Cellphones











One may state a widely accepted concept in the IST community: Japanese society is 5 years ahead of the remaining world: Therefore, the requirement level of terminals is far more advanced and complex.

Being a "first mover” means to open the way, so the industry has to be innovative and develop projects before the Standardization Stage. Japanese companies never relay went too far to massively market mobile devices outside Japan maybe because other players moved faster. Anyway, they enjoy a profitable market not being appropriately addressed by outside competitors.

In the same line, unlike other companies you do not see Japanese Telecom Companies moving to foreign markets. But NEC is doing OK, not on consumer products but on networking solutions.

Iphone is really not doing so well in Japan, missing a few items like: one seg, rfid card, Wallet Mobile and other issues. One Seg is particularly useful as it allows people to access broadcast DTTV -Digital Terrestrial Television, directly from the keitai (Japanese mobile phone), not using data channels. One Seg may be acquired separately and connected to Mobile or PC thru USB connection.

Vodafone failed on the Japanese market because they follow a global model. Vodafone considers that the mobile communications market is global one, so they were developing global solutions and achieving strong economies of scale, mostly everywhere. Like many others, they failed to understand the idiosyncrasies of markets and this is the deadly sin of laziness in Japan. SoftBank is doing OK

The big bang of Mobile telecom boosted after the introduction of pre-paid cards. It was a project which began in Portugal in the middle 90´s. The finance department of TMN was worried about the high levels of bad debt that would inevitable arrive from the dramatic increase of sales. Pre-paid technology, associate to mobile ATM technology was then developed. They could hold other companies from using this advantage for one year and they had a tremendous boost over competitors.

Pre-paid cards were on the origin of their success in Brazil and other countries. Nevertheless, pre-paid cards raise many issues about the identification of users and are widely used in criminal environments. In Japan I was always told by people in telecom that this was the reason NTT-Docomo and other Japanese did not adopt this worldwide industry standard.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Back to the spring


Today I feel I am coming back to my early days.
It´s a terrible rainy day...
Where is the sun?
Did the head of the demon snake Rahu swallow the sun today?
Anyway, I can still feel the sun shining in my heart and in the soul of all my loves ones,

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Your Radio Frequency Footprint


RFID passports: a tragedy waiting to happen

It was interesting to read this article, as this is a critical issue with implication far beyond our worst expectations.

Can you figure this out: All over the world you may be followed and it´s not only the police that’s tracking you, everyone with the right hardware may do it?

So, from now on remember: you are no longer alone on the middle of the crowd.

I heard a big fuss about this theme on the discussions concerning the new foreign resident card in Japan and regarding the new RFID car plates in Portugal. It´s no more about the secrecy of data collect by the authorities, it is also about being randomly spied by anyone with the means for it

But not all skies are hazy; there are ways to find protection against this threat by using RFID blocking devices, already available in the market.

Still, the issue is on for cars and other vehicles is on. Possibly, one may consider it as another stimulus for public transportation.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Indexes of Business Conditions May 2009 Preliminary Release

This data was released at 14:00(JST) on Jul.6. by the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan.

It appears that we are crossing the "hook of bad to good times".
Production is rising, GDP is expected to grow and expectations are improving.
Now is the time change and grasp new opportunities.
Have you been thinking about it?
Gambare Japan!

Saturday, June 27, 2009

FDI Into Japan Reaches Record High for Second Straight Year in 2008



GDP comparison of Japan with other major economic regions (US$ billion, 2007)
Source: Prepared based on "World Economic Outlook Database" (April, 2008), IMF



GDP comparison of Japan's regions with some countries (US$ billion)
Note: 2005 data is used for Japan; 2007 data is used for all other countries. Exchange rates based on IMF period-average rates.Source: "World Economic Outlook Database" (April, 2008), IMF; "Prefectural Economic Almanac" (February, 2008), Economic and Social Research Institute, Cabinet Office

"..Net FDI into Japan (balance of payment basis) reached a record high for the second consecutive year in 2008, reaching US$24.5 billion, up 10.7% from US$22.1 billion recorded the previous year. This is on a gross capital inflow of US$73.2 billion, a record, and a gross capital outflow of US$48.6 billion, which is not far behind the
US$52.5 billion recorded in 2006. The high inflow was led by additional investments made by financial institutions and companies seeking to boost the capital of their Japanese subsidiaries, while deteriorating economic conditions in industrialized nations may have played a factor in the high outflow figure..."


The seeds of Koizumi-san efforts are flourishing, namely, the launching on the Asian Gateway initiative and Invest in Japan - the Foreign Investment Agency.

