On Consulting Group is proud to announce that “Jandals in Japan” was approved as a registered TRADE MARK by the Japan Patent Office on April 3rd, 2026. We can’t wait to see where this branding takes the podcast and other planned activities. Join us in celebrating this milestone!

Pavlova, Lamb chops, Garage Project beers, and great information sharing. What’s not to like? Catherine enjoyed taking part in the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) gathering at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo on February 17 for a fireside chat with Ambassador Ms Lucy Duncan, Charge d’Affaires a.i. YPO is a global network of young chief executives focused on “better leaders through learning and idea exchange.” The event was held under Chatham House Rules but broadly the t

MOJO Coffee Albert Street was the venue for the second meet up with Auckland-based Japanese lawyers. Talking about how to have wills and estates looked after between both countries was a topic of discussion. We are planning cocktails and dinner with an extended group, in Auckland in May 2026.

On March 19th, 2026 as a representative of the Iwaki International Association, Jayne Nakata spoke on her experience of being a non-Japanese parent raising two children who attended kindergarten in Iwaki to teachers at city kindergartens.

It was surreal to descend on Government House in Auckland to join the event celebrating Global Women’s Honorary Life members. Hosted by Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand, this was a fine celebration of the extraordinary wāhine being acknowledged as Global Women Life Members and Honorary Life Members in 2025: Dame Theresa Gattung, Dame Ranjna Patel, Hon Margaret Wilson, and Rt Hon Helen Clark. This ceremony paid tribute to pi

Catching up with NZ-based Jandals is always a treat. Catherine popped into the "Unlocking Business Potential with Japan” event hosted by the Japan Embassy in New Zealand, Consular General Office of Japan in Auckland, and Japan NZ Business Council on March 17th, 2026.

This topic is moving up higher on the list of priorities, for any athletes involved in rugby, who are nearing the end of their career as an athlete. It’s not always the case that players winding up their rugby careers wish to go on the coaching circle. So what do athletes do to transition from a sporting career to a business career? That was the topic on offer at the ANZCCJ’s March 9 gathering I attended to hear the voices of a few current and former players, sharing first-ha

English follows. この記事でわかること（Golden Jandals） - 驚異の再エネ比率85%超え！？地熱はその2割を支える大黒柱！ - ニュージーランドが誇る世界最高峰の地熱開発技術 -今村さんから学ぶ、Jandals × Japanビジネスの極意 What you’ll learn in this article (Golden Jandals) - A staggering 85%+ renewable energy share!? Geothermal is the "backbone" supporting 20% of it! - New Zealand’s world-class geothermal development technology. - The secrets of the "Jandals × Japan" business learned from Mr Imamura.

English follows. この記事でわかること（Golden Jandals） - え、これも？身近にある意外なFonterra製品 - ライバルなのになぜ？北海道の酪農を支えるプロジェクト - Bryn（ブリン）さんから学ぶ、Jandals × Japanビジネスの極意 しかーし！！実はあなたもFonterraさんのお世話になっております。間違いなく。「私は、そんなことないよ～」と思ったあなた、嘘です（笑）。 What You’ll Learn in This Article (Golden Jandals) - Wait, this too? Unexpected Fonterra products all around us. - Why help a rival? The project supporting dairy farming in Hokkaido. - The Essence of Jandals × Japan Business: Lessons from Bryn.

Taiki Ito : Cross-cultural Communication Intern English follows. 北海道札幌市出身。生まれてから就職まで北海道で過ごし、現在はニュージーランドのヴィクトリア大学ウェリントン校にて、修士課程（Master of Business Analysis）を専攻中。 留学前の職務経験を通じて、グローバルビジネスにおける異文化理解の重要性を実感し、ニュージーランド独自のビジネス文化や慣習に関心を持っていたところ、『Jandals in Japan』に遭遇。数々のエピソードに触れる中で、「これこそ日本人に知ってほしい」という両国のビジネス連携に役立つヒント凝縮されていることに気づき、チームのCross-cultural Communication担当として日本人向けブログ執筆を開始。 現地で感じるリアルな空気感とともに、Jandalsたちが語るエピソードに詰まった学びやヒントを日本の読者へ届けます。 I was born and raised in Sapporo, Hokkaido, wher

Catherine kicked off 2026 on the Tokyo radio airwaves, appearing on interFM’s Peace & Business Talk , interviewed in Japanese by Keiko Okada . The first of three episodes aired on January 4 , exploring cross-cultural collaboration, leadership, and bridge-building between Japan and New Zealand. Tune in to upcoming broadcasts: Episode 2: February 1 at 8:30am Episode 3: March 1 at 8:30am Listen to Episode 1 here:未来をひらく人 – Peace & Business TalkinterFM 2026/1/4(日) 08:30–08:45...

