Now and Zen Japan Andrew Hankinson

Have you ever fantasized about the ultimate luxury vacation in Japan? If so, Alex Debs is your go-to guy. As the founder of Hitotoki, the Luxury Travel Designer, Alex specializes in crafting luxurious travel experiences in Japan. In this episode, you'll get an inside look into the world of luxury travel planning, including the most challenging requests his team has faced. We'll discuss how he navigated the pandemic restrictions, the unique challenges of being a small, specialized agency, and his interactions with Japan's large travel associations. Plus, Alex shares exclusive itinerary suggestions for a 2-3 day trip out of Tokyo and insights into booking a seat at the world-famous Jiro Sushi restaurant.
We'll also explore a range of other fascinating topics, including:
The role of a "Luxury Travel Designer" and defining "luxury" in travelTips for selecting the best travel guidesHow to handle illegal requests in the luxury travel industryDifferences in itinerary preferences among nationalitiesChallenges faced by hotels in accommodating foreign luxury guestsStories from the "Go-To-Travel" program and insights into Japan's travel associationsThe untapped luxury market potential of OkinawaThe business opportunity that inspired the creation of HITOTOKIA "Free Unsolicited Business Idea" from our conversationConnect with Alex Debs on LinkedIn and learn more about Hitotoki at hitotoki-travel.com. For more episodes of Now and Zen Japan, visit nowandzen.jp.

It's a truly inspiring chat with the incredibly positive and humble entrepreneur, Anthony Griffin. He's the brains behind Saga Consulting, a company dedicated to helping organizations and individuals share their stories with the world. They specialize in global communications, offering top-notch copywriting, digital marketing, and cross-cultural coaching. Anthony also pens insightful articles for Kokoro Media on LinkedIn, where he shares his passion for Japanese language learning and provides tips for taking your skills to the next level.
In our conversation, Anthony and I both share three essential yet culturally impactful Japanese words that every beginner should learn. We also delve into a variety of topics, including:
Techniques for acquiring new clients as an entrepreneurHow Saga Consulting supports Japanese companies in expanding internationallyCommon hurdles Japanese companies face when going globalBalancing Japanese cultural norms with personal styleAnthony's expertise in working with "Foreign Curious" companiesLessons learned from working for a Japanese companyEarly cultural missteps in Japanese corporate lifeRecommended Japanese language apps for rapid learningSimple language tips for fostering better community relationsFavorite untranslatable Japanese wordUnique Japanese words beginners should masterYou can connect with Anthony Griffin on LinkedIn, learn more about Saga Consulting at consultsaga.com, and read his articles on Kokoro Media. For more episodes of Now and Zen Japan, visit nowandzen.jp. And if you're looking for Japan adventures in a camper van, discover Dream Drive. 

Discover the art of mastering public speaking, enhancing your presentation skills, and unraveling the secrets to impactful storytelling. Join Dr. Greg Story, the esteemed president of Dale Carnegie Japan and bestselling author of "Japan Sales Mastery" and "Japan Business Mastery," as he shares invaluable insights into successful sales techniques, post-COVID sales process shifts, and a myriad of topics explored in his books.
In this engaging conversation, we delve into the question of whether Greg's six podcasts might be considered "too much content." He regales us with true-life experiences that beautifully complement his business tips, insights, and advice, drawing from his rich background as a 6th-degree black belt in Karate with 38 years of experience in Japan. The episode unfolds as a captivating discussion on how actions and choices can profoundly impact one's life and career. Other topics covered are:
The significance of public speaking skills in advancing your careerTips to ease nerves before a public presentationStrategies to "bullet-proof" yourself against challenging audience questionsGreg's simplified four elements of a successful presentationThe rationale behind his decision to "niche-down" with six podcasts instead of oneGreg's biggest "pet-peeve" when listening to other presentersIn-depth exploration of the contents and background of his bestselling booksThe transformative influence of Karate on Greg's life, perspective, and careerThe profound meaning behind his favorite untranslatable Japanese word, "Zanshin."Greg Story: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregstory/
Dale Carnegie Japan: https://www.dalecarnegie.com/ja/locations/japan
Japan Dale Carnegie TV: https://www.youtube.com

