Long Time Expat In Japan
https://bsdonovan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/courthouse.jpg OK, so it was a bit strange, but I have to say, I had a good customer experience at the courtroom today. See my post yesterday about getting Nabbed by the Keisatsu. The parking violation cost me 40,000 JPY, about $340 USD. There’s no way that’s going to feel good. I have problems with … Continue reading A Good Experience with Police? Yes, Expensive but, Yes
It started one Friday evening. It was a pretty good day; I was home before 7 pm. You need to understand that this is Japan. The work day starts late, but for so many, that work day never seems to end. In a former life in this country, I had a job that nearly did … Continue reading Nabbed by the Keisatsu
Book Review Contagious by Jonah Berger “Virality Isn’t Born – It’s Made” A couple of years back – ok it was 15 years ago, I’m old – 15 years back, Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book called The Tipping Point about how there are people in our lives that guide opinion. Even now, companies spend tons … Continue reading The Six Principles That Will Make Your Content Go Viral
https://bsdonovan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/station_eleven.jpg A typical science fiction story is both traditional and not. When I say this, I don’t mean to sound schizophrenic, nor do I mean to sound indecisive (splunge!). A successful science fiction story is often big on innovative ideas, speculation and extrapolation of what might be if xyz technology existed. It has been called … Continue reading Book Review – Station Eleven
It's not just me, or so my sensei tells me. Most of her students dread the kana part of the monthly submission for calligraphy. It's the hardest, it's the most abstract, and has the most exceptions. Way back in the early days of the mid-90's, eons ago in dog years, I read a book by … Continue reading Hiragana – and Hard Fun
It's like the floodgates have opened. Everywhere I turn, somebody is saying sugar is bad for you. 4 Hour Body A couple of years back I read The Four Hour Body. Good book with effective ways to get healthy and strong with the 80-20 rule, 80% of the effect with 20% of the effort. In … Continue reading Life Imitates Art – and it’s a Scifi Comedy
Top TED talks on My List (in no particular order) Amy Cuddy: YOUR BODY LANGUAGE SHAPES WHO YOU ARE What is it: The way you carry yourself impacts your brain chemistry The speaker, Amy Cuddy, is a Social Psychologist. What she discovered in her research is that pretending you are confident actually makes you more … Continue reading Top 3 Best TED Talks
And so this is what it looks like, surrounded by flowers for my daughters for their ballet recital, and the mochi rice for New Year's.
It's a tradition to go to the local shrine. We went to the Sengen Jinja nearby. I used to think ours was THE Sengen Jinja, but apparently they are everywhere. The one in Shizuoka is near Mt. Fuji. and is probably the most famous. When we were there, we got a couple of charms (mamori) … Continue reading アケオメコトヨロ- or – Happy New Year!
In 2006, Amazon hired me as a Finance Manager for a Fulfillment Center in Chiba, Japan. Later I took on responsibility for Finance in the warehouse network. Then, in 2011, I made the shift from Finance to Operations Planning. What you focus on defines who you are as a company. Amazon is probably best known … Continue reading It Just Sticks
B.S. Donovan 
