For the first 15 years of my career, I worked primarily with Japanese companies.
I was fortunate to represent some of Japan's greatest brands, such as Hitachi, Nissan, Matsushita (now known as Panasonic), and Minolta. I learned a great deal about business and about Japan. I also had some awkward intercultural moments.
In my first trip to Japan, I was hosted by Matsushita for a two-week orientation program. I was put up in a "businessman's" hotel, which ...