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http://sasugacommunications.com/

Sasuga Communications, 6F Nishi-Shinjuku Mizuma Building, 3-3-13 Nishi-Shinjuku, Koto-ku (2026)

06/04/2026

Wahooooooo! Today, I’m celebrating 10 years since I wrote 英語の仕事術 (Eigo no Shigoto-jutsu), published by Shogakukan 🎉

I know many of you have the physical book or Kindle and have told me how practical it is for workplace communication, regardless of language.

From April 14 (assuming all goes to plan!), I’ll be sharing a short series focusing on each of the five chapters:

1️⃣ Listening & Questioning
2️⃣ Presentation Skills
3️⃣ Conference Calls
4️⃣ Meeting Facilitation
5️⃣ Workplace Conflict

And here’s why it's a raaaaaaather ambitious project:
I plan to share this in all these ways…

🔥 YouTube videos (10-15 mins each)
🔥 The Sasuga! Podcast (Season 2 is finally coming!!!)
🔥 The Sasuga! blog — both English and Japanese
🔥 LinkedIn articles
🔥 The Sasuga! Tips For You twice-monthly bilingual newsletter (link in comments, if you'd like to join our readership)

So you can enjoy watching, listening, or reading in your preferred language.

I hope you’ll enjoy this and maybe participate by liking, commenting, and sharing with friends or colleagues for a positive ripple effect!

And I’d like to give a big shoutout to Tia Haygood for the fab photos in the book and at the 2016 Kinokuniya talk event and book signing 💕

Of these 5 communication topics, which is most important for you in business today?

30/12/2025

(English follows) 今朝、少し考えていたことがあります。
プレッシャーは、ときどき私たちの背中を押してくれることもあります。

でも、強すぎると、動けなくなってしまったり、大切なことを見落としてしまったりしますよね。

そこで気づいたのが、12月31日の Sasubukuro（さすが！福袋）の締め切りは、もしかしたら少しプレッシャーが強すぎたかもしれない…ということでした。

年末の仕事を終え、家族との時間を大切にしたり、ようやくひと息ついたりしている多くの女性のみなさんにとってそうかもしれないし、

そして実は私自身も、
イギリスで家族と過ごしている大切な時間の中で、
「メールや投稿、ちゃんと届いているかな…？」と、
つい気持ちがそちらに向いてしまうことがありました。

Sasubukuroは、焦りや負担ではなく、安心とサポートを感じてほしいものにしたい。

そう思い、販売期限を1月12日まで延長することにしました 🎉

これで、いま読んでくださっていても、
新年に落ち着いてからでも、
ご自身のペースで「のぞいてみる」ことができます 💕

「気になる方はこちらからご覧いただけます👇」
🔗 https://go.sasugacommunications.com/fukubukuro

（そして私も、こうしてジンジャーブレッドを楽しくデコレーションする時間を取れるようになりました 🤣）

This morning, I was reflecting on something…

A little pressure can motivate us—
but too much pressure can make us stuck or miss things.

And I realized the original December 31 Sasubukuro deadline was probably creating too much pressure…

…for many women who’ve been busy finishing year-end work, spending time with family, and finally getting some rest.

…and also for me as I noticed my mind drifting away from precious time with loved ones in the UK, wondering, “Are people seeing the messages? Is it reaching the right women?”

I genuinely want the Sasubukuro to feel supportive, not stressful.

So I’ve extended the deadline to January 12 🎉

That way, whether you’re reading this now or early in the New Year, you can have a little look, in your own time, and see whether it feels like a gift you’d like to give yourself 💕

(And I can devote more time to fun things like decorating gingerbread people 🤣)

26/12/2025

OMG, I’ve been having sooooooo much fun with the Sasuga! Elves and our super generous collaborators to bring the Sasuga! Fukubukuro (affectionately known as the Sasubukuro) to you during this festive season!

The full details are ready for you now at the link in the comments 💕

The Sasubukuro is available for 7 days only from December 25 to 31.

I’m sooooooo excited about this and I really hope you are too!!!

Feel free to share this with women in business you know who might enjoy a boost of professional skills, wellbeing, and joy in 2026! 🐎

24/12/2025

Happy Christmas!

I’m THRILLED to announce that the 2025 Sasubukuro is available from today!

For just 7 days.

So, if you have your eye on one of the limited items, you might want to get in there!

