What a truly actively massive month it has been in November with all kinds of fulfilling legal work, board interactions and outside joyful activities. I cannot believe it is December in a short while and that 2023 will soon be upon us. If I could expand December to be just a bit longer that would be magical but at the same time I am really looking forward to what 2023 will bring and the bold moves I will play to further enrich the lives of others. Two exciting new opportunities came up in November for 2023 which I’ll tell you about in upcoming blogs as they unfold! But for now …

… here's what I got up to in November!

• I released THREE new episodes in the Lawyer on Air Podcast with General Counsel at Amazon Japan Yuko Noguchi, Inspirational Maria Abe from Vanguard Lawyers, and Akiko Araki who’s a rising star with her own law firm doing law just that bit differently. If you love my podcast episodes do take a few minutes to leave me a rating and a review so more people can hear about the podcast after reading your words to encourage them to do so.

• Together with co-pilot Jayne Nakata we released TWO new episodes of the Jandals in Japan Podcast.  One interview was with Heiden Bedwell-Curtis who plays rugby in Japan and we also heard from the team at ecostore who told us all about how they live their values every day and have now come to be the #1 refill retailer in Japan. 

  One person asked me recently why we record soooooooo many food and beverage guests on the Jandals podcast? Well, … New Zealand does happen to be known as a country that exports premium food and beverage products globally, …. but you only need to take a look at these TWO latest podcast episodes to see that having a guest on the show who plays top level championship rugby in Japan and talking with guests who are introducing superb cleaning/washing products for home use, to understand that all our episodes are certainly not “just” about New Zealand’s reputation for food and bev! 

  Co-host Jayne Nakata and I intentionally make it our goal to showcase guests from a wide variety of industries, services and products out of New Zealand in the Japan market with more variety to come, as well as our classic premium food and beverage exporters who are excelling in this market! If you have FOMO subscribe to the podcast and our newsletter so you don’t miss out on an episode. 

• I mentioned last time that we submitted a 6-minute video clip from 6 episodes of the Jandals in Japan Podcast for our entry in the New Zealand Podcast Awards 2022. Wow! Are we so thrilled to have been selected to be a finalist in the Best Business Podcast Category. We are now revved up and looking for a win in this highly contested category!  

• If you have 2 minutes of time to spare, please vote for us in the Listener’s Choice Award. Entries close 9 December. Thank you!

→ Link to the Listener’s Choice Award nomination page
→ Link to podcast that you will also need is here

• Last month I mentioned that the British Chamber of Commerce British Business Awards 2022 were coming up in November, and I was so excited and thrilled that my dear friend and Podcast producer/manager/strategist Jayne Nakata WON the Entrepreneur of the Year Award! Check out the photos in this blog for the fun we had. 

  This is beyond phenomenal and goes to prove what I have always known about Jayne to be a stealth strength and soft power behind so much of the delivery of podcasts and media work that others ship into this world, as well as executing on her own work. 

  This Award gives Jayne every opportunity to say this is what she does and to inspire other people, especially to encourage small business owners to consider putting themselves forward for award nominations. As Jayne well said “even the process of submitting the application will facilitate professional development and personal growth as it requires considering all the key achievements that have been made.” 

  Congratulations a million times over to you Jayne and how marvellous it is for me to have you on my team and work alongside you every-single-day. 
  

• The British Business Awards also allowed me to take the bold action to put my hand up as a Bronze Sponsor for these Awards and I wrote about that decision here. It was truly lovely to be surrounded by dear friends and clients who have supported me along the pathway since I started my business in 2018 and to expose them to an enriching experience of a classy awards event.

• I had a blast with Jayne together attending the Japan New Zealand Business Council conference in Beppu. It was 5 days away from Tokyo that felt like 5 months with a mix of work and  relaxing with new found friends. I was a co-moderator of the First Plenary Session with representatives from Nissui, Mitsui, Air New Zealand and Zespri speaking as panellists. It was phenomenal to be honoured with this role and I loved being on stage performing. 

  I was also blown away by the feedback from attendees at the conference, wh remarked on the excellent standard of the Jandals in Japan Podcast We had a secret host of followers we were not aware of who told us that they truly find it an inspiring and informative source of knowledge and tips for doing business in Japan. That warms my heart up as hot as a Beppu hot spring! I’m writing about the experience and will share more next time. 

• My lovely friend Helen Iwata reached the milestones of 200 episodes of her Sasuga! Podcast. She and I celebrated at one of my favourite watering holes, The Toranomon Tokyo Edition Hotel and I wrote about Helen’s achievement here. WIth Season 4 nearly finished I have shared the career stories and insights of 40+ guests, and though I do have some way to go to catch up to Helen I am enjoying each and every conversation! Congrats again Helen and thanks for also having me on your podcast talking about  being an inspiration to others.

  
  

• I had the pleasure of supporting two events for worthy causes in November - the Carbine Club Melbourne Cup day raising money for children in care homes, and the LLAN (Lawyers for LGBT and Allies) 7th Equality Gala at the Allen & Overy Table with Xue Wang. Women in Law Japan has supported LLAN from the get go and it was super to have Toshimi and Rika with us at the event. It really felt like a family supporting family.

• It was a thrill on November 29th to be at the exclusive Women in Leadership Breakfast with  South Australia Governor Her Excellency Frances Adamson AC and her “be frank and fearless” comment was truly inspirational for me as a leader in the community and outside board director.

  
  

• I mentioned in my last blog that I had a truly fabulous time out of Tokyo in October with a group of amazing lawyer ladies who signed up for the autumn Women Lawyers Retreat. Plans are already underway for the Spring Women Lawyers Retreat in early April 2023. Get in touch to hear more about what’s planned if you missed out this time and are curious to know what happened on tour! 

• To close out, November 11, 2002 I arrived in Japan for what was to be a one-year contract with a Japanese company as their in-house legal counsel. That one year became 20 years, so this month I also welcomed my 20th year in Japan (called a “Japaniversary”) and penned some reflective words on this occasion too. Much to my surprise it has reached 12,200+ reactions as at publishing this blog! There was especially lots of feedback to this part: “I cannot wait for what 2023 and beyond brings and as I continue to challenge with joy at the core. The question for me always is not, "Will I succeed?" but rather, "What should I attempt?"
  

• Last but not least, as we warm up for the end of the year gatherings with families, my eldest brother sent me this B&W photo of me and my youngest brother from younger days. I remember this day well in the backyard garden with dad planting carrots and silverbeet. I haven’t really changed much at all since then have I? 

That’s all from me for this month. See you in December.

Catherine