Shokunin

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Shokunin (職人) is a Japanese term for a skilled artisan or craftsperson that embodies a philosophy of dedication, mastery, and continuous improvement in one's work. It goes beyond simply being a job, representing a lifelong pursuit of perfection, a deep sense of responsibility, and pride in one's craft, which can include everything from carpentry to cooking and even specialized roles like a soy sauce purveyor.

Via: When the Japanese decide to master something, whether it’s cars, cameras, animation, knives, or yes, whiskey and craft cheese - they will perfect it into its final Platonic form. https://x.com/MsMelChen/status/1991479588287827985

1. How do they do it?
2. Obsession with kaizen (continuous improvement). And they will apply themselves relentlessly - without ego - to incremental refinement.
3. This is in contrast to the attitude of “Cha bu duo" (差不多), a Chinese phrase that means "close enough” or "more or less," which leads to cutting corners, a mindset and attitude that is common in China. In contrast, the cultural default in Japan is that “good enough” is never good enough.
4. The Shokunin spirit (craftsman mindset) infuses Japanese culture with a respect for becoming a true master of one thing. You see this whenever you visit Japan.
5. We should thank the Japanese for their cultural operating system. It enriches everything it borrows from elsewhere, and then masters it.
6. This is why the world loves traveling to 🇯🇵