Lifestyle & Community Archives - Joshua Bellendir

Celebrating Innovation and Leadership at the 2025 Las Vegas Top Tech Awards

Joshua — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 07:20:41 +0000

What a night celebrating innovation and leadership at the 2025 Las Vegas Top Tech Awards ceremony at Allegiant Stadium!

This event always reminds me how far our tech community has come — and the amazing people driving that progress.

Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees — your leadership is shaping the future of technology across our city and beyond.

After being honored in 2023, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a judge for the past two years, helping recognize the next generation of leaders who are transforming how we work, connect, and innovate. It’s an absolute honor to fill this role and give back to a community that continues to inspire me.

As we move into November, it also feels like the perfect time to reflect with gratitude. None of us get here alone — and I’ve been blessed with incredible leaders and mentors who’ve shaped who I am today.

Thank you Yolanda Slim, Robert T. Scherrer, Steve Johnston, John Deane, Hajime Tamaoki, and William Marshall for believing in me, challenging me, and setting examples of great leadership that continue to guide how I lead others.

These awards are more than a night of recognition — they’re a celebration of community, mentorship, and a shared vision for what’s possible when great people come together.

Check out the winners and leaders driving innovation in Las Vegas:
Jeremy Brenton, Sheena DeleonGuerrero, Asal Gibson MS, CSSBB, PMP, CSM, Clinton Sparks, Edgar Garrabo, Kevin Kealy, Carami Olsen, Brandon Ward, ASBC®, Gary Larkin, Jamin Thompson, Juanny Romero, Angie Cosca, Victor Blanco, Seth Ravin

Sal Khan Joins TED: A Major Win for the Future of Global Education

Joshua — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 17:16:00 +0000

Incredible news and well-deserved recognition! Congratulations, Sal Khan, on this exciting new role with TED. There’s truly no one more fitting to help shape the future of global learning and ideas.

I still remember checking out the first-generation Khan Academy iOS app and being struck by how transformative your approach to education was — it was clear even then that you were building something that would change the world.

Looking forward to seeing how this next chapter with TED amplifies your vision and impact on education worldwide.

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Proud to Have Worked at Three of Japan’s Top 10 Most Valuable Brands

Joshua — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 18:11:00 +0000

Proud to see the 2025 Interbrand ranking of Japan’s most valuable brands

I’ve had the privilege of working at three of the top 10 on this list—each experience provided invaluable lessons in leadership, innovation, and operational excellence. These insights continue to shape how I approach transformation and growth today.

Grateful for the best practices I learned, the teams I had the honor to lead, and the opportunities to contribute to these world-class organizations.

Below, is the most recent 2025 Top 100 brand value ranking of Japanese companies published by Interbrand. Toyota, Honda and Sony remain top 3 most valuable brands in Japan.

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Join Your Peers in Celebrating Visionary Tech Leaders in Las Vegas

Joshua — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 06:18:30 +0000

The 2024 Las Vegas Top Tech Awards will be held at Allegiant Stadium on October 23, 2024, from 5 to 8 p.m. On this special evening, the Southern Nevada tech community will come together to honor leaders who are leveraging technology to drive innovation, enhance business performance, and create positive change in the world.

Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3Xmbdha

Here’s a few snapshots from last year’s award ceremony at Allegiant Stadium!

Serving on this year’s judging panel was a fantastic experience—I spent a weekend reviewing submissions, and I must say, the caliber of talent in our Vegas tech community is remarkable. Don’t miss this opportunity to network with your peers and hear firsthand the inspiring stories of these incredible leaders.

#TopTechVegas #TTAVegas #TTAVegas24 #TopTech2024

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The Launch of My Wife’s Food Blog: EATwithOHASHI.com

Joshua — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 21:10:00 +0000

I am excited to share the launch of my wife’s Japanese food blog, EATwithOHASHI.com. Supporting my amazing wife, a mother of two and a passionate self-taught chef, as she builds her online food business has been incredibly fulfilling. Helping her share her love of Japanese cooking with the world feels especially meaningful.

EATwithOHASHI is a space dedicated to authentic, homemade Japanese comfort food. The site features original recipes, cooking tips, instructional videos, and an online store that offers Japanese food products and EATwithOHASHI branded items. Her first line of original sauces and cooking kits is coming soon.

I assisted with many of the initial business and technology components needed to bring the site to life. On the technology side, this included website design, E-commerce implementation and integration, SEO and SEM, social media integrations, and the setup of foundational business applications across finance and marketing. On the business side, I provided guidance on the revenue model, go-to-market strategy, local partnerships, and brand and marketing approach.

My wife is the creative force behind everything you see on the site. She develops the recipes, styles and photographs the dishes, creates the instructional content, and writes about Japanese cuisine and food culture.

If you enjoy Japanese cooking or want to learn more about authentic home-style dishes, I encourage you to check out her work.

Visit the website:
www.eatwithohashi.com

Follow on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatwithohashi_official/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EATwithOHASHI
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EATwithOHASHI
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/eatwithohashi/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC96ceJ-Mmne7BFsTuqFZKUA

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KanDenko – A Perfectly Executed Ad

Joshua — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 09:09:00 +0000

During my morning commute on the Yamanote Line, an ad from KanDenko began playing across the train car’s video screens. For the handful of us not completely absorbed in our phones, it immediately captured our attention.

Before that moment, I had never heard of KanDenko. But I can say with certainty that I won’t be forgetting the name anytime soon. That is the sign of a well-executed advertisement.

The spot reminded me of the iconic work produced by Wieden & Kennedy for brands like Nike and Honda. It had that same ability to tell a compelling story, evoke emotion, and leave a lasting impression in just a few seconds. If you haven’t watched those ads before, they’re worth revisiting.

