The 6th cohort of my Japan Study Trip leadership program in November 2024 was another incredible experience. 18 global leaders joined me to explore lean leadership, customer service, and operational excellence in an immersive learning experience, including a six-day learning tour in Japan and pre-trip seminars and discussions.
A special highlight of this cohort was that 80-year old Toyota leader Isao Yoshino joined us for the entire 6 day program! It was a special opportunity for everyone to have conversations with him throughout.
This cohort also now makes over 100 leaders, lean practitioners, and passionate learners who have joined me for an immersive and transformative week in Japan.
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Watch the Highlight Video from the November 2025 Japan Study Trip Tour
Watch these two highlight videos and read details about the program and experience below.
A Glimpse into the November 2024 Japan Study Trip Program: Highlights, Insights, and Lasting Impact
This post just scratches the surface on the highlights from and impact of the program, and doesnât include all the experiences that were part of the program.
This summary post is created from my daily posts and videos shared on LinkedIn and YouTube.
For some additional videos, be sure to check out the bottom of the post or visit my YouTube Channel some other videos I made during this trip and past visits to Japan.
And listen to Chain of Learning podcast episodes with past participants who share the transformational impact of what they learned on my Japan Study Trip program and how they are applying those learnings to lead change.
I invite you to also follow me on LinkedIn and check out the Japan category on this blog to go back to view nearly a decade of insights of mine from living in Japan and leading Japan Study Trip learning programs since 2018.
Introducing the November 2024 Japan Study Trip Cohort
I was thrilled to welcome another amazing and diverse cohort of global leaders to Japan for the experience of a lifetime!
The November 2024 cohort consisted of several cohorts of leaders from the same organization, individual change leaders and external consultants, all on a mission to uplevel their leadership impact and deepen their understanding of what really makes a difference in organizations.
We had leaders participate from around the globe including from the U.S., Germany, Hungary, Sri Lanka, India, Netherlands, and Laos.
Be sure to check out posts on LinkedIn made by November 2024 trip participants including:
âThis past week has far exceeded my expectations, leaving me deeply moved and profoundly grateful for an unforgettable experience with Katie and an incredible group of individuals from around the world.Â
Katieâs heart and dedication to meticulously crafting every aspect of this journey were evident in every detailâfrom selecting impactful organizations and inspiring individuals to curating delightful culinary experiences and enriching activities. Her passion for creating meaningful connections and fostering growth shone through in every moment. Â
The journey was both inspiring and transformative. The humility and greatness of the people in our group, combined with their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, created an atmosphere that was truly uplifting. It was a privilege to witness the genuine relationships Katie has nurtured with everyone we met. Her thoughtfulness and care turned what could have been a great trip into something truly magical. âÂ
– Himanshu Raj
Day 1: Welcome, Orientation, and Toyota Museum
We kicked off with intention, connection, and starting the foundation of lean at the Toyota Museum of Industry and Technology and our orientation session and welcome dinner.
A few reflections from our day spent getting to know each other at our welcome orientation and dinner, and our visit to the museum:
⨠âOpen the window, thereâs a world out there.â – attributed to Sakiichi Toyota – go and learn from others, get out of your comfort zone, and come back to bring your learnings to improve your work.
⨠First copy and then improve upon it. We too often donât learn the basics first.
⨠“How do we make it easier for those we care about?” – a fundamental concept at Toyota whose founder Sakiichi was originally trying to make weaving work easier for his mother.
The learning journey has just begun! The window is open!
Day 2: Toyota Supplier and Toyota Management Institute Seminar
âMotivation is another word for energyâ
The word ârevitalizeâ is used to describe the motivation of leaders in Japan to apply concepts of kaizen, create a connection to a deeper purpose, and focus on people AS the way to get results.
Revitalize: to imbue with new life and vitality.
I have never heard this word used about lean and operational excellence outside of Japan.
Revitalize people to revitalize industry.
Inspire energy.
Motivation.
Engagement.
Connection to deeper purpose.
This is what is often missed in approaches to lean and continuous improvement.
If we focus on inspiring and motivating people, and connecting to purpose, improvement happens.
And when we revitalize human motivation and energy across the enterprise then a team of ordinary people can do extraordinary things.
Other key insights and quotes from Day 2 of this Japan Study Trip program – including a visit to a high precision metal manufacturer that supplies Toyota and other companies and a deep dive into Toyota Management with two former Toyota leaders Isao Yoshino and Mr Matsudaira. Plus discussions over great meals!
