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Konkatsu

The term konkatsu (marriage/partner hunting) recently sprung up from shu-katsu (job hunting) to describe modern strategies in Japan on the ageold search for a good marriage partner. Konkatsu was also born of a popular Japanese romantic comedy featuring Kuniyuki Amamiya, in his mid- 30's and son of a tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant owner, who finds a job he wants but with one catch—he must be married—and so his search for the right partner begins while keeping his job prospects open by pretending to be engaged to a part-timer in his father's restaurant. What is konkatsu all about?

Working with Japan

Hosting Meetings At the Office

By Patricia Pringle

So Many Choices!
It is 11 AM. Jiro Nagano and Hiro Suzuki stare at the sandwich menu the administrative assistant just handed them. They are visiting their US supplier, whose offices are in the Southeast. Yesterday, their hosts treated them to a round of golf, and took them to a very nice restaurant for drinks and dinner. Today is the day for serious price discussions and resolution of a quality issue. The meetings are slow to get going, and their hosts have given them time this morning to catch up with their email. They are feeling quite thirsty after the drinks last night. John, their host, told them to help themselves from the refrigerator in the break room down the hall and invited them to order anything they want from the menu. White bread or whole wheat? Turkey or ham? Cheddar cheese or provolone? Mustard? Mayonaise? Tomatoes? So many choices! Their heads are spinning and it is only 11 AM.

Products Of The Month

Doraemon Turns Thirty

In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the famous cartoon character Doraemon’s debut on TV Asahi in Japan, Bandai has recruited the famous blue robot cat to serve as a "communication robot."