Have you ever fantasized about the ultimate luxury vacation in Japan? If so, Alex Debs is your go-to guy. As the founder of Hitotoki, the Luxury Travel Designer, Alex specializes in crafting luxurious travel experiences in Japan. In this episode, you'll get an inside look into the world of luxury travel planning, including the most challenging requests his team has faced. We'll discuss how he navigated the pandemic restrictions, the unique challenges of being a small, specialized agency, and his interactions with Japan's large travel associations. Plus, Alex shares exclusive itinerary suggestions for a 2-3 day trip out of Tokyo and insights into booking a seat at the world-famous Jiro Sushi restaurant.

We'll also explore a range of other fascinating topics, including:

• The role of a "Luxury Travel Designer" and defining "luxury" in travel
• Tips for selecting the best travel guides
• How to handle illegal requests in the luxury travel industry
• Differences in itinerary preferences among nationalities
• Challenges faced by hotels in accommodating foreign luxury guests
• Stories from the "Go-To-Travel" program and insights into Japan's travel associations
• The untapped luxury market potential of Okinawa
• The business opportunity that inspired the creation of HITOTOKI
• A "Free Unsolicited Business Idea" from our conversation

Connect with Alex Debs on LinkedIn and learn more about Hitotoki at hitotoki-travel.com. For more episodes of Now and Zen Japan, visit nowandzen.jp.

It's a truly inspiring chat with the incredibly positive and humble entrepreneur, Anthony Griffin. He's the brains behind Saga Consulting, a company dedicated to helping organizations and individuals share their stories with the world. They specialize in global communications, offering top-notch copywriting, digital marketing, and cross-cultural coaching. Anthony also pens insightful articles for Kokoro Media on LinkedIn, where he shares his passion for Japanese language learning and provides tips for taking your skills to the next level.

In our conversation, Anthony and I both share three essential yet culturally impactful Japanese words that every beginner should learn. We also delve into a variety of topics, including:

• Techniques for acquiring new clients as an entrepreneur
• How Saga Consulting supports Japanese companies in expanding internationally
• Common hurdles Japanese companies face when going global
• Balancing Japanese cultural norms with personal style
• Anthony's expertise in working with "Foreign Curious" companies
• Lessons learned from working for a Japanese company
• Early cultural missteps in Japanese corporate life
• Recommended Japanese language apps for rapid learning
• Simple language tips for fostering better community relations
• Favorite untranslatable Japanese word
• Unique Japanese words beginners should master

You can connect with Anthony Griffin on LinkedIn, learn more about Saga Consulting at consultsaga.com, and read his articles on Kokoro Media. For more episodes of Now and Zen Japan, visit nowandzen.jp. And if you're looking for Japan adventures in a camper van, discover Dream Drive.

Discover the art of mastering public speaking, enhancing your presentation skills, and unraveling the secrets to impactful storytelling. Join Dr. Greg Story, the esteemed president of Dale Carnegie Japan and bestselling author of "Japan Sales Mastery" and "Japan Business Mastery," as he shares invaluable insights into successful sales techniques, post-COVID sales process shifts, and a myriad of topics explored in his books.

In this engaging conversation, we delve into the question of whether Greg's six podcasts might be considered "too much content." He regales us with true-life experiences that beautifully complement his business tips, insights, and advice, drawing from his rich background as a 6th-degree black belt in Karate with 38 years of experience in Japan. The episode unfolds as a captivating discussion on how actions and choices can profoundly impact one's life and career. Other topics covered are:

• The significance of public speaking skills in advancing your career
• Tips to ease nerves before a public presentation
• Strategies to "bullet-proof" yourself against challenging audience questions
• Greg's simplified four elements of a successful presentation
• The rationale behind his decision to "niche-down" with six podcasts instead of one
• Greg's biggest "pet-peeve" when listening to other presenters
• In-depth exploration of the contents and background of his bestselling books
• The transformative influence of Karate on Greg's life, perspective, and career
• The profound meaning behind his favorite untranslatable Japanese word, "Zanshin."

Greg Story: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregstory/
Dale Carnegie Japan: https://www.dalecarnegie.com/ja/locations/japan
Japan Dale Carnegie TV: https://www.youtube.com

Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

More Now and Zen Japan Episodes HERE