Honor.jp

If you ask me, I would say yes.  Can Japan pull out of it?  Yes, but it is going to take some work.  Interesting write up from Business Insider that was originally posted via University of Pennsylvania’s Wheaton School here.

Japan is currently facing a myriad of intractable and unprecedented challenges — from a demographic crisis to border conflicts to a strong yen. The population is aging quickly. The energy sector is still reeling from the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. The younger generation, having grown up amid deflation and economic stagnation, is loath to take career risks. Students are studying abroad in fewer numbers. Tepid economic growth, combined with massive public sector debt and continued deficits, will likely produce a fiscal crisis in the near future — despite the fact that more than 90% of the debt is held domestically. Gross public debt to GDP now stands at nearly 250%. In spite of government efforts to raise cash by boosting the consumption tax rate, a financial implosion may come soon if interest rates ratchet up. It appears that Japan is stuck in an economic Catch-22.

Those who can figure out how to reharness the economic power of Japan will do very well economically.

The last day in the office each year, companies have their teams clean up the office and usually order lots of nigiri sushi to eat before going home early. Sayonara 2012!

Although I know a new year is really just a line drawn by whomever invented the calendar, it’s always great to have a fresh start.  Always great to have a fresh start.

A picture of a small part gate near our Tokyo office.  Amazing they even have a park between all these tall buildings.

All the best for 2013!

All for the 2nd amendment but these types of movies are a bit much.

A Japanese advert for one of those, ‘the bad guys took or hurt my family and I’m going after them’ type of theme.

Recently I’ve heard about people treating their team poorly.

Managers and bosses have got to remember to treat others well. What you do will comes back to you.

Spread the good!

When you send me an email, don’t bother adding the disclaimer ordering someone to delete the message you may have accidentally sent.  It looks like the Economist agrees with me on that here.

If you are going to add a disclaimer add something more like

*** DISCLAIMER ***
This e-mail contains public information intended for any subscriber of this mailing list and for anybody else who bothers to read it; it will be copied, disclosed and distributed to the public. If you think you are not the intended recipient, please commit suicide immediately.
These terms apply also to any e-mails quoted in, referenced from, or answering this e-mail, and supersede any disclaimers in those e-mails.
Additionally, disclaimers in those e-mails will incur legal processing fees of $42 per line; you have agreed to this by reading this disclaimer.”

“By sending an email to ANY of my addresses you are agreeing that:
1. I am by definition, “the intended recipient”
2. All information in the email is mine to do with as I see fit and make such financial profit, political mileage, or good joke as it lends itself to.
3. I may take the contents as representing the views of your organisation.
4. This overrides any disclaimer or statement of confidentiality* that may be included on your message.
* If you’re serious about confidentiality, use encryption. My PGP key fingerprint is …”

Strangely, the Economist wrote the opinion piece but one of their friends posted their disclaimer

Practice what you preach…….

This e-mail may contain confidential material. If you are not an intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete all copies. It may also contain personal views which are not the views of The Economist Group. We may monitor e-mail to and from our network.

Sent by a member of The Economist Group. The Group’s parent company is The Economist Newspaper Limited, registered in England with company number 236383 and registered office at 25 St James’s Street, London, SW1A 1HG. For Group company registration details go to http://legal.economistgroup.com

Always wondered where people got these tacky clothes with all the strange writing. Discovered on the way to lunch one day.

A friend told me that when he hits January of a new year, he just considers that year done as time goes by so quickly.

That thought seemed strange at first, but with a bit of thought I’ve got to say it was spot on.  This year has flown by.  Time is way too fast.

Watch out!  Here comes another January.