Every Day a Surprise

I'm often asked, "What was the best part of living in Japan for 8 years?"

I can't possibly pick just one thing - so my stock answer is this:

Every single day that we lived in Japan, we saw something - sometimes small, sometimes big - that we'd never seen before.

That's not an exaggeration. Every day. 

It might be a hamburger served on rice buns (I don't mean buns made of rice, I mean rice formed into buns - if that makes sense). It might be a man walking his pet chipmunk. It might be an ancient ceremony. It might be a tee-shirt that says, "Happy Love Clams". It might be a man marching around a festival with no pants (as my buddy Martin is pointing out in this photo from the Yokohama Matsuri).

You just never knew.

Often, our surprise would come in the form of a TV show or a movie.

If you've only watched movies by Kurosawa and Ozu (and you should see these), you have no idea what kind of wonderful weirdness is manifested in Japanese cinema.

Sometimes I worry that Japan is becoming too Western - but I shouldn't worry.

Here's a trailer for a new movie in Japan, called "Love Exposure".

If you have delicate sensibilities, don't watch. 

It features a priests son who, apparently, is the Bruce Lee of 'upskirt' photography. If that doesn't make sense now, it soon will.

If you want to advance your view of the Japanese beyond stereotypes of samurai salarymen and dutiful housewives, watch these five Japanese films.

• Battle Royale
• Visitor Q
• Audition
• 2LDK
• A Snake of June

Learning From Music and Film: Chungking Express and Wong Faye

Today, I've got a double dip of music AND film for you!

On November 25th, one of my favorite Hong Kong films - Chungking Express - gets a reboot and release on DVD, courtesy of Criterion.

Chungking Express combines seven of my favorite things: the neighborhoods and alleys of Hong Kong, director Wong Kar Wai, actors Tony Leung and Brigitte Lin, cinematographer Chris Doyle, superstar singer Faye Wong, and Faye's excellent reworking of the Cranberries song "Dreams".

Here's a montage from the movie, backed by "Dreams". This clip shows Faye sneaking into Tony's apartment (repeatedly) while she cleans it up and tries to get to know him.

As you'll note, she's trying to figure out if he has a girlfriend.

A few notes

• In the opening thirty seconds, you'll notice a 'people mover' or escalator outside the window. This was (maybe still is) the longest escalator system in the world, called the Mid-levels escalator. It moves people up the hill in Hong Kong. Here's a link with more shots.
• This little apartment is a pretty typical one in Hong Kong.
• Learn more about Faye Wong, an icon of the Chinese music industry here 
• imdb entry on Chungking Express
• In 2005, Time Magazine chose Chungking Express as one of the All-Time 100 Best Films.

Am I a Geek? Are You a Geek?

Yesterday, Barry Posner signed my 1st edition copy of The Leadership Challenge. 

Believe it or not, before I met him, I had to decide which edition I was going to ask him to sign - yes, I have all four editions...

In the afternoon, I stopped at the Recycle Bookstore in San Jose, and bought four more books to add to my reading pile.

• Riding The Waves of Culture by Trompenaars
• Managers As Facilitators by Weaver & Farrell
• The Cycle of Leadership by Noel M. Tichy
• Passion at Work by Lawler Kang

Based on these two data points, I realize that if someone wanted to convict me of being a geek,  they could find some pretty strong evidence.

1. I have an engineering degree.
2. I read for fun.
3. I don't just read, I collect books.
4. I have three computers on my desk (powered up and ready to go)
5. I like anime.
6. I enjoy the occasional graphic novel, manga, or sequential art.
7. I enjoy documentaries and foreign films.
8. I have a large catalogued collection of dvds.
9. I have a large catalogued collection of cds.
10. I own a couple of action figures (Musashi Miyamoto and "Ghost in the Shell's" Major Motoko Kusanagi)
11. I love maps.
12. I love libraries.
13. I have a sand (yes... sand) collection.
14. I can program in BASIC and HTML.
15. I've had a website since 1998.

Curious, I googled, "Are you a geek?" and "Are you a nerd?"

