Nippon Note #012: Kaizen/改善

Kaizen (改善), literally meaning "change for the better," is a Japanese business and life philosophy centered on making small, incremental improvements in processes, systems, and personal behavior. Emerging from post-World War II Japan, kaizen became the backbone of Japanese manufacturing excellence and transformed how companies approached productivity and quality. Rather than seeking dramatic overhauls or revolutionary change, kaizen embraces the idea that countless small improvements compound into significant transformation over time. This philosophy views continuous refinement not as a destination to reach, but as an ongoing process woven into daily work and life.

At its core, kaizen recognizes that perfection is never fully achieved - there is always room for subtle enhancement. Unlike Western business culture that often rewards bold innovations or dramatic leaps forward, kaizen values the humble act of noticing inefficiencies and proposing modest solutions. This democratizes improvement, making every employee responsible for identifying problems and contributing ideas rather than waiting for management directives. Kaizen emphasizes respect for people, collaborative problem-solving, and viewing failures as learning opportunities rather than setbacks. In contemporary life, kaizen principles extend far beyond manufacturing floors into personal development, relationships, and creative pursuits, offering a sustainable approach to growth that doesn't rely on unsustainable bursts of motivation or perfectionism.

Kaizen Principles and Applications:

Learn More About Kaizen:

In 2017, Tokyo television producer Shiro Oguni had an encounter that changed everything. After visiting a group home where people with dementia lived, he realized his preconceptions were completely wrong. Despite stereotypes of people being "radically forgetful" or "aimlessly wandering," he discovered they could cook, clean, do laundry, and much more. This revelation sparked a revolutionary idea: what if mistakes weren't failures, but opportunities for empathy? On June 2-4, 2017, Oguni opened a humble pop-up restaurant in Tokyo with an unusual disclaimer: "At this restaurant, no one knows if what you ordered will come out OK." Every server had dementia. Despite 37% of orders arriving wrong, an extraordinary 99% of customers left happy. What was meant as a one-time experiment became a powerful movement that has since expanded globally, spreading a message that dementia doesn't diminish human worth—it reveals human kindness.

Essential Restaurant of Mistaken Orders Facts & Social Impact:

For over a century after Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1878, humanity remained trapped with the same inefficient technology. Red and green LEDs had been invented, but blue eluded scientists for decades—a breakthrough seemed impossible. Then, in 1993, materials scientist Shuji Nakamura achieved what many thought was impossible: the first efficient blue LED while working at Nichia Corporation in Japan. His breakthrough using gallium nitride (GaN) materials didn't just create a new color of light—it enabled white LEDs by combining blue light with yellow phosphor coatings. This single innovation revolutionized global lighting, creating the most energy-efficient light source ever invented. In 2014, Nakamura's achievement was recognized with the Nobel Prize in Physics, shared with Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano, cementing Japan's role in one of the world's most impactful technological breakthroughs.

Essential Blue LED Facts & Global Impact:

"Small improvements lead to big changes"

“小さな改善も、大きな変化になる”

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The Nippon Note Team