Japan Reflections

The last few weeks have been exceptionally busy. I passed the SIE and Series 63 examinations and am now preparing for the Series 79. Iris Co. continues to grow with new clients, new strategic relationships, and conversations with brokerage and advisory firms as I continue building my M&A practice. Somewhere in the middle of all of that, I framed a new deck, celebrated the Fourth of July with family, and had the opportunity to spend two unforgettable weeks in Japan.

Japan was everything I hoped it would be: beautiful, organized, welcoming, and deeply rooted in craftsmanship. More than anything, however, it became a family experience. The four of us shared the same itinerary, yet we each came home with a different Japan.

Our adventure began with an unexpected setback. Flight delays leaving Bismarck stranded us overnight in Minneapolis and cost us our first day in Okinawa, including a snorkeling excursion we had been looking forward to. While disappointing, the delay gave us the chance to have dinner with my brother before continuing our journey.

Once we arrived, Okinawa proved lush, tropical, and full of history. We explored the island, enjoyed local cuisine, and learned from a wonderful guide who warned us a typhoon was approaching. That evening the storm arrived, keeping us in our hotel for twenty-four hours. Even with the shortened visit, Okinawa left a lasting impression.

Hakone was our next stop. Although the remnants of the storm followed us, we experienced our first ryokan and onsen, enjoyed a traditional Japanese meal, and began to understand the extraordinary attention to detail that would become the defining theme of our trip.

Kyoto was unforgettable. We explored temples, gardens, bamboo forests, and historic neighborhoods, watched maiko and geiko, and even trained with a Kenbu sword master. We also visited Kobe, including the naval museum and the Kawasaki museum, which was a highlight for my son and me.

Tokyo felt both enormous and remarkably organized. Despite being one of the world's largest cities, it was among the safest and cleanest places I have ever visited. Watching children and teenagers confidently ride trains alone late into the evening was something that would be almost unimaginable in many parts of the world.

One of our favorite afternoons was spent inside the working manga studio of Nao Yazawa. My daughter, who loves manga and is an accomplished artist herself, insisted I not tell Nao about her talent. As a proud father, that required considerable restraint. Nao was not only an exceptional artist but an outstanding teacher, patiently guiding the four of us until we each produced recognizable manga portraits. She made the experience memorable not simply because of her skill, but because of her joy in sharing it.

The four of us had four different perspectives on the trip. My daughter was adventurous, and willing to try new foods, new experiences, and embraced the culture she loved from manga and anime. My wife loved with the gardens, history, and people. My son enjoyed seeing the cars and motorcycles, although he never quite embraced the food. I pushed my own limits by trying foods like sea urchin, squid, and eel (I’ll likely stick to tuna in the future). Watching each member of my family discover a different Japan became one of the greatest joys of the entire trip.

Our guides in every city were knowledgeable, patient, and generous. They didn't simply explain landmarks—they explained history, culture, neighborhoods, and daily life.

Two different guides, in different cities, independently made the same observation: Japan may be too organized. At first the comment surprised me because I admired so much of what I was seeing. Yet the more I reflected on it, the more I understood. Japan's declining birthrate is well documented, but statistics become something entirely different when experienced firsthand. One afternoon, a train arrived carrying a class of five-year-olds who ran excitedly into their parents' arms. The station instantly filled with laughter. It reminded me how much life and spontaneity children bring to a society. Perhaps the same discipline that produces spotless streets, silent trains, and remarkable order also carries costs that are more difficult to measure.

Surprisingly, one of my favorite evenings took place in a parking lot at a gathering of car enthusiasts. I spent hours asking owners about their vehicles. Almost no one began by talking about value or rarity. They talked about why they loved them, how they had restored them, and what they hoped to improve next. Looking back, I realized the gathering wasn't really about cars. It reflected the same devotion to craftsmanship we had seen throughout Japan—in sushi chefs, temple carpenters, manga artists, hotel staff, sword instructors, and countless others who introduced themselves through the quality of their work rather than their status.

Japan is the cleanest country I have ever visited. Despite the near absence of public trash cans, the streets remain immaculate because people simply carry their garbage home. The trains were equally impressive. The Shinkansen carried us across the country at remarkable speed while arriving almost exactly on schedule. Even crowded commuter trains remained quiet, with passengers showing remarkable courtesy toward one another.

Looking back, a few lessons stand out.

1. Quality is a habit. Excellence appeared not to be an occasional achievement but an everyday expectation.

2. Culture matters. The absence of litter wasn't enforced by garbage cans; it was reinforced by shared expectations.

3. Execution matters. Whether serving sushi, guiding visitors, maintaining hotels, or operating trains, people consistently demonstrated pride in their work.

4. There truly is no place like home. Travel broadens perspective, but it also deepens appreciation for the communities and people waiting when we return.

I loved Japan, and I was equally happy to come home. Bismarck may sit in the middle of the northern plains, but it remains the place where my family, my work, and my future are rooted.

Travel doesn't diminish appreciation for home; it sharpens it. Japan reminded me that quality, discipline, and pride in one's work are choices made every day. It also reminded me that while every culture has something to teach us, there is still no substitute for returning home to the people you love.

May your adventures lead you to learn something worth bringing home.

—Jake