Real Gaijin — Japan’s Business, Culture & Life Podcast: A podcast about Japan’s economy, work culture, foreign residents, regional revitalization, and the people shaping the country’s future.

While the media has widely covered how foreigners are buying up Japanese real estate at two extremes of the property market — high-end, brand new residential properties, mainly condominiums called “tower mansions” in Japanese, in the heart of Japan’s largest cities, such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, as well as large numbers of budget properties, including abandoned homes called akiya, in the Japanese countryside — almost nothing has been said about a segment of the market that is often overlooked, where our expert is redefining the market. This promising corner of Japan’s urban real estate market consists of slightly older, centrally located, and generally larger condominiums that have been extensively remodeled from top to bottom and marketed as luxurious, bespoke homes in highly desirable parts of Tokyo and Osaka.For much of the past quarter-century, Yasuyuki Nozawa has used his flagship brand, LogMansion, to source, remodel, and market these unique properties.Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Go deeperFor a comprehensive Q & A with President Nozawa and his various business ventures, please read the following long-form article:TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.#JapanRealEstate #LogProstyle #YasuyukiNozawa #RealGaijin #リアル外人If you found this post valuable, please click the ❤️ button and restack it. Restacking helps more than you’d think! Thanks!Thanks for reading Real Gaijin! This post is public so feel free to share it.Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijin Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

What happens when an American writer buys two aging houses in Hokkaido, Japan, one of which he has never been inside? Come along for a house tour and candid conversation about Japan’s abandoned homes, unconventional living, and the search for belonging.What would you do with an 800,000-yen (about US $5,000) house in Japan—especially one you’ve never inspected?For American author and world traveler CD Damitio, the answer was simple: Buy it, restore it, and document the adventure.In 2024, CD purchased an old house in Otaru, Hokkaido, for less than $30,000. Then, in March 2026, he doubled down by buying another house for just 800,000 yen—without ever stepping inside.He’s now restoring both properties while documenting the challenges, discoveries, and unexpected rewards of breathing new life into neglected Japanese homes.But there’s much more to his story than inexpensive real estate.Meet CD | INDIGNIFIED (CD Damitio).Who is he?CD Damitio is an American author, travel writer, entrepreneur, and self-described “Story Nomad.” His unconventional journey has taken him across continents, cultures, and careers.A U.S. Marine Corps veteran (🦅 🌎 ⚓), he studied anthropology at the University of Hawaii and has spent more than 25 years writing and exploring the world. CD has authored more than 30 books and has lived in Morocco, Turkey, Hawaii, and Japan.Currently, he divides his time among several countries, including Japan, where he spends part of each year in Otaru, a historic port city on Hokkaido’s western coast.CD’s latest adventure involves restoring two aging Japanese houses, including the remarkably inexpensive second property featured on his YouTube channel, Indignified with CD.Yet CD’s interests extend well beyond home renovation.He founded Xcrol (pronounced “Scroll”), a small, advertising-free social network, and created Indignified, a Substack publication exploring the intersection of power, belonging, and meaning.CD is also developing his own philosophical framework, Baoism, while writing about artificial intelligence, decentralized technology, creativity, and the changing relationship between individuals and institutions.CD describes himself as a “philoso-viber,” “story nomad,” world coder, and Xcrol boss.Suffice to say, CD is not your typical expatriate, and I don’t really know where this live house tour may end up—what better reason do you have to come along for the ride!On the agendaReal Gaijin started with a question many people considering life in rural or regional Japan have asked themselves: Can you really buy a livable house in Japan for less than the price of a used car?CD has done it twice.We explored what attracted him to Otaru, how he found these properties, and what made him purchase the second one without inspecting the interior.We discussed the practical realities of restoring aging Japanese homes, including hidden costs, structural surprises, bureaucracy, local contractors, and the difference between buying a bargain and inheriting an expensive problem.Key takeaways* Japan’s 800,000-yen houses are real, but the purchase price is just the beginning: CD bought his second abandoned house (akiya・空き家) in Otaru, Hokkaido, for only ¥800,000 (about US$5,000). However, restoring the property required hundreds of hours of hands-on work and an additional $8,000–$10,000 in renovation expenses. From frozen plumbing and rotting floors to rooms packed with decades of abandoned belongings, his experience demonstrates that buying a bargain-priced Japanese home is only the beginning of the investment.* Hokkaido’s harsh winters can make or break an akiya investment: Owning an inexpensive house in Hokkaido comes with extraordinary maintenance challenges, particularly during winter. CD describes enormous snow accumulation, the necessity of clearing roofs and protecting windows, and the danger of frozen pipes that can cause catastrophic water damage. His own property suffered extensive flooding when a water heater froze and burst. His experience highlights why prospective buyers must consider climate, structural condition, accessibility, and ongoing maintenance costs before purchasing.* Foreigners can own property in Japan, but ownership doesn’t grant residency or business rights: Although CD owns two houses in Otaru, he does not have Japanese residency and divides his time between Hokkaido, Hawaii, and Chiang Mai, Thailand. He explains how his visitor status limits his ability to operate a business or manage commercial activities in Japan personally. Instead of opening a commercial teahouse, he has organized free community gatherings and explored noncommercial hospitality. His experience illustrates an important distinction: Purchasing Japanese real estate does not automatically provide the right to live or work in Japan.