Uri Hasson, Ph.D. – Princeton University. @Photo by Denise Applewhite

If you have had such experiences, discoveries by a team of Princeton researchers, lead by neuroscientist Uri Hasson, about how we communicate and connect with our listeners may come to your rescue!

Verbal communication is a joint activity between speakers and listeners—but despite much research over the years, studies of human communication was primarily done by analyzing individual brains.

Speaker-Listener Coupling. @Photo by Uri Hasson.

However, in a pioneering study at Princeton University*, researchers for the first time used MRI brain scans to analyze communication between a speaker telling a story and a group of  listeners.

They found that not only were parts of the listeners’ brains activated by listening to the story— the same parts of the brain of  listeners and storyteller lit up!  In other words: stories literally synchronize our brains.

Another interesting finding was that with a high level of understanding and engagement, some regions of listeners’ brains lit up before the corresponding activity in the speaker’s brain—as if they were anticipating the next part of the story. With a low level of understanding and little active engagement, there was no such brain activity.

Mark Lanier, Trial Lawyer
Won $253M Vioxx Merck Judgement

A powerful example of the potential impact of stories in business is Mark Lanier—a leading U.S. trial lawyer known for using stories when presenting his cases.  Helped by his highly effective storytelling approach, he won a landmark $253 million judgement against one of the top firms in the pharmaceutical industry.

So in order to truly connect with your audience, tell a story that will present your message in a compelling way—and which your audience will not forget.

The practical take-away of the Princeton research is—without actively engaging your listeners, you have no successful communication.

* The Princeton research results were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S. (2010):  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2922522/

This post first appeared in Today’s Changing Times, newsletter of EMC Quest K.K. on April 21, 2014. 

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Updated May 2, 2014. Looking for a new, good red wine?  Then try Carménère from Chile  – if you are not familiar with it already.  For more than a century the Carmenere grape was a well-kept ‘secret’ of the Chilean wine industry.  In fact, it was believed to be a special Chilean version of the Merlot grape.  However, that all changed in 1994—for reasons explained below—and Chilean Carménère wine has since become increasingly popular worldwide to the extent that it is now promoted as the country’s signature red wine.

Taste. Carménère is a medium body wine with an intriguingly interesting and more complex taste than many red wines, which I like.  In the taste of a good, mature Carménère you can find aromas of cherries, strawberries, mulberries and raspberries. Some Carménère has been matured in French or American oak barrels adding further dimensions to its taste.

Chilean Vineyards

If you are looking for inspiration to wet your appetite for Carménère and Chilean wines—take a look at the highly enjoyable 5-minute video below—with its stunning scenery, beautiful vineyards and compelling testimony to Chile’s great wines!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Chile’s Signature Wine. Carménère wine has in the last two decades come to symbolize Chile in the same way as Malbec is associated with Argentina, Shiraz with Australia and Zinfandel with California.

You may think of Cabernet Sauvignon as Chile’s trade mark red wine – and among Chilean red wines Cabernet is still produced and exported in the largest quantities.  However, Carménère may be regarded as more ‘genuinely’ Chilean – partly because Chile is the only country in the world where Carménère wine is produced as a single varietal – i.e. 100% produced from the Carménère grape.  In the few other parts of the world where Carménère vines are grown – the Carménère grape is usually mixed with other grapes – especially Cabernet Sauvignon – to produce various blended wines.

Chile Wine Regions

Carménère Regions. The main Carménère region in Chile is Maule Valley in the central part of the country.  The valleys of Central Chile are particularly well suited for growing this grape as it needs more heat to ripen than other Bordeaux varieties.  These valleys are surrounded by the Andes mountains, cooled by the Pacific winds, and has many warm, sunny days – with up to 40 degrees night-time drops in temperatures.  These are perfect conditions for bringing out the full rich flavour of the Carménère grapes as they are forced to ripen slowly.  For more information about Chilean wine and wine regions, an excellent Web site is ‘Wines of Chile’:http://www.winesofchile.org/the-wines/

Chile Central Valley

Carménère’s ‘Re-discovery’. The Carménère grape is one of 6 grapes originating from the Bordeaux region in France.  However, in the 1870s and 80s there was a severe outbreak of phylloxera – a small insect that attacks the roots of grapevines – virtually wiping out the Carménère grape in France and elsewhere in Europe. Luckily for Chile – and wine lovers! – the Carménère grape had already been planted in Chile several years before the phylloxera outbreak.  But – and here is the catch: The Carménère grapevines planted were by the local growers believed to be Merlot…..

