Now and Zen Japan

Masako Yamamura: Retail & Leadership Trainer Extraordinaire

January 26, 2020 Andrew Hankinson Episode 3
Now and Zen Japan
Masako Yamamura: Retail & Leadership Trainer Extraordinaire
Show Notes

This episode we get into Hospitality and Retail with professional sales and leadership trainer Masako Yamamura.  We discuss Omotenashi, Bartenders, Commissions, Fortune-tellers, Gin . . . and the numerous differences and similarities between the retail and hospitality industries in Japan.  We are at the NAMIKI667 Bar at the Hyatt Centric in Ginza where the staff were a bit scared to wait on us.  They might need some of Masako's awesome training.  Some other highlights from our conversation:

  • The "official" reason she started her own company
  • What the hospitality industry could learn from the retail industry
  • Why culturally "commission" sales is not popular with Japanese
  • Her definition of "Omotenashi" and why she hated the Olympic O-MO-TE-NA-SHI presentation
  • An interesting & delicious gin cocktail recipe
  • Using hospitality concepts in retail can differentiate your brand from competition
  • Why a 5-star hotel experience in Japan is not as positive vs. overseas
  • Reminisce about contracting her training sessions on a "contingency" basis
  • Why Japanese "Just In Case" mentality holds back true hospitality
  • How Omotenashi can lead to world peace
  • Not having the qualifications when working at the Mandarin Oriental
  • Least popular jobs for todays Japanese youth
  • Her pessimism regarding the future of Japan
  • A story about a fortune-teller's shocking but reaffirming message

gugu Sleep Company https://gugu.jp
My Solutions https://www.my-solutions.jp
Masako Yamamura
https://www.linkedin.com/in/masako-yamamura-88060517/