* Building trust with Japanese neighbors is as important as renovating the house: CD emphasizes that successful integration into a Japanese community requires participation, humility, and consideration for local customs. By allowing neighbors to deposit cleared snow on his property, participating in local activities, offering free English lessons, and asking for guidance on everyday matters, such as garbage sorting, he has developed goodwill despite his limited Japanese proficiency. His weekly “Ideas That Matter” gatherings also bring Japanese residents and foreigners together, demonstrating that meaningful community relationships develop through practical contributions rather than language proficiency alone.* Japan’s abandoned homes offer opportunities beyond financial investment: CD’s first Otaru house is a personal sanctuary that he hopes to pass on to his daughter. His second house was purchased partly as a potential investment amid growing foreign interest in Hokkaido property. Yet his ambitions extend beyond possible appreciation. He wants to preserve the character of these older homes, share them with travelers, and create spaces for community interaction. CD’s journey from Hawaii to Hokkaido demonstrates how Japan’s abandoned housing stock can provide opportunities for affordable ownership, cultural preservation, and personal reinvention. However, this is only possible if buyers approach the experience with realistic expectations and a willingness to contribute to their communities.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.LinksSubstack: https://indignified.substack.com/Baoism: https://www.baoism.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christopher.damitio.1/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-damitio/Worlds Unlimited: https://www.w3wu.com/X: @cd_damitioXcrol (pronounced “Scroll”): https://xcrol.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@indignified_cdAdditional resources* Book about “van life” written by CD cited in the interview: Rough Living: Tips and Tales of a Vagabond* Proximity to approximately 20 ski resorts within 60 ~ 80km:* Otaru City* Otaru Tenguyama* Asarigawa Onsen* Snow Cruise Onze* Akaigawa / Niki area* Kiroro Snow World* Consadole Niki Ski Park* Niki Chomin Ski Field (仁木町民スキー場)* Sapporo / Ishikari side* Sapporo Kokusai* Sapporo Teine* Sapporo Bankei* Sapporo Moiwayama* Fu’s Snow Area* Takino Snow World* Dynasty Ski Resort (Kitahiroshima)* Niseko / Kutchan area* Niseko Grand Hirafu* Niseko Hanazono* Niseko Annupuri* Niseko Village* Kutchan Asahigaoka Ski Area (倶知安町旭ヶ丘スキー場)* Borderline / slightly over 80 km* Rusutsu* Additional very small / sometimes-listed local hills* Shakotan Town Outdoor Sports Forest Ski Area (or similar tiny municipal spots in the wider Shiribeshi fringe — status can be irregular)#CDDamitio #JapanRealEstate #LifeInJapan #RealGaijin #リアル外人ICYMIPlease check this out! If you’ll be in Tokyo on Thursday evening, November 5, join a small group of Japan-based Substack writers and readers for a meetup. Get your tickets before they sell out!If yo… Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

What were you drinking?My sugar-free (really?) Kirin Ichiban certainly satisfied my thirst—even though its price was probably determined in a back-room collusion session with Kirin’s age-old competitors Asahi, Sapporo, and Suntory!🍻 Thank you to everyone who joined the third “Beers with Real Gaijin” live stream on Sunday evening--which was a special pre-Halloween edition! Hopefully, my Halloween props from America were not too obnoxious. Like last month, what started as an experiment—an informal conversation without an agenda about recent Real Gaijin articles, Japan-related news, and whatever else was on your mind—has turned into just the kind of lively exchange I had hoped for.Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Key TakeawaysWhile we enjoyed a wide-ranging discussion that included a review of several recently published Real Gaijin articles, the three most significant stories were probably the following:* Japan Inc. Is Quietly Retreating from the Countryside: Japan’s shrinking population is reshaping corporate strategy. Major companies, such as Daiwa House, Uniqlo, and MUFG, are concentrating their resources in larger urban markets while reducing their rural presence. This isn’t necessarily a response to poor financial performance. Rather, it’s a calculated recognition that Japan’s demographic future increasingly favors major cities, which could leave rural communities with fewer services and economic opportunities.* AI in Japan is addressing labor shortages rather than simply eliminating jobs: While much of the overseas debate focuses on AI-driven layoffs, Japan faces a different challenge: too few workers. Companies such as Sompo Japan are using AI to improve productivity and automate routine tasks, allowing headcounts to decline through natural attrition rather than dismissals. The emerging model is less about replacing existing employees and more about maintaining operations without replacing everyone who leaves.* Japan’s economic recovery isn’t reaching everyone equally: Despite positive real wage growth, many Japanese households remain reluctant to spend. Smaller companies may struggle to match wage increases at larger employers, and retirees are excluded from wage statistics altogether. Meanwhile, younger families face rising childcare costs and limited access to the wealth held by older generations. The discussion highlighted proposals to increase Japan’s annual gift-tax exemption from ¥1.1 million to ¥3.3 million, which could help transfer financial resources to families in need.🍺 I’m already looking forward to the next “Beers with Real Gaijin“ at the end of November, which is the best time of the year to see the fall foliage down here in Kyushu. The invitation will be sent out soon…🎉 P.S. I look forward to meeting you in person at the upcoming “Japan Substackers IRL Meetup in Tokyo” on November 5, 2026, if you’re able to make it. Including me and Alex Dwyer, at this point a total of 17 Substack authors (and counting) will be on hand to interact in real life (IRL) with you!Related articles and podcast covered in this episode#BeersWithRealGaijin #リアル外人と飲む #ResidentForeigners #RealGaijin #リアル外人Thanks for reading Real Gaijin! This post is public so feel free to share it.Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

