Training in Japan

A Lean training in Japan is an experience you’ll never forget—and one you can put into practice from day one back home. Gain inspiration, boost your motivation, and challenge yourself to think in new ways.

Next opportunity:

Oct 31-Nov 7, 2026, The Japan Lean Experience
Nov 21-28, 2026, From System to Leadership – Advanced Lean Program (designed for former participants to Lean Training in Japan)

Something you will never forget

A Lean training experience in Japan is truly unforgettable—one that you can immediately put into practice when you return home. It will inspire you, challenge your thinking, and give you new motivation to drive real improvement.

But what does Lean really imply? Many organizations work actively with Lean and continuous improvement concepts, yet few fully grasp the true potential of what can be achieved. To address this, JMAC Scandinavia (now part of C2U Group) began offering a unique opportunity in 2004: to study the origins of Lean on-site in Japan, in close cooperation with Toyota.

Our training programs combine classroom theory with hands-on learning—practical workshops, study visits, networking, and engaging discussions. Above all, participants spend significant time at the Gemba, experiencing firsthand how Lean principles are applied in practice.

Our senseis, many of whom come from the Toyota Group, bring over 30 years of experience and are eager to share their knowledge and answer your most pressing questions. The training focuses on processes rather than products, meaning the insights and methods you gain can be applied across industries and business contexts.

In co-operation with our partners in Japan, we can also add specific study visits, for example:

A Lean Management Training
leading to significant results

The Japan Lean Experience

Deep understanding of Lean at its source
Learn Lean where it originated—directly in Japan—gaining insights into what truly drives world-class performance.
Hands-on, practical learning
Combine theory with workshops, real company visits, and extensive Gemba exposure to see Lean in action.
Guidance from highly experienced senseis
Train with former Toyota experts, each bringing 30+ years of practical experience.
Focus on processes, not products
Develop knowledge that applies across industries, making the learning immediately transferable to your own business.
Direct exposure to leading companies
Visit top organizations such as Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi Electric, and others to see best practices firsthand.
Immediate business impact
Gain concrete methods, tools, and examples of continuous improvement that you can apply right away.
Strong professional network
Connect with like-minded peers, experts, and practitioners from different industries.
Inspiration and mindset shift
Return home energized, challenged, and equipped with a new perspective on improvement and leadership.
Immersive cultural experience
Experience Japanese culture alongside the training, enriching both personal and professional development.

From System to Leadership – Advanced Lean Program

This training was launched in 2014 to support participants who, after completing the first training, realized that Lean is more than systems and tools—but fundamentally about leadership.

While the initial program provides a solid understanding of the Lean Production System, this advanced level builds on that foundation by shifting the focus to leadership behaviors. Understanding the system is essential, but truly sustaining Lean requires leaders who can actively drive, sustain, and continuously develop improvement work in their organizations.

During this program, participants explore:

The leadership behaviors that enable and sustain continuous improvement
How to translate Lean principles into daily management routines
How leadership shapes culture, engagement, and long-term performance
How to build and maintain a fully functioning Lean management system

This program offers a deeper and more complete perspective by connecting the system foundation from The Japan Lean Experience with the leadership practices required to make it come alive.

To ensure maximum impact, the program is exclusively available to participants who have completed the first Lean Japan training. Experience shows that this foundation is critical for fully benefiting from the advanced leadership focus.

REGISTER

Interested in Lean Management Trainings to Japan?

You can send in your contact information here for C2U Group’s Lean Management Trainings to Japan. Your participation is not guaranteed until you have received a personal confirmation e-mail with more information regarding the training.