The Japanese business philosophy ‘Kaizen’ promotes the continuous refinement of one’s approach to work and business. It has since been expanded beyond its business application usefulness to be applied across all facets of life, symbolising the modern Japanese ethos that drives individuals and organisations to embark on a journey of constant improvement. The Kaizen appeal has since transcended its place of origin and is viewed as an effective strategy to implement, with companies such as the Toyota Motor Corporation and the Ford Motor Company being successful examples. This combined with the Japanese view on life, be it in their appreciation for nature, the basis of their good environmental sustainability practices, or their sense of respect for their fellow man, where good manners and politeness in social scenarios are the norm, makes for ideal qualities to emulate.
Japanese craftsmanship takes a different approach to Western designs, focusing on creating objects that harmonises with nature rather than the other way around out of respect for the natural world. One only needs to scratch the surface of traditional Japanese architecture to reveal how old-world house and building designs were created to fit the world they reside in rather than force nature to conform to it. Similarly, traditional Japanese patterns used in traditional clothes such as kimonos are also inspired by nature, ranging from floral patterns such as cherry blossoms to wave patterns inspired by the sea.
These concepts ingrained in Japanese culture form the core of Okamura, Japan’s largest manufacturer of office furniture. Five principles guide the company – creativity, cooperation, frugality, savings, and service – since its founding 1945 in its namesake town and the company has since supplied high-quality furniture to various sectors the likes of offices, education, healthcare, R&D, commercial facilities and distribution centres. The brand manufactures furniture built to last a lifetime and has become a household name in durability due to this. Okamura’s products even boast Greenguard certification, a mark of low chemical emissions, proving the company’s commitment to sustainability. More importantly, Okamura believes that the aesthetics and practicality of a workplace should be taken into consideration to ensure a more productive and creative environment, creating designs that appeal to all users.