What can a cup of tea teach us about Japan—and about ourselves?This week, the Real Gaijin AMA podcast welcomed a fellow Japan-based writer and student of all things tea—one of Japan’s most popular beverages for centuries.Meet Alex Dwyer.Who is he?Alex Dwyer is an American writer and tea enthusiast. He is the creator of Tea w/ Dweez, a Substack publication dedicated to exploring the fascinating world of tea, including the people, places, and traditions surrounding it.Alex’s passion for tea has taken him around the globe, from the Darjeeling region in India and China to Japan’s renowned tea-producing areas, including Yame in Fukuoka Prefecture. He has developed an international perspective on how different societies cultivate, prepare, and appreciate tea along the way.Before settling in Japan, he explored the tea scene in Los Angeles and contributed an extensive guide to the city’s best tea destinations to L.A. TACO.Since moving to Kamakura in January 2023, Alex has continued to document his discoveries and reflections on Japanese tea culture, everyday life, and the value of slowing down.Through his writing, Alex approaches tea as more than a beverage. To him, tea is a gateway to cultural understanding, meaningful human connections, and a more deliberate way of experiencing the world.On the agendaIn this conversation, we discussed what makes Japanese tea culture unique and how it compares to other traditions. We also talked about why Alex believes that tea should be accessible to everyone, not just connoisseurs.We talked about his journey to Japan, his time living in Kamakura, and how tea can help us navigate a world obsessed with productivity and constant self-improvement.Of course, we also touched upon the important question: Is Japan’s matcha craze bringing people closer to authentic tea culture—or turning a centuries-old tradition into just another fashionable commodity?Key takeaways* Tea is an invitation to slow down, not another productivity hack: In a world obsessed with efficiency, Alex argues that drinking tea should be an intentionally unproductive experience. Instead of rushing through another task, tea encourages us to disconnect, appreciate the present moment, and rediscover the simple pleasures of everyday life. Sometimes, doing nothing is the most valuable thing we can do.* Japanese tea culture is deeply rooted in Zen Buddhism: It arrived in Japan from China during the Kamakura period and became closely associated with Buddhist monks. Initially valued as an aid to meditation, tea evolved into a cultural practice emphasizing mindfulness, hospitality, and contemplation. As Alex explains, the traditional Japanese expression cha-zen ichimi (茶禅一味)—tea and Zen are one flavor—captures this enduring relationship.* Matcha, sencha, hojicha, and other teas share a surprising connection: Despite their dramatically different flavors, appearances, and aromas, these teas all originate from the same plant species: Camellia sinensis. The primary distinction lies in how the leaves are cultivated and processed, through methods such as shading, steaming, roasting, or grinding. Understanding these differences reveals the remarkable diversity of Japan’s tea traditions.* The global matcha craze risks obscuring what makes tea special: Matcha‘s explosive popularity has transformed a centuries-old Japanese tradition into a fashionable global commodity. While Alex welcomes the growing interest, he questions the emphasis on convenience, commercialization, and productivity. He is concerned that consumers may embrace matcha‘s perceived health benefits while overlooking its deeper cultural significance and contemplative qualities.* A simple bowl of tea can change the direction of your life: Alex’s journey from music journalism in Los Angeles to China’s tea culture ultimately brought him to Kamakura, Japan. A memorable experience drinking matcha at Hokokuji Temple inspired his decision to relocate there with his wife. His story illustrates how curiosity, travel, and seemingly ordinary encounters can lead to unexpected personal transformations.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Pro tipAlthough it’s generally considered best to brew matcha and sencha at around 60°C, you can’t really go wrong when boiling hojicha. Remember, you heard it here first! Just kidding.Suggested referencesGreen with Milk and Sugar: When Japan Filled America’s Tea Cups by Robert Hellyer (Columbia University Press)#TeaWithDweez #TeaCulture #matcha #RealGaijin #リアル外人ICYMIPlease check this out! If you’ll be in Tokyo on Thursday evening, November 5, join Alex, Mark, and a small group of Japan-based Substack writers and readers for a meetup. Get your tickets before they sell out!If you found this post valuable, please click the ❤️ button and restack it. Restacking helps more than you’d think! Thanks!Thanks for reading Real Gaijin! This post is public so feel free to share it.Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

🍻 Thank you to everyone who joined the second “Beers with Real Gaijin” live stream on Sunday evening! Like last month, what started as an experiment—an informal conversation without an agenda about recent Real Gaijin articles, Japan-related news, and whatever else was on your mind—turned into the kind of lively exchange I had hoped for.Key TakeawaysWhile we enjoyed a wide-ranging discussion that included a review of several recently published Real Gaijin articles, the five main points to take away were probably the following (see below for links to related articles):* Japan’s foreign-resident population is growing larger, becoming more diverse, and growing in economic importance: Japan’s foreign population has grown to roughly 4.2 million, with the largest groups coming from China, Vietnam, South Korea, and the Philippines. Meanwhile, newer communities, such as those from Sri Lanka, are becoming increasingly visible. At the same time, foreign workers are moving beyond the traditional image of temporary, low-wage labor into higher-skilled, better-paid, and longer-term roles.* Doing business in Japan still depends heavily on relationships, localization, and patience: The discussion of LinkedIn, Eight, and Tomomi Iwasaki’s experience highlights a persistent difference between Japan and Western markets: Cold outreach is relatively ineffective, while personal introductions and established relationships carry considerable weight. Foreign companies also need to temper their expectations of immediate results and be prepared to localize their products and approach.* Japan’s economic recovery remains uneven despite stronger wage growth: Large Japanese companies are delivering wage increases that have finally begun to exceed inflation, producing modest real-wage gains. However, these benefits are not evenly distributed across the economy, which helps explain why households remain cautious and why consumer spending has not accelerated correspondingly.