Uchikura & Co Blog
2026-11-14
嘘も方便 (Uso mo Hōben)Even a lie can sometimes serve a good purpose. We are taught that lying is wrong, but life is not always that simple. In Japan, there is a saying, 嘘も方便 (Uso mo Hōben). The word...
2026-11-14
Which Lifetime Are You On?輪廻転生・人生何回目？Rinne Tensei — Reincarnation Have you ever heard this unusual Japanese compliment? 「人生何回目？」Jinsei Nankaime?"Which lifetime are you on?" When someone, especi...
2026-11-14
Four Names for a Mysterious Light鬼火・人魂・狐火・不知火Onibi, Hitodama, Kitsunebi, Shiranui Japan has many names for mysterious lights that appear in the darkness. 鬼火 (Onibi) — A ghostly fire appearing in ...
2026-11-13
永遠 (Towa)When Forever Becomes Something More In Japanese, the word 永遠, meaning “eternity” or “forever,” is usually pronounced Eien (えいえん). But sometimes, the very same characters are read as Towa (...
2026-11-13
A Message to Microsoft: You've Got This!Hurry, but don't panic. Work carefully. In Japanese, we say: 急いで・慌てず・丁寧に Isoide awatezu teineini)Work quickly, stay calm, and do it right. As the founder...
2026-11-12
Common Sense当たり前 (Atarimae) Some things should not require a discussion. They are simply common sense. Seattle spends billions of dollars building a modern light rail system, yet many stations ha...
2026-11-12
Coffee & Connections Business MixerJoin us for a morning of coffee, conversation, and networking with local business professionals from a variety of industries. Thursday, November 12, 20268:00 AM –...
2026-11-12
The Fear of Silence (沈黙が怖い)Being rejected is easier than being ignored. As a business owner, I have learned that silence can be more frightening than rejection. When I make a business proposal, o...
2026-11-12
Do You Have Someone Who Tells You What You Don't Want to Hear?耳の痛いことを言ってくれる人はいますか？ In Japanese, we have an expression, Mimi ga Itai (耳が痛い), literally meaning "my ears hurt." It describes hearing so...
2026-11-11
面倒臭い (Mendōkusai)Sometimes, It's Easier Just to Smile. Mendōkusai is a Japanese expression meaning “What a hassle,” “Too much trouble,” or simply “I can't be bothered.” Not every argument deserve...