What Nonprofits Can Learn from Kodawari

Zac Heisey
Jul 27, 2017 · 3 min read

One of my favorite things about Japan (aside from their amazing convenience stores) is the cultural tradition of Kodawari (こだわり, 拘り).

According to JLearn.net, Kodawari is defined as:

1. obsession, fixation, hangup, determination, fastidiousness, pickiness about (trait, style, etc.)

2. complaining, criticizing

By this definition, Kodawari could be interpreted both positively and negatively, depending on the situation. I certainly experienced the good and the bad of Kodawari during my time in Japan. More often than not, however, I saw positive and inspirational manifestations of the intense attention to detail and pursuit of perfection that Kodawari represents.

Focusing on the positive aspects of Kodawari, there are several takeaway for nonprofits that can help improve their organizations and serve their constituents.

What Can Nonprofits Learn from Kodawari?

Strive to Be the Best at What You Do

In Japan, Kodawari is especially prevalent in the workplace, no matter the profession. The clerk at 7/11, the hairstylist, the physician, the railway station attendant, the salaryman — they all display a high degree of pride and attention to detail when carrying out the responsibilities of their job. It’s motivating to see people who are so dedicated to their craft.

Within your organization, be the best at whatever it is you do. Executive director, board member, intern, or volunteer — if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing at the highest level you can manage.

“Whatever you are, be a good one” — Abraham Lincoln

Respect the Work of Others

The pursuit of perfection across all professions and levels of Japanese society leads to greater respect for the contribution that each citizen makes. Regardless of salary or social status, there is a sense of respect for the attention to detail among Japan’s workforce.

Respect for the contributions of all involved is a driving force behind successful nonprofits. Whether it’s time from a volunteer, donations from a local business, or expertise from an outside consultant, each of these helps to move a nonprofit forward — and should be treated with value and respect.

Attitude Really is Everything

An expat friend of mine frequented a convenience store in his neighborhood just so he could be greeted happily by the enthusiastic clerk who worked there. The passion and energy of the store employee were contagious, and led my friend to choose this particular convenience store over the dozens of others in the area.

Enthusiasm can go a long way, both inside and outside of your nonprofit. Potential donors can sense when a nonprofit employee is truly passionate about their organization’s cause, and when they’re just going through the motions of the job. Likewise, eagerness and positivity from a single employee can spread throughout a nonprofit staff, as can apathy and indifference.

Kodawari plays an important role in Japanese society, and the positive aspects can be extremely beneficial for nonprofit organizations who are striving to improve.


Originally published at www.sageweb.co, a web consulting agency dedicated to helping nonprofits do more online.

Zac Heisey

Written by

Front-End Web Developer & Instructor · Passionate about #vanillaJavaScript, #nonprofits, #teaching, #travel & #JAMstack✌️

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