Can you tell that this random posting of photos (along with even more random thoughts) is the result of laziness? I didn’t think so. I had some more decent photos and didn’t want to jam them all into one post, so here goes.

Once again Amy was the featured speaker at an event at Waseda University. The first time she spoke to a class of MBA students about marketing automation and critiqued their case studies that were presented to the class on that same subject. This time she spoke to a broader range of students, educators, and business people about Marketo, and how marketing and sales can work together to drive revenue. After the very nice reception she was off again to yet another meeting of business professionals. She is very busy.

And speaking of Software as a Service (well, it was implied, so this segue kind of works), here are a few thoughts on one of the things that is done properly here; customer service.

The level of service is amazing to behold the moment you set foot in the city, but you tend to get used to it and even take it for granted. I mention this only because I was reminded today of just how good service tends to be here overall. The occasion was getting my drains cleaned. No, that’s not a euphemism for anything other than making sure the drains are in good working order and not clogged up.

About a week ago I was politely corralled by the building receptionist and told that everyone was getting their drains inspected, and she asked if I had any preference for a date and time. I picked a date at 1:30, and assumed that my ‘waiting window’ would start then and last however long. At 1:29 the door bell rang. When I opened it, a young man in overalls stood there holding a clipboard and introduced himself in Japanese with a respectful bow.

He came in, took off his shoes, put on slippers, and proceeded to walk into the apartment holding a blue plastic tarp all rolled up. He set the beginning piece on the floor, stepped on it, and proceeded to unroll it beneath his feet as he walked in the kitchen, making a few neat right angle turns (he’d done it a few times before). He went to three different rooms and inspected and ‘rooted’ three or four drains all in the space of fifteen minutes. His feet never touched the floor the entire time. When he was finished I signed his clipboard. He thanked me, bowed again, and was off to his next appointment, undoubtedly on time.

It’s a silly thing I know, and maybe our apartment has super-efficient service overall (I think they do), but once again there is a level of detail and customer service that is very impressive and unmatched in my experience.

Some photos to follow…I’m writing this on Halloween Eve, and may not publish it for a couple of days just in case I get some scaaaaaary (say that in your best Count Floyd voice) photos of devils and goblins on Halloween night. Halloween is getting very big here for both kids and adults.

Sadly, the day after Halloween as I edit this post at a neighborhood Starbucks, they are piping in almost all Christmas music. A bit early for me, but I’m a Scrooge.