Jayne Nakata will be sharing her journey from New Zealand to Japan and her learnings as a 23 year resident of Iwaki City through her monthly column in the Read Iwaki monthly magazine. By sharing her story of overcoming various cultural differences she hopes that people in Iwaki will understand more about what life is like for people who choose to make Japan their home and increase understanding and a sense of pride in the wonder city of Iwaki, Fukushima. Her column is titled:

From Kiwi Flees: In this episode of Kiwi Flees, Jayne & Catherine share their experiences of arriving separately in Japan over 20 years ago, both thinking they'd only be away for a year or two but finding themselves hooked to their adopted country over two decades later. We discuss their different but also connected lives. Jayne being rurally-based with her family in Fukushima which suffered a triple disaster in 2011 of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. Jayne shares

On a warm Auckland morning, Catherine convened the very first informal meet-up of Japanese Kiwi lawyers and Japan-connected legal professionals . Joining the conversation were: Serene Sakairi – Solicitor, Morrison Partners Ltd Takeshi Ito – Lawyer & Company Secretary, Hospitality Services Ltd Mac Curtis – Former Big Four Japan legal translator and upcoming UK Bar entrant Over flat whites and cheese scones in Newmarket, the group shared career experiences, discussed the leg

Jayne Nakata's multi-award winning, boutique podcast agency has entered it's sixth year of business. Jayne has been an avid podcaster since 2018 before podcasting became popular during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since starting out helping others to launch and maintain their own podcasts, Jayne has launched many podcasts in the English language space in Japan as well as hosted, produced and edited award winning podcasts such as: Lawyer on Air, by Catherine O'Connell Transformatio

On November 12, Catherine attended the Tokyo–Kurashiki Furusato-kai, where former Kurashiki and Okayama residents - now living in Tokyo - gathered to celebrate their roots through food, song, and cultural performances. Kurashiki holds special meaning for Catherine: it is Christchurch’s sister city, and she has visited it more than 30 times . A highlight of the evening was reconnecting with Mayor Kaori Ito , instantly recognizable in her signature denim suit, proudly represe

Catherine returned to Rotorua in 2025 for the second time to attend the 51st Japan – NZ Business Council Conference and once again, the geothermal landscape and strong sense of wairua made it a memorable gathering. The program brought together business leaders, innovators, and bridge-builders committed to strengthening NZ–Japan collaboration. Catherine enjoyed reconnecting with long-time colleagues while welcoming new faces into the network. A special highlight was finally

Catherine joined the Kiwi Aussie Mixer at Yotel in Shinjuku. This event is hosted by ANZCCJ semi-monthly where Kiwis, Aussies and Japanese come together for fun networking. No agenda, no speakers, no panels. Just mixing and mingling with Kiwi and Aussie beverages and finger food. Check out ANZCCJ events page for the next Kiwi Aussie Mixer event.

Risky Women® is a global network connecting, celebrating and championing women in governance, risk and compliance since 2014. Risky Women featured Catherine O’Connell in their list of Women to Watch in October 2025. She spoke about her trailblazing as a lawyer and board member breaking barriers as the first foreign woman on Toyota and Fujitsu boards. She pioneered flexible General Counsel services in Japan and hosts Lawyer on Air, amplifying women lawyers' voices. A bridge-bu

🇯🇵🤝🇳🇿 On 20 October, Hon Nicola Willis MP , New Zealand’s Minister for Finance, Economic Growth and Social Investment, visited Japan for a series of engagements, including an intimate breakfast in Tokyo with business leaders and investors who proudly champion New Zealand in their daily work. Catherine had the pleasure to meet the Minister in person and hear her reaffirm that Japan remains one of New Zealand’s closest and most valued economic partners. The deep and long-