Uchikura & Co Blog
2026-09-19
Gikushaku Suru — When Things No Longer Move Smoothly The Japanese expression “ギクシャクする” (gikushaku suru) describes something that no longer moves or works smoothly. It can describe physical moveme...
2026-09-19
The Beauty of Muda In Japanese, 無駄 (muda) usually means waste—something unnecessary, inefficient, or without practical value. In business, we are constantly encouraged to eliminate muda. However, not...
2026-09-18
Quality Is What People Cannot SeeWhen people talk about Japanese manufacturing, they often mention quality, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement. However, I believe the most important principle ...
2026-09-18
PSPINC Dreamersi External Link Verification Helps Expose Suspicious Links Spoofing emails are becoming increasingly difficult to recognize. An email may display a familiar company name, logo, colors,...
2026-09-18
Daikokubashira: The Pillar That Supports Everything The Japanese word “daikokubashira” (大黒柱) originally refers to the main supporting pillar in a traditional Japanese house. It is not merely decorati...
2026-09-17
Know Your Position The Japanese expression 立場をわきまえる (tachiba o wakimaeru) means “to understand one’s position.” This does not simply mean that subordinates must obey people with greater authority...
2026-09-17
The Rocks Japan Refused to Move In Nishinomiya, Japan, two large rocks known as Meoto Iwa—the “Married Couple Rocks”—sit directly in the middle of a road. Instead of removing them, engineers divid...
2026-09-17
Nagi: The Danger of Perfect Calm The Japanese word 凪 (nagi) describes a time when the wind dies down and the sea becomes calm. The water may look peaceful and beautiful, but for traditional sailing...
2026-09-17
Did You Know Pikachu Has a Meaning?When something sparkles or flashes in Japanese, it may be expressed as “pika” or “pika-pika.” It can describe something shiny, a flash of light, or even a burst of ...
2026-09-16
Kuwasemono — More Than Meets the EyeThe Japanese word kuwasemono (食わせ物・食わせ者) describes someone or something that is not what it first appears to be. The expression comes from kuwaseru, meaning “to ...