What America Taught Me

Why Are U.S. Postal Trucks Right-Hand Drive? — What America’s “Country of Rationality” Can Teach Us About Creative Thinking “I’ve always felt that Americans are, above all, rational.” That’s how this story begins. In our daily lives, we constantly encounter different cultures and sets of values from around the world,…

When you park your car, are you the type who pulls straight into the space? Or do you prefer to back in? In Japan, the overwhelming majority belong to the latter group: people who back into parking spaces so that the rear of the car faces the aisle. At big…

When you eat out with a group in Japan, have you ever had this happen?Everyone orders their food, but the dishes start arriving at different times. The first plate shows up, and you find yourself awkwardly thinking, “Should I wait until everyone’s food gets here…?” I’ve had this experience many…

Sometimes a casual phrase you hear while traveling cuts right to the core of that country’s culture. For me, the phrase “Make Room” in the United States was exactly that. One day, I stopped by a local buffet restaurant. The typical all-you-can-eat, self-service style—what we in Japan call “Viking.” In…