Carmenere Grapes

So for more than a century the Carménère grape lived ‘secretly’ in the Chilean vineyards  – until one day in 1994,  three French grapevine experts discovered that many of the ‘Merlot vineyards’ were in fact Carménère!  This was later also confirmed by DNA tests – so overnight Chile ‘suddenly’ had huge areas of Carménère vineyards….

Carménère Wine & Wineries. There are now more than 100 wineries in Chile producing in excess of   400 different Carménère and Carménère-blended wines.  So you have a few to choose from…

JustCarménère.com. This is to my knowledge one of the best Web sites for information about Carménère with ‘everything‘ from the origin of this wine, its characteristics and main regions—to which food goes best with this wine. A visit to the site is recommended: http://www.justCarménère.com/my-favourite-Carménère.html

What food for Carménère? Here are 6 sample recommendations from ‘JustCarménère.com’ as to good food combinations for Carménère – starting with the more exotic examples first….:

• • BBQ chorizo with avocado and red pepper-based garnish.
  • Argentinian pesceto beef with dried fig sauce.
  • Grilled Kobe beef with onion-based sauce.
  • Wild turkey with seasoned grilled vegetables.
  • Roasted duck with cranberry sauce.
  • Grilled lamb with mushroom and lightly peppered sauce.

The post Wine: Carmenère – ‘The Bordeaux of Chile’ first appeared on Trond Varlid.

Cape of the Good Hope. Beautiful scenery. Great music. Excellent wines. Spectacular waves.  This is South Africa…

South African Scenery

Have a look at the YouTube video clip below to see what I mean.  This magnificent video is made by Tina Cook, a friend in South Africa – in which she has captured huge waves rolling in from the Indian Ocean.

The video is filmed almost on the door steps of her house – right on the shores of the Indian Ocean on the East Coast of South Africa. What a great setting and scenery!  The images and video are aptly accompanied by great music from the band Mango Groove’s latest album.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Mango Groove Band

Never heard of Mango Groove?  Maybe you have.  Admittedly, though,  I had not – until receiving Tina’s video clip.  However, it turns out that they are one of South Africa’s leading bands – having produced many hit songs over the years.  Their charismatic lead singer is Claire Johnston whose great voice and flair have no doubt helped made the band a household name in their home country – as well as a reputation in other corners of the world. I was quickly hooked by their catching, swinging and beautiful music!

Claire Johnston

Music.Their music may be classified as ‘Afropop’ although not easily ‘pigeon holed’ into any particular music genre.  It is a unique blend of many influences – including South African marabi, kwela and pop. And even some Glenn Miller-inspired influences – such as in ‘Dance Sum more’, one of their great hit songs.  They have released 11 albums so far and you can download their music and videos from iTunes and other MP3 sites.

In addition to ‘Dance Sum More’, other hits include ‘Special Star’, ‘Hometalk’, and ‘Nice to See You’.

Here is a rather entertaining promotion clip for their catching hit song ‘Dance Sum More’ – take a look:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Official Web Site. http://www.mangogroove.co.za/

Mango Groove Career Highlights

• Direct satellite link-up to the Freddy Mercury tribute concert in London in 1992 – with an estimated audience of a billion people.
• Performed for more than 200,000 people at the ‘SOS Racism’ concert in Paris, 1992.
• Mango Groove’s music was used for the ABC world-wide broadcast of Nelson Mandela’s release.
• Received 3 encores at the famed Montreux Jazz Festival.
• Once appeared on the Japanese music show ‘Funky Tomato’.

The post South Africa: Mango Groove Music & Blue Ocean.. first appeared on Trond Varlid.

And this soprano is...

World’s Top Soprano – Live in Tokyo!

Anna Netrebko...

Not an opera fan yet?  In that case, you may want to check out this story and the YouTube Links below – to make sure you are not missing out on something truly attractive.  This highly talented and good looking soprano may just be the one who could turn you into an opera lover overnight…..

For those of you who are already opera fans, the live September 2010 performances by Anna Netrebko in Tokyo may be THE opera event of the year in Japan. Anna Netrebko is visiting Japan as part of a tour by one of the world’s leading opera houses – The Royal Opera House (ROH), Covent Garden, London.  This will be the ROH’s first tour of Japan in 10 years – itself a cause for celebration and an additional attraction of this unique opportunity.