* Japan’s demographic challenge begins well before childbirth—with marriage, relationships, and a shrinking pool of young adults: Falling marriage rates are particularly important in Japan because births are still largely associated with marriage. Combined with the already small population of young children, this suggests that Japan’s demographic contraction is becoming structurally embedded and cannot be addressed solely through policies aimed at supporting parents after children are born.* Japan’s aging population is redefining what “retirement” looks like: The rapid growth of older workers taking seasonal resort baito (part-time work) illustrates both opportunity and economic necessity. Seniors can earn income while traveling and gaining new experiences, and employers can hire experienced, flexible workers. However, this phenomenon also exposes a deeper problem: many Japanese people may need to continue working well into their traditional retirement years because their pensions and savings are insufficient for a potentially decades-long retirement.Q & AQ1: Do the Japanese have a purity law for beer?A1: Japan does not have a German-style beer “purity law,” but its Liquor Tax Act strictly defines what can be legally labeled as “beer.” Beer must contain at least 50% malt by weight (not including hops or water), but, unlike the traditional German Reinheitsgebot, Japan allows ingredients such as rice, corn, starch, sugars, fruit, and certain spices and herbs. In 2018, the rules were significantly liberalized, lowering the malt threshold and allowing more flavoring ingredients. This gave craft brewers greater flexibility. Beverages that do not meet these requirements are generally classified as happōshu (発泡酒), or another category, rather than as beer.🍺 I’m already looking forward to the next “Beers with Real Gaijin“ in October—our own little “October Fest!” The invitation will be sent out soon…🎉 P.S. I look forward to meeting you in person at the upcoming “Japan Substackers IRL Meetup in Tokyo” on November 5, 2026, if you’re able to make it.Related articles and podcast covered in this episode#BeersWithRealGaijin #リアル外人と飲む #ResidentForeigners #RealGaijin #リアル外人If you found this post valuable, please click the ❤️ button and restack it. Restacking helps more than you’d think! Thanks!Thanks for reading Real Gaijin! This post is public so feel free to share it.Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

So, what does it actually take to become proficient in Japanese—not just conversationally competent, but proficient enough to study economics at a Japanese university, conduct academic research, explore the history of kanji, and consider taking the Kanji Kentei (日本漢字能力検定) Level 1 exam?Real Gaijin recently interviewed the perfect guest—particularly for the Gen Z audience. He is destined to have an important career connecting Japan with the rest of the world.Who is he?Lloyd Allen been studying Japanese since his teenage years, and his experience provides a valuable perspective on the ongoing debate about shortcuts, apps, immersion techniques, and “fluency.”Lloyd first came to Japan as a 16-year-old high school exchange student and has been moving between Australia and Japan ever since. He studied economics and Japanese as an undergraduate and spent time at Aoyama Gakuin University and Kobe University. He is now back at Kobe University as a full-time master’s student in economics. Japanese has been a constant thread throughout his journey. Today, Lloyd’s interest extends well beyond communicating. He writes about the Japanese language, society, and history on Substack and has delved into subjects such as the historical evolution of kanji readings. He is preparing to take the Kanji Kentei Level 2 exam, with the Level 1 exam potentially on the horizon.Check out “Roido Does Japan” on Substack:On the agendaThe intention of this conversation was to move beyond typical advice about learning Japanese. We discussed Lloyd’s learning approach, effective versus ineffective methods, the differences between formal study and immersion, and how living in Japan improved his Japanese.We also explored the role of “easy Japanese” (やさしい日本語)—what it is, who it’s intended for, and how it fits into communication and language learning.Then, we took a deep dive into kanji: why Lloyd finds them fascinating, how he studies them, what the Kanji Kentei demands, and whether pursuing extremely advanced literacy has practical value.Finally, we considered the bigger question: What does serious Japanese proficiency allow you to understand about Japan that remains largely inaccessible in English?Key takeaways* Make Japanese part of your life, not just a subject you study: Lloyd’s central advice is immersion. Find something about Japan or the Japanese language that you genuinely enjoy. Then, incorporate as much Japanese into your everyday life as possible: books, news, YouTube, podcasts, television, friendships, and classes, if available. His own progression accelerated when Japanese stopped feeling like “study” and became the language through which he did things he already wanted to do.* Combine immersion with systematic repetition: Exposure alone is not enough. Lloyd maintains a vocabulary deck of roughly 15,000 flashcards and uses spaced repetition (SRS) to reinforce words before they disappear from memory. His approach is twofold: first, encounter vocabulary naturally through reading and listening; then, deliberately reinforce it through flashcards. Neither approach works nearly as well by itself.* Tests are milestones, not the definition of proficiency: The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT・日本語能力試験) provides useful structure, motivation, and credentials, but Lloyd stresses its limitations—most notably, it does not test speaking or writing. Passing N1 does not mean that someone has “finished” learning Japanese. Learners who want to advance further face challenges such as the Kanji Kentei (日本漢字能力検定), which opens an entirely different level of mastery involving readings, writing, synonyms, antonyms, four-character compounds, and thousands of kanji.* At advanced levels, progress inevitably slows, so consistency matters more than dramatic gains: Beginners can see rapid improvement because almost everything they learn is new. Advanced learners encounter diminishing returns and periods when progress feels almost invisible. Lloyd’s useful rule is that “one is greater than zero”: reading one page, learning one word, or doing a small amount of Japanese is infinitely more productive than doing nothing. The objective is to maintain exposure rather than waiting for the motivation to undertake a major study session.