In this episode, I ask whether Japan’s stubborn “shokunin” spirit can truly succeed in overseas workplaces. Japan’s manufacturing excellence has long been admired, but when proud, uncompromising engineers are sent abroad, their attitudes sometimes clash with local staff and culture. In Japanese firms, hierarchy and the company brand once protected such behavior, but in local companies without that shield, rigid pride can quickly become a liability. I share my own experiences in Thailand, highlight both negative and positive cases, and explain three keys—language, flexibility, and humility—that can transform a craftsman into a respected global professional.