In this episode, I explore the idea that modern life is filled with subtle performances—at work, at home, and online. Using the example of a YouTube short where a man “acts” as a shut-in, I discuss how viewers can sense when a role doesn’t match reality. The real issue is not whether we perform, but whether we know we are performing. When we forget that a role is a role, it turns into a lie, and we lose sight of our true identity. Self-aware performance is not deception—it is a conscious, honest way of living in a world full of expectations.

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This episode explores the unique psychology of approval inside Japanese factories—closed worlds where workers validate one another through shared routines, unspoken rules, and inherited craftsmanship. Drawing from my own experience in manufacturing sales, I reveal how internal praise can motivate people, but also become a subtle system of control that keeps wages low and innovation stagnant. When recognition circulates only within the factory walls, it creates a comforting but limiting “craftsmanship myth.”

What happens when approval becomes a trap rather than a source of pride? And how does this shape the future of work, skill, and personal growth?

Why do people boast? And why does bragging sometimes annoy us, yet other times bring us closer? In this episode, I look back on my years working in sales across Southeast Asia and share what I learned about bragging, ego, and the deep human need for recognition. I talk about customers who loved to show off, why compliments worked like magic, and how “praise with curiosity” builds trust better than flattery. Self-praise can connect or divide — it depends on how we handle it. Let’s explore the psychology behind it and how to use praise wisely in real communication.

In this episode, we talk about the curious style of “humble bragging” — when someone pretends to put themselves down, but the story somehow ends as a self-praise. Why does it make us uncomfortable? Why does it feel cunning rather than charming? We explore examples, the psychology behind it, and how it differs from true self-deprecating humor, which carries honesty, risk, and even warmth. In an age of social media and growing desire for approval, weakness is often hidden behind a mask of modest pride. Can we laugh at ourselves without fear? Let’s think about what real humility means.

In this episode, I discuss the tension between free-spirited individuals and traditional corporate culture in Japan. Companies value loyalty, sacrifice, and obedience more than personal freedom — especially when it comes to overseas assignments. A worker may enjoy a luxurious expat life, yet must hide it, perform seriousness, and show dedication to avoid jealousy or increased pressure. Freedom becomes something carried quietly, not displayed. Through personal stories and workplace observations, I explore why organizations struggle to trust independent minds, and how wise employees learn to “translate freedom” into the language of responsibility, humility, and results.

In this episode, I talk about small talk in business and why it often feels difficult. Many of us try to sound smart, avoid mistakes, or impress others with knowledge — yet conversations built only on information can feel heavy and boring. Knowledge alone no longer has special value in a world where answers are easily found online. What truly matters is comfort, warmth, and a natural rhythm between people. Rather than worrying about how we are seen, we can focus on whether the conversation feels good for both sides. When we relax, communication becomes lighter, easier, and more human.

In this episode, I talk about why bold and sometimes arrogant behavior can feel acceptable, even charming, when it comes from young people. Their confidence contains room to grow — mistakes become learning, and rough edges can be shaped by time. But when the same attitude appears in older adults, it often feels painful rather than fresh. True aging is not about adding years, but about turning experience into meaning, depth, and calm wisdom. I explore how we can grow old with grace: by reflecting, updating values, listening to the young, and speaking with humor instead of pride.

In this episode, I reflect on how travel has changed over time. Once, leaving Japan meant risk, uncertainty, and the possibility of never returning. Travel was a kind of spiritual training — long buses, lonely dorms, missed connections, silence, and growth. Today, cheap flights and smartphones have made travel easier and lighter. We plan, book, upload, and move on. Yet something deeper remains: the urge to escape, to breathe, to search. Even if we do not “find ourselves,” the act of seeking has meaning. Travel may have lost its weight, but the journey inside the heart is still long and real.