Jandals in Japan®

Peri Drysdale is Founder of the internationally renowned sustainable fashion brand Untouched World. From growing up on a sheep farm in the Rakaia Gorge to becoming a registered nurse, and then launching a global wool business with just $200 in the bank, Peri's journey is nothing short of remarkable. Discover how she broke into Japan's notoriously difficult department store market, the power of per...

Kanako Inomata is the Head of Marketing APAC for Zespri International, one of the world's most recognised fresh produce brands. Working remotely from her hometown in Aizu, Fukushima, she leads marketing strategy across Japan, Korea, Singapore, Australia, Vietnam, and beyond. Kanako reveals the fascinating story behind the Kiwi Brothers characters, which have become so iconic in Japan that they've...

Glen Argyle left Invercargill for what he thought would be a two or three-year teaching stint in Osaka. Twenty-eight years later, he is currently the CEO of Baxter Japan, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical and medical device companies. His journey from JET program teacher to pharmaceutical industry leader is a masterclass in cultural adaptation, patience, and authentic leadership. Whether y...

Gareth Pidgeon is Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo. From his roots in New Plymouth under the shadow of Mount Taranaki to his current diplomatic role, Gareth shares his incredible journey through Japan that began at just 14 years of age. Discover the unspoken rules of Japanese business culture, find out what a diplomat does in his day job, learn about Ma...

Brandon Jackson spent nearly a decade in Japan playing and coaching rugby for corporate teams including the Ricoh Black Rams. Now, as General Manager of Growth Sectors at the Bank of New Zealand, he helps Kiwi businesses scale internationally, with a particular passion for strengthening the NZ-Japan relationship. Brandon discusses the promising sectors for NZ-Japan collaboration while offering fra...

Sarah Hudson made history as Aotearoa's first artist in residence at the Setouchi Triennale. Sarah shares her transformative experience living and creating art in Kagawa Prefecture's island community. Sarah's story is one of perseverance, cultural discovery, and the universal language of art. She reveals how stepping outside the big cities and into rural Japan changed not just her artwork, but her...

Bryn Rowdon is the Corporate Communications General Manager for Fonterra's North Asia region. We uncover the fascinating story of how New Zealand's iconic dairy cooperative is not only a leading B2B supplier in one of the world's most discerning markets but also helping local dairy farmers to create more sustainable and profitable farms.  New Zealand dairy products and ingredients are now par...

From the Māori All Blacks to the Ricoh Black Rams in Tokyo, Tabai Matson (Tabs) has coached rugby on multiple continents—and Japan has taught him some of his most valuable lessons.  We build on our learnings from top leaders as Tabs shares his cultural context knowledge with us that is also effective outside of locker rooms and scrums. You’ll be inspired to try your hand at your own version o...

Meet Aaron Astle, whose remarkable family story connects two nations across time. As a descendant of Noda Asajiro - believed to be the first Japanese person to set foot in New Zealand in the late 1800s - Aaron brings a unique perspective to living in Japan. From growing up in Auckland immersed in Te Ao Māori to making music and studying Japanese in Osaka, Aaron shares his journey of cultural disco...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Charles Wilson, who leads Tatua Japan's operations as both President and Representative Director in one of New Zealand's most important export markets. From his childhood introduction to Japan through the Japanese supplemental education calculation & maths program “Kumon mathematics” to becoming president of a dairy ingredients company, Charles share...

What does it take to succeed in Japan's notoriously difficult beauty market? Elizabeth Barbalich, founder and Director of iconic New Zealand skincare brand Antipodes, shares her fascinating 7-year journey of patience, persistence, and cultural learning that led to success in one of the world's most discerning markets. From developing seven products over two years in her quest for natural wellness,...

We cross swords/minds with Graham Sayer, a 7th dan Kyoshi kendo practitioner, former president of the New Zealand Kendo Federation and recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun.  Graham has been a huge supporter of Jandals in Japan Podcast from its early days and we are thrilled that he agreed to join us to share his wealth of experience in both kendo and business between Japan and New Zealand...

