East Meets West? A Photographic Exploration of Innovation in Japan

I had innovation on my mind as I traveled to Japan this month. I had just attended an off-the-record meeting of 100 american CEOs in California. One of the sessions was led by the CEO of one of the 5 top technology companies in the world. Last year alone, he acquired over 40 technology companies. He was asked: “Is america still the global leader in innovation?” he answered flatly: “No, and weʼre losing more ground every day.” A debate followed, centered on how the government and business must work together to restore U.S. competitiveness. But the idea that america somehow owns and is losing the innovation edge didnʼt ring true to me, and neither did the idea that its the governmentʼs responsibility to fix america, or that being the leader in innovation is some sort of pre-ordained right. With these thoughts in my head, took off for Tokyo with my camera in tow - the images I grabbed while on my business trip reminded me of the spirit of innovation.

Ginza (right) is one of the most luxurious shopping districts in the world, one square meter of land in the center of Ginza is worth over $100,000. Ginza is often compared to New Yorkʼs fifth avenue, and it felt like New York as we entered Bvlgari, the Italian luxury goods company, for an executive dinner. As I spoke with an executive from one of Japanʼs leading stock exchanges, the topics - automation, regulation, risk management - were the same ones we discuss in the west. But his way of thinking about these challenges was very different - he was methodical, evaluating what is and isnʼt working in the west. He was very concerned to repeat mistakes that have been made before. He had launched an 18 month project, including assessment and structured build schedules. In the west, the capital markets is a run-and-gun, competitive culture. Shoot first, aim later. This man was more methodical and surgical. So although the bright lights of Ginza might resemble New York City, this image reminds me that, in substance, our approach to business is very different indeed.

The Tsukiji fish market is the largest wholesale food market in the world. So famous that they are about to close it to tourists because they get in the way. The place is enormous I

the Tsukiji market does over $5.5 billion of revenue a year, and has over 60,000 employees. I snuck into the closed preparation area for the famous Tsukiji tuna auction, perhaps expecting an auction of a tuna at a time. But the size and scale of the operation shocked me - hundreds and hundreds of tuna were being prepared and examined - as far as the eye could see. As I took this picture, the size and scale of the east suddenly became real to me, in the form of a massive room of tuna. I wondered does the west have proper respect for the economic power of the east and does the attitude of “reclaiming superiority” make any sense given the rising economic might of the east?

I passed this boy (left) on the street as his friend played with a Nintendo DS, just like my daughter might have been doing at home. When I grew up, I doubt I shared much in common with my Japanese peers, perhaps other than a love of baseball. But our kids are much more deeply connected. They share a culture of technology. They

share a culture of electronic communication and wireless connectivity. They live in a world of online commerce. They arenʼt held hostage to economic principles based on physical boundaries. I wondered how the cultural connectivity between the east and the west will change how tomorrowʼs business leaders understand and interact?

On my visit to Meiji Shrine I learned about the tradition of a Japanese wedding, and how the groom visits his brideʼs house the morning of the wedding to share breakfast with his brideʼs family. This meal is shared as an expression of gratitude to the brideʼs family for the effort that forged his new partnerʼs character. And I learned of the how the brideʼs family throws water behind their daughter as she leaves, a sign that their bond is now broken and that she will not return to them. The water is not thrown in sorrow, itʼs thrown as a sign of respect for their marriage and the new bond between them.

At first I thought the ceremony looked sad, but as I learned more, I came to appreciate its beauty and wisdom. As east continues to meet west in modern business, I wondered what traditions and wisdom will shape the business culture of tomorrow?

J.G. Holland said “God gives every bird its food, but he does not throw it into its nest.” This is especially true of entrepreneurs, where an intense work ethic and never say die attitude is table stakes to play.

I was thinking about this as I was dodging a stream of people in the Tokyo subway Saturday morning at 8AM. My eastern colleague told me that the subway is always packed on Saturday morning, and that the Japanese are always in a hurry, always impatient to get where theyʼre going. But 8AM was already late in the day for a lot of Japanese in my camera lens. Earlier that morning, beginning at 3AM, the

produce auctions at Tsukiji markets are intense and aggressive. As I snapped pictures, dozens of auctions formed in a seemingly spontaneous and unorganized and frenetic

mob. Auctioneers screeched bids and offers, and closed deals with like the best Wall Street traders. It was all over by 8AM.

How “ordained” is the right be an innovative culture? Not at all. Can government create that work ethos? No way. The culture that required hard work and competition will find the food, not the culture waiting for God to toss it in the nest.

This little boy and I were both enjoying a beautiful day at Sungai temple. He seemed to be about the age as my son, and I could imagine him having this same look on his face back home. This boy made me hopeful about the global culture of innovation. Iʼm hopeful to think that my kids will have to leave the nest to find their food, and curious what cultural lessons, customs, and improvements they will learn as a result of

a deeper connection with their future eastern peers.

This boy made me feel thankful that my kids will learn from their eastern peers better than I do now; this little boy made me thankful that east will meet west.