kaizen
n.— «Kaizen is a Japanese term that means continuous improvement, taken from the words “kai,” meaning “change,” and “zen,” meaning “good.” The general translation is “change for the better.” In industry today, Kaizen connotes practicing innovative management methods. Japan has been sensitive about waste for decades due to the scarcity of land and raw materials. The philosophy of eliminating waste leading to profit through participative improvement is an integral part of the Japanese philosophy. The key aspect of Kaizen is an ongoing, never-ending continuous improvement process. It is a softer, more gradual methodology, versus the more “scrap and start anew” philosophy of the traditional western mindset.» —“Frame of mind” by Jim Limperis Manufacturer (U.S.) Nov., 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
The English language has been greatly enriched by borrowings from the languages of Asia. Barely scratching the surface, we have from Japan skosh, tycoon, tsunami, origami, yen, kimono, futon, and karaoke. From Chinese comes yen, kowtow, gung ho, and...
The Kong in the name of the 1933 movie King Kong, probably alludes to the Congo in Africa, the home of gorillas. Previous movies used a form of that name as well; Kongorilla, for example. In the 1950s, the English name of the Japanese movie monster...