Uchikura & Co Blog
Stirring the Bush and Finding ...
2026-02-09
Stirring the Bush and Finding a Snake   There is a Japanese proverb, “Yabu wo tsutsuite hebi wo dasu” — stir the bush and a snake appears. It describes a situation where unnecessary pressure creates ...
Anything Can Happen / Business...
2026-02-08
Anything Can Happen / Business Blog   It happened in Japan in early 2024. A Domino’s Pizza store in Amagasaki became the center of public attention after a video appeared online showing employees beh...
The Meaning of the 2026 Japane...
2026-02-08
The Meaning of the 2026 Japanese Election Result   The result of the 2026 Japanese general election is now clear. Prime Minister Takeichi and the Liberal Democratic Party secured approximately 310 se...
Election Day Silence in Japan
2026-02-08
Election Day Silence in Japan   One thing that often surprises people outside Japan is how quiet election day feels.   Unlike in the United States and many other countries, Japan does not allow elect...
Government Does Not Have Its O...
2026-02-08
Government Does Not Have Its Own Money   There are times when government begins to believe it knows better than the people it serves. To be fair, governments often have access to more data, more advi...
The Restaurant That Even Japan...
2026-02-07
The Restaurant That Even Japanese Think Is Too Cheap — Saizeriya   Before flying back to Seattle yesterday, I stopped for lunch at Saizeriya, a very popular Italian-style restaurant chain in Japan. M...
NO on Washington Senate Bill 6346
2026-02-05
Washington Senate Bill 6346 proposes introducing an income tax targeting individuals earning over $1,000,000 annually. While it may sound limited in scope, policies like this often expand over time an...
I found something rare in Tokyo.
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...
GIFT SHOW
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 ...
Ken Uchikura Newsletter Vol. 3...
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...