61| Reflections from the Japan Leadership Experience: Live from Tokyo [with Nick Kemp] (BONUS)

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Have you ever stepped outside your routine and suddenly seen your work—or yourself—with fresh clarity?

Sometimes the most meaningful leadership breakthroughs happen when we pause and immerse ourselves in a space designed for reflection, curiosity, and connection.

In this bonus episode—recorded live in Tokyo the morning after Cohort 8 of my Japan Leadership Experience wrapped up—I’m joined by Ikigai expert and past Chain of Learning guest Nick Kemp, who spent the week with my Japan program cohort in November 2025 as both a participant and speaker. Still energized from the experience, we sat down to capture our reflections while they were still vivid.

You'll hear us revisit the moments that stood out, the leaders who inspired us, and the Japanese concepts that came alive throughout the week—ikigai, kaizen, ichigo ichie, omotenashi, sanpo yoshi, and more.

This unscripted conversation offers a glimpse into what my Japan Leadership Experience is all about: a week of learning, community, and connection that helps global executives, lean practitioners, and change leaders discover the essence of respect for people—and “hold precious what it means to be human”—and how to create a culture of excellence.

YOU’LL LEARN:

• How the Japan Leadership Experience creates an ibasho—a place where you feel you truly belong—and why this is foundational for leadership
• How Japanese companies view revitalization through kaizen as both a business strategy and a people-centered philosophy
• What the debate over whether it’s “seven wastes vs. eight wastes” in lean and Toyota Production System reveals about how we teach, learn, and complicate continuous improvement
• Why immersive learning matters—and how stepping away from your daily responsibilities helps you reconnect with purpose and see challenges through a new lens
• Why long-term relationships and trust sit at the heart of meaningful learning and business success.

If there’s one thing to take away from this episode, it’s this:
Transformation happens when you step outside your routine and into intentional space for reflection, learning, and community.

ABOUT MY GUEST:

Nicholas Kemp, is the founder of Ikigai Tribe and is the author of IKIGAI-KAN: Feel a Life Worth Living and co-author with Professor Daiki Kato of Rolefulness:A Guide to Purposeful Living. 

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• Full episode show notes with links to other podcast episodes and resources: ChainOfLearning.com/61 
• Check out my website for resources and ways to work with me KBJAnderson.com
• Connect with Nick Kemp: linkedin.com/in/nicholas-kemp 
• Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson
• Check out Nick Kemp’’s website: ikigaitribe.com 
• Listen to Nick’s Ikigai Tribe podcast: ikigaitribe.com/podcasts 
• Download my free KATALYST™ Change Leader Self-Assessment: KBJAnderson.com/katalyst 
• Learn more about my Japan Leadership Experience: kbjanderson.com/japantrip 

TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:

01:54 The story behind how Nick and Katie first met
03:55 Katie and Nick’s shared connection of living in Japan
04:45 What Katie loves about her special relationships with Japanese business leaders
06:23 What lead Katie to start the Japan Leadership Experience
09:47 How living in Japan and developing relationships with Japanese businesses and Toyota leaders led to Katie to write the book “Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn” and start the Japan Leadership Experience programs  Japan Leadership Experience
11:33 The parallel process with writing the book and leading the first program
12:34 The definition of “ibasho” and how the Japan Leadership Experience is about being in a place where you can feel like yourself
15:03 How the word “revitalize” is used in Japan by leaders as the reason for kaizen
15:41 Katie’s favorite parts of leading her Japan Leadership Experience cohorts

17:41 The planning behind the scenes to make the experience a success
18:55 Katie’s connection to her role in bringing people together for learning and connection
21:08 Nick’s biggest takeaway during the week in Japan on the Japan Leadership Experience
23:56 How different cultures have a different sense of urgency and the difference between Japanese culture and Western culture in relationship to kaizen activities
25:25 Starting the day with a morning meeting, “chorei” connected to greater purpose and feeling inspired to do more

26:37 The key to being more roleful and the book “Rolefulness”
28:47 What “sanpo-yoshi” means – goodness in three ways – operating in  three- way goodness for customer, company, and community
31:27 The importance of sustainability in Japanese culture
32:31 Clarity on the debate of seven waste or eight waste in lean from a Toyota leader
34:44 The essence of being over doing
36:01 An example of omotenashi in Japanese culture
37:43 Nick’s experience in taking time away to be go to Japan
39:42 The importance of putting aside your everyday role and experience a different way of leading
44:09 The transformation when you step outside routines and into intentional space for reflection and connection
44:53 Questions to reflect on as you listen to this episode