Jason Plato is the General Manager for Sales at Sealord. Jason recounts his very unique bootcamp-like early experience of joining a Japanese bank as a new recruit which has been invaluable to him in his career. He also shares insights into Japan's seafood market, including the importance of preparation in business dealings, cultural nuances, and the challenges posed by changing ocean temperatures. The episode offers valuable advice for New Zealand exporters considering the Japanese market and some interesting opportunities for future collaborations between New Zealand and Japan. Subscribe to o ..read more

Misa Kitaoka is the Director of Education at Education New Zealand (ENZ) in Japan. She shares her experiences and insights into fostering educational exchanges between New Zealand and Japan. Misa highlights the role of lifelong learning and the changing dynamics of Japanese education that will surely influence what education exchange between New Zealand and Japan looks like in the future. We are also lucky to hear about Misa's memorable experiences during the recent visit to Japan of the New Zealand Prime Minister and the business delegation.  If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired y ..read more

Join us for a face to face interview with Toyota Verblitz players Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith. The boys share their insights into the deep-rooted respect within Japanese culture and sports, and how these athletes navigate their lives on and off the field in Japan. Plus, hear their personal journeys from small-town New Zealand to the international rugby stage and the unexpected quirks of living in Japan. Don't miss this unique blend of sports, culture, and heartfelt stories! A huge thank you to Team Toyota and Team Toyota Verblitz for helping to make this all possible.  Subscribe to ou ..read more

Jessica Tish, Japan Country Manager for Freshco, joins us to share the lay of the land in the fresh produce sector in Japan. We traverse the topics of the “biggest lake in Japan”, Lake Biwa to candid conversations with Kansai taxi drivers. In this episode, we “peel back the layers” of this market in Japan. As the Country Manager in Japan, Jess shares how she is navigating the intricacies of the Japanese produce market. Subscribe to our list so you never miss an episode of Jandals in Japan  If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know you ..read more

We dive into the fascinating world of pet ownership and dog trends in Japan with our guest, Takayuki Ichikawa, from K9 Natural, a premium New Zealand pet food product being sold in the Japan market. Takayuki shares insights into the growing humanization trend for pets in Japan, where they are treated as valued family members. We also explore the success of K9 Natural in the Japanese market, the power of word-of-mouth promotion, and the importance of understanding the Japanese market for New Zealand businesses. Tune in for an engaging conversation that sheds light on the evolving pet industry i ..read more

We are thrilled to bring you a wonderful Jandal: Tony Clifford, who is sharing his experience of working with a Japanese corporation for 30 years. That’s quite some dedication to the relationship between both countries that we don’t often see. You will love Tony’s insights, tips and advice for those who are just getting started, levelling up, or wondering if you are doing the right thing. Let’s get into it! Subscribe to our list so you never miss an episode of Jandals in Japan  If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest ta ..read more

We sit down with the insightful Kerry Ellis, a Senior Business Partner at Decipher Group in Christchurch, who has extensive experience in both New Zealand and Japan. Kerry shares fascinating stories and valuable insights about engaging with the Japanese market, understanding cultural differences, the importance of all kinds of diversity in business and how to successfully transition to work in Japan. We also delve into some fun “hanami” cherry blossom viewing stories and the protocols you want to make sure you know before you go!  Join us as we explore the intersection of business, cultur ..read more

We are getting the download on the tech collaborations between Japan and New Zealand in this episode with guest, Pam Ford from Tātaki Auckland Unlimited. Pam shares the potential that is waiting for New Zealand tech businesses in exciting markets like Japan and how cities like Auckland, Fukuoka and Tokyo are working together at this subnational level. In a tech business and want to export to Japan? This is the episode for you!  Subscribe to our list so you never miss an episode of Jandals in Japan  If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about i ..read more

Doug Picken is an exceptional individual with unique insights into the world of rugby translation and the cultural intricacies of Japan and New Zealand. In his position as a translator for the DynaBoars rugby team, Doug helps his team to tackle the linguistic and cultural differences daily. We love his passion for wearing the jersey in promoting Japan rugby and his dedication to his podcast, Japan Rugby Weekly, a favourite of the Jandals team and many listeners too! Ikimasho~! SHOW NOTES (These will become a blog post as well as go into Anchor/Captivate).  Subscribe to our list so you nev ..read more

Cookie Time is making waves in Japan and Jason Allen, Representative Director, shares how this came to be. If you are thinking of having Costco as part of your product distribution strategy then this episode is for you. We are so proud of the work that Cookie Time has done in Japan over the past 10 years and excited to see what they achieve next. Subscribe to our list so you never miss an episode of Jandals in Japan  If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d ..read more