The chorus and orchestra of ROH will be conducted by one of the leading contemporary  ‘maestros’ on the international stage – Antonio Pappano – who despite his name is British,  albeit with Italian roots. Anna Netrebko will be starring in the title role of Massenet’s opera ‘Manon’ at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Hall on September 11, 14, 17, 20 .  All the performances are sold out…. except a few tickets at the highest price bracket (USD550).    Take a look at the YouTube link below for a sampler of Netrebko’s great voice and photogenic looks.  Here she performs the famous and beautiful aria ‘Rusalka’s Song to the Moon’ – from Dvorak’s opera ‘Rusalka’.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Brief Bio: Born in Krasnodar, Russia, on September 18, 1971 there is a touch of a ‘Cinderella’ story to Netrebko’s opera career.  As a music student in St. Petersburg, she was apparently scrubbing the floors at the famed Mariinsky Theatre to help pay her studies,  before successfully auditioning for Valery Gergiev – then principal conductor of the Mariinsky Opera and now a world star himself.  Gergiev became an early and key mentor, helping to guide and promote her to becoming the great opera singer she now is.  Her first debut performance was in St.Petersburg in 1993. Since debuting at New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 2002, Netrebko has become one of opera’s biggest attractions and the unofficial ‘Queen of Opera’. There is no shortage of superlatives used about her and she has collected an impressive range of accolades over the years.

Official Web Site: http://www.annanetrebko.com/ 6 ‘Must Know’ Facts about Anna Netrebko:

• 1st opera singer to make the TIME 100 list of world’s most influential people
• ‘Musician of the Year 2008 ’ by Musical America.
• ‘Female Artist of the Year 2008’ in the UK.
• 2004: Her first DVD – ‘The Woman, The Voice’ – outsold Britney Spears and Beyonces Knowles (!)
• ‘Best Music DVD of the Year 2008’, for Mozart’s ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’.
• ‘Opera Recording of the Year 2009’, for Puccini’s ‘La Boheme’ (with tenor Rolando Villazon).

Most Enthusiastic Fan: Fans of Anna Netrebko are numerous around the globe but THE ultimate fan – anywhere in the world – must be Carlos from Barcelona, Spain!

Carlos & Anna Netrebko

Carlos has created a Web site totally dedicated to this star soprano, with an enormous wealth of information about her: http://anna-netrebko.blogspot.com/.  As an illustration of his passion and dedication, on this site you will find a complete list of all her performances back to her first opening concert in St.Petersburg in 1993!  The list is more than 50 pages long….. And that is just the beginning.  You will find a complete list of all awards and prizes she has received, all opera houses, concert halls and other venues where she has performed.  Even an attempt to list all the hotels and restaurants she has visited…. Although for the latter, he has clearly given up – at least for now… –  as the list seems far too short!

The post Anna Netrebko: ‘La Dolce Diva’ first appeared on Trond Varlid.

Tokyo: Wants to keep its skies blue and clear ….

Effective April 1, 2010, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has introduced an emission trading scheme for businesses as part of its plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020, compared to 2000 levels. The scheme may also provide business opportunities for foreign companies with technology products and services that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Tokyo’s pioneering initiative is claimed to be the world’s first urban ‘cap-and-trade’ scheme to cover office buildings in its emission reduction targets. The city accounts for about 5% of Japan’s total carbon emissions – lower than its population would indicate, due to fewer factories in the metropolitan capital area.

Trading scheme will include office buildings

By introducing the scheme, Tokyo has jumped ahead of Japan’s national government which is also contemplating a mandatory national ‘cap-and-trade’ program but has yet to implement it. Hopefully, Tokyo’s initiative will help induce the national government into action and provide a benchmark design for a nationwide program.

The new mandatory emission regulations cover about 1,400 entities which are major CO2 emitters and together account for about 20% of all emissions in Metropolitan Tokyo. Under the scheme these are required to reduce their emissions by 6% or 8% – depending on the type of entity – for the fiscal 2010-2014 period from their base-year levels. For the second phase, which covers fiscal 2015-2019, the same entities are required to cut their emissions by 17% compared to the base levels.

Renewable energy certificates can be used to meet targets

To achieve the set targets business can either make their own efforts and investments for improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions – or they can purchase emission credits from other entitites that have exceeded their carbon dioxide targets and/or buy renewable energy certificates issued by power generators. However, credits purchased outside Tokyo cannot be more than one third of the required cuts.

Actual trading under the new system is to begin in fiscal 2011 after reduction efforts in fiscal 2010 have been assessed. Entities that fail to meet their reduction targets will be ordered to cut their emissions by 1.3 times the amount they failed to cut and may face fines up to JPY500,000. In addition, the names of such companies will also be made public as a further ‘incentive’ for them to comply with the new rules.

One company, Mitsubishi Estate Co., has already made a head start by acquiring all electricity for its Shin Marunouchi Building from renewable energy sources – including a wind power station in Aomori. Outside Tokyo, Saitama Prefecture – among others – is now also reported to be considering a similar program.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government HQ

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

For more details and related information about the above scheme here are 4 useful Web links ( all in English):

Tokyo Metropolitan Government. A very good summary of the scheme in slide format.

