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Jandals in Japan

Jandals in Japan

By: Jayne Nakata & Catherine O'Connell
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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.Copyright 2025 Jayne Nakata & Catherine O'Connell Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Skincare Secrets: Elizabeth Barbalich’s Formula for Success in Japan with Antipodes
    Jun 29 2025

    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 market

    About Elizabeth

    Elizabeth 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.


    Links

    Antipodes: https://jp.antipodesnature.com/

    Jandals in Japan is brought to you by Catherine O’Connell Law and PodLaunch with Jayne


    Connect with Jayne and Catherine

    Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jandals-in-japan-podcast/

    Instagram:

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    49 mins
  • Crossing Swords: Kendo, Culture, and Commerce in Japan with Graham Sayer
    May 18 2025

    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 80s
    • Loyalty and the challenge of switching martial arts codes in Japan
    • How learnings from kendo can take you into the business world
    • Japan’s timber industry and why Graham is selling timber to New Zealand


    About Graham

    Graham 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 Graham

    Kendo: 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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    50 mins
  • Building Bridges as a Kiwi in Japan: Sean O'Connell on Intercultural Communication
    Apr 27 2025

    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 language
    • Sean’s tips for also successfully interpreting feeling and nuance between Japanese and English counterparts
    • The biggest culture shock moment for people new to business in Japan
    • Bringing Sean’s skills in bridge building to life at his bar, The Hungry Moose
    • Why Sean loves the Jandals in Japan Podcast!

    About Sean

    Sean 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 Sean

    Facebook: 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 Jayne


    Connect with Jayne and Catherine

    LinkedIn: 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

    Show More Show Less
    47 mins

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