* The real payoff from learning Japanese is access to people, relationships, and experiences that would otherwise be unavailable: Lloyd ultimately describes language as a tool rather than an academic achievement. When motivation wanes, he reconnects with the conversations and friendships that would not exist without Japanese. Greater proficiency progressively “unlocks” people, ideas, culture, history, and experiences that remain partly inaccessible through English alone. For Lloyd, this provides a more enduring reason to continue studying Japanese than passing another exam.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Links* Substack:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyd-d-allen/* Kobe University Interdisciplinary Master Program (KIMAP): https://www.group.kobe-u.ac.jp/kimap/* AJATT | All Japanese All The Time: https://alljapanesealltheti.me/blog/index.html* Spaced Repetition System: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/exams-and-revision/best-ways-to-revise/spaced-repetition* Japanese.io (more about Spaced Repetition, etc.): https://www.japanese.io/* INPEX Scholarship Foundation Scholar: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/search-for-scholarships/detail.php?lang=en&mid=5-00034519* The New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship Program: https://www.dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/new-colombo-plan/new-colombo-plan-scholarship-program* Background about the Kanji Kentei Exam (日本漢字能力検定):* Advice from Uskov Evgeny, a Russian native speaker who was able to pass the Kanji Kentei level 1: https://roshiajin.jp/* Nihongo Kentei (日本語検定): https://www.nihongokentei.jp/#LloydAllen #JapaneseLanguage #LanguageLearning #RealGaijin #リアル外人ICYMIPlease check this out! If you’ll be in Tokyo on Thursday evening, November 5, join Mark and a small group of Japan-based Substack writers and readers for a meetup. Get your tickets before they sell out!If you found this post valuable, please click the ❤️ button and restack it. Restacking helps more than you’d think! Thanks!Thanks for reading Real Gaijin! This post is public so feel free to share it.Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

What does it take to build a foreign brand in Japan and serve as the liaison between global headquarters and the realities of the Japanese market?Real Gaijin typically showcases foreigners living and working in Japan, as well as individuals working closely with Japan from outside the country. Occasionally, however, we introduce Japanese nationals with an international background who have a proven track record of helping non-Japanese people interested in Japan.Today’s guest, Tomomi Iwasaki (岩崎ともみ), is just such a person. Plus, she brings a wealth of knowledge about building a foreign brand in Japan and being the hashi-watashi (橋渡し・bridge connector) between cultures.Who is she?Tomomi is a Japan-based business leader who has nearly two decades of experience in B2B sales, e-commerce, consumer products, retail, marketing, and country management.She offers a unique perspective on doing business in Japan. Tomomi started her career in B2B technology sales, collaborating with Japanese corporate clients on significant technology projects. She then transitioned to e-commerce consulting, advising hundreds of Japanese online merchants on sales and promotional strategies.Tomomi then made the move to the brand side, where she managed sales, marketing, e-commerce, and retail operations for an international consumer brand in Japan. She has also been responsible for digital marketing, logistics, customer support, membership programs, technology, and offline retail channels.As a senior country manager today, Tomomi operates at the intersection of global strategy and local execution. She serves as a bridge between an international headquarters and the realities of the Japanese market.Tomomi graduated from Waseda University’s School of International Liberal Studies and also studied at the University of Calgary in Canada. She is fluent in both Japanese and English.Her diverse professional experience in the Japanese market provides Tomomi with a valuable perspective: she has sold to Japanese corporations, advised Japanese e-commerce merchants, sold directly to Japanese consumers, and managed an international business in Japan.Tomomi generously shares her knowledge on the Japan Behind the Scenes Substack. Written in English, it is filled with practical tips on how to live and work effectively in Japan, from articles such as “The Secret Rules of Japanese Business Golf” to “Why LinkedIn Doesn’t Work in Japan.”On the agendaWe had an ambitious agenda, but the intention was to take full advantage of the opportunity to learn from Tomomi’s firsthand experience. We discussed practical ways for foreign companies to enter the Japanese market, ranging from selling on Amazon and Rakuten to establishing an omni-channel presence and navigating the risk-averse nature of the Japanese retail sector. Tomomi also explained why personal connections often matter more than cold outreach and how Japanese consumers differ in their expectations. She described what it is really like to serve as the local country manager, bridging the gap between a foreign headquarters and Japanese customers, retailers, distributors, and business culture.Key takeaways* Japan rewards patience, relationships, and a long-term approach: Tomomi’s overarching message is that foreign companies should not expect immediate results from the Japanese market. New retail channels often start with small orders and gradually expand as the product gains popularity and attracts the attention of other retailers. Once relationships are established, however, Tomomi describes Japan as capable of producing unusually steady business. Partners are invested in long-term relationships, and strong word-of-mouth helps successful companies grow.* Relationships matter more than cold outreach: One of the biggest challenges for outsiders is that the Western strategy of connecting with strangers on LinkedIn, for example, and reaching out to them directly does not translate well to Japan. Tomomi stresses the importance of networking and personal introductions, arguing that connections are fundamental to finding employees, distributors, customers, and other business partners. For an entrepreneur starting with no Japanese network, she recommends working inside a Japanese company to understand the culture and begin building relationships.* Localization goes far beyond translation: Tomomi divides localization into two layers. The first layer is technical and includes regulatory requirements, translation, barcodes, and other necessities of selling in Japan. The second, more difficult layer is cultural. It involves determining how the product should be positioned and explained to Japanese consumers while complying with global brand policies. As a country manager, she spends a lot of time negotiating between what the global headquarters wants and what she believes will work locally. This includes seemingly small decisions, such as product colors and positioning toward Japan’s male beauty market.