Kyudo, the ancient Japanese art of archery, has roots that are more than 2,000 years old. While the practice involves shooting an arrow at a physical target, its deeper objective is to eliminate distractions, overcome mental obstacles, and achieve harmony with one’s surroundings. These principles are highly applicable in business, where staying focused on goals […]

One way firms can build value is through kaizen, a Japanese management concept that focuses on making small, continuous improvements to processes, systems, and practices. After contrasting two value-creation approaches, this article explores how companies can apply kaizen to increase operational efficiency, remove barriers to growth, and strengthen their competitive position. Two Value-Building Approaches All […]

In a world that emphasizes perfection, mistakes are often seen as things to avoid. However, the Japanese ceramics practice of kintsugi views cracks and defects as integral features to be highlighted rather than concealed. This practice offers valuable insights for businesses. Rethinking our perceptions of imperfection can broaden our understanding of business experiences, reduce the […]

All businesses in the world have one thing in common: they provide services. Everything, including products, entertainment, education, and non-profit initiatives, is a form of service. Given its economic importance, it is vital to reflect on what service means and how it can be used to build company value. One of the most powerful philosophies […]

In any discipline, there is a gradual process of first learning techniques and then studying the principles behind them. Yet an even higher level of mastery lies in transcending technique and principles and attaining a state where actions are dictated by what the situation requires. Going beyond principles is a key part of Musashi Miyamoto’s […]

Regardless of a company’s size, history, or market position, it can always benefit from analyzing how other companies do business. Studying other approaches is a key part of Musashi Miyamoto’s classic work on swordsmanship, The Book of Five Rings. This fourth article in a Special Five-Part Series takes five principles from Musashi’s work and demonstrates […]

Regardless of whether we are designing strategy, selling products, or negotiating a contract, we are constantly either taking action or reacting to things around us. Taking the initiative is critical in Musashi Miyamoto’s classic work on swordsmanship, The Book of Five Rings. This third article in a Special Five-Part Series takes five principles from Musashi’s […]

For individuals and companies, to remain competitive we must get better and better. Constant improvement is a key point in Musashi Miyamoto’s classic work on swordsmanship, The Book of Five Rings. This second article in a Special Five-Part Series takes five principles from Musashi’s work and demonstrates how they can be used in business. The […]

Musashi Miyamoto was a swordsman who lived in Japan from 1584 to 1645. Throughout his life, he fought 61 sword fights and never lost. He wrote his principles of swordsmanship down in a well-known book, The Book of Five Rings. While written over 370 years ago, many of the book’s principles can be applied to […]

Why do many business initiatives fail even though companies have extensive resources, great teams, and sufficient time? One of the reasons why business plans do not succeed is because they do not have the required level of organizational buy-in. One way to increase institutional commitment is through nemawashi, a form of Japanese consensus building. This […]