Contents
2012 April Contents
Featured Articles
Pleasing the Customer Leads to success
The Business Philosophy of Casual Italian Restaurant, Saizeriya
Milanese Doria gratin dish for 299 yen ($3.75). Wine by the glass for 100 yen ($1.25). Everyone in Japan must know Saizeriya, the popular casual Italian restaurant with surprisingly low prices. What first came to life 42 years ago as a tiny western-style restaurant in Chiba’s Ichikawa City has now grown into a huge chain with almost 1,000 restaurants in Japan and abroad. Founder and chairman Yasuhiko Shogaki accomplished this growth in a single generation–how did he inspire and educate his employees? In this interview we will deconstruct the leadership qualities of Mr. Shogaki.
Flash
Seeing Is Believing?
In 2011, the Adachi Museum of Art in Yasugi City, Shimane Prefecture, was ranked first in Japan by the US magazine “The Journal of Japanese Gardening.” This marked its ninth consecutive year to be accorded such recognition.
Products Of The Month
Dancin’ Shoes
Designed to cater to the new junior high school curriculum starting this spring, in which dancing is an elective subject, Tokyo-based Achilles Corporation (http://www.achilles. jp/english) has introduced its new “Syunsoku” (meaning “swift feet”) line of shoes, featuring a choice of striking colors and combination of shoelaces and Velcro fasteners.
Real Japan
Behind BEAUTY
By Dave McCaughan
We all know that for women in Japan and indeed everywhere beauty is non-negotiable. In November and December 2011 we undertook a global study regarding how women felt about the whole beauty experience. Our “Truth About Beauty” study found that 83% of women around the world agree that it plays a role in their lives that they do not feel they can compromise upon.