* In Japan, physical retail matters, even when almost all sales are online: Tomomi’s current business generates roughly 99% of its sales online. Yet, she considers a retail presence to be strategically important because Japanese consumers value physical touchpoints, and retailers can lend credibility to unfamiliar brands. Retailers typically minimize their risk by starting with small orders and expanding only after products demonstrate demand. Physical stores therefore serve as places to build trust, learn directly from customers, gain visibility, and potentially generate wider exposure, not simply as sales channels.* Don’t try to understand Japan entirely from your desk: Tomomi repeatedly emphasizes the importance of direct, local learning. When she needed to understand an unfamiliar market, she hired an experienced professional for just two hours and “asked everything”—advice that she still follows because important information often cannot be found online. Likewise, working on the floor at Japanese retailers provides her with insights into customers that e-commerce analytics cannot offer. Her practical advice for newcomers is to first understand the structure of the market—who the customers, distributors, partners, and gatekeepers are—before trying to sell to it.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Links* Japan Behind the Scenes Substack:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomomi-iwasaki-519922160/* Eight (business card exchange application): https://8card.net/en/* Note (essentially, the Japanese version of Substack): https://note.com/* YouTrust: https://youtrust.jp/lpTechnical issueTomomi’s connection was fine, but for some reason, perhaps due to inclement weather, my video connection was compromised. The audio came through clearly. Sorry for this technical issue.#TomomiIwasaki #JapanBehindTheScenes #WorkingInJapan #RealGaijin #リアル外人ICYMIPlease check this out! If you’ll be in Tokyo on Thursday evening, November 5, join Tim, Mark, and a small group of Japan-based Substack writers and readers for a meetup. Get your tickets before they sell out!If you found this post valuable, please click the ❤️ button and restack it. Restacking helps more than you’d think! Thanks!Thanks for reading Real Gaijin! This post is public so feel free to share it.Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welc… Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

What happens when you come to Japan hoping to become a rock star, but end up becoming one of the most recognizable voices in Tokyo’s startup community?That’s the unlikely story of Tim Romero, who is, by the way, still very much of a “rock star” (intentional use of quotation marks).Who is he?Tim arrived in Japan in the late 1980s after being signed by a Japanese record company. His music career didn’t work out, but Japan did. Since then, he has founded and sold companies, invested in startups, worked inside major Japanese corporations, and become a leading chronicler of Japan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.Tim is a Tokyo-based entrepreneur, investor, mentor, and the founder and host of Disrupting Japan, which explores Japan’s startup and innovation ecosystem.🎂 In fact, this week marks the 12th anniversary of the show, making it the longest-running podcast in English from Japan. Congratulations, Tim! Real Gaijin can learn a lot from him.Tim’s career includes founding and selling Vanguard, bringing Engine Yard to Japan, working on innovation at TEPCO, where he helped to establish their first corporate venture capital fund (CVC), leading Google for Startups Japan, and joining JERA Ventures as a partner.This gives Tim a unique perspective. He has watched Tokyo’s startup scene evolve from the dot-com era to the current government-backed initiative to establish Japan as a global startup hub.On the agendaDuring our wide-ranging discussion, we covered the following topics:* Tim’s unconventional journey to Japan and the successes and failures that shaped his entrepreneurial career;* Tim’s advice for aspiring founders;* Tokyo’s startup ecosystem; and* Tim’s prognosis about where he thinks Japan’s startup ecosystem is headed.Key takeaways* Japan’s startup ecosystem has matured significantly: Japan is now a much better place to start a business than it was when Tim entered the ecosystem in the late 1990s. Venture capital is more plentiful, and M&A and IPO exits are more viable. Perhaps most importantly, large Japanese corporations now actively seek relationships with startups. The old model, in which entrepreneurs trying to work with major corporations were pushed through layers of subcontractors, has largely given way to dedicated startup, innovation, and corporate venture capital (CVC) teams.* Foreign founders should understand Japan before trying to disrupt it: Tim strongly cautions foreigners against moving to Japan with an idea and immediately launching a company. The critical ingredient is proximity to—and understanding of—the customer. He recommends working inside a Japanese startup first to learn the market, build relationships, and identify the relatively small but consequential differences between Japan and other markets. Only then should they launch when a genuine opportunity emerges. Foreign founders must also demonstrate their ability to sell and operate in Japan. Having a capable Japanese co-founder can help solve this execution problem.* Japan’s next startup opportunity may come from commercializing its world-class science: Tim identifies physical AI, particularly the convergence of robotics and artificial intelligence, along with biotech and materials science, as especially promising areas. More consequentially, he expects significant innovation to emerge from Japanese universities over the next five to ten years. Japan has long had world-class academic research, but it has struggled to commercialize it. A shift toward pairing researchers with professional managers and venture investors could finally unlock the intellectual property that has historically remained within universities instead of becoming scalable companies.* Founders must protect their product—and their company—from powerful corporate partners: Working with Japan’s major corporations creates opportunities, but it also poses a significant risk: allowing one customer or investor to dictate the startup’s direction. Tim particularly warns against endless customer-specific customization because every special feature creates a permanent maintenance burden and can eventually cause founders to lose control of their product. His practical rule is revealing: If several customers request the same feature, pay attention. If one customer wants something inconsistent with the product vision, founders should be prepared to stand their ground.