Japan Times article on this topic. More descriptive than the TMG summary and also refers to relevant related information.

Foreign Press Center Japan brief summary article; second part of 2-part article on TMG Eco projects.

Tokyo Climate Change Strategy . A 27-page pdf document in English by TMG describing in some detail Tokyo’s 10-year climate change program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020, from which the ‘cap-and-trade’ program derives.

Tokyo: As far as the eye can see….

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Curious about classical music but not yet been to a live concert?  Or you’re  already a keen classical music fan but looking for something new?  Either way, I recommend you join a live Tokyo Sinfonia concert – for a fresh and unique experience. And a perfect introduction to classical music for ‘newcomers’.

Here are my 5 reasons why.

Great Sound. One immediately striking feature of the Tokyo Sinfonia is that the orchestra has string instruments only. This makes for a very pure and warm sound – and brings out the ‘colours’ of dense harmonies  particularly well.  It also provides a fresh and different sound perspective on many classical works.

Although certain types of string ensembles are common – most notably the string quartet – a whole orchestra made up of strings only is rather uncommon these days.

So if you have not yet experienced the sound of a full string orchestra you may be up for a surprise…

Unique & Innovative Repertoire. The repertoire of the Tokyo Sinfonia includes many world premieres by string orchestra of works originally composed for other ensembles or solo instruments – such as string quartets or piano sonatas.   This is very much thanks to the great arranging talents of the Tokyo Sinfonia conductor, Robert Ryker.

As an example, the June 2010 Symphony for Strings Champagne Concert at Oji Hall, Ginza, included the world premiere by string orchestra of French composer Saint-Saens’ Suite for Piano in D Major (Op. 49).  The orchestra was on sparkling form – and putting this great piano work in a completely new and unique context.

Another example is the orchestra’s September 10, 2010 concert during which the Tokyo Sinfonia performed the world premiere for string orchestra of  the B Minor Piano Sonata (Op.5) by Richard Strauss, the great German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras.

Talented Young Musicians. It is great fun to watch the talented, young musicians of the Tokyo Sinfonia.  They play with a youthful charm and freshness – and inspired determination – which  I find very catching.

So here is your chance to support the next generation of classical musicians:  join a live concert with the Tokyo Sinfonia!

Attractive Concert Format. The Tokyo Sinfonia concerts have a far more intimate and personal  atmosphere than regular symphony concerts.   Partly because there are only 19 musicians – rather than 80 or more in a typical major symphony orchestra.  And partly because at many of their concerts you have the opportunity to meet the musicians and the conductor in person after the performance – even over a glass of champagne!

At the beginning of each performance the conductor normally provides a brief introduction of the music to be played – this is again rather different from your ordinary classical concert.  Through these introductions you can learn a lot of  interesting information about the music – due to the conductor’s vast knowledge of classical music.

Outstanding Conductor. None of the above would have been possible without the groundbreaking work of the orchestra’s founder and conductor, Robert Ryker. In creating the Tokyo Sinfonia, he had a clear vision for its relationship with the audience, its musicians – as team players and soloists – and for developing the string orchestra as a ‘new instrument’ in itself.

If you join their live concerts, you will experience how this vision has manifested itself through the orchestra’s performance and concert format.  And with his combination of musical and leadership talent, Robert Ryker is perfectly suited to lead and nurture the young musicians of this orchestra.

Maestro Ryker is a true musical pioneer, helping to bring about what is really nothing short of a genuine ‘renaissance’ of the string orchestra – an all-too-rare ensemble in contemporary classical music.   And he is setting a great precedence for others to follow – inside and outside Japan.

For your own enjoyment and to support these talented young musicians I encourage anyone lucky enough to be within reach of Tokyo to join the Tokyo Sinfonia live!

Tokyo Sinfonia Web Site & Recordings.

Check out the  Tokyo Sinfonia Web site for further details about the orchestra – including upcoming concerts.

You can also purchase CDs of the orchestra’s live recordings on their Web site.

The post Tokyo Sinfonia: Classical Music with a Difference… first appeared on Trond Varlid.

If you are interested in knowing the state of the environmental business sector in Japan, a new ‘Environmental Tankan’ index has just been launched that could help you measure the pulse of this increasingly important industry sector.

• One of the most interesting results was that the environmental industry has significantly higher business confidence than industry in generalat the moment – using the  ‘Tankan’ index of Bank of Japan (BoJ) for March 2010 as a benchmark, on which the new MoE index has been modelled.
  

