New!! Planning a Lean Healthcare Accelerator Experience in Japan—September 2026!
What if your team could see, firsthand, how some of the world’s most respected hospitals integrate Lean thinking into daily practice—not as a project, but as an organizational culture?
Should I Visit Japan to See and Study Lean, Operational Excellence, Quality and Continuous Improvement in Healthcare?
I’m Mark Graban. I’m thrilled to announce a new opportunity: I’m organizing and leading Lean Healthcare Accelerator Experiences in Japan, with the next one taking place in September 2026.
This is more than a tour—it’s an immersive experience designed for healthcare leaders who want to strengthen patient care, staff engagement, and operational performance through sustainable improvement practices.
I’m partnering with two outstanding colleagues: Dave Fitzpatrick, a Canadian who has lived and worked in Japan for many years and has extensive experience facilitating study missions; and Reiko Kano, a bilingual Lean and TPS expert with deep healthcare experience in both the U.S. and Japan. Dave and Reiko are the co-founders of Zenkai Improvement Partners, and I’m proud to collaborate with them on this initiative.
If you’re interested in joining us—or if you’d like more details—please reach out. The program cost is $9,500 USD, excluding international airfare. Early bird (for the first 5 to register) and group discounts (for 3 or more) are available.
Watch videos translated into Portuguese, Dutch, Turkish, and other languages
Some of highlights of these experiences:
Curated visits to three of the top Lean healthcare facilities in the nation with time allocated for discussions with the lean leaders in each of the organizations.
An in-depth study experience with the founders of Japan’s “Doctors for Tomorrow” initiative who are using the principle of TPS to make medical mistakes a thing of the past.
Lean leadership seminars and a hands on process improvement activity that will expose participants to a TPS style approach to improvement.
A Total Quality Management seminar with a lifelong quality manager from Toyota Motor Corporation. Learn why TQM is a vital part of any discussion of TPS and how the SDCA cycle is critical to quality assurance alongside the PDCA cycle.
A visit to a medical device manufacturer (location yet to be decided)
A factory visit to a prestigious supplier into several industries including automotive. The owner and president will share their insights into what lean leadership means for them and how they have developed the culture of always setting stretch targets to move their company forward.
Oh, and we’ll have some fun exploring Japanese culture, food, and more.
… it’s the experience of a lifetime and a great way to get inspired and bring ideas home to your team and organization… not just a bunch of tools, but deep (even profound) lessons and principles…
Your All-Inclusive Lean Healthcare Experience in Japan
What’s included in your registration fee?
- Expert logistics and visit planning by an experienced Lean trip organizer
- Translation services from a trusted partner with a great deal of experience with Lean in both Japan and the United States.
- Interaction and discussion with Mark Graban and other experienced Lean leaders
- Site visits
- Training and workshops
- All transportation, hotels, and meals within Japan
The trip runs Monday through Friday — starting in Nagoya and ending in Tokyo. A full draft schedule is available upon request.
You must pay for your own transportation to and from Japan.
Read Mark Graban’s blog posts about previous trips.
Recaps of Previous Tours
In the previous Kaizen Institute tours, our collaboration secured three KAIZEN™ minded hospitals to visit, as well as Toyota and much more!
The site visits have been powerful, but I’ve always been very impressed with the attendees. In the past, they have been very international groups, so you get the opportunity to reflect on what you’re seeing and compare notes about various “Lean journeys” around the world and people’s efforts to create and sustain a culture of continuous improvement.
It’s an incredibly energizing and interesting learning opportunity and experience. Japan is a fun and fascinating place. The tour allows you get a sense of Japanese culture and how that both contributes to a Kaizen culture and creates some challenges that Toyota and other companies have had to work through (see my blog post on this).
Endorsements from Japan Lean Healthcare Tour Attendees
“If you want to go see and feel Lean and its roots, travel with the Kaizen Institute to Japan.” – Peter Kabel, Microbiologist, Holland
“The opportunity to see and deeply reflect on successful Lean Strategy, Culture and Leadership with lean practitioners from around the world was truly beneficial.” – Pat Kramer, Senior Manager, Lean Consulting, Healthcare Performance Partners
“I sure did learn a lot. Specially about different kind of leadership, where empowering the employee is not just another bit of non-implementable jargon. What blew my mind were the host sites and the depth of Kaizen activities done by the small QC circles. My personal favourite moments were our casual discussions on the bus.” – Mayang Anggarani, Indonesia
Photos
Click here to see Mark Graban’s photos of nothing but food in Japan
Listen to Mark Graban Talk About the Past Trips
Visit the Gemba Academy Podcast episode page
Listen to Mark Graban & Christian Wolcott Talk About the 2014 Kaizen Institute Trip
Visit the Lean Blog podcast episode page
Why I Keep Going Back to Japan to Learn About Lean
Dear Healthcare Leader or Improvement Professional,
For years, I was skeptical about taking a long, cramped, and tiring flight to Japan just to study Lean and the Toyota Production System.