For me, it is very odd and shortsighted that European leadership is not paying the suitable attention on the social and economic developments in Japan.

I heard the most outstanding remark made by a former European Minister of Finance:

“…Japan is not a transparent society because………because they speak and write in Japanese…”

Deep thought, so desu ne?

Thursday, June 25, 2009

JPop

Last year, I was suddenly attacked by serious 80´s nostalgia. I felt like reviewing the Ska Scene.
I came across these 5 Girls from Osaka,
OreskaBand. I was surprised by their sound and their energy. Reminds me the emotion and power I felt on the gig of Dexy´s Midnight runner´s in 1982.

I particularly enjoyed “Hana no suka dance”, “Pinocchio” (from the Maga series Naruto) and a version of “Monkey Man” of The Specials.
Rico Rodrigues, who used to play with The Specials, made a record with these Jgirls: “Japa Rico”


On the 14th of march Shonen Knife performed at SuperDeluxe in Nishi Azabu.
Comments: “…the set consisted mainly of super-safe punk-pop tunes, and the lyrics seemed to be all about sweets (or other eating related experiences, one song was about food poisoning) the girls played super-tight, and their harmonies were glorious…”
It´s an all jgirls band formed in Osaka during 1981, Influenced by alt-rock's elite (Sonic Youth, Nirvana, and Redd Kross, among others).
The group has occasionally performed as The Osaka Ramones, a tribute to The Ramones


I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.


Nikkei: Miyazaki Gov. Hideo Higashikokubaru on Wednesday responds to a reporter's question about his intention to run in the next general election at the prefecture office.


It´s amazing!
Comedians will rule Japan
Takeshi Kitano will be the new Minister of Self Defense and Naban Chicken will become Minister of Foreign Affairs

Em Portugal também seria fantástico.
Quem é que disse?
Os cómicos ao poder, há séculos que os palhaços lá estão.
Herman José Primeiro-Ministro já!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

TSF - entrada de capitais espanhóis em Portugal 22/06/2009

"No Fórum TSF desta quarta-feira vamos debater a entrada de capitais espanhóis em Portugal e a importância dos centros de decisão. A PT prepara-se para comprar aos espanhóis da Prisa 30% da Media Capital. Com este negócio a Prisa consegue um parceiro estratégico português e a PT volta a posicionar-se no mercado dos media. Existem actualmente mais de 800 empresas em Portugal detidas maioritariamente por capital espanhol. A situação levanta a questão dos centros de decisão, onde está o poder de definir o futuro de uma empresa e para onde vão os lucros."

O tema e as intervenções de hoje no Fórum da TSF agradaram-me bastante.
A intervenção de Peres Metello focou os temas fundamentais. Discutir obstruções à integração Ibérica e Europeia, bem como à Globalização, é, com o devido respeito, uma diletância. Fundamental é discutir como vencer em concorrência global e como nos afirmar o país na cena mundial.

No entanto, a entrada de capitais estrangeiros é um tema que requer esclarecimento.

1 – Os novos investimentos, em manufactura, são efectuados fora da Europa. A Europa já não é competitiva para a captação destes investimentos.
Devemos efectuar um grande esforço para manter e desenvolver as unidades produtivas existentes em Portugal, Portuguesas e Estrangeiras.

Perder a Auto Europa será dramático para Portugal. Poderá ser a ruína do “Cluster “Automóvel.
Temos uma localização geográfica central (Europa, Américas e África) mas considerada periférica para os europeus. Várias empresas vão integrar na “Pegada Ambiental” o CO2 produzido no transporte da sua actividade, incluindo a movimentação dos produtos em laboração.

2 – Nos novos investimentos (em bens e serviços transaccionados internacionalmente) destinam-se a processos de racionalização ou questões ambientais. Ou seja reduzem postos de trabalho.

3 – É essencial atrair projectos que promovam mais desenvolvimento para o país e reforcem as competitividades internacional.

Exemplos: Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação, Turismo, Saúde e Mar.

Actividades de investigação na área do mar são particularmente relevantes pois ainda não temos uma visão claramente definida de como iremos explorar os nossos recursos marítimos, recentemente alargados.

Afirmação internacional, caminhos

1 – Integração mais activa na economia de rede, na globalização

2 – Os grandes grupos em PT desenvolveram-se protegidos da concorrência internacional.
Há um problema de mentalidades e de condutas.

Recordo-me das observações e empresários Japoneses que tiveram projectos em Portugal.

