Ein Deal am Abgrund – und er springt trotzdem.

Holiday time is reading time: my favourite new book is a business autofiction

Two weeks in northern Italy and Italian-speaking Switzerland – a wonderful break that helps me recharge my batteries. And read. Although I gained a lot of time for books in the first half of 2025 by eliminating evening news programmes, it's something else entirely to be able to read for hours on end. I read three books in the first week of my summer holiday.

The most exciting read for my LinkedIn community was probably ‘Shoganai’ by Frank U. Möser (published in German only), a veteran of the German-Japanese business world from the 1970s to the 2010s. His autofiction novel is about the beginnings of business development between Germany and Japan in 1979. And a love story between Germany and Japan. There are clear parallels between Frank Möser's own life (of which he told me in person) and the content of the novel.

Much of this book reminded me of my first business trips to Japan in the early 2010s. The misunderstandings with customers, the resolution of conflicts, the lack of understanding of this country and its business culture among those who did not experience it first-hand. All this interwoven with stories of new insights, friendships and a great love.

‘Shoganai’ is a book that should be read by anyone involved in business between Germany and Japan, anyone grappling with the chaotic development of new business opportunities, and anyone who simply wants to read an exciting, well-written book set in the business world that is not a non-fiction book but a novel. I read through the 400 pages in three days. Highly recommended from my holidays!

Bjoern Eichstaedt