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"visible shadow"
Mikage (見影) is a Japanese word that means "visible shadow." We chose this name because it perfectly captures our mission: making the invisible work of building a company visible to founders.
Building a company involves countless hours of invisible work—the 3AM doubts, the internal struggles, the patterns we can't quite see ourselves. Like shadows that reveal the true form of objects, mikage helps founders see the shape of their journey.
The name isn't decorative—it's definitional. It describes exactly what our coaching platform does: we witness and document the work that no one else sees, helping you understand your patterns, breakthroughs, and growth over time.
We are an American company, and we want to be completely transparent about that. We chose a Japanese word not for aesthetic trends or marketing appeal, but because this specific concept—making the invisible visible—is the philosophical foundation of what we do.
We honor and are grateful to the Japanese language and culture that gave us this beautiful concept. This is not cultural appropriation—it's respectful homage to a concept that perfectly expresses our mission to help founders.
In Japanese aesthetics, shadows aren't absence of light—they're presence of depth. The interplay between light and shadow (陰影, in'ei) reveals form, creates atmosphere, and suggests what lies beneath the surface.
This philosophy deeply resonates with the founder journey. Your challenges aren't failures—they're shadows that reveal your strength. Your doubts aren't weaknesses—they're depth markers showing how far you've come.
"In praise of shadows" (陰翳礼讃, In'ei Raisan) by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki explores how shadows create beauty and meaning in Japanese aesthetics. We encourage you to explore this work to understand the deeper philosophy behind our name.
We believe in education and attribution. If you're interested in learning more about Japanese shadow aesthetics and the cultural concepts that inspire us:
We use this name with deep respect, full attribution, and genuine gratitude to the culture that gave us such a perfect expression of our mission.