⨠Employees are your treasure not your expense or cost. You should guard your treasureâ they are what will help you out of hard times, grow, and innovate.
⨠âThe job we do now will be taken over by somebody or something else some dayâ – company founderâs words that continue to inspire innovation and look into the future (this is a similar philosophy of Sakiichi Toyoda who said it is important you stay ahead of the times)
⨠The key to building a lasting company is a commitment to the personal growth of employees combined with kaizen at the gemba.
⨠Seek to be a useful company to society â not just seeking profit.
⨠Donât just seek to enter a new market, aim to be #1.
⨠The real strength of you as a manager is your ability to help people grow.
Day 3: Toyota Supplier and Japanese Tea Ceremony
Ichi-go Ichi-e. Embrace the specialness and uniqueness of this one moment.
All that has led us here together.
The power and simplicity of being present together in the experience of a Japanese tea ceremony highlights this important concept in Japanese culture.
Appreciate the present moment. And the time we have together.
Now.
And all that has led each of us individually here – together.
This sentiment sums up the most important part of the Japan Study Trip programs that I curate and lead: sharing these unique moments together.
Not just for leadership learning about kaizen and people-centered cultures, but about ourselves as humans.
What a special moment all together here in Japan.
21 people from 4 continents and 9 countries spanning a half century from youngest to oldest (80 year old Mr Yoshino).
In this one time, and unique and special experience.
Today we embodied this spirit as we participated in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Day 4: Ina Foods and Traditional Japanese Ryokan
Happiness is our purpose (and profits will follow)!
A highlight of my program in Japan last week was taking my group of global leaders to a company in the Nagano prefecture, in the foothills of the Japan Alps, with whom Iâve cultivated a special relationship over the past 6 years.
Their purpose: peopleâs happiness.
ď¸ Their means/method: engage people in creating a happy and comfortable workplace and focus on innovation to stay ahead of the times. Focus on getting a bit better each year.
Their result: highest profit ratio and market share in their industry.
Some key quotes and takeaways from this visit (itâs my 8th time to visit this company!):
⨠Donât mix up purpose with your results and means to get there. If results or means become your purpose, you wonât make it.
â¨Have unwavering focus on how to BE and youâll more likely know what to DO. Keep aiming for the right thing.
â¨Let the numbers represent where you are, but donât be led by the numbers. Aim to be better than last year and keep showing forward progress.
The company hoshin or policy for the year that is cascaded throughout the company is in one of the photos below with two pillars of focus to achieve:
1) a better workplace
2) a better way of working.
This company lives its purposeâhappinessâin all that they do. And success (and getting through hard times) comes because of a commitment to people.
A year ago I recorded a Chain of Learning podcast episode inspired by this same company and the managing directorâs message for company and personal success: focus more on being, and less on doing. ChainOfLearning.com/4
Great advice for us all.
Day 5: Daruma Temple, Zen Meditation, Kura Sushi, and Tokyo Foods
âFall down seven times, get up eightâ.
This is the motto of the daruma doll â which represents the patience and perseverance it takes to achieve a goal.
And it was certainly the challenge for most of us last week as we attempted to clear our minds during a zen meditation session with the head monk at the Daruma temple in Japan.
On Day 5 of the Japan Study Trip program, I took my group of 18 global leaders â and Isao Yoshino â to my favorite temple in Japan.
This temple was built in 1697 and is purported to be the place where Japanese daruma dolls originated.
If youâve followed me for any time, you know Iâm obsessed with daruma dolls and have collected them since I moved to Japan 10 years ago. I import mini darumas and have probably gifted 4,000 of them around the world over the past decade.
During the zen session, we were challenged to clear our minds so that later we could fill our minds with wisdom and knowledge.
Most of us fell downâŚ.but as the monk said, we are on the path. And with intentional practice we can move forward.
(Side note: The daruma actually also represents the Bodhi dharma â who meditated so much that he supposedly lost his lower body and transcended just to his head!)
The challenge to us all:
How can we slow down, clear our mind of the distractions and noise, to stay grounded in purpose and give spaces for wisdom to grow.
Following our zen experience we had an incredible visit at Tokyo foods to be inspired by their daily meeting focused on purpose, and got to âgo to gembaâ and experience what it is like to make sweet potato products.
