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Jandals in Japan

Jayne Nakata & Catherine O'Connell
Jandals in Japan
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  • Skincare Secrets: Elizabeth Barbalich’s Formula for Success in Japan with Antipodes
    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, to navigating the complex world of Japanese retail partnerships and formal business etiquette, Elizabeth reveals why Japan isn't just about revenue -it's about building brand equity that opens doors globally. Discover the surprising cultural differences (like why Japanese women condition their hair nightly!), the power of retail staff relationships over influencer marketing, and why being seen on Japanese shelves makes international buyers take notice.Whether you are considering Japan as a market, or simply love hearing about entrepreneurial grit, this episode is packed with actionable insights about building authentic brand trust in a market where customers read every ingredient and expect perfection.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 love it if you would come and say hi (or Kia Ora or Konnichi Wa!) over on @jandalsinjapan on Instagram.In this episode you’ll hear:• How Elizabeth overcame the challenge of minimal sales with three different distributors for the first three years in Japan• The six-hour "etiquette meeting" required to switch distributors and what it taught her about Japanese business culture• How she created a vitamin C toner specifically for Japanese consumers (and why it became a hit in other markets too)• Why she values formal business meetings and trains her entire team on proper etiquette for every marketAbout ElizabethElizabeth Barbalich is the founder and CEO of the iconic New Zealand skincare brand Antipodes which she founded over 20 years ago in 2004. Elizabeth grew up on the Mainland amidst the Canterbury Plains, undertook a science degree in biology from the University of Canterbury, then embarked on an MBA from the University of Auckland. She won a highly competitive position with a United States medical technology corporation and spent 8 years training surgeons and registrars in the use of their cutting-edge equipment.Antipodes skincare products are made of pure bioactive ingredients from New Zealand’s nature. To launch the sustainable beauty brand, she drew on her background in science. Today Antipodes is available in Japan and many other countries. LinksAntipodes: https://jp.antipodesnature.com/ Jandals in Japan is brought to you by Catherine O’Connell Law and PodLaunch with JayneConnect with Jayne and CatherineLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jandals-in-japan-podcast/ Instagram:
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  • Crossing Swords: Kendo, Culture, and Commerce in Japan with Graham Sayer
    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. Listen to hear more about this fascinating martial art that changed the trajectory of Graham’s life. 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 love it if you would come and say hi (or Kia Ora or Konnichi Wa!) over on @jandalsinjapan on Instagram.In this episode you’ll hear:What Japan was like in the bubble era of the late 70s and early 80sLoyalty and the challenge of switching martial arts codes in JapanHow learnings from kendo can take you into the business worldJapan’s timber industry and why Graham is selling timber to New ZealandAbout GrahamGraham Sayer: Kiwi spirit, global horizons Graham grew up in Taranaki and in 1978, at 20 years of age, headed to Japan to chase his dream of getting a black belt in judo. A knee injury rerouted him to kendo which then became a lifelong passion, sparking a career blending entrepreneurship and cultural exchange. Graham founded a trading venture as well as running a private English school for children in Kyoto before returning to NZ in 1985 to raise his family. Graham has been involved in many different businesses over the years including, importing wooden toys (into Japan) and cultured pearls (into NZ). He also ran a joint venture with a Japanese company, building a small chain of four photo/camera stores in Auckland as well as launching Escapepods motorhomes, and lastly, was a manufacturer and distributor of rota-moulded fishing kayaks in Japan. Graham now focuses on Japanese timber exports and supporting his wife’s kendo travel business. Graham was Kendo President, NZ Kendo Federation for 33 years as well as Auditor for the International Kendo Federation (present). He co-founded the Auckland Kendo club in 1988 which today is NZ’s largest Kendo club. In 2022, he was awarded Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun for services to cultural ties between Japan and New Zealand via the art of Kendo. Today, he spends his time between Japan and NZ - embracing simplicity, tradition, and new ventures. Connect with GrahamKendo: https://akc.org.nz/ Kendo Tours: www.kendotours.com Timber: www.japaneselumber.com Jandals in Japan is brought to you by Catherine O’Connell Law and PodLaunch
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  • Building Bridges as a Kiwi in Japan: Sean O'Connell on Intercultural Communication
    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. 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 love it if you would come and say hi (or Kia Ora or Konnichi Wa!) over on @jandalsinjapan on Instagram.In this episode you’ll hear:How the Karate Kid kicked off Sean’s interest in the martial arts and the Japanese languageSean’s tips for also successfully interpreting feeling and nuance between Japanese and English counterpartsThe biggest culture shock moment for people new to business in JapanBringing Sean’s skills in bridge building to life at his bar, The Hungry MooseWhy Sean loves the Jandals in Japan Podcast! About SeanSean has a passion for bridging cultures, and has spent decades (30+ years in Japan alone) immersed in Japanese language, business, and the like. After an exchange year in Yokohama in 1986, he earned a BA in Japanese, an MA in Advanced Japanese Studies, and a PhD in Intercultural Business Communication. Sean’s career has taken him from guiding and managing Japanese tours in New Zealand, and business interpreting and translation in Japan to corporate training, where he specialises in preparing expats and fostering multicultural teamwork.Sean is a Professor and Director of the International Center at Nanzan University in Nagoya. In his free time you can find him at the bar he co-founded, The Hungry Moose. Connect with SeanFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOCNAGOYA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-o-connell-8294b071/ Links:The Hungry Moose: https://www.thehungrymoose.jp/en Jandals in Japan is brought to you by Catherine O’Connell Law and PodLaunch with JayneConnect with Jayne and CatherineLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jandals-in-japan-podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandalsinjapan/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jandalsinjapan YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jandalsinjapan
