We will visit multiple Japanese companies and organizations during the program, to walk through their processes and talk with their leaders about their management philosophies and approaches to continuous improvement, strategy deployment, and people development. While each study tour agenda varies, your experience will likely include some of the following experiences:

• Visit an elementary school to interact with school children and learn how fundamental concepts of community and regret of waste (“mottainai”) are valued
• See the connection between top-down (strategy set by leaders through hoshin kanri) and bottom-up (daily kaizen improvements by the front-line) through leadership behaviors and visual management systems
• Experience the connection between Toyota and their suppliers through pull-systems and just-in-time delivery
• Visualize how lean production principles such as rapid-changeover (SMED), mistake-proofing, pull, kanban, 5S, one-piece flow, water spiders, standard work, level-loading, and visual management are practiced
• Witness the precision and customer service of the Japanese railway system that is world-famous for its “7-minute miracle” train turnover
• Discover how the town of Ashikaga has leveraged 5S and other Lean principles as their method to revitalizing industry AND the human spirit in over 150+ organizations
• Talk with a female executive of a manufacturing company about her experiences as a female leader in a traditionally male dominated business culture – as well as developing a culture of innovation, joy, and engagement in a factory environment
• And more still to be developed on the itinerary.

You will have unique access to Mr. Isao Yoshino, a retired 40-year Toyota executive who is the subject of Katie Anderson’s internationally bestselling book Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: Lessons from Toyota Leader Isao Yoshino on a Lifetime of Continuous Learning.

Mr. Yoshino helped teach the Toyota Way principles to leaders at the NUMMI plant, was John Shook’s first manager at Toyota (and was Shook’s model for the manager character “Sanderson” in the book Managing to Learn), and held critical roles in developing Toyota’s people-centered learning culture. Mr. Yoshino will impart his vast knowledge of Toyota management, hoshin kanri, and people development with you through formal lectures and discussion throughout the the program.

Not only will Mr. Yoshino provide some formal lectures and facilitated group discussions, you’ll be able to spend time with Mr. Yoshino in private conversation at meals, on the bus, and at the site visits. This level of access to Mr. Yoshino is not available on any other learning program in Japan!

Learn from Japanese CEOs and senior executives through lectures and discussions. During the program, you will have the opportunity to talk directly with Japanese leaders, and to “go to gemba” with them to see their company’s operations.

Examples of Japanese leaders included in our tours include:

• Mr. Isao Yoshino – 40+ year Toyota leader (Japan + U.S.) and John Shook’s first manager
• Mr. Ritsuo Shingo – former Toyota executive, including President of Toyota Hino Motors (China)
• Mr. Masamoto Amezawa – former Toyota executive, including President of Toyota Kentucky
• Mr. Hiroshi Tsukakoshi – founder and Chairman of Ina Foods (the company motto is “Happiness is our purpose”) and author of Tree Ring Management
• Mr. Teruo Yabe – former President of Tessei (Shinkansen cleaning company)
• Mrs. Noriko Ogura – COO and SVP of Ogura Metal
• Mr. Yoshinori Kikuchi – President of Kikuchi Gears or another Ashikaga-based company leader
• Dr. Satoru Komatsumoto, President of Ashikaga Red Cross Hospital
• Mr. Umemura – Chairman and founder of Mifune, Tier-2 supplier to Toyota
• Ms. Toshiko Kawanami – Human Resources Consultant
• And more!

Katie Anderson, Japan Lean Study Trip organizer, will be facilitate discussions throughout the program to deepen your learning experiences.

Katie will share her insights from living in Japan for 18 months and subsequent trips to Japan, as well as as a leadership coach and consultant who has worked with thousands of leaders around the world to develop learning cultures.

We will discuss the challenges that “typical Japanese” companies have in implementing Lean, and how and why Lean isn’t inherently Japanese but rather a management system that has drawn on the best of both Western and Japanese practices.

Mami Takeda, Japan Lean Study Trip coordinator and interpreter, will also provide additional commentary about Japanese culture, kaizen, and Lean thinking as practiced in Japan.

Enjoy authentic, excellent Japanese food and culture as we travel through Tokyo, Nagoya and Ashikaga.

Breakfast and lunch is included during the program, as well as a welcome dinner and celebration dinner!

During the program, we will include opportunities for other cultural and sightseeing experiences that might include:

• Visiting the “daruma temple” in the town where most daruma dolls are produced in Japan
• Enjoying Japanese hospitality in a ryokan – relax in the onsen, sing karaoke, and wear a yukata (cotton robe)
• Experiencing the high tech service of a “Lean sushi” restaurant
• Tasting sake at a local sake brewery or enjoying wisteria (“fuji”) flavored ice cream at a world-famous flower park
• Interacting with local school children during their lunchtime at school
• And more!

Choose to enrich your week with other experiences not included in the formal program

Optional group dinners are a great opportunity to enjoy conversations with other passionate Lean practitioners from around the world, or choose to take the evenings off to explore on your own.

You will also have the opportunity to participate in optional experiences during the week that could include (depends on interest and availability):

• Early morning walks to local temples and shrines
• Morning jog along the Sumida river or Tokyo Castle
• Evening out in Toyko

Consider extending your visit to Japan

Extend your stay and witness the Grand Sumo tournament (held in May in Tokyo), visit famous temples and shrines, take part in a food tour, or experience Tokyo nightlife. We can provide suggestions for sightseeing and special experiences in Tokyo.

Add-on additional learning opportunities

We have developed the program to provide you with access to experiences that you could not get on your own. We highly recommend a visit to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology in Nagoya. If the museum is not included on our itinerary due to other site visits, we highly recommend a visit on Sunday before our program officially starts.