I took the GeekTest and scored at only 10.45365% (love the accuracy there).

Turns out I'm not even close. The lack of anti-social and fantasy attributes (no role playing games in my past, sorry) holds me back from reaching true geekdom.

How about you? Where do you score?

Learning Culture Through Film: Maiko Haaaan!!!

This week's ‘Learning Culture Through Film’ Feature is “Maiko Haaaan!!!" a Japanese comedy about a loser who moves from Tokyo to Kyoto to chase geisha, prompting his jilted girlfriend to follow and try to become a geisha.

As is my custom, I won’t review the film - you can find reviews here. Rather, I want to highlight what you might be able to learn about Japanese culture, by watching "Maiko Haaaan!!!".

To do this, I'll discuss three scenes from the movie, using a facilitator's debriefing strategy called 'What, So What, Now What'.

'What' - asks what happened?
'So what' - asks what that means and why it matters?
'Now what' - asks what you can do differently in work or life, based on this knowledge?

SPOILER ALERT – If you don't want to read plot spoilers, stop now!

1. We see our ‘hero’ get transferred to the Kyoto branch of his company.
What - The main character is working in Tokyo, when he gets transferred to Kyoto.
So What - Getting transferred from HQ to a regional office is a clear message that you are a poor performer. In a society that doesn't like to fire people, moving them to a branch office is the next best thing.
Now What - Be aware of the social status of branch offices. Moving an employee away from HQ to drive a new office, for example, may not be met with enthusiasm. What you intend as an honor might be taken as a message that you're trying to get rid of the employee.

2. We see our ‘hero’ and other photographers chasing geisha through the streets for a photo.
What - We see a ridiculous grown men running through the streets of Kyoto, acting like obnoxious little kids or paparazzi, as they take photos of geisha.
So What - This really happens. I know that because, umm, I've been that guy. Photographers stalk the streets looking for a shot of this 'lost' icon of Japan's past. Seriously, it's a big dea. Most Japanese have never seen a geisha. It's like seeing Angelina Jolie...
Now What - Realize that seeing a geisha in Japan is like seeing an American Indian. Yeah, they were everywhere at one time, but not so common now. And when you do see them... they probably won't look (or act) like you expect.

Well, yeah, I might have chased a couple geisha around (for a photo...)

3. We see the boss introduce his employee into the geisha world.
What - Our 'hero' can't get into a geisha house until his boss brings him there.
So What - When an employee enters the workforce, it's common for the boss to become his new 'father'. The boss might introduce him to a female employees as a potential wife. The boss might also take him to restaurants or nightspots and introduce him.
Now What - Don't be surprised if you see Japanese managers taking a paternal view of their employees. Don't be surprised if you Japanese employees come to you with questions of a somewhat personal nature. I had Japanese employees ask me for financial advice, relationship advice, travel advice, and more. There were a few times I was stunned at some of what they asked. Bottom line - it's part of the responsibility of a manager.



Someone said all comedy is based on truth, so look for the truth in the comedies you watch and see what you can learn from them.
Have you learned about culture from a film? Tell us what you've learned.

Learning Culture Through Film - Fearless

One of my favorite cultural learning tools is film.

I started watching Asian film in 1995, in Singapore, when I discovered Gong Li and Zhang Yimou in "Raise the Red Lantern". Next was Wong Kar Wai's "Chungking Express" and the rest, as they say, is history. I now have over 1,000 Asian films in my collection, and watch them for both pleasure and knowledge.

This week, I introduced my dad to Jet Li, in "Fearless".

Rather then reviewing the film - you can find reviews all over the Internet - I want to highlight what you might be able to learn about Chinese culture, by watching "Fearless".

To do this, I'll review three scenes from the movie, using a facilitator's debriefing strategy called 'What, So What, Now What'.

'What' - asks what happened.

'So what' - asks what that means and why it matters.

'Now what' - asks what you can do differently in work or life, based on this knowledge.

Needless to say, I'll be discussing key moments in the movie. If you don't want to read spoilers, stop now!

