Since 2012, I've had the opportunity to visit Japan six times, each trip a deep learning experience–rich with lessons about Lean, Kaizen, leadership, culture, and continuous improvement.
This June, I'm heading back for my seventh visit–and what makes this one especially exciting is that it will be my fifth trip focused on Lean in healthcare… and the first that I've helped design from the ground up.
It's my first trip in this format, but I was invited to partner up with two amazing individuals who have a great deal of experience in organizing and facilitating such tours — Dave Fitzpatrick, a Canadian who has lived and worked in Japan for a long time, and Reiko Kano, who I know as a translator on my earliest trips — and she's highly experienced with Lean and TPS implementations in healthcare in both the U.S. and Japan. They are both co-founders of Zenkai Improvement Partners
And I want to personally invite you to consider joining us. If not from June 23 to 29, in a later trip. We're also planning on the week of October 26, 2025 along with trips in April and October of 2026.
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Why This Trip — and Why Now?
From my first visit, I've been both humbled and energized by the chance to learn from Japanese hospitals, manufacturers, and leaders who don't just practice TPS–they live it. And while you don't need to visit Japan to learn Lean, I've found there's a kind of depth and clarity that only comes from “going and seeing” firsthand.
This upcoming experience is something new and different. It's not a generic tour. It's not a string of site visits with little time to reflect. And it's not designed for passive observation.
We're calling it a Lean Healthcare Accelerator Tour–and that's exactly what we mean.
This is a carefully curated, immersive week that will:
- Bring a small group of senior healthcare leaders (fewer than 10) together to learn, challenge, and reflect.
- Offer direct engagement with Lean-thinking hospitals, healthcare innovators, and even leaders from Toyota and beyond.
- Be supported by two trusted bilingual partners in Japan with deep experience organizing study trips and translating not just language, but Lean thinking.
- Provide facilitated learning and discussions–led by me–to help connect the dots between what you're seeing and what it could mean for your own organization.
- Include cultural immersion, including dinners that provide additional opportunities for mutual learning and discussion.
What You'll See and Experience
From June 23-28, our group will visit:
- Three top Japanese hospitals that are deeply practicing Lean and Kaizen thinking–not just tools, but mindset and culture.
- The founders of the “Doctors for Tomorrow” initiative, who are using TPS to eliminate medical mistakes.
- A TPS-style improvement simulation to experience firsthand how scientific thinking is taught and developed.
- A TQM seminar from a lifelong Toyota quality leader–highlighting the role of SDCA alongside PDCA.
- A medical device manufacturer and a high-performing factory, both sharing what Lean leadership looks like in action.
We'll travel across Japan, starting and ending in Tokyo, and covering ground between Nagoya and other key cities.
Why It's an “Accelerator”
What makes this different from a traditional “study tour”?
It's designed not just for touring and learning–but for accelerated insight and action. That's why we're:
- Keeping the group intentionally small for deeper conversation and connections
- Building in time for daily debriefs and facilitated reflection
- Making this a shared experience, not a checklist of visits
- Ensuring everything–from translation to travel–is seamlessly coordinated so you can focus on learning
A Unique Opportunity–And the First of Many
Yes, the timing is soon. But sometimes the most valuable opportunities come with short notice.
If June isn't the right fit, I hope you'll consider joining a future trip. This is just the beginning–we plan to offer additional Lean Healthcare Accelerator Tours with the same level of intention, intimacy, and impact.
But if you're in a position to join us this June, I truly believe it will be an unforgettable, transformative experience–for you and your organization.
Visit www.japanleantrip.com for more details or reach out directly to me if you want to explore whether this trip is the right fit.
I hope you'll consider being part of it.
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Let’s work together to build a culture of continuous improvement and psychological safety. If you're a leader looking to create lasting change—not just projects—I help organizations:
- Engage people at all levels in sustainable improvement
- Shift from fear of mistakes to learning from them
- Apply Lean thinking in practical, people-centered ways
Interested in coaching or a keynote talk? Let’s start a conversation.