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  • Exploring Kiwi Excellence in Business: Behind the Scenes at Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya with Rebecca Thorn
    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 off with exciting upcoming collaborations and events. If you are considering a career in the hospitality industry in Japan, this is an episode not to be missed.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 love it if you would come and say hi (or Kia Ora or Konnichi Wa!) over on @jandalsinjapan on Instagram.In this episode you’ll hear:How Rebecca inspires her team to try new ideas, including finding a way to make waffles shaped like “Hachiko” the famous dog who waited for its master at Shibuya stationThe design, fashion, music and art themes that run through all aspects of the hotelHow Rebecca is building a diverse and inclusive team in JapanThe Kilimanjaro Strategy that her team is talking aboutAbout RebeccaRebecca, a proud Kiwi, is the General Manager of Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya, which opened in August 2023. She has been loving living and working in Tokyo now for over 5 years. This year marks 19 years with IHG, the company which she has had the opportunity to work in 7 different hotels across 4 different countries with.Connect with RebeccaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-thorn-65b49940/ Links:Rebecca’s First Episode #33: https://www.jandalsinjapan.com/episode/thirthy-three/ Personal/work Instagram - @rebecca_thorn_Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-thorn-65b49940/Hotel Instagram - @hotelindigotokyoshibuyaHotel LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/hotelindigotokyoshibuya/posts/?feedView=al lHotel Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HotelIndigoTokyoShibuya/ Hotel website - https://www.ihg.com/hotelindigo/hotels/us/en/shibuyaku/hndsh/hoteldetail Gallery 11 Restaurant: https://gallery11.jp/ Vinyl market in Tokyo: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/03/08/lifestyle/vinyl-records-japan-overseas-buyers/Hachiko: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachik%C5%8D Hachi...
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  • Playing the Long Game with Innovation and Hydrogen: FABRUM's Journey from New Zealand to Japan
    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. 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 love it if you would come and say hi (or Kia Ora or Konnichi Wa!) over on @jandalsinjapan on Instagram.In this episode you’ll hear:How FABRUM started to get noticed by big organisations such as NASA and Rolls RoyceThe benefits of working with NZTE and how joining ministerial visits gives you credibility in JapanThe pitfalls of casualness in business and how FABRUM designed a way that helps customers have confidence in themThe long term vision for FABRUM in hydrogen and for Christchurch and New Zealand’s up and coming engineers. About ChrisChristopher Boyle is the co-founder and Executive Chair of FABRUM, a New Zealand company with the tagline of “advancing a world where people can do more, with less, for longer, by creating clean-tech solutions which enable humanity to tread lightly.“Christopher has been with FABRUM for over 20 years. He is an adventurer and serial entrepreneur, setting up a number of start-ups over the last two decades. After graduating from the University of Canterbury with an electrical engineering degree, Chris ventured into the power industry, which took him around the world in a range of different roles. When he returned home, a reunion with an old university mate led to the creation of FABRUM Solutions. Christopher was a Finalist in the EY New Zealand Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024FABRUM is a world leader in providing engineering and cryogenic technologies that help generate power. From designing cryogenic systems for major hydrogen plants to developing lightweight composite liquid hydrogen tanks for the aviation industry, FABRUM has a number of patents on bespoke pieces of technology. The company was driven by the goal to develop Kiwi renewable technology for global adoption, helping sectors like aviation, marine, and heavy industry transportation decarbonise.Japan’s Obayashi Corporation participated in FABRUM’s $23M Series A financing round in February 2023. Obayashi is one of the world’s leading construction companies with expertise and technological innovation and a long track record of projects in New Zealand. In August 2023, FABRUM collaborated with Obayashi Corporation on their first project together where FABRUM is the supplier of a Hydrogen Refuelling Station (HRS) package for a refuelling station project in Auckland. Recently, FABRUM’s proprietary storage solutions have achieved some impressive performance milestones. For example, their cutting-edge liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage technology has been shipped to the top car manufacturer in Japan (Toyota) for further research and development. Links:FABRUM: https://fabrum.nz/ Jandals in Japan is brought to you by
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About Jandals in Japan

The best show about New Zealanders doing business in Japan, bringing The Land of the Long White Cloud to The Land of the Rising Sun How do you build a brand in Japan and nurture a loyal customer base? What do you need to have in your tool belt if you are thinking of coming to Japan to launch a business here? Japan is often considered to be in the "too hard" basket but we are here to open up the black box of doing business in Japan. We will share stories from successful Kiwis selling their products and services here in Japan. They'll tell you their tips for success and pitfalls to avoid. They'll share their challenges and what they did to overcome them. They will tell you things you can't find in textbooks or on the internet. We will also be sharing the latest intel and insights on Japan from our on-the-ground presence And you'll hear some super business culture and other tips from us sprinkled throughout. Grab a glass of sake and let's get into it.
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