HERE’S EXACTLY WHAT’S INSIDE THE 2025 SASUBUKURO

✔ Women’s Presentation Workshop from Sasuga! Communications
Complimentary participation 🎉

✔ Success Strategy Session from Sasuga! Communications
20,000 yen gift coupon 🎉

✔ Fatigue to Focus: Awakening Your Ki Energy in 21 Days from Miyako Hazama
68,000 yen gift coupon (the first 10 women) 🎉

✔ My Story Workshop (日本語) from coichigo
10,000 yen gift coupon 🎉

✔ Holistic Health and Selfcare Workshop (日本語) from coichigo
Complimentary participation 🎉

✔ 1:1 Sound Therapy Session with Zensō from Nanako Aramaki
3,000 yen gift coupon 🎉

✔ Resilience Coaching—Energy Audit from Heather Dobbin
10,000 yen gift coupon 🎉

✔ Signature Instant Photo Assessment from Aya Jean Style Coach
Complimentary assessment (the first 1 woman) 🎉

✔ Private 1:1 Style Coaching from Aya Jean Style Coach
140,000 yen gift coupon (the first 3 women) 🎉

✔ Journey Through the Tastes of Japan from Kokoro Care
10% gift coupon 🎉

✔ Brand Refresh Mini-Session from TOPTIA Photography
33,000 yen gift coupon (the first 5 women) 🎉

✔ Elegant White Gold Tennis Bracelet with Amethyst Accents from Shanu Agarwal
30% gift coupon 🎉

✔ Your Perfect Disney Park Day Plan from Keri Iwata
Complimentary Plan 🎉

✔ Reflection & Intention Setting for 2026 from Helen Iwata and Heather Dobbin
Complimentary participation (with recording even if you can't join live) 🎉

Everything in the Sasubukuro is lovingly curated—thanks also to the super generous contributions from our collaborators—to support your professional skills, wellbeing, and joy as a woman in business in 2026 🐎

Sound good?

Get your Sasubukuro here: https://go.sasugacommunications.com/fukubukuro

24/12/2025

🎶 You’d better watch out,
You’d better not cry,
You’d better not pout,
I’m telling you why…
The SASABUKURO is coming to town! 🎶

🤔 WHAT IS THE SASUBUKURO???

You know those exciting fukubukuro (Happy Bags) filled with surprise items at New Year in Japan?

Well, this is the Sasuga! version—thoughtfully designed for busy women in business.

But it’s not a physical bag.

It’s an email filled with links to complimentary goodies and generous gift coupons from trusted women-led businesses in Japan 💕

Together, we bring you a lovingly curated collection of items to support your professional skills, wellbeing, and joy in 2026.

Highlights:

✨ WELLBEING FOR OVERWORKING WOMEN, including “Sound Therapy” with Nanako Aramaki and “Fatigue to Focus” with Miyako Hazama

✨ PERSONAL BRANDING & A “FIRST IMPRESSION ASSESSMENT” with TOPTIA Photography and Style Coach Aya Jean

✨ ARTISANAL FOOD & LUXURY JEWELRY with Kokoro Care and Shanu Agarwal

✨ SELF-REFLECTION & BURNOUT AWARENESS with coichigo and Heather Dobbin

✨ PRESENTATION & LEADERSHIP SKILLS plus the chance to win a private coaching session with me!

WHEN WILL THE SASUBUKURO BE AVAILABLE?

For 7 days only—from December 25 to 31.

HOW DO I LEARN MORE AND GET MY SASUBUKURO?

You’ll find all the details right here:
🔗 https://go.sasugacommunications.com/fukubukuro

I’m sooooooo excited about this and I really hope you are too!!!

09/07/2025

If you hesitate to speak up in meetings, this is for you...
When I first joined McKinsey Japan, I felt quite intimidated by my colleagues.

I hesitated to speak in meetings because I was worried about saying the wrong thing 😱

But I realized that I needed to speak to be evaluated and to make a contribution.

So I spoke up in a small meeting. It was fine. And my comfort zone grew 🌱

Then I spoke up in a bit bigger meeting. My comfort zone grew some more 🌳

Until one day, 10 years later, my boss was speaking at a town hall meeting of hundreds of people.

Without warning, he handed me the mic and said, “I’m sure Helen has something to say on this.”

And I took the mic and spoke clearly and confidently 🌳🌳🌳💪🎉

I realized in that moment that the Helen of 10 years before would have been in a COMPLETE PANIC if that happened.

So if you feel uncomfortable about speaking up in meetings, remember that simply doing it repeatedly in gradually bigger meetings will help you to build the confidence and skills.

Confidence comes from competence. And competence comes from practice.

💬 What do you find most difficult about speaking up in meetings?

This is Day 7 of my daily videos in July—thank you for being here 🙏

07/07/2025

“Who are you comparing yourself with?”
That’s what I asked a Japanese woman in a presentation skills training.
She’d just said her English wasn’t good enough.

Her: “John.”
Me: “John, who’s in this training and is American?”
Her: “Yes.”
Me: “John, who’s quite a bit older than you—and a native speaker of English?”
Her: “Yes.”

Me: “So considering how many hours in his life John has had the chance to speak English compared with you, do you think it’s a fair comparison?”

She hesitated and smiled, “Oh, maybe not.”