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

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Meet a true Hospitality Professional. Mr. Matthias Sutter, the Rep. Director of Shangri-La Hotels Japan and the GM of the Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo.  We discuss Japanese customer service, how different nationalities have different hospitality expectations, his two requirements for anyone to succeed in the hotel business, and how starting off in Food & Beverage helped craft his strong sense of hospitality.  We also talk Trip Advisor, hotel rankings, and the guest comments he likes the most.  If you are curious about how luxury hotel GM's think, practice, and teach customer service and hospitality, this episode is a must-listen. Other topics we cover:
Why hotels are an "El Dorado" for customer serviceThe three topics to never discuss with hotel guestsDifferent cultures have different interpretations of hospitalityJapanese service vs. other Asian countriesPreparations for the Shangri-La Kyoto openingGuest comments which led to innovative and successful promotionsHotel "brands" have separate DNA, thus some customer focus differences   Japanese "guest comment" tendenciesThe Free Unsolicited Business Idea   The Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo: https://www.shangri-la.com/tokyo/shangrila/
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

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

The phrase "Do what you love and you never have to work another day in your life" fits Mac Salman perfectly. Mac left the finance  industry and pursued his passions - Travel, Japan, and tasty spirits. We discuss his customized tour business Maction Planet where he has never conducted the same itinerary twice. Then his pivot to Kanpai Planet when the pandemic halted Japan tourism. We discuss these two businesses and life in Tokyo while we sample three "Japan Related" tequilas.  Mac is an inimitable and articulate British gentleman who does his homework. He brings insider knowledge and back stories to Shizuku,  Cascahuin, and Don Suenos tequilas and their fascinating Japan connections. Even if you are not a big fan of whiskey or tequila, Mac's stories and insight make for a very lively and enjoyable conversation.  Other topics we discuss: 
Leaving the lucrative  finance industry and pursuing his passion for travelThe philosophy of changing tour guiding from a "commodity to a profession"Maction Planet's 99.6% rating on Trip Advisor and why its not 100%25 straight years of whisky consumption decline in Japan. That all changed in 2008Why he can be found at Jingu Stadium up to 50 times a yearSample Blanco and Reposado from Shizuku and discover its ties to FukuokaMac's amazing Sake knowledge and how he applies it to tequila tasting The hierarchy of needs and the 5 reasons Tokyo is the "Greatest Metropolis on Earth"Taste test the Blanco and an Extra Anejo from Cascahuin created by Japanese "Tetsu" KagedaThe background of the only Tequila brand owned by a Japanese woman - we try the Reposado and Anejo from Don Suenos Maction Planet: https://www.mactionplanet.com/
Trip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com
Kanpai Planet: https://www.youtube.com

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

Deanna Elstrom is a veteran brand marketer, brand strategist, and consumer insights specialist. She started her own consulting business, Somi Insights, three years ago where she combines her love of branding with a fascination of how culture influences human behavior. The Japanese consumer is a key area of Deanna's expertise where she led two major agencies before starting Somi Insights.  We discuss the the Japanese name "Somi" which she coined, we learn the big difference between "insights" and "findings", great examples of how culture influences behavior in Japan, a cultural analysis into why Japan is ranked #58 on the Global Happiness Index, and stories of her first experience in Japan as a teenager and how this  crafted her Japan journey. Other topics we cover:
The meaning of "Somi", a made-up Japanese wordJapan and the dilemma of happinessThe difference Somi Insights brings to the Japan marketFindings vs. Insights explanation with examplesOmotenashi and Sustainability balanceShe questions my Japan kitchenware market "insights"  Interesting Japan beauty market discoveries Her favorite untranslatable Japanese word = Yoroshiku OnegaishimasuThe Japanese and Western interpretation of what "home" is"The researcher is the consumer voice, keep the consumer voice as a superpower"  Somi Insights home page: http://somiinsights.com
Deanna Elstrom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-elstrom

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