Day 6: Japanese Business Leadership and Graduation
Where are the women in leadership roles in Japan?
This was an important question for me to explore when I moved to Tokyo a decade ago and noticed that I was often one of a handful of women at conferences and professional events (not serving in translator roles).
Women historically have left the workplace upon marriage or children, or have stayed in more junior or independent contributors roles. I was astounded to learn that Japan has the highest rate of college-educated women globally but the lowest rate in the workforce. I wrote many blog posts about this years ago.
If you see photos of most Japan tours, you almost only see pictures of male Japanese business leaders – because that is the norm. Historically there havenât been many women in leadership roles – especially in manufacturing.
Over the past decade, Iâve sought out connections with leaders and professionals of many different backgrounds and am so grateful for ALL of the relationships Iâve cultivated and can share with the now 100+ global leaders who have joined me on the Japan Study Trip leadership program.
This included bringing in female leaders and talking about topics related to diversity – gender diversity, country/language diversity, age diversity- is something that we explore on my program.
On the final day of this program, I invited two of my friends and professional colleaguesâ septuagenarian HR leader Toshiko Kawanami and cross-cultural business expert Rochelle Kopp â to talk with our program cohort both about their experience as female professionals in Japan and their deep experience helping Japanese companies adopt more of a servant leadership model.
(No, not all companies in Japan are like Toyota or the other Japanese companies I include in my program – and this too is an important topic to explore in future posts).
Nami also shared the back story of the new ÂĽ5000 bank note that for the first time in Japanese history features a woman.
At one of the companies we visited I ensured we had time to talk with one of the female employees about her role and her experiences.
My friend and executive director of her familyâs manufacturing company, Noriko Ogura, wasnât able to host our group at her company this time â as she was speaking to a national government audience about this topic â bringing more women into leadership roles across Japan. I had lunch with her and Nami-San before the program began â and Iâm excited to go back in May 2025 with the next cohort.
There is so much to learn from visiting Japan â what companies and leaders are doing well and we want to be inspired by, and the challenges that they too need to overcome.
Going to see and having a breadth of learning experiences is so important.
Wrapping up: Itâs All About People
Key takeaway from all the companies we visited, cultural experiences, and conversation on the #JapanStudyTrip program:
The purpose of a company is to make a positive contribution to society by developing great people who make great products/ provide great services through applying kaizen (improving process and people) thus delivering healthy profits as a result.
Far too often we have it backwards. We focus on profit. Or mainly on process. And forget the top: purpose, people, value.
Start with people. The rest will follow.
Reflecting on the November 2024 Japan Study Trip: A Journey of Learning, Culture, and Connection That Lives On
This Japan Study Trip November 2024 has come to an end ⌠but the impact of this incredible and intense week of learning, culture, and connections is just beginning.
This whole week was a gift but special stories stand out from the Japan Study Trip 6th cohort.
On Friday my friend and 77-year old business leader Noshiko Kawanami taught our group a new phrase:
âOmiyagi banashiâ meaning âgift storyâ.
The stories we bring back from experiences as our gift to share with others (perhaps like the boxes of âTokyo Bananaâ cookies and Japanese candies Iâm bringing home for family).
This special week with Cohort 6 of my Japan Study Trip program has come to an end, but the learning and connections created will continue.
Itâs my joy and honor to curate and lead these programs now for over 100 global leaders to have an immersive and transformative experience.
Iâm grateful for all the friendships Iâve made with Japanese business leaders who are willing to open their businesses and share their insights with my groups.
Iâm so happy that 80-year old Toyota leader Isao Yoshino was able to join the entire 6 day program and get to share stories and conversation with everyone over bus rides and meals.
Iâm always a bit sad when each cohort ends but also joyous in knowing that friendships around the world have been deepened and that they are all inspired now to continue this chain of learning.
And Iâm so grateful for the wonderful leaders of diverse backgrounds and industries who join me â all committed to making the world a better place and learning how they can continue to make a positive impact.
Join me in Japan for the next Japan Study Trip program!
Apply today and join me for the experience of a lifetime.
Spaces are limited and the program always sells out!
Check out other videos from Japan
Head over to my YouTube channel where Iâve posted not only videos and insights from business and leadership learning but also about daily life and culture in Japan. For more videos and highlights be sure to subscribe to my channel on YouTube and check out the videos in the Japan folder.
