it isn't the winning, but actually, that might be a start

There's a huge studying culture in Japan - one that is a national obsession. Bookshops are brimming with self-study aids, adults swat-up on the train, kids are at cram school until all hours in the evening. The Japanese enjoy inputing data, absorbing information, understanding techniques through words (Does the more practical and creative side of learning bring with it more possibility of confrontation and failure?).

Perhaps because people don't / can't find enough time / space to actively pursue hobbies works as a good example to illustrate the point. I see so many people with the kit, the theory, the knowledge, who can't achieve the end result (the Fujisan hill climb was a point in case), but what actually is the end result? Perhaps it is simply the taking part that counts. Maybe it's because I devote the same amount, or more, of my time to my hobbies than I do my job that makes me think like this.

Back at school, I've certainly met enough people related to further education to know it's a system not working for many. Reaching your educational peak at 18, (when, come on, you should be doing other things) and sleeping through college, appears to be resulting in more and more frustrated students as well as tutors (Is it also the reason people have to study when they are older or has that simply to do with continual self improvement in a time when technology can leave you behind if you go to the toilet?).

Recently I met a chap who got so disillusioned by everything around him at Uni, he jumped ship and started his own company. I met him at the design matters talk at the Apple store in Osaka where I'll be giving a presentation in April. Last month was Darren Saunders from Nestle Japan who talked (briefly) about how Kit-Kat, the best selling sweet in the UK, is also the number one here. The reason, wafer/chocolate cream layers aside, is to do with a play on words. Kitto katsu roughly means 'I hope you succeed' in Japanese and so girls love to buy them as lucky charms for their friends to eat at exam time (now).

was any of that related?

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