Why are there so many Japanese terms in Lean? Should we use the English or the Japanese version of terms?

Why are there so many Japanese terms in Lean? Should we use the English or the Japanese version of terms?

As you may know, Lean traces its roots to post WWII Japan. Toyota was trying to find a way to compete in a fragmented market that was short on resources. Under the guidance of Taiichi Ohno, the man widely considered to be the father of modern Lean, a new set of terminology was born.

As you progress on your Lean journey, you’ll have to decide whether to use the Japanese version of the term, or the English version.

My recommendations…

1. Use the Japanese version for the terms that are in common use. Kanban, kaizen, and poka yoke fall into this category.
2. Use the version of the semi-common term that provides the least confusion in your organization. If they are using the term ‘policy deployment‘ don’t try to force ‘hoshin kanrii‘ into the vernacular. Similarly, heijunka level-loading, and jidoka vs. autonomation are examples of this.
3. Stay away from the obscure Japanese terms. Most people won’t know what you are talking about.