Why Samuel Succeeded in Japan: Trust Begins Before Language

（日本語は英語に続く）

🌸We often think language creates trust, but in Japan, trust begins before language.

Thank you very much for joining our Thinking Time. The result surprised me in a good way.

I expected more people to choose “perfect English” to impress Japanese people. But most of you chose “a little Japanese helps trust.”

This tells us something important:

Trust in Japan begins in a small human moment — not in perfect language.

I’d like to share a story that shows this clearly.

🌸 Samuel’s First Trip to Japan — Why He Succeeded

One of my students, Samuel Dallimore, CEO of a hydrogen engineering company in the UK, visited Japan for the first time.

He didn’t speak perfect Japanese. But he understood something essential:

In Japan, the first few seconds decide the relationship. And a few carefully chosen words can open the door to trust.

During his trip:

・His first sentence set a tone of respect

・He hosted meetings with confidence

・He built a partnership with a Japanese company

That partnership is now supporting his expansion into Asia　

After the trip, he told me:

“Quality over quantity. Even a few words, spoken with care, can change the entire atmosphere.”

This is why he is now preparing his team members with the same approach — simple, high‑quality Japanese + cultural understanding.

Samuel didn’t succeed because he spoke Japanese fluently. He succeeded because he understood how trust begins in Japan — from the very first moment.

🌸 Final Message

As a Japanese person, I’m always grateful to professionals around the world who choose to build relationships with Japan.

In my Learning Café, I share my Kizuki (insights) from my experience as an educator in the UK and a world traveler.

For professionals who want to learn how trust truly begins in Japan, I teach these principles in my Executive Japanese Communication course — a gentle, practical 5‑week programme for building real connection with Japanese colleagues and clients.

If you’re a member, the latest Kizuki about quiet Japanese mindset is ready to read from here.

Non‑members can enjoy the brief version too.

If my insights can support even one person in building trust with Japan, it would make me very happy.

☕ Thinking Time for This Week

Where does trust begin for you when you meet Japanese professionals?

Thinking Time の結果 「少しの日本語が信頼をつくる」 が多かったです。日本の本質です。

日本で、信頼は言語の完璧さではなく、

最初の小さな人間的な瞬間から始まる。

それをよく表す実話です。

🌸 Samuel の日本出張 — 成功の理由 英国の水素エンジニアリング企業 CEO、Samuel さんは日本語のビギナーですが、 「最初の数秒が関係を決める」 ことを理解していました。

出張中、彼は：

• 最初の一言で尊重の空気をつくり

• 会議を自信を持って進め

• 日本企業とパートナーシップを築いた

「量より質。丁寧に選んだ数語だけで空気が変わる。」

Samuel さんは日本語が上手だったからではなく 信頼がどこから始まるかを理解していたから成功した。

世界から日本との関係構築を選んでくださる皆さまに日本人として心から感謝しています。

Learning Café では、

英国での教育経験と旅から得た Kizuki をお届けしています。 メンバーの方は最新の「静かな日本人の心のあり方」を読んでいただけます。 非メンバーの方にはブリーフ版をご用意しています。

☕ 今週の Thinking Time あなたにとって、日本のプロフェッショナルとの信頼はどこから始まりますか。