“... Portugal está na Europa, mas os Portugueses ainda não são verdadeiramente Europeus..”

Este tema é fundamental, é necessário democratizar e inovar mais a economia. Mais exposição internacional tornará os Portugueses mais internacionais.


Nota final sobre as exigências da presença em mercados internacionais e nossa percepção sobre os nossos produtos.

A Via Verde foi apresentada no Japão pela Mitsubishi Corporation mas sem sucesso:
A aplicação não assegurava um nível de eficácia e fiabilidade (erros & falhas) aceitável pelos clientes Japoneses



Paulo Vieira, Ex-membro da Comissão Executiva e da Estrutura para a Constituição da API - Agência Portuguesa para o Investimento

Saturday, June 20, 2009

New trends Soshokukei - Japan's 'herbivore men'



More sensitive, self caring and fashion victim, nail care, sex "self-helping" toys, hair do.

Less interested in sex, money and power and competition


Take a look at these remarks

"In Japan, sex is translated as 'relationship in flesh,'" she said, "so I named those boys 'herbivorous boys' since they are not interested in flesh."

“…A 2007 survey by a major toilet-seat maker found that half of Japanese men sit on the toilet to urinate, while bras designed for men have been selling briskly since they hit the market last November…”
Blurring the boundaries The Japan Times Online

Are we seeing a new trend soon to arrive to Europe and US?

Curiously, hanging around trough Europe, one may state that most women are starting to look and act like truck drivers.
Will these Lionesses start to hunt and mate these elaborated, sensitive and sophisticated Gazelles?
Japan Times ran a pole about the final days of the carnivores, the question was:

"...Japan is seeing a rise in what has been called a generation of male herbivores (soshokukei), men moving away from the traditional masculinity of their forefathers. What's your take on this change? "

The results were:


(32%) - Soshokukei is an invented buzzword. Most young men will turn out just like their fathers.
(21%) - It's great. Who needs more macho men?
(14%) - If this trend is widespread, then I fear for Japan's future.
(13%) - Diversification is a good thing, but in moderation.
(13%) The implications are disturbing. Does Japan need war to develop "real men"?
(6%) - I'm worried it could have a negative effect on the birth rate.

So, like the majority of people I believe that” Boys will always be boys!”

End of BOJ funding measures tied to economy | The Japan Times Online

1.6% GDP growth forecast for second quarter and now BOJ cools down “…The Bank of Japan said this week that the country's worst postwar recession is easing as fiscal stimulus measures worldwide spur demand and companies increase production….”

End of BOJ funding measures tied to economy The Japan Times Online

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Thursday, April 9, 2009

Lost in childhood

My dear solid friend of the secrets gardens of Porto. Thank you very much for your message and for your support. Although I am learning Japanese, married to Japanese lady and living between Asia and Europe, I am not so much fluent in Japanese.

Strangely, communication and mastering the Japanese language are two separate issues.

In the last missions we organized for Western Companies to Japan we adopt a new methodology: A translator who provides the translation from Japanese to English (or other language) and an observer, a retired Japanese Executive from major Japanese Corporation.

We often notice that the perception of sounds and true meanings are two different realities.

One of my friends in Japan is a British Citizen living in Japan for over ten years married to Japanese Lady. He is locally in charge one of the world main media companies. Being quite fluent in Japanese, he never uses the Japanese language in business meetings, but always a translator. With a record of so many misunderstandings in the past, he does not want to endlessly repeat the same errors.

The Japanese language is highly ambiguous and plenty of multiple meanings. Awareness of these complex matters requires a Japanese education, from the cradle.

Speaking some Japanese is essential to evidence respect to Japanese people and society but one must understand that one will never go inside the mindset of Japanese souls. It is a process lost in childhood.

Going a little deeper on this matter:

River in the Japanese language is represented by the kanji

When a Japanese thinks about a river, he sees an image, he has an emotion that activates the right hemisphere of the brain – emotions.

On the other hand, when a western thinks about a river he is getting a concept, activating the left part of the brain - rationality.

Hashi, a Japanese sound with several meanings, is the title of this blog.

In the dictionary we find 3 Kanjis for the sound hashi - (橋 箸 端 )


橋– Bridge
箸– Chopsticks
端 – End, tip, edge, margin corner

Japanese is also a language with a limited amount of sounds,

Aware of the limitations of language in the communication process, my efforts have been focused on the understanding of Japanese, Chinese and other Asians.

Anyhow, I am taking my best efforts to speak their language.

Thank you very much for your attention

My Best Regards

Paulo Vieira