2013年10月14日月曜日

What is the key to dress well?

Which do you want to be, person in stylish suit or in shabby one? 
 
 
 
 
Walking the crowded street in Tokyo, I wonder why some are cool in their clothes and the others are not. Even in a T-shirt, this man looks nice, but that man looks poor. The same kind of purses held by the different women make me unlike impression.
 
 
 
 
Mr Miyazaki is a famous gentleman as a buyer. He works for Matsuya Department Store in Ginza. He is a specialist in male clothes. His project"Ginza-no-otoko-ichi(「銀座の男」市)" has been very successful since 2002. The twice-in-a-year show has been surprising many of japanese fashion professionals and customers for the gap between price and quality. It is said that in the two week session they sell 500 million yen.
   



There are 60 tips in this book for you to be dressed well. They are not hard to follow. The size matters. Maintenance is important, etc. In short, he suggests that we should get the right clothing and take care of it.


ISBN:978-4-06-299752-2
MIYAZAKI Shunichi "60 Tips to be dressed well"(Kodansha 2011)
宮崎俊一『成功する男のファッションの秘訣60』(講談社 2011年)
http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%9C%AC/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=%E5%AE%AE%E5%B4%8E%20%E4%BF%8A%E4%B8%80&page=1&rh=n%3A465392%2Cp_27%3A%E5%AE%AE%E5%B4%8E%20%E4%BF%8A%E4%B8%80

About the author;
http://www.matsuya.com/m_ginza/blog/m_style/cat504/index_2.html
http://www.obt-a.net/web_jinzai_magazine/enterprise/2012/09/post-117.html
 

2013年10月8日火曜日

A new book by Inamori Kazuo: Posses a fighting spirit!

Do you know who he is?
 


His name is Inamori Kazuo. He is a big shot here in Japan. Because he is successful in the business world and shows us his unique and useful philosophy. At first, he became famous as the founder of Kyocera corporation. Second, as the founder of KDDI. And finally, as the chairman of Japan Airlines(JAL).  


 
To the Japanese surprise, though he was an outsider of the airline industry, he achieved his goal to direct JAL resuscitation only in three years.  He has a reputation as a skillful management.       
 
 
Here is the twelve principles by Dr.Inamori.
 
1.
Clearly state the purpose and mission of your business.
Set high objectives that are noble, just and fair.
 
2.
Set specific goals.
Once targets are set, share them with all employees.
 
3.
Keep a passionate desire in your heart.
Your desire must be strong and persistent to penetrate into your subconscious mind.
 
4.
Strive harder than anyone else.
Work steadily and diligently, one step at a time, never relenting in tedious tasks.
 
5.
Maximize revenues and minimize expenses.
Measure your inflow and control your outflow; don't chase profit, but let it follow your effort.
 
6.
Pricing is management.
Pricing is top management's responsibility: to find that one point where customers are happy and the company is most profitable.
 
7.
Success is determined by willpower.
Business management requires a persistent, "rock-piercing" will.
 
8.
Possess a fighting spirit.
Management requires a more combative mentality than any martial art.
 
9.
Face every challenge with courage.
Be fair and never deceive others.
 
10.
Always be creative in your work.
Innovate and improve continuously. Today should be better than yesterday; tomorrow, better than today.
 
11.
Be kind and sincere.
Business is based on partnerships and must bring happiness to all parties.
 
12.
Always be cheerful and positive; hold great dreams and hopes in the pureness of your heart.

 
I hope these will help you.
 
 
ISBN:978-4-620-32166-0
INAMORI Kazuo"Possess a fighting spirit"(Mainichi-Shinbunsha 2013)
稲盛和夫『燃える闘魂』(毎日新聞社 2013年)


2013年10月5日土曜日

S and S

 
 
Two gentlemen wrote this book.  Mr.Sato and Mr.Shibata used to work for the same university as English teachers. Since then, their bond has been as hard as rocks. They're like brothers.
 
