Our Japanese Business Diary #3: How Learning a New Language Makes You More Open-Minded

Hayate Yoshizawa • 12/10/2025 • 10 min read

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So now that our Japanese business is finally solid, something unexpected started happening:

People from all over the world started to reach out.

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Americans, French, Italians, Germans… Sometimes all in the same week. Well, sometimes all in the same day. And that’s when I had the thought that every busy entrepreneur hates:

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“…I think I need to learn another language.”

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And out of all the possible options, I chose French. Why French? Well… several reasons:

1. My business partner is French, and I felt vaguely guilty watching her fight kanji alone like she was in a shōnen training arc.
   
2. Half of her client leads are French.
   
3. France is a giant otaku superpower, right behind Japan in anime/manga consumption.
   
   

If your business touches Japanese entertainment in any way, you simply cannot ignore France. It’s basically Japan’s international fandom little sibling : louder, dramatic, and very passionate.

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So I thought: okay. Time to upgrade my language settings.
Japanese: ✓
English: ✓
French: loading… 21% (on a good day)

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And here’s the thing... if you’re a business owner who’s already bilingual, you’re probably thinking:

“Why would I need a third language? Isn’t English + my native language enough??”

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Allow me to answer as someone currently battling French conjugation like it’s Elden Ring: learning a new language improves your life in more ways than you expect.

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Let me explain.

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1. You don’t just learn vocabulary : you learn how people think

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The first time I heard French people say something is “pas mal” (“not bad”), I thought: “Oh, so it’s average.” Well, non. It actually means: “This is great. I like it. Bravo.”

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The cultural gymnastics you go through when learning a language makes your brain do new tricks. You stop assuming things. You start actually asking “Hmm, but what do you really mean?” You become flexible, less reactive, more understanding.

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Basically, learning another language is like buying a DLC for your personality.

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2. It makes you more patient (mostly because you’re constantly confused)

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Nothing humbles you faster than learning a new language as an adult.

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Sometimes, I’m asking my business partner to start the meeting in French, trying to speak slowly. I don’t know if she just simply ignores the last part but she starts spilling rapid-fire French that makes her sound like French Eminem.

And then I’m like: “Oui.” (I did not understand anything but let’s hope for the best.)

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This state of constant confusion forces you to develop patience and humor. You learn to laugh at your mistakes, your accent, and the fact that you accidentally told someone “I’m delicious” instead of “I’m happy.”

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That's growth!

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3. You stop judging cultures too fast

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Here’s a secret: when you learn a language, you stop thinking “this culture is weird” and start thinking: “Ohhh, that’s why they do that.”

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The puzzle pieces connect. The stereotypes fall apart, and your tolerance grows because suddenly, everything has context. And as someone running a bi-continental business, trust me: understanding context is pure gold.

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4. It changes how you communicate… even in your native language

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When you’re juggling Japanese, English, and French, your brain starts auto-optimizing.

You start speaking:

• clearer
  
• slower
  
• more intentionally
  

Because you no longer assume the person in front of you shares your cultural shorthand. Learning a language isn’t just a skill : it’s communication training disguised as homework.

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5. It’s good for business… but also for the soul

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Being able to switch languages and speak directly to someone in their mother tongue is magical. You see people opening up more. They trust you more. They feel seen.

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That alone makes the language grind worth it.

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And also… I want to understand French memes without suffering.

That’s an important business objective too.

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Conclusion

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I completely get it : as a business owner, finding time to learn a new language is… optimistic. Sometimes even impossible.

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That’s exactly why we exist.

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If you need to:

• connect with Japanese or European audiences
  
• adapt your communication
  
• build trust across cultures
  
  

…we can help you bridge everything seamlessly (and save you from learning 7 languages at once).

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Don’t hesitate to reach out : we’re here to help you speak to the world, even when you’re too busy to study.

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