* Japan does not lack capable entrepreneurs; it lacks Silicon Valley’s sense of urgency: Tim rejects the stereotype that Japanese founders are less entrepreneurial or risk-tolerant than their Silicon Valley counterparts. He describes their knowledge, capabilities, and tolerance for risk as “world-class.” The biggest remaining difference is speed. In San Francisco, a good idea may trigger action that afternoon. In Tokyo, the same idea may produce a meeting the following week. Japan does not necessarily need Silicon Valley’s hype and exaggerated claims. However, Tim believes that adopting more of its “let’s get it done now” mentality could strengthen the ecosystem.* Japan’s tighter Business Manager visa rules may cause unintended economic damage: Tim argues that the tougher requirements for foreign entrepreneurs should not be interpreted as a message that Japan no longer wants foreign founders. Rather, he describes the policy environment as fragmented, with different ministries and agencies pursuing separate objectives without effective coordination. The result can be rules that appear rational in isolation but contradictory when combined. In the case of the Business Manager visa, this can mean excluding capable would-be entrepreneurs who cannot meet the higher capital threshold, even though they could build viable businesses and contribute to Japan’s economy.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Links* Substack: * Website: https://www.disruptingjapan.com/* LinkedIn (Tim): https://www.linkedin.com/in/timromero/* LinkedIn (Disrupting Japan podcast): https://www.linkedin.com/company/disrupting-japan-podcast/* Shizen Capital (Matt Romaine and Mark Bivens, who were cited by Tim at around the 53-minute mark): https://shizen.vc/#/#TimRomero #DisruptingJapan #StartUp #RealGaijin #リアル外人ICYMIPlease check this out! If you’ll be in Tokyo on Thursday evening, November 5, join Tim, Mark, and a small group of Japan-based Substack writers and readers for a meetup. Get your tickets before they sell out!If you found this post valuable, please click the ❤️ button and restack it. Restacking helps more than you’d think! Thanks!Thanks for reading Real Gaijin! This post is public so feel free to share it.Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

🍻 Thank you to everyone who joined the first-ever “Beers with Real Gaijin” live stream on Sunday evening! What started as an experiment—an informal conversation without an agenda about recent Real Gaijin articles, Japan-related news, and whatever else was on your mind—turned into the kind of lively exchange I had hoped for.Key TakeawaysWhile we enjoyed a wide-ranging discussion that included a review of several recently published Real Gaijin articles, the three main points to take away were probably the following:* Japan’s demographic crisis is no longer an abstract future problem; it is beginning to reshape the country now: The discussion repeatedly returns to the extraordinary contraction of Japan’s younger population and the implications of a shrinking domestic workforce. At the same time, the foreign-resident population is expected to comprise a substantially larger share of the country. The central point is that demographic change will affect virtually everything, including employment, regional economies, social services, immigration policy, and the everyday lives of Japanese nationals and foreign residents alike. Review this recent post for more background:* Japan’s labor shortage is forcing policymakers to make increasingly difficult trade-offs: Raising wages is necessary, but imposing a uniform national minimum wage could hurt rural small-to-medium-enterprises (SMEs) that are already struggling to find workers. The discussion instead argues for greater regional differentiation based on local wages and employers’ ability to pay. Meanwhile, the loosening of overtime guidelines illustrates the other side of the same problem. When Japan cannot find enough workers, existing employees may be asked to work more, increasing the risk of exploitation. This makes it particularly important for foreign workers to understand their employment rights and company work rules. Review these recent posts for more background.* Political and technological change may be coming from outside Japan’s traditional establishment: Team Mirai emerges as an example of a younger, more technocratic approach to Japanese politics. They advocate ideas such as electoral reform, AI-enabled “digital democracy,” and a more pragmatic approach to fiscal policy. While these proposals may have little immediate impact on foreign residents who cannot vote nationally, they are important indicators of whether Japan’s political system can modernize sufficiently to confront demographic decline, labor shortages, fiscal pressures, and other structural problems that affect everyone living in the country. Review this recent post for more background:🍺 I’m already looking forward to the next “Beers with Real Gaijin” in September! The invitation will be sent out soon…🎉 P.S. I look forward to meeting you in person at the upcoming “Japan Substackers IRL Meetup in Tokyo” on November 5, 2026, if you’re able to make it. For more information about this event, check out this post:#BeersWithRealGaijin #リアル外人と飲む #ResidentForeigners #RealGaijin #リアル外人If you found this post valuable, please click the ❤️ button and restack it. Restacking helps more than you’d think! Thanks!Thanks for reading Real Gaijin! This post is public so feel free to share it.Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijinAll levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).https://www.instagram.com/real_gaijin_on_substack/https://www.threads.net/@real_gaijin_on_substackhttps://www.tiktok.com/@real.gaijinhttps://x.com/Real_Gaijin_https://www.youtube.com/@RealGaijinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-wilt-kennedy/ Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe

