As I write this it is the first official day back to work for the year for 2024. This year of 2024 has started off rough for Japan with a massive earthquake hitting the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa prefecture on the first day of the year, followed by a big accident on the runway at Haneda Airport on January 2nd. I heard about the quake as I was leaving New Zealand to come back to Japan and thankfully arrived safely into Narita on 2 January. In this year of the Dragon I am not sure how this bodes for the fortunes for this year but as always, Japan has got up and got going to work full speed on clearing the runway already on January 8th and while the recovery in Noto Peninsula will take much longer the spirit of helpers and relief aid support is strong and it is admirable to see the way Japan goes into action so fast in these situations. 

Here’s a wrap-up of the highlights from my month of December 2023! 

• Japan Rugby Premier League Rugby Season has kicked off:
  It was fabulous to go and see two rugby games in December. The Toyota Verblitz team is the team I am supporting this season. They won the home game in Nagoya on December 9th but missed the win in the second away game in Yokohama on December 16.
  
  Though it is very strange to see Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith in green uniforms, not their All Black uniforms, it was amazing to see them playing on the field in Japan with my Kiwi friends and we were properly wearing the team jerseys. I could certainly recognise the difference in level of play between Beauden and Aaron, compared to other players in the team, and I am sure there is a mix of these two players working out the gaps in abilities and helping bridge them as well as being humble and appreciative of how far they have come from their earlier days to the senior level players they are now.
  
  Good luck to the Toyota Verblitz!

• 40 over 40 Photo Photo Exhibition with Tia Haygood:
  I had such a ball being a part of this adventure in photography with the one and only Tia Haygood. She has been the inspiration behind all the headshots you see on my website and social media and new headshot over on Linkedin and Instagram.
  
  The photo in this blog in tangerine-red is the amazing photo that Tia selected to be framed on the wall on display with the 39 other ladies at the 40 over 40 Exhibition at Ryozan Part @ Gallery Mugen.
  
  In this blog, I’ve slipped in a couple of photos with the artist herself, Tia, and a friend who also featured in the exhibition and some behind the scenes photos too. 

• Women in Law Japan Term came to an end:
  On 31 December 2023 it was the end of an era as I stepped down from my President role at Women in Law Japan, which I have held for the past three years. It’s hard to hand over the role when you love doing it but this was key for me in the past - to leave a good thing while things still feel good - and to hand over the reins to new blood.
  
  In the words of #serenawilliams “Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” It has been my absolute honour to serve as Women In Law Japan (WILJ) President for the last three years, since January 2020 over the pandemic.  I have handed over the leadership from January 2024 to co-Presidents Angela Yuen and Laarni Victoria Q. Vinas and Vice President Xue Wang.
  
  Let me share with you the post on Linkedin with my final speech at the end of year Dazzle in December party on December 7th and this blog is full of lovely pics from that evening.
  
  🙏Thank you to all of you who have helped me on this three year journey as President and two years prior to that as Vice President. I'm looking forward to my next phase as #mentor to the co-Presidents and to serving on the #WILJ #advisoryboard planned to be established in early 2024.

• Lawyer on Air Podcast

  I recorded THREE episodes and released just the one episode in the Lawyer on Air Podcast in December: 

  Thriving in Law in the Japanese e-Discovery Industry was the exciting title for my chat with Anitha Henderson in Episode 2 in Season 7 of the Podcast. Anitha is proof once again that you can work in the law joyfully without being a lawyer per se.

  If you are enjoying my podcast episodes, I would love you to take just a few minutes of your time to leave me a rating on Apple podcasts, and write a short review so more people can hear about the podcast after reading your words to encourage them to do so. Drop us a quick email to tell us which episode you liked and why to: admin@catherineoconnelllaw.com 

• Jandals in Japan Podcast
  Together with co-host Jayne Nakata we released another TWO new episodes of the Jandals in Japan Podcast. 

  In Episode 43 we tantalised taste buds in our interview with Joe Harawira of Wai Manuka and talked all about his sparkling non-alcoholic beverage, Wai Manuka and its awesome adventure from being served up at the America’s Cup to now being available via e-commerce to consumers in Japan. 

  In Episode 44, Jayne and I talked with Motoko Murata who is the Country Manager for Mainfreight and we talked about the world of Delivering Excellence in Japan’s Freight Industry We can’t wait to see Mainfreight go from strength to strength in the transport industry in Japan. 

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Thank you so much for your support!!

And finally… 

Let me attach a copy of my New Years Card I sent out to my clients, friends and colleagues on 1 January. I usually send a postcard in the snail mail but decided to be more sustainable from this year forward sending this card electronically. It meant I got some lovely replies as a result which I might not have got had the card been sent in the post. When I look at this card it reminds me of so many of the fabulous activities I got up to in 2023 and I simply can’t wait for the same and more for 2024.

See you in February (p.s. It’s my birthday! 🎁)

Catherine