Episode 14

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Published on:

12th Sep 2022

Creating an anchor for the community in Japan with Kim Harase from iki Espresso

Selling New Zealand in Japan might not necessarily be a stand-alone product, it could also be combined with an atmosphere or a Kiwi style sense of community. We had such a great first “Jandals in iki”meet up recently and now we are thrilled to bring you Kim Harase, co-owner and co-creator of iki Espresso. Iki Espresso are coffee and cafe specialists with many years of experience in both New Zealand and now Japan, too. If you are wondering how you can bring your slice of Aotearoa to Japan, then this episode will inspire you! 

If you’d like to join the event at iki Eatery & Roastery, scheduled for September 28th, 2022 please be sure to RSVP to Kim at her email address below. 

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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 Kim and Teru built up their expertise in the cafe industry in New Zealand
  • How they went about finding their cafe premises and created iki, in an up and coming neighbourhood in Tokyo. 
  • What it takes to make a great New Zealand cafe in Japan
  • Some of the surprisingly easy things you didn’t know about regulations in Tokyo when starting a new business
  • Opportunities to work with iki or to collaborate 


About iki Espresso

We are:

Coffee roasters & café specialists

Crafters of unique character spaces

Creators of welcoming environments

Locals, connecting locals

Passionate about great coffee & food


We do:

Wholesale & retail coffee

Cafe management support

Events & space hire

Catering & pop up dinners

Coffee classes & barista training


Connect with Kim and Teru

Website: https://www.iki-espresso.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iki_espresso/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ikiESPRESSOTOKYO 

Email: kimharase@gmail.com 


Links

Online store, listen to the episode for the code! https://shop.iki-espresso.com/ 


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.