If you have ever had the opportunity to live and work in Japan, Salarymanhood: The Illustrated Jokes of an American Salaryman in Tokyo will resonate with you. From office customs like VPs falling asleep during discussions they started to everyday life like accidentally buying funeral flowers on Valentine’s Day and dodging road-raged moms on e-bikes, it will all feel familiar.Building upon his past success with the Salaryman series, this week’s guest on the Real Gaijin AMA podcast, Michael (“Mike”) Thuresson, collaborated with Japanese manga artist Kazuhiro Yoshida (吉田一裕) who also goes by the pen name Kotobuki Maeno (前野コトブキ) to create illustrations from his sketches. Japanese stand-up comedian Meshida, famous for the WTF Japan!? The Japan Show, translated Mike’s stories into Japanese. The project evolved into an experiment in cross-cultural collaboration on multiple levels.The book is written in English senryū (川柳), a traditional Japanese form of short poetry consisting of just three lines and 17 syllables. It uses the same basic syllabic—or, more precisely, moraic—pattern as haiku (俳句): 5-7-5. While haiku poetry tends to reference nature, the seasons, and fleeting observations, senryū poetry focus on human nature, everyday life, social behavior, irony, and humor. Senryū poems often make wry observations about people’s habits or contradictions, making them the perfect genre for poking fun at Japan’s salaryman life.Who is he?Before moving to Tokyo and becoming a salaryman in 2008, Mike was a businessman in Los Angeles. His first book, The Salaryman: An American Dude Becomes a Tokyo White-Collar Warrior, A Memoir, was published in 2019 and called “thoroughly entertaining” by The Japan Times. His new book, Salarymanhood: The Illustrated Jokes of an American Salaryman in Tokyo, offers a distinctly Western perspective on Japan’s centuries-old senryū tradition, transforming the rituals, frustrations, and absurdities of Japanese working life into comic verse.On the agendaIn addition to covering Mike’s initial path to Japan, we discussed the following as part of a rolling conversation:* The inspiration behind his books;* The ins and outs of self-publishing in Japan, from writing and illustration to production, distribution, and marketing; and* What’s next for the Salaryman universe, including new books, collaborations, and Mike’s plans for the future of the series.Key takeaways* An accidental journey into Japan became an 18-Year salaryman story: Mike did not arrive in Japan with a lifelong ambition to immerse himself in Japanese culture. It was a friendship with a Japanese college rugby teammate that led to his first visit around 2000, followed by work as a journalist and a business English teacher. After returning to the U.S., he moved back to Japan in 2008 and entered the traditional corporate world, going directly from the casual culture of a Los Angeles software startup to an old-line Japanese manufacturer, where he was the only foreigner in the office. This culture shock ultimately provided the material for his first book, The Salaryman: An American Dude Becomes a Tokyo White-Collar Warrior: A Memoir.* “Salarymanhood” finds humor in the culture gap rather than mocking Japan: The central idea behind Mike’s new book, Salarymanhood: The Illustrated Jokes of an American Salaryman in Tokyo, is that everyday Japanese corporate life can look radically different depending on your cultural perspective. His humor is deliberately self-deprecating rather than an attack on Japanese culture; the comedy stems from the often “unsolvable” gap between how a foreign employee interprets a situation and how Japanese colleagues interpret it. For example, he believed a customer meeting had been a disaster because a Japanese executive fell asleep. However, his colleagues told him that this indicated the customer was comfortable. This example perfectly encapsulates the premise.* Japanese senryū poetry provides the perfect vehicle for salaryman humor: Salarymanhood: The Illustrated Jokes of an American Salaryman in Tokyo grew out of Mike’s fascination with senryū, the traditional three-line poetic form that has long been used in Japan to capture the frustrations and absurdities of everyday life. Inspired by the long-running, annual Salaryman Senryū competition sponsored by the Dai-ichi Life Insurance firm in particular, Mike adapted the concept from a foreign salaryman’s perspective. The new book contains 50 bilingual jokes, each accompanied by manga artwork. This effectively combines a deeply Japanese form of expression with a Western perspective on Japanese working life.* Self-publishing has made professional book publishing accessible, but the author becomes the publisher: Drawing on his experience as an author and a former product manager for Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Mike maintains that writers can now perform most of the functions of a traditional publishing house themselves. Freelance marketplaces provide editing, cover design, interior design, and other specialized services. Print-on-demand eliminates the need to finance and warehouse inventory. The trade-off is that the independent author must assemble the production team and, most importantly, market and sell the finished book. By the way, it can be easier said than done to manage all the resources needed to turn your idea into a professional-looking book. Fortunately, Mike runs a side business that can manage the process for you. Visit his Memoir & Life Story Services website for more information.* AI can assist the creative process without replacing the creator: Mike draws a sharp distinction between using AI to create writing and using it as a production tool. He says he did not use AI to write Salarymanhood: The Illustrated Jokes of an American Salaryman in Tokyo, describing the actual writing as “sacred,” but he did use AI extensively to solve difficult design and layout problems for a highly visual, bilingual book. Otherwise, this work might have required an expensive professional designer. His approach offers a broader model for independent creators: preserve human authorship while using AI to reduce the cost and complexity of production, workflow, and other noneditorial tasks.TimelineSubstack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section like YouTube’s “chapters.” Please refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.Links* Personal Website (includes links to his books): https://www.michaelthuresson.com/* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-thuresson-a39735/ Not our first rodeoMike and I, both sons of Chicago, have collaborated in the past. Back when he was still using his pen name, Michael Howard, I had the pleasure of reviewing his first book, The Salaryman: An American Dude Becomes a Tokyo White-Collar Warrior: A Memoir. The book is still very much relevant.From the archives…https://japaninsider.com/american-dude-becomes-salaryman/#MichaelThuresson #Salarymanhood #JapanBusiness #RealGaijin #リアル外人If you enjoyed this, click the ❤️ button and restack.Thanks for reading Real Gaijin! This post is public so feel free to share it.Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too … Get full access to Real Gaijin at realgaijin.substack.com/subscribe