Doing business in Inaka

Several weeks before I made friends with one local gentleman, whom I explained about our ideas of fixing the house. Besides helping me to understand the village better, as well as receive more background about my neighbours, and the previous owner's history, it was very useful in finding craftsmen for the job at hand.

Thanks to his great effort, I was introduced to a local thatcher who is going to make us a new roof, and this weekend I was being introduced to the village's carpenter.

Business in the countryside is quite different than in the city. You first sit down near the irori. Then you drink tea/cofee and maybe eat a mikan orange or sweet. You are introduced to each other, including school history, and great achievements, plans for the future, and keep chatting about various things. Finally the issue at hand is tackled, and its decided what needs to be done. In a simple case its decided, and agreed straight away.

Because everyone knows everyone in the village, trust is the most important thing to maintain. No trades men can cheat any villager, otherwise everyone will know and stop doing business. Therefore locally better price can be obtained, than using outside companies. In fact, local people highly distrust outsiders who offer service, particularly if its competing with local service.

For Inaka Home, we must be careful to also respect this trust and honour based system. We have received courtesy and trust already, so we must show ourselves worthy of it. Of course, at the same time we must be wary, that we do not have a conflict with our mission.