'I Learnt Perfectionism From The Japanese'

Vijay Mansukhani calls Japan his first love, thanks to many visits to the country which helped him go local and soak in its culture. He also tells us about his love for cruises and some of his most memorable experiences

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Before starting Onida, I was in the Merchant Navy and got the opportunity to travel across the world. Once I started Onida, I would travel to Japan once every two or three months as our financing was from there. I have been fortunate - Japan has taught me a lot over the years. The Japanese are perfectionists. Back in those days, their expertise in technology was unparalleled and it taught me a lot about my own business. A lot about the Japanese culture intrigued me. For instance, during a normal nine to five business day, only 40% of business decisions would be taken. Almost 60% of business deals would be cracked between 5pm and midnight, and believe it or not, during the communal baths. Japan has a culture of common baths, and most of my business deals were done during those baths. It was a bit of a culture shock for my business partner but being a boarding school boy, I did not have any problem. While most people like to go to Japan during the cherry blossom season, I believe it is a little overrated. It is beautiful, of course, but everything