Catherine’s Monthly Wrap Up - January 2024
Whoosh! The first month of 2024 has flown by in the blink of an eye. Is this a foreshadowing of the year ahead?
For those reading this, I hope everything is going swimmingly. Meanwhile, Japan is grappling with the aftermath of a massive earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa prefecture on New Year's Day, followed by a runway mishap at Haneda Airport on January 2nd.
Despite the challenges, numerous companies are rallying behind the recovery efforts in the affected areas, where the water supply won't be restored until the end of February.
One standout example is a company matching yen for yen any employee donations, along with a generous company contribution, reflecting a broader trend of humble yet impactful support. While such gestures may not be broadcasted loudly, they speak volumes about the spirit of generosity ingrained in Japanese culture.
On a brighter note, I had the pleasure of attending the New Year's event hosted by the Australian & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ANZCCJ) last week, where we came together to raise over JPY 2 million for the Noto Peninsula through Red Cross initiatives.
→ If you wish to help donate, there are some links in this Japan Times article.
Now let’s get on with the show. Here’s a wrap-up of the highlights from my month of January 2024!
Japan Rugby Premier League Rugby Season has kicked off:
It was fabulous to return back to Toyota Stadium and watch the Toyota Verblitz team play a home game. Toshiba got the win on the day but I got a win being seated a heated seat! This made a world of difference to enjoying the game in style. The next game is March 6th and I guess the seats will be switched off as perhaps it is already “spring” by then.
Good luck to the Toyota Verblitz and let’s get the win in March!
Shinnenkai (new years party):
Ah, January, the month of New Year's celebrations galore! It seems many opted for the same night and venue this year, resulting in a delightful convergence of familiar faces. Among the crowd are those who emerge from the woodwork only for the standout occasions like the chamber of commerce year-start gatherings.
Alongside attending the ANZCCJ Shinnenkai in my capacity as Vice Chair, I found myself engaging in a spirited bidding war for a pet food package from New New Zealand Pet Food company K9. Despite not being a pet owner (yet), I saw this as an innovative opportunity to lend a helping hand, with the proceeds earmarked for the furry residents of Noto Peninsula.
🙏A special thanks goes out to Kylie Archer at NZTE for orchestrating this unique auction item.
I also attended the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) Shinnenkai wearing another hat as co-Chair of the Legal Services & IP Committee. I always love the festive cracking open of the Sake barrel at the ACCJ Shinnenkai. It’s a tradition.
The Unpacking Japan Podcast with Jayne Nakata:
Have you ever thought about what it must have been like on the day when the big earthquake and tsunami and Fukushima Nuclear power plant triple disasters hit on March 11 2011? Well you can hear a chilling story from Jayne Nakata who was there on the day, pregnant and in her car when the rocking started. She tells it straight and also puts to bed some of the old myths about the Fukushima area 12 years on from that day. Take a listen here.
Lawyer on Air Podcast:
I released TWO episodes in the Lawyer on Air Podcast in January:
In Season 7 Episode 3 of the podcast you can listen in to my chat with Lawyer Extraordinaire Mari Hiraizumi, where we talked about Redefining Corporate Legal Leadership and Board Membership in Global Corporations This is a phenomenal episode and so if you are just about to start listening to my podcast this is a great episode to kick off with!
Season 7 Episode 4 was a conversation with Tomoko Konishi who is working in the law but is not a lawyer. We talk about all things related to Using Your Law Degree Without Being a Lawyer at Top Companies in Japan. Give it a listen too!
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 January:
In Episode 45 we gave the inside story on how to work with COSTCO as a distribution strategy hearing the top tips from Jason Allen, who we invited back on the show.
In Episode 46, Doug Picken, a rugby translator, stepped up to the plate to tell us all about how he goes about bridging language gaps in Japan rugby through translation and the skills and patience you need to succeed.
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Thank you so much for your support!!
And finally…
Isn't it fascinating what resonates on social media? Surprisingly, it's not always my thought-provoking insights into life in Japan or captivating podcast stories that capture attention, but rather the spontaneous posts I share while commuting or exploring. It's those authentic, in-the-moment moments that seem to strike a chord with people.
So, allow me to indulge you with a photo of Mt. Fuji, which stole the spotlight as the most popular post on LinkedIn this month. Here’s the post and the original snapshot!
I'm continually grateful for the opportunity to glimpse this majestic mountain once or twice a month from the speeding bullet train, especially when she's adorned in a pristine snow-white cloak. Simply breathtaking! Looking forward to sharing more insights in February, which also happens to be my birthday month... Just 10 days away!
See you next month!
Catherine