Apples 🍎

Japan does not just copy. They study what works elsewhere, then improve it. Canada should take note.

My son could not stop talking about the apple juice when we were in Japan last year. One sip and his eyes lit up. “Dad, this tastes like a real apple!” Back home in Canada, the stuff from the grocery store just does not hit the same. It is fine, but flatter, sometimes watery, like they took the soul out of it.

That is the difference: Japanese apple juice often comes straight from premium varieties like Fuji grown in places like Aomori. They pick them at peak ripeness, press them fresh, and keep it simple. No heavy reconstitution from concentrate that strips away the aroma and depth. North American versions? A lot start as bulk concentrate shipped around, then watered down and standardized. Japan took the basic idea of apple juice and made it better by obsessing over the raw material and the process.

It is the same pattern you see everywhere with Japan. They look at strengths from other countries and refine them with incredible attention to detail and quality. Take pizza. They did not invent it, but Japanese versions often have lighter, crispier crusts, perfectly balanced toppings, and that subtle umami that makes you wonder why we settle for heavier, greasier takes back home. Ramen started in China, but Japan turned it into an art form with rich broths, precise noodles, and endless regional variations. Curry came via the British from India; now Japanese curry rice is a mild, comforting staple that is distinctly their own. Sweeter, thicker, perfect over rice. Even tempura traces back to Portuguese influences, but they elevated it into something lighter and more refined.

Japan does not just copy. They study what works elsewhere, then improve it. Focusing on freshness, balance, efficiency, and respect for the ingredients or the end user. That mindset shows up in bigger things too, like healthcare. Japan has universal coverage, but they deliver it at lower cost per person than Canada while getting stronger results: longer life expectancy, better infant mortality rates, more scanners and timely access, and far less of the wait time frustration we deal with here. They borrowed universal principles but tuned the system with tight cost controls, high primary care focus, and innovation that keeps it sustainable even with an older population.

Canada, on the other hand, clings too tightly to our own model. Like it is untouchable dogma. “Canadian exceptionalism” sounds nice, but it leaves us with one of the most expensive systems among peers and middling outcomes on access and timeliness. We could learn from others the way Japan does: take the best ideas, adapt them thoughtfully, and make them work better for our people instead of defending the status quo.

That is exactly why I am applying to the Rotman GEMBA program. It is built for leaders who want to learn across borders. Modules in different cities and continents, drawing from global perspectives to drive real change. I want to bring that same open, improvement focused mindset back home. Study what works in healthcare delivery, operations, and innovation around the world, then help adapt it here so we get better value and better care.

Funny enough, it all circles back to that apple juice. One perfect glass showed my son (and me) what happens when you refuse to settle for “good enough” and instead take something ordinary and elevate it. Canada deserves that same spirit in the things that matter most. Like keeping families healthy without the long waits or sky high costs. Time to stop protecting our model and start perfecting it.