• The MoE determined that the Diffusion Index (DI) for the survey was ‘0’, by subtracting the percentage of companies reporting unfavourable business conditions from those reporting favourable conditions. In comparison, the March 2010 BoJ Tankan of leading companies for all industries showed a DI of minus 14.

• This time the ‘Environmental Tankan’ is a trial but MoE now plans to conduct the survey every 6 months. The aim is to help boost investment in the environmental industry and use the results when mapping out environmental policies.

• The companies surveyed are from various environmentally related sectors such as waste management, recycling, solar energy, energy-saving appliances, ‘eco cars’, and others. The MoE sent questionnaires to 2,050 companies, with 486 replies – of which responses from 220 environmentally related companies were analyzed.

For the next survey MoE wants to increase the number of surveyed companies to 6,000.

If you want more details and the full results of the survey (in Japanese only), please go to this MoE Web link: http://www.env.go.jp/press/file_view.php?serial=15520&hou_id=12386

This new index is a great initiative by MoE and should increase the focus on the environmental business sector in Japan, stimulate and guide new environmental policies and ultimately help boost investment in the sector. ‘So watch this space.’

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Jahangir Khan

Jahangir Khan. The greatest sportsman ever – of any sport?  Well, his record of winning 555 consecutive matches – to mention just one of many exceptional achievements – remains unchallenged by any other athlete to this day.  I had the great fortune to watch him live at the peak of his game – an unforgettable experience…

Dominating international squash for the better part of a decade – during the 1980s into the 90s – it was initially, however, not at all obvious that Jahangir was going to become the greatest squash champion in history.

“I was told I would never become world champion. I was the youngest, smallest, feeblest and sickest of the family. Neither the doctor nor my father believed there was any chance for me to become a good squash player” – says Jahangir Khan in his book ‘Winning Squash’.

Having gone from such unpromising beginnings to become the greatest squash player of all time – Jahangir Khan is an inspiration for everyone – whatever their initial circumstances, to go on and achieve great things.

Indeed, to quote Jahangir again: “I believe my story can offer hope to millions of people all over the world who are poor, bereaved or sick.  At different times, I have been all three”.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Secret of Success. So how did he do it?  What was his secret?  How could he remain unbeaten for hundreds of successive professional matches, for almost 6 years?

His achievement is particularly remarkable considering some of the main characteristics of squash: high-speed ball (top speeds clocked at around 275 km/h), high-paced game, long rallies – often 100 shots or more – and hardly any breaks between points and games.

This means that there is little margin for error in winning (or losing) points and games – and a 555 match-winning streak should therefore be ‘not be possible’.  Unless you are Jahangir Khan, that is…..

Jahangir in full flow...

His technique was second to none; he could hit winning shots when he needed to and had a great eye for the flow of the game.  All necessary skills to be at the very top of squash.  However, his greatest and most powerful ‘weapon’ was without doubt his superior fitness – he was simply the fittest person in the sport.  In fact, some even proclaimed him to be ‘the fittest man on the planet’….

“Hard work, discipline, commitment and ambition. To be the best, I had to work harder than everyone else.  I trained for 8 hours a day, 6 days a week.”  – is how Jahangir himself explains the reasons for his remarkable success.

Training Program. He would typically start his training day with a 9-mile run (14 km), followed by the ‘400 meter torture test’. The latter consisted of running 400 meters at a fairly high pace, followed by 1-minute breaks – which would be continued until exhaustion.   This was a way to simulate rallies that could last up to 100 shots or more. And there would be endless court sprints and racket drills.

Short Bio: Born in Karachi, Pakistan, on December 10, 1963.  Although physically frail and in poor health as a boy, he was born into a squash family.  His father, Roshan Khan, was a former British Open Champion and his older brother, Torsam, also an accomplished player on the international circuit destined for the top tier.

However, when Jahangir was 15 years old his brother Torsam suffered a heart attack during a match and died.  This proved to be a tragic, but decisive turning point in young Jahangir’s life, as he then set out to become world squash champion in honour of his brother’s memory.

Check out Wikipedia for further details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahangir_Khan

7 Most Outstanding Achievements of Jahangir Khan.

• Won World Amateur Championships at age 15;
• Won World Open Championships at age 17; the youngest ever;
• Unbeaten for 5 years and 8 months; winning 555 matches consecutively;
• British Open Champion10 times in a row (1982-1993); which remains unchallenged;
• World Open Champion 6 times – for which he is listed in the Guiness Book of World records;
• 1st player to win World Open Championships without dropping a game;
• Played longest squash match in history (1983) – 2hours, 46 minutes;

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