Kaizen

This scroll features 改善 (Kaizen) printed on kozo paper with a Zen circle known as "Enso" in Japanese in the background. This combination reinforces the idea of a continuous cycle of Kaizen.

Kaizen can be defined as betterment, improvement, to make better, or to improve - specifically incremental and continuous improvement.

The concept of Kaizen became very important in post-war Japan when Edwards Deming came to Japan to teach concepts of incremental and continuous improvement (for which the big 3 auto-makers did not want to hear about at the time - even kicking Deming out of their offices). The Japanese workforce absorbed this concept at a time with their culture was in flux and primed for change.

This kaizen term is closely associated with the western title "Total Quality Management". Perhaps dear to my heart since I spent years studying this at university before I moved to China where TQM did not seem to exist. Slowly, this concept has entered China as well (I've actually given lectures on the subject in Beijing).

If you are trying to improve processes at your business or need to remind yourself of your continuous TQM goals, this would be a great wall scroll to hang behind your desk, or in your workplace.

See my Kaizen Custom Japanese Kanji Wall Scrolls page for more custom Japanese Kanji calligraphy options.

My Little Experiment

A new batch of printed calligraphy scrolls, hanging in the studio, awaiting proper photography.

I felt like messing around with doing some giclée print calligraphy with various backgrounds. I came up with some layouts that I really like, and passed them around with my Chinese and Japanese friends who gave them rave reviews.

After giclée printing them on Japanese-made kozo paper, I sent the raw artwork off to Beijing to my workshop where they were built into wall scrolls by hand.

If you want a custom print scroll with your design, or other calligraphy, just contact me.