God lives in Japan
The coolest watch in the world is the G-Shock GA-700 which is strapped on my wrist. Some say it is “Eminem’s watch”. Well, it’s an original manufactured by Casio Computer Tokyo. The indestructible Land Cruiser Prado is built at the Tahara plant in Japan as well. The mighty Mitsubishi Pajero Sport was crafted in Japan too.
There is a thin thread of religion which binds Nepal and Japan; Buddhism. Thousands of years have passed and yet the spirit of Buddha lives on. When in Kathmandu, spin the prayer wheels atop the Swoyambhunath Stupa and feel your soul get rejuvenated.
Just-in-time principles or lean methodologies were invented in the Land of the Rising Sun too. Monozukuri is the Japanese craft of making things — where the goal isn't to wow you on day one but to still work flawlessly in year twenty.
Casio and Toyota both prioritize ruggedness, function over flash, and serving the user who actually needs the tool to work. My dad visited Japan many years ago, and he saw a country obsessed with working hard.
The Tahara plant is a textbook example of the Toyota Production System in action — jidoka (automation with a human touch), kaizen (continuous improvement), and just-in-time logistics. The plant is also notable for its environmental focus: Toyota has been pushing it toward carbon neutrality, with significant solar installations and a hydrogen-related infrastructure pilot. It was one of the first Toyota plants to adopt large-scale renewable energy.
There's also a Lexus-specific area within Tahara where the highest-trim vehicles get extra inspection and hand-finishing by takumi — master craftspeople who've typically spent 25+ years in the trade. The takumi program is most associated with the Lexus LFA supercar (built at Motomachi, not Tahara), but the same philosophy of master-craftsperson final inspection extends to flagship Lexus production at Tahara.
Sometimes I feel that Tokyo is calling me, and that my soul craves the seafood. Let’s see when that day comes. Until then - God lives in Japan …