It’s completely normal to compare ourselves with others.

🧠 Our brains are wired to compare ourselves with others—it helped us survive in primitive times by scanning who was stronger, faster, safer to follow.

In fact, studies suggest as much as 10% of our thoughts involve comparison.

But here’s the thing:

👍 Comparison can be great if it inspires you about what’s possible.
👎 It’s not so great if it makes you feel bad.

Next time you’re comparing yourself with others, maybe ask yourself if it’s a fair and helpful comparison.

💬 Let me know in the comments if you have insights or questions.

I’ll respond to every comment.

This is Day 7 of my daily videos in July—thank you for being here 🙏

06/07/2025

Have you ever had a day where you were busy all day… but still felt like you didn’t really get much done?

That was me yesterday.

I thought I had PLENTY of time because I didn’t have any major appointments.

🌙 But by the end of the day, I thought, “Wow! Where did the time go? I still have so much that I wanted to do.”

Sound familiar?

Now, there’s a lot I could say about the brain science 🧠 behind this, but I want to keep these videos and posts short and sweet.

So, here’s the concept I want to share with you today:

💡 The [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE] Time Delusion.

Mine is the Helen Time Delusion.

⏰ In Helen Time, I can get sooooooo much more done than in Actual Time 🤣

The thing is that I happen to live in Actual Time right now.

So when I recognize that Helen Time is delusional...
and that I’m genuinely doing my best in Actual Time, I feel better.

💬 Do you ever give yourself a hard time for “not doing enough”?

Let me know in the comments—I’ll make Actual Time to reply 😊

This is Day 6 of posting a video every day in July. Thanks for being here 💕

05/07/2025

🤔 When you’ve started a new project or a habit, what keeps you going when the initial enthusiasm of the first few days wears off?

I’m on Day 5 of posting a video on social media every day in July and, honestly, yesterday I was saying to myself,

“Why did I think this was a good idea?”

“Is this really helpful for people?”

“How am I going to keep up the energy and enthusiasm to post something useful every day?”

But then my daughter told me that one of her friends was enjoying the videos.

And that gave me a boost 🔥

After that, I received a lovely DM from an old friend in the States who’d seen the videos on Instagram.

This made me think that maybe external recognition was a strong motivator for me. Or maybe it’s about whether what I’m doing is making a difference?

Either way, I deeply appreciate every like, comment, and share ❤️

So here’s my question for you today:

💬 What helps you to keep going when the going gets tough?

Let me know in the comments and I’ll respond to every comment 🖋️ 💕

04/07/2025

🤔 Are you in a “yes” or a “no” stage in your career?

Sometimes people ask me for advice for different career stages.

One thing I’ve learned is that it’s great to say yes as much as possible early in your career. That gives you the opportunity to experience different things and discover what you enjoy and are good at 😁

But there comes a point when it’s important to start saying no. Otherwise, it’s easy to get into burnout because you simply can’t do everything 😥

I had that experience in my corporate career...

After I’d been taken from my workplace to hospital in an ambulance due to overwork (which was because of me constantly saying yes and not because of my employer), in my next performance review I remember a colleague wrote, “Helen finally said no.”

💬 How do you decide when to say yes or no?

This is Day 4 of posting every day in July. Yay, I got past 三日坊主!

03/07/2025

🤔 3/31 Do you need clarity to get started?

Do you sometimes feel stuck because you’re not clear on how to do something? Or you’re not clear on how a project is going to turn out? Or you’re not clear on how to make the most of the next phase of your life?

As human beings, our brains are wired for safety and predictability. So it’s natural that we feel stuck or uneasy if we don’t have clarity.

A fabulous someone asked me if I have any main theme or anything goes for these daily videos that I’m creating this July.

Honestly, I don’t have clarity on that.

Sometimes, it’s by taking action that we start to gain clarity.

I’m hoping that through these daily videos I can get more clarity on what topics are interesting for you, how I can help, and how I can do that more effectively.

What would you like to get more clarity on?

This is Day 3 of posting every day in July.

Let me know in the comments if it’s something I might be able to offer some thoughts on. I’d be happy to talk about it in another video 💕

02/07/2025

🤔 2/31 Do you ever get into overthinking what you want to say?

It’s not just you. Overthinking is normal for many of us as human beings.

We naturally want to give a good impression and we don’t want to waste people’s time.

But overthinking can sometimes make us ramble and sound like we lack confidence.

Or it can even stop us from speaking up at all!

🤔 Can you relate?

To make it easier to speak more spontaneously and confidently:

1️⃣ Keep it simple

2️⃣ Practice

How do you deal with overthinking?

🔥 This is Day 2 of posting every day in July.

Thanks for watching/reading and let me know in the comments if you have questions or topics you want me to cover.

Sasuga Communications

06/04/2026

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