Now and Zen Japan is excited to welcome Mr. Ed Thompson, a Marketing Consultant and the founder of Concept Design. In this episode, we enjoy some beers while diving into Ed's over 20-year journey in Japan and his extensive career in marketing, branding, advertising, and academia. Ed has also been a lecturer at Temple University for more than 15 years. Known for his straightforward communication and strong opinions on marketing, Ed shares stories from his early days in Japan, including his experiences of being disciplined with bamboo sticks, working alongside bureaucrats, and starting his own business after just five years in the country. He offers a unique perspective on why Japanese brand logos often use words instead of pictograms and discusses how to find your Personal Branding "voice" by critiquing the competition. Ed also explores deeper philosophical themes, such as the concepts of Wabi-Sabi and Kintsugi, and how they relate to perseverance and the Japanese spirit. Additional topics we cover include:

• An interesting way to translate the word "marketing"
• Understanding self-worth and context when giving yourself an appropriate business title
• Why his list of clients in Japan are predominantly foreign affiliated
• How "creative" departments differ in Japan and the main role of ad agencies
• "Making order out of chaos" . . . the driver for Ed's passion for marketing
• Was Omotenashi developed as a social norm or a way to make customers more receptive to your brand?
• In Japan, "Being present is more important than being whole"
• Why email remains the most important CRM data

Concept Design: https://conceptdesign.io/
Ed Thompson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethompson/

More Now and Zen Japan episodes: http://nowandzen.jp

Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

This conversation is one of the most amazing I've had since starting Now and Zen Japan. This episode could certainly change your life. Especially if you suffer from unhealthy lifestyle habits. Prepare to be blown away by Kaki Okumura's wisdom, demeanor, and insight into well-being and nutrition. Kaki breaks down Japanese based wellness concepts through her "Four Essential Pillars to Healthy Living" in a very convincing and non-preachy way. She is a writer, an illustrator, a wellness coach, and very well could be a therapist or nutrition teacher. In addition to her fascinating backstory which includes her experience with food being a source of stress and anxiety and how healthy eating does not have to be a sacrifice, we get into her business as a writer on Medium, starting her own business just after university, and the various revenue streams she has built for herself. Just start listening to the first 5 minutes and for sure you will be hooked and inspired by her simple and empathetic message. Other topics we discuss:

• Improving your overall well-being based on Japanese concepts
• Why eating healthy in the US is a challenge whereas its pretty simple in Japan
• The power of balanced meals, moderation, and portion management
• How retired sumo wrestlers lose weight
• What Japanese can learn from the US about healthy living
• Why ginger is included with so many Japanese meals
• Food is closely linked to environment, experiences, and emotions
• Is "organic" really healthier?
• Variety, and why this is nutritionally important
• How much can one make writing for Medium?
• The Free Unsolicited Business Idea
• Kaki's two favorite untranslatable Japanese words

Kaki's Website: https://kakikata.space/

More Now and Zen Japan episodes: https://www.nowandzen.jp/

Grow website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts

Part 2 of my interview with author Robert Whiting about his recent best selling memoir "Tokyo Junkie" 60 years of bright lights, back alleys, and baseball. In this episode, Bob tells great stories about colorful foreign players and well-known Japanese baseball stars. Part 2, we talk mostly about the baseball stories from his memoir, but also get into the important story of how writing his first book "The Chrysanthemum and the Bat" completely changed his life. Together with episode #1 this is another important and rare opportunity to hear the history and evolution of Tokyo, from one Olympics in 1964 to the the current Tokyo 2020 games as lived and experienced by a true story teller, Robert Whiting. Other topics we discuss:

• The real reason Nomo went to the US to play for the Dodgers
• NY Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui's adult video collection story
• Being interviewed by Larry King
• Reminiscing the time spent with Sadaharu Oh
• The Yomiuri Giants 10 Commandments for foreign ball players
• How the export of Japanese players to the Major League has changed Japanese baseball
• Why there are fewer gaijin cultural transgressions these days
• The backstory behind a keepsake he received from a fan . . . and former US President
• Why gaijin "used" to get an expanded strike zone
• Bob's favorite untranslatable Japanese word

Robert's Books (Tokyo Junkie): https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Whiting/
Robert Whiting: https://tokyojunkie.com/

More Now and Zen Japan episodes: https://www.nowandzen.jp/

Grow your website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts