Uchikura & Co Blog
2026-02-04
Yesterday, I finally found a trash can in Tokyo.It was the very first trash can I saw during this entire trip. So when people say, “There are no trash cans in Tokyo,” I’ll tell them this:there is a...
2026-02-04
Yesterday, I visited a gift show at Tokyo Big Sight, expecting it to be a good place to meet Japanese companies producing customizable gifts for corporate promotions and overseas distribution. The ...
2026-02-04
Not Swinging at Full Power: Golf and Management Until a recent surgery forced me to take a break, I played golf almost every week. My golf journey began back in junior high school. A driving range own...
2026-02-03
How Safe Is Japan? This afternoon, I walked into the lobby of a large business building. Right there—open to anyone passing through—was a FamilyMart apparel corner. No cashier.No staff.Just shelv...
2026-02-02
February 3: Setsubun, Ehomaki, and Mamemaki Setsubun is observed on February 3, marking the seasonal turning point between winter and spring. On this day, people across Japan throw roasted soybeans...
2026-02-02
This morning I had a meeting about two miles away. In the U.S., there’s no question what I would do. I’d get in my car, drive to the location, have the meeting, then get back in my car and return t...
2026-02-01
When you look at this photo of a Shinto shrine gate, you may notice a small fence placed in the middle of the pathway. How many of you know why that fence is there? There are two reasons. First, ...
2026-02-01
Japanese Tissue Paper Marketing: Small, Polite, and Brilliant If you’ve ever walked near a train station in Japan, you’ve probably been handed a small packet of tissue paper. It feels insignificant...
2026-01-31
Up and Down — How Japan’s Railways Still Point to Edo One thing that often surprises visitors to Japan is how railway directions are described. Trains don’t just go “east” or “west.” Instead, they ...
2026-01-31
This is a video of me riding a train from Tokyo to Shinjuku. The train is full—every seat is taken, and quite a few people are standing. Please excuse the video. In Japan, I avoid filming people wh...