The well-known professors alternatively talk about books, music and their lives. These intelligent guys are really good at showing how they enjoy pop culture and lead us to the brand new world.   
 
 
 
 
Though they are enough smart, there's no affected way of talking. As if they were old friends of ours, the authors give us tips to live a happier life. So just sit back and be relaxed to see their show.    
 
 

                                                                    Don't think. Feel!



ISBN 978-4-309-02200-0
SATO Yoshiaki, SHIBATA Motoyuki"Sato-kun to Shibata-kun no Gyakushu!!"(Kawadeshobo 2013)
佐藤良明 柴田元幸『佐藤君と柴田君の逆襲!!』(河出書房新社 2013年)

2013年10月4日金曜日

Do you have the bucket list?

Do you have the bucket list?

 
 
Robert Harris is one of the most unique and individual Radio hosts here in Japan. In his show, he spends much time entertaining the listeners with his stories about his own unusual experiences.
 
    
 
 
Finishing high school, he traveled all over the world. There he met many exciting people; hippies, gamblers, vagabonds, etc.,etc. At the end of the six-month journey, he was at a loss what to do when he went back to Japan. One day he found a magazine at a hotel and read it. He was curious about the article which had the title, "The bucket list, 100 dreams to do before I die ." It was written by an adventurer, who made the list and made it come true.

"If I make the list like him, my life might be better", he thought.


 
 
He started to write down what he wanted to do. Soon he completed the list. It had 100 dreams. Though he didn't know why, it had the power to let him feel free. He felt relieved and encouraged by his own list. It's my life, my own life. He was sure where to go. 
 
 
ISBN 978-4-06-281205-4
Robert Harris "A List of Hundred Dreams"(Kodansha+αBunko 2008)
ロバート・ハリス『人生の100のリスト』(講談社+α文庫 2008年)


2013年10月3日木曜日

How to meet a favorite Japanese book

 
I'll tell you how to find a favorite Japanese book among so many.  


 
 
As a college student I read a lot.
Almost all the books were about what I majored in: architecture and literature.
I would go to the library everyday and borrow  some books on the nearly same subjects.
I would go the bookshops everyweek and buy many books, which had plenty of topics, but they were within the territory.
 
   
Thinking about it, I had a cup of tea with a Greek and Latin professor.
May I ask a question?
Of course. 
What would you say to a Japanese beginner if he or she asks you how to find a good book?
I often had that kind of question from my students. I gave them two ways.
One is to visit the nearest and the biggest bookshop. Spend all day and explore there.You'll find unfamiliar but attractive books.
  
  
 
 
The other way is to get brochures from the famous publisher; "Tosho『図書』(Iwanami-Shoten岩波書店)", "Nami『波』(Shinchosha新潮社)","Chikuma『ちくま』(Chikuma-Shobou筑摩書房) and so on. They have many ads and many good essays. I love to read them. 
 
 
 
 
Since then many years have passed. And now I love to read the monthly publications, too.
As the teacher said, they are full of gems of essays.
 
 
 

 "Tosho"(Iwanami-Shoten 2013)
『図書』(岩波書店 2013年)
 

2013年10月2日水曜日

Buy my book?

What do YOU want?
 
 
"Greed is good" Gordon Gekko once said. If you've seen the movie, Wall Street, you already know the destination of greed is far from the happiness. Then, how about burning desire? Desire is, in other word, an ideal that you want to be successful: achieving your goals after making plans and taking massive actions. Do you think it will help you to live a happy life?

 
The author insists that Japan is not as good as what it used to be in economy. On the contrary, the Asian countries like China or South Korea are going strong. What's behind the difference between us and them? The answer is simple:the lack of ideal.
   
  
 
This book ends with a quotation:
Ask not what your country can do for you,
ask what you can do for your country.
 
 
ISBN 978-4-569-80692-1
YANAI Tadashi "Genjitsu-wo-miyo"(PHP 2012)
柳井正『現実を視よ』(PHP研究所)