So to discuss which SSO platform the company wanted to use, we needed to meet with both Mr. and Mrs. Yamamoto separately.
Mr. Yamamoto handles the logistics and planning of each individual tour; while Mrs. Yamamoto handles the money.
First off, we met with Mrs. Yamamoto. Remember she wanted to use Google authentication since she was an avid Google user. Haruna and I wanted to use Microsoft EntraID.
Now normally, I include the local language along with its translation. However, since Haruna's Japanese is "light-years" better than mine, I only included a partial transcript of the local conversation. However I did understand most of what she said ....
At the meeting, Haruna opened with the usual polite 敬語 formalities.
”こんにちは、ナイキストコンサルティングご料頂きますので、まことにありがとうございます! 本日は。。。[Good Afternoon! Thank you very much for choosing our company. Today we will discuss options for implementing Single Sign On.]”
Haruna went over pluses and minuses for each of the options
1. Facebook
2. Microsoft Entra ID
3. Google SAML
Remember, we knew that Mrs. Yamamoto wanted Google, whereas we wanted Microsoft. However, at this point we didn't "show our cards."
"そうですね。私はグーグルが一番好きかもしれないんです。私のドキュメントは全くグーグルにあります。[Yes I see. Well I think I prefer Google SAML. Most of my documents are on Google Drive]" replied Mrs. Yamamoto.
"はい！ それは全然大丈夫です。グーグルは使えれる [Yes! That's NO PROBLEM. We can use Google]" replied Haruna.
She then looked at me for a split second and smiled.
"実は、山本さんのご主人も好きです [Actually、 your husband likes Google also]！" added Haruna.
And yes, this was a blatant lie.
"本当ですか？[Really?]" asked Mrs. Yamamoto.
There's a lot more polite talk here, but basically what was said is this:
"[Yes. He likes Google and is okay with Facebook. The ONLY THING HE DOESN'T WANT IS Microsoft. He hates that.]" said Haruna.
Mrs. Yamamoto was quiet for a few seconds ... you know what's coming....
"[I don't know why he doesn't like Microsoft. It seems like a fine service. ... in fact aren't we using Microsoft Cloud now?]" asked Mrs. Yamamoto. "[Wouldn't it make more sense to use Microsoft???]"
”[You know, Mrs. Yamamoto, you are 100% correct! It would make sense to use Microsoft.]" replied Haruna.
"[Well, Haruna-san, I think we should consider using Microsoft now. Isn't that the better solution?]" asked Mrs. Yamamoto.
"[Mrs. Yamamoto, you are so smart! I think that is the best solution. Let me talk to Mr. Yamamoto on this. I'll do my best to convince him!] said Haruna.
After the meeting, as we got coffee, I told Haruna I was amazed.
"你怎麼知道她會選微軟啊？[How did you know she would choose Microsoft?]" I asked in amazement.
"John, 你必須要了解我們女生的想發。 我們特別喜歡選擇一個我們老公討厭的東西。就是讓他們【為了我們】接受。[You need to understand women. We love to choose something that our men hate... for simple fact that we can get you -to accept our choices-]."
"What??" I asked in amazement. "因為這樣你們感覺你們的老公犧牲了自己為了你們嗎？[Because this way you feel we are DOING IT FOR YOU GIRLS, right?]"
"對啊！ 這樣我們就知道你們是完全為了我們了。[RIGHT. That way we know you are doing it for US]" added Haruna. "如果你們為了我們做一個你自己喜歡的事。那我們不會感覺你們是為了我們做的。也許是為了自己做的。。。[If you do something for us that you also LIKE, then we don't really feel you're doing it JUST FOR US. Maybe you're doing it for yourself....]" said Haruna with a smile.
"OH MY GOD!" I said in bewilderment.
"Yep. You men need to do things that you HATE TO SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR US!!" replied Haruna.
"You women are CRAZY." I shouted back at her.
"Sweetheart" said Haruna with a DEVIOUS smile, "You HAVE NO IDEA OF THE DEPTHS OF OUR INSANITY" ...
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