4 Japanese philosophies to beat laziness

JAPANESE BUSINESS CONCEPTS OF THE WEEK

Japanese culture has a wealth of philosophies and techniques that can help anyone overcome laziness and boost productivity.

Here are 4 of them:

1️⃣ Kaizen: Make small daily improvements. Instead of overhauling your entire life at once, focus on small, consistent steps.

2️⃣ Hara Hachi Bu: Practice moderation. Overindulgence leads to feelings of sluggishness and laziness. In the workplace, avoid taking on too many projects at once or working long hours without breaks. Remember: Too much of anything is good for nothing.

3️⃣ Shoshin: Think like a beginner. Be open to learning and experiencing new things. When we let go of the need to be perfect or to have all the answers, we become more receptive to learning and growth.

4️⃣ Ikigai: Find what makes your life meaningful by doing what you love, what you’re good at, and what the world needs. When you have a clear sense of purpose, it’s easier to find the motivation to get things done.

THE HEADLINES
In this week’s edition of U.S.-Japan Weekly:

💰 Japan's Meiji Yasuda to acquire American Heritage Life Insurance

🎥 Japan wants to make its pop culture a top global export

🇺🇸 U.S. venture capital firm picks Japan for first Asian office

NEWS
Japan's Meiji Yasuda to acquire American Heritage Life Insurance

🇯🇵 TOKYO, JAPAN — Through its U.S. subsidiary StanCorp, Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance announced the acquisition of Allstate's American Heritage Life Insurance for roughly $2 billion, a deal that is expected to close by June 2025 pending the approval of regulatory bodies in the United States and Japan, according to a report in Nikkei Asia.

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FEATURE STORY
Japan wants to make its pop culture a top global export

🇯🇵 TOKYO, JAPAN — Japan is positioning its gaming and creative industries, particularly makers of anime, manga, and video games, as key players of economic growth, hoping to quadruple their global value to $130 billion by 2033. The government’s revised “Cool Japan” strategy underscores the potential of these pop culture assets to rival the country’s traditional exports, like steel and semiconductors.

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NEWS
U.S. venture capital firm picks Japan for first Asian office

🇺🇸 CALIFORNIA, USA — Andreessen Horowitz (A16z) will open its first Asian office in Japan to strengthen its investor network and focus on investments in startups and growth-stage technology companies in the country, according to Nikkei Asia. It will be the Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm’s second overseas outpost after opening its first international office in London in 2019.

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