Episode 7

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Published on:

6th Jun 2022

Communicating your Kiwiness with Louise George Kittaka

If you haven’t visited Japan for a while due to the Covid-19 pandemic then you might find Japan to be quite different from when you were here last. Our guest is Louise George Kittaka, a writer and cross cultural trainer. Louise has been a proud supporter of Kiwis in Japan for many years and we wanted to introduce her to our growing Jandals community! 

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 Louise came to be in Japan and how she got into writing and journalism here
  • Louise’s tips for working with media in Japan
  • The generalisations about Japan that are not true today
  • How New Zealand is perceived in Japan and the shared values between our countries
  • What’s really happening with masks in Japan right now and other changes in Japan since Covid
  • Stories about fax machines! 


About Louise

Louise George Kittaka is a bilingual writer, content developer, university lecturer and cross-cultural specialist from New Zealand. She writes for various English media platforms, including as a regular columnist and features writer for the Japan Times. Her areas of interest include travel, business, education, environmental concerns, and issues pertaining to the international community. She has contributed to numerous EFL textbooks and study materials for the Japanese market, and conducts cross-cultural training programs for families leaving or arriving in Japan on corporate assignments. She lectures in the comparative studies department at Shirayuri Women’s University in Tokyo.

Connect with Louise

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-george-kittaka-1606581a/ 

https://www.jarman-international.com/company/ji-core-50/louise-george-kittaka/ 


Connect with Jayne and Catherine

Linked In: 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/channel/UCwdbd0QSHSLlOSPcpceHOcA 

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About the Podcast

Jandals in Japan
Bringing The Land of the Long White Cloud to The Land of the Rising Sun
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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About your hosts

Jayne Nakata

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Jayne Nakata is a Southland girl who arrived in Japan in 2002, planning to stay just two years. 20 years later she is still living in Fukushima Prefecture with her Japanese husband and two children. When the triple disaster hit in 2011, Jayne made the commitment to stay in Fukushima and contribute to rebuilding the area. She is the host of the award winning podcast Transformations with Jayne, which is a favourite with international women living in Japan. She is also the double award winning podcast producer and manager for PodLaunch with Jayne.

Catherine O’Connell

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Originally from Christchurch, Catherine O'Connell has lived in Japan since 2002. Catherine has over 20 years working at brand-name Japanese corporations as legal counsel. In 2018, Catherine launched her own boutique law firm in Tokyo, which has become become a multi-award-winning business. She is Vice Chair of the Australian & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Audit & Supervisory Board Member at TOYOTA Motor Corporation & FUJITSU Limited. As well as the Jandals in Japan Podcast, she hosts the award-winning Lawyer on Air Podcast.