Here is the video. Enjoy!

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Plane Finder

Joshua — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 07:00:00 +0000

While researching my upcoming flight to Australia, I stumbled upon a fascinating tool called Plane Finder. It provides a real time map of active flights around the world, complete with flight paths, call signs, and aircraft details. It is a compelling way to see just how active global air travel really is.

I was surprised by how crowded the skies were. At the moment I checked, more than 9,500 flights were in the air. Seeing that activity visualized on a single interactive map gives you an entirely new appreciation for the complexity of global aviation.

If you want to explore it yourself, you can find it here: https://www.planefinder.net

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Shinzo Abe Addresses US Congress

Joshua — Thu, 21 May 2015 07:00:00 +0000

This address by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe marks a significant moment in the relationship between Japan and the United States. It reflects the deep economic, political, and cultural ties shared by both nations, and highlights Japan’s ongoing commitment to global stability, democratic values, and international cooperation.

Prime Minister Abe’s speech touches on themes that continue to shape the partnership between the two countries, including security, trade, technological innovation, and regional leadership. It also offers an important perspective on the evolving role of Japan in the global community.

For anyone interested in international relations, modern Japanese policy, or the historical connection between the United States and Japan, this address provides valuable insight. The remarks serve as a reminder of how diplomacy and shared values can strengthen alliances that benefit the broader global community.

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Japanese Web and Mobile Study Resources

Joshua — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 08:00:00 +0000

Japanese Web and Mobile Study Resources

I recently decided to step up my Japanese studies and began exploring the best web tools, apps, and study methods available today. There are countless resources out there, both free and paid, and I wanted to share some of the most useful ones I have incorporated into my personalized study program.

Below are the tools, methods, and apps that have helped me the most.

1. Evernote

Evernote has become one of my core study tools. It is available on iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows, and it syncs seamlessly across devices. You can save screenshots, attach documents, record audio, create to-do lists, and organize notes with ease. It is ideal for tracking your progress, storing vocabulary lists, and keeping study materials in one place.

2. Studying Through Japanese TV Dramas

This has been a new and surprisingly effective method for me. The approach is outlined here: http://www.tofugu.com/2011/06/10/studying-with-japanese-drama-how-to/

The process is simple:

Find a Japanese TV drama you enjoy. I chose HERO, a detective comedy series.
Download both Japanese and English subtitle files. A great source for subtitles is http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/subtitles.php?#Japanese
Import the Japanese subtitles into Evernote and begin translating sections into English.
While watching each episode, refer to your translated notes and work on understanding the dialog by ear.
The English subtitles should be used only when absolutely necessary.

For word lookups, Jim Breen’s WWWJDIC is an excellent tool:
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C

Apps and sites for watching Japanese dramas:

DramaFever: http://www.dramafever.com
Viki: Streaming app for Asian dramas
J Addicts: http://j-addicts.blogspot.co.uk/
Another helpful article on learning with subtitles: http://www.fluentu.com/japanese/blog/learn-japanese-subtitles/

If you encounter regional restrictions, tools like Hola (http://hola.org/) or Media Hint may help.

3. Japanese Language Websites

Here are some of the best online resources I found:

Textfugu – An online Japanese textbook with clear explanations
http://www.textfugu.com/

Tofugu – Culture, language insights, study tips, and more
http://www.tofugu.com/

FluentU – Learn through real videos with interactive subtitles
http://www.fluentu.com/japanese/blog/learn-japanese-subtitles/

Children’s News Sites – Great for beginner to intermediate reading

Jim Breen’s WWWJDIC – A reliable online dictionary
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C

iknow.jp – A paid self-study platform with spaced repetition

Tangorin – Japanese to English dictionary with sample sentences
http://www.tangorin.com

Tae Kim’s Guide to Japanese Grammar – Free, well structured, and one of my favorites
http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/complete

Quizlet – Create custom digital flashcards
http://www.quizlet.com/

Skritter – Paid tool for learning kanji and stroke order
http://www.skritter.com/

JapanesePod101 – Audio based lessons for all levels
http://www.japanesepod101.com/

4. Mobile Apps

TV Drama Apps:

Viki
DramaFever

Skritter:
Excellent for mastering kanji and stroke order.

Conjugation App:
Helps you practice Japanese verb conjugations.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/japanese-grammar-conjugation/id914304316?mt=8

NHK Japanese Lessons:
Free lessons with dialogs and listening practice.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/japanese-lessons/id570265834?mt=8

Learning Japanese App:
A mobile version of Tae Kim’s grammar guide.

Japanese Dictionaries:

imiwa? (iOS)
Tangorin (Android)

Both provide sample sentences, furigana, and powerful search capabilities.

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Free Education for All

Joshua — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 08:00:00 +0000

There has been an incredible rise in free online education platforms in recent years, and it is encouraging to see how accessible learning has become. While access to a computer and the Internet is still a requirement, connectivity continues to expand, even in developing regions. Five years ago, the idea of taking a free cryptography course from Stanford would have sounded impossible. Today, it is a reality for anyone with an Internet connection.

Below are a few platforms I have personally used or explored. Each offers high quality courses across a wide range of subjects. Khan Academy remains one of my favorites. It takes a different approach from traditional classroom formats, but the clarity of the instruction is outstanding. The breadth of topics covered is impressive and the teaching style makes even complex subjects easy to understand.

Here are some great places to start:

https://www.udacity.com/
https://www.khanacademy.org/
https://novoed.com/
https://www.coursera.org/
http://online.stanford.edu/courses

Enjoy exploring and learning.

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