1. We see two martial art teachers sign 'death waivers' and fight in the streets of the town.

What - Competing martial arts schools historically challenged each other and fought, even at the risk of death, to establish superiority.

So What - The power of the group is much bigger in the East. Individuals like to be aligned to something, and to have that something be powerful.

Now What - Appeal to your Chinese workmates sense of group or affiliation. Hold group events and team building sessions. Being a strong 'father' figure also goes a long way.

2. Jet Li returns to Tianjin to visit his parents grave

What - Jet gives up serenity and possible love. He returns to the scene of his problems. The trigger is when he hears that locals are visiting their parents grave.

So What - Jet hasn't been to his parents graves in a few years. In Chinese culture, there is very little that is more important than honoring your family and ancestors. This drives many behaviors, from 1st sons staying at home to having family shrines inside houses.

Now What - If you're managing or working with a Chinese male, it might be important to understand if they are a first or only son. I also wouldn't suggest making parent jokes, the way we do in the West.

3. Jet Li keeps fighting, though he knows he's dying

What - The final match is rigged. Jet will die if he keeps fighting. He knows it, but continues.

So What - As an educated Chinese, Jet knows the significance of this moment. He knows that the school is bigger than his life.

Now What - Have a long term vision. Think beyond 'right now'. Also, connect today's events to the events of the past. In Chinese culture, it's important to place the 'now' in a historical continuum. Look at how much emphasis the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games put on historical context.

The trailer begins with a quote from Lao Tzu, "Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself makes you fearless."

In this case the filmmakers are making sure to tie the film to a historical context.

Do you learn from films? Tell us how.

Learning through Film - Japan

In the interest of right brain/left brain balance, today is film day.

Here, in no particular order, are 5 Japanese films that will give you a better insight to Japanese culture.

1. Seven Samurai - Perhaps the greatest film ever made. I'm not claiming it's the 'best' (a futile discussion if ever there was one), but it sure is great.
   There is no question that you're in the hands of a master filmmaker here (Kurosawa, of course), but that doesn't stop it from being Fun with a capital 'F'. An added bonus is the commentary track that explains many cultural points in the movie.
2. Audition - Horror doesn't come any more horrific than in this Miike Takashi spectacle. One of those 'only from Japan' films, this isn't a cheesy slasher film. This is the horror of everyday life.
3. After Life - Is about the after life... It's funny, with interesting characters and a unique view of what happens 'on the other side'.
4. Bounce Ko Gals - This movie about high school girls who engage in 'compensated dating' with business men could have been cheap and tasteless, but it isn't. It's a peek 'behind the curtain' of a phenomenon that you know is there, but you'll never see.
5. Princess Mononoke - I could have flipped a coin to choose between this and three other Miyazaki films. All have their charms, but this is my personal favorite.

I could name a dozen more, but I won't. At least not today...

Learning Through Film - Korea

I was having lunch a couple days ago with co-workers Yu Jin Kwag (pictured at her desk) and S.Y. We had excellent Chinese Shrimp in Chili Sauce and discussed Korea movies.

As I firmly believe that film is one of the best ways to learn about a culture (be careful not to take it too literally - just like all Americans don't carry guns; most Asians don't know kung fu), I thought I'd give you a list of my five favorite Korean films.
All are available, with subtitles, in the US.

1 - Attack the Gas Station - A Tarentino-esque take on a night of escalating events that ends with the best 'Mexican standoff' I've ever seen. A hilarious film that also addresses the pressures that Korean youth feel.
2 - JSA - The best look at the tensions/ties between North and South Korea. Intense and human.
3 - Chunhyang - A beautifully filmed version of a classic Korean tale that could be called their 'Romeo and Juliet'.
4 - Tell Me Something - If you're into psychological thrillers, this one puts a particularly Korean spin on the genre. Definitely a mind-bender.
5 - Christmas in August - A quiet, touching look at life, love, and death. Too real to be considered a 'chick flick'. It's just a great, great film. This is a film that demonstrates the 'high-context' nature of Asia. So much is said without being said at all.