Flow Counterclockwise for a Good Reason

I came across an interesting article while riding the bullet train in August during our last Japan Kaikaku Experience (Lean study trip). In the September 2004 issue of Wedge magazine (Vol. 16 No. 9), science writer Hideaki Fukami explored the origins of the counterclockwise direction of athletic fields like baseball and track fields. There I found the reason why my kaizen sensei insisted on designing work cells and workflow counterclockwise.

The Impact of Counterclockwise Flow on Athletic Performance: An Experiment

According to Fukami, there is a scientific reason for the standard counterclockwise flow of race tracks. He explained that in the 1896 Athens Olympics, the tracks were actually clockwise. However, due to complaints from the athletes that it felt unnatural, it was changed to the “left hand inside” or counterclockwise in 1913. Was this just a feeling, or did it actually affect the athletes’ performance?

Fukami conducted an experiment by having 4 university track athletes run the 400 meter both clockwise and counterclockwise. The results of the average times were 58.62 clockwise and 56.52 seconds counterclockwise. More than 2 seconds difference!

“Left Hand Inside” Phenomena: Fleeing Criminals and Pursuing Police

Fukami further explored various examples of the “left hand inside” phenomena in the article. An interesting finding from the article was that 80% of fleeing criminals tend to flee to the left, according to the Hyogo Prefecture Police. By increasing the number of police officers pursuing from the left, arrests reportedly increased by 60%.

Brain Science and Counterclockwise Motion: Perception of Space and Motion

Research suggests that the innate “left hand inside” preference in human motion is linked to brain science. Professor Matsumoto explains that the right brain processes spatial recognition, making the perception of space stronger on the left side of vision (since hemispheres control opposite sides of the body). Running counterclockwise with the left hand inside allows for better visibility of space on the left, resulting in more comfortable, confident, and faster running.

Amusement Rides and Visual-Spatial Perception: Clockwise vs Counterclockwise Direction

Matsumoto also notes that amusement rides designed to scare people often go clockwise, which works against human visual-spatial perception, increasing fear and discomfort. In contrast, the merry-go-round, which is not designed to frighten people, goes counterclockwise. So, Lean Champion, if you face pushback about the direction of cell flow or chuck location, explaining the reasoning using brain science can be more compelling than relying on right-handedness or “sensei said so.”

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