If you are a long term resident in Japan and consider yourself to be a cultural bridge builder, then this episode is a must listen for you. Sean O’Connell, Professor and Director of the International Center at Nanzan University, is about to drop some gold nuggets in your lap on how you can ace being an even better cross-cultural bridge builder. This is the jandal you have been looking for.  S...

Rebecca Thorn is the Kiwi General Manager of the hugely popular Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya. Rebecca shares insights into the hotel's unique blend of neighborhood culture, innovative team dynamics, and creative initiatives, showing that innovation is alive and well in Japan’s hospitality industry. The episode is a deep dive into the vision and strategies that have led to the hotel's success, capped...

Chris Boyle is Co-founder, Executive Chair and Managing Director of FABRUM. Chris shares FABRUM's expansive journey in the hydrogen energy sector, including breakthrough projects and partnerships with NASA, Rolls Royce, and significant Japanese corporations like Obayashi. We hear real stories about the failures as well as the successes that have helped them to be where they are today.  Subscr...

Sir Steve Hansen, the former All Blacks Coach and current Head Coach of Toyota Verblitz joins us on Jandals in Japan and we were thrilled when he shared his favorite treat from a Japanese convenience store on treat night! We also dive into his experience in Japan and insights into coaching and team dynamics here, his deep respect for Japanese culture while making changes and questioning norms to t...

We wanted to share our submission to the New Zealand Podcast Awards for 2024. Although we were certainly pipped at the post, we are so proud of the work we have done and thankful to the wonderful guests who have shared their experiences with us. Jandals" is a unique podcast focused on guiding New Zealand businesses entering the Japanese market. It exemplifies the power of going niche, offering ext...

Teri Tall is the Kiwi owner of the Hakuba Matata Lodge in Hakuba. She shares her experiences and insights on running a ski lodge in Japan. Teri shares the journey to finding their own ski lodge and setting up business here, with her motto, just do it, ask questions and tread respectfully. The winter sports industry is thriving in Japan and there is much scope for Kiwis to be part of it as Teri exp...

Lindsay Gray, Executive Chef at the Tokyo American Club, shares his culinary journey from New Zealand to Japan. Lindsay discusses his initial struggles and eventual appreciation for traditional Japanese dishes like Mozuku. He also talks about the challenges and rewards of managing a diverse kitchen in Japan, his approach to incorporating New Zealand ingredients into his menus, and tips for aspirin...

Jay Wilson, an accomplished motocross and supercross rider, shares his journey of how he ended up racing and living in Japan. Jay talks about his passion for motocross which began in his childhood and led him to win a world championship at age 14 in New Zealand. He discusses the challenges and triumphs he faced transitioning to professional racing, and the pivotal moment during the COVID pandemic...

Hiroaki (Hans)Nagahara is the Head of Japan for Air New Zealand. We enjoyed this wonderful discussion about our favorite destinations in New Zealand, the evolution of Air New Zealand's services, and the cultural nuances of doing business in Japan. Hans shares personal anecdotes from his extensive career in the aviation industry. This engaging conversation also covers the impact of COVID-19 on trav...

Craig Fenton is Chief Executive of New Zealand Rugby Commercial and joins us to discuss the connection between New Zealand Rugby and Japan. Japan has a long history of supporting New Zealand rugby in ways that are not well known and recently that relationship has seen an uptick in visibility through increased numbers of players and coaches coming to Japan as well as matches between the All Blacks...

In this episode of the Jandals in Japan podcast, hosts Jayne and Catherine discuss various topics from the current rice shortage in Japan to the unique process of wine distribution with guest Stephanie Henderson-Grant, Managing Director of Ataahua Wines Limited in New Zealand. Stephanie shares her journey from working in the wool industry to establishing her own vineyard, winning the Double Gold S...

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....

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 a...