After all, I’d been studying and practicing Lean for two decades. I’d learned from incredible mentors—some from Japan, others who had worked there or visited—and I’d helped countless teams apply these principles successfully. I thought, “Surely, you can learn Lean perfectly well without going to Japan.”
Then I went. And it changed everything.
What I experienced on that first Kaizen Institute study trip in 2012 was far more than lectures and factory tours. It was a living, breathing demonstration of what respect for people and continuous improvement look like when they are truly part of daily life. The trip blended deep learning with culture, history, and perspective. I met people from multiple countries, visited Toyota and other world-class organizations, and had moments of insight that reshaped how I understand Lean—not as a set of tools, but as a mindset grounded in humility and learning.
I enjoyed it so much that I’ve gone back six times since, through November 2024. Each visit has deepened my understanding of how to build improvement cultures that last. And I can’t wait to go again.
Now, I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be returning to Japan with new collaboration partners—this time helping to facilitate discussions and connect what we see to the realities of healthcare improvement. The trip is designed especially for Lean healthcare professionals, but it’s open to anyone eager to experience the roots of Lean firsthand.
This is not a “check the box” trip. It’s a transformational learning experience. You’ll visit iconic Lean organizations, participate in guided discussions, and explore the cultural foundations that make Lean thrive in Japan. You’ll come home with inspiration, practical ideas, and a deeper appreciation for what it means to create a culture of continuous improvement.
Yes, it’s an investment of time and money—but the return is remarkable. You’ll gain insights that can elevate your organization’s improvement efforts, relationships that last a lifetime, and memories that will stay with you forever.
If you’ve ever been curious about Lean’s origins—or if you’re ready to see what “Respect for People” looks like in action—I hope you’ll join us.
If you’d like to learn more, click here to contact me or click one of the big blue buttons on this page.
I look forward to sharing this experience with you—wherever you’re flying from.
Sincerely,
Mark Graban
Author of books including Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen
Two-time Shingo Publication Award Recipient
Reasons to go to Japan
- You’re inquisitive about Lean and its application as a management system in different industries
- You want to learn the differences and similarities between “Lean Culture” and “Japanese Culture”
- You are up for adventure and a new culture and completely unfamiliar surroundings
- You would like some time to explore Japan and its sites before and after the Lean tour
- You want to take your Lean education and understanding to the next level
Reasons NOT to go to Japan
- Because it’s a trendy thing to do and other hospitals are doing it
- Because you want a vacation (although you could add some personal days before or after our experience)
- Because you want to learn more Japanese words to impress and befuddle other people with
- Because Lean is a new concept to you (you’re probably better off reading a bunch of books and getting some experience first)
Making the Case to Your Boss: How to Frame the Value of This Trip
Let’s be honest—this isn’t a low-cost experience. The program fee is $9,500 USD, which covers all in-country logistics, meals, transportation, site visits, and expert facilitation. You’ll also need to cover your own airfare to and from Japan.
That said, this isn’t just a trip. It’s an investment—in your development, in your organization’s improvement efforts, and in building a deeper understanding of Lean that’s hard to replicate through books or webinars.
If you’re considering attending, here are a few strategies to help you talk with your leader or leadership team about the value:
Invite Them Along
If your boss is a senior leader or executive sponsor for Lean, ask them to join you. Shared learning accelerates alignment and momentum back home.
Demonstrate Skin in the Game
If possible (and allowable), use frequent flyer miles or offer to pay for your own airfare. That shows personal commitment and helps offset part of the total cost.
Build an A3 or Action Plan
Frame this as a learning opportunity with measurable outcomes. What will you bring back? How will you share insights with your team? How will this experience strengthen your Lean culture?
Explore Sponsorship Options
You might look into local foundations, improvement networks, or healthcare-focused nonprofits who support professional development.
Emphasize Long-Term Value Over Short-Term Cost
Focus on how this trip supports the organization’s strategic goals: culture change, patient safety, staff engagement, and operational excellence. Help your boss see the potential ROI—not just for you, but for your entire system.
Some of Mark Graban’s blog posts about the trips will give you a sense of what you’ll see and what you’ll learn:
- Highlights From My First Lean Study Trip to Japan, Day 1
- A Japanese Hospital CEO on Kaizen, Innovation & Breakthrough
- Japan Tour Reflections: Taking Home Lean Artifacts or Lean Thinking?
- Japan Trip: Going to Gemba and Seeing 5S at a Japanese Hospital
- A Small Batch of Bread, Other Random Japan Pictures
- Read all posts about the trips
Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Lean Journey?
Visiting Japan to study Lean healthcare isn’t just about seeing what others are doing—it’s about challenging how we think, lead, and improve. This experience isn’t a checkbox; it’s a catalyst.
You’ll walk away with fresh insights, renewed energy, and practical ideas you can bring home to your team. You’ll build connections with peers from around the world and gain a deeper appreciation for what it truly means to create a culture of continuous improvement—one grounded in respect, humility, and learning.
If you’re serious about Lean—not just the tools, but the mindset—I invite you to join us.
Spots are limited. If this resonates with you, don’t wait.
Let’s learn together. Let’s lead better. Let’s go see.