Sunday, May 06, 2007

Reformers of big companies "TOYOTA" & "Panasonic" - 1

I read a two books which I bought in Japan.

One is a book about former company chairman, president of "TOYOTA motor corporation"
”奥田イズムがトヨタを変えた”

The other is a book about former company president (present company chairman) of "Panasonic"
”中村邦夫 「幸之助神話」を壊した男”
Mr.Okuda and Mr.Nakamura, both managers are called as a leader who reformed ”a flagging big company” in this past decade. In fact, TOYOTA and Panasonic, both recorded quite good profitabilities of the companies in 2007 and their management expertise are more and more drawing attention.

At least until recently, famous "heroes" of Japanese bussiness world were always entrepreneur manager, who founded a company and succeeded as a company manager. In contrast, Mr.Okuda and Mr.Nakamura are, so to speak, reformers. It might be one of the reason that those books gave me very new and interesting impressions about "contemporary" company managements.

The situation and methodology of two are common in some part and different in other parts.
For example, management's rationalization, adaptation of "Japanese company" toward globalization, speed up of decision making and implementation etc are noticed in both.

I'd like to write a little bit more about each details in following posts.

Today's song: "Knock 'Em Out" by Lily Allen.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Marine Biotechnology!

There was very fascinating and interesting presentation in my department today!
One professor from Denmark, presented his project in "Marine Biotechnology".


He joined a project organized by Danish government and there many researchs from a broad range of fields and sailer's had sailed a oceans for total more than 6 months period.
He said "he was diving to collect many samples and study in the small lab in the boat day and night!"

and "the experience there cruise sounds very very great! (both scientifically and also personally)"

And it was actually his dream when he was child to sail away to the ocean to study biology there!
(Since he is actually the expert of protein science, and it was the first time for him to ride a boat and stay for a long time on the sea.)

His message the ending were,
"Biotechnology is not only the things in the lab, but also there's a lot of things outside to be found!"
And also "Never give up your dream"

It sounds very fascinating, doesn't it?

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

A package from Japan!

Yesterday a package from Japan has arrived!
It left Japan on 18th of January and have been traveling far way up to Sweden after 4 months !!!

(Well, it's very very and too long time even though it's by sea way to save the cost....)

The reason it was sent by sea was because conponents are heavy. Mainly they books which I couldn't carry with me.... because I have too many things to carry to Sweden back..


1. "World soccer digest", a magazine about world fooball, a full of articles with deep insight!
2-3. "Number", a sports graphic magazine X2, magazine about sports pictures and articles are very cool! (more emphasizing on artistic part than world soccer digest?)

I think those are already out of dated... although they have cool pictures and articles...

4. "Brutus",trend magazine? Topic was "attracting culture of Japan, the new spots we do find on abroad"
5. "Title", art culture magazine? Topic is best selection of DVD 595 titles!



+ 2 textbook for my study.

So problem is I have to find a time to read them..... Let me start memorizing slides of presentation for course...

Today's song: "Take me back to your house" by Basement jaxx.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Egypt! Cairo-Luxor

Since last Friday and Monday were extra Holiday for Easter (Påsk),
I made a trip to Egypt with my colleague! We visited Cairo, the neighborhood Giza and Luxor.

The pyramids were so huge and just surprising when we stand in front of it.
Temples in Luxor were magnificient as well.
Many old painting in tombs in Kings' velley were another impressive things.

People are very friendly and also kind when we need a help.
However when they are on business they are very very cheeky sometimes.
It's a sort of adventure when you go shopping.
You always have to be tough negotiator because you don't know how many times more expensive money you are paying.

It's very nice adventure to the many new culture, things and atmospheres.
Some other pictures are on picture storage so please have a look too!

Today's song: "How to Save a Life" by The Fray.



Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Running days!

Friday : BBQ at friends house
Saturday : Louisiana Museum for Moderne Kunst (art) /Kronborg Slot (Castle) in Denmark
Sunday : Trip to Ven Island
Monday : Booking hotels etc for Egypt travel, and last minutes ecperiments

> The exhibition in Louisiana was marvelous. I was pity it's not allowed to take pictures insides.
Landscape of garden there is beautiful as well!


> In Ven Island, Walking in the fields under Sunshine.
After eating, taking a nap a while.
Playing football "Italia vs All world (Japan, Brazil and France)"
we managed to win the match in 4-3!

Nap on the beach.

>Surpringly we could find a private room in hotel with 40 SEK for one night.
(4 euro, 600円 in Japan)
The cheapest domitory was 9 SEK.
(90 cents, 140円 in Japan)

> It was very power holiday. Tired and bad shape on muscle on Monday....
however, we have to fix the things for a trip and complate some experiments in the same
time....
I was running a experimet so it was until midnight...
but I don't complain since it is before vacation to Egypt!

Trevlig Påsdagen!/Happy Easter!

Today's song: "Certe Notti" by Ligabue.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

+ 15 degree C !!

Time is changed to Summer time on this Sunday.
Above all! it seems to be really Spring has come to Lund now!

The sun is shining and the temperature today is + 15 degree C!
That's the thing we were waiting for!

Today's song: "Raindrops Keep Fallin on My Head" by Burt Bacharach.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Picture gallary of presents

I have got so many presents and message cards for my birthday! and also several cakes and a lot of wines and drinks!
There were all nice presents! Some are fashion! Some others are practical! Some others are funny....!?

As you can see below, what a fantastic creativity is behind of them!
Thanks every body. I'd really like to say this here again!
I'm really happy and really enjoyed :)

Today's Sicilian sentence: "Ti taglio la faccia a parabola"

I forgot to take a picture but first one I got, was Chocolate sweets, "Brigadero"!
It was very tasty!! Thanks!

Shoes dryer! The very big surprise I would say. I even didn't imagine such a kind of machine exist...

Book of "Brazilian Cooking" from my friends who know that I'm gonna finish all the recipes in my old cooking book. I like it! (maybe this is another pressure to cook for them??)

T-shirt from Adidas, nice border line and color!

Beer opener with sculpture disign from China!

Now I drink tea with it. However, socks is of funny design....

A book written by Dan Brown, the author of "Da Vinch Code". I heard about this before but I haven't read yet. Let me read!


This one was another suprise!
T-shirt with Sicilian words, "Ti taglio la faccia a parabola"
What does it mean? It means "I cut you like a parabora".....
Yes, as you see, it's very bad slang....

However I guess it can be a nice joke. If I go to Sicily in the future, I will ware this for sure.
I hope it's not dangerous to do so.