Grassroots Diplomacy: New Zealand's Deputy Head of Mission on Life, Culture, and Connection in Japan

This is part two of a two-part series. In part one, Steve Saunders, the co-founder of New Zealand Robotics Plus told his side of the story of the acquisition journey of the company by Yamaha Agriculture. Now Nolan Paul, CEO of Yamaha Agriculture, gives us the buyer view from the other side of the table. Nolan is building out the agricultural strategy of Yamaha Agriculture by searching the world for the very best agricultural technology they can find. In April 2025, they closed the acquisition of Robotics Plus which completed the vision of a fully integrated autonomous, data-driven agricultural platform. In this conversation, Nolan shares what it is really like to bring three companies from three different countries under one roof inside a Japanese corporation. Subscribe to our list so you never miss an episode of Jandals in Japan Jandals in Japan is brought to you by Catherine O’Connell Law and PodLaunch with Jayne Visit ON Consulting for indepth articles in Japanese and English 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: The chance encounter that in hindsight, set in motion a decade-long journey from investment to full acquisition. What it was that attracted Yamaha Agriculture to choose Robotics Plus The honest reality of post-acquisition integration across multiple cultures: Kiwi,, American, and Japanese The importance of building genuine partnerships before you need to call on them

Steve Saunders tells the full behind-the-scenes story of how Robotics Plus went from a PhD project at Massey University to a globally operating autonomous vehicle and robotic packing company, attracting investment from Yamaha Motor in 2017 and a full acquisition by Yamaha Agriculture in 2025. This is part one of a two-part series. Part two features Nolan Paul, CEO of Yamaha Agriculture. Subscribe to our list so you never miss an episode of Jandals in Japan Jandals in Japan is brought to you by Catherine O’Connell Law and PodLaunch with Jayne Visit ON Consulting for in depth articles in Japanese and English 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 Steve Saunders went from growing up on a dairy farm in the Waikato to co-founding Robotics Plus and many other ventures Why choosing corporate investment from Yamaha over venture capital was the critical decision The inside story of how Steve led investments into Robotics Plus, by Yamaha, to a full acquisition, and why building trust through consistent face-to-face contact was everything. Practical advice for Kiwi entrepreneurs going global with their startup

Liam Sceats is 20 years old, a New Zealand Grand Prix champion, and a racing driver who describes himself first as a startup founder. In this episode, Liam shares candid stories about his visits to Japan to race, giving insights to the motor racing world in Japan which is becoming an increasingly popular destination for racers. Jayne and Catherine also weigh in with some of their best advice and the reminder that arriving in Japan means leaving your ego behind, no matter how well known you are at home. Subscribe to our list so you never miss an episode of Jandals in Japan Jandals in Japan is brought to you by Catherine O’Connell Law and PodLaunch with Jayne Visit ON Consulting for in depth articles in Japanese and English 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: Why Liam Sceats approaches his racing career like a startup founder How Liam built one of the strongest relationships of his racing career with a Japanese engineer who didn’t speak English Practical tips for Kiwis building business relationships remotely in Japan Why international drivers are increasingly focusing on Japan for long-term professional racing careers.

Peri Drysdale is Founder of the internationally renowned sustainable fashion brand Untouched World. From growing up on a sheep farm in the Rakaia Gorge to becoming a registered nurse, and then launching a global wool business with just $200 in the bank, Peri's journey is nothing short of remarkable. Discover how she broke into Japan's notoriously difficult department store market, the power of persistence, and why being a foreign woman in Japanese business turned from a double negative into a surprising advantage. Subscribe to our list so you never miss an episode of Jandals in Japan 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 Peri started a global wool business with $200 in the bank The jaw-dropping story of how Peri got her products into prestigious Japanese retailers The "two minuses make a plus" philosophy Peri’s Essential lessons for doing business in Japan

Kanako Inomata is the Head of Marketing APAC for Zespri International, one of the world's most recognised fresh produce brands. Working remotely from her hometown in Aizu, Fukushima, she leads marketing strategy across Japan, Korea, Singapore, Australia, Vietnam, and beyond. Kanako reveals the fascinating story behind the Kiwi Brothers characters, which have become so iconic in Japan that they've been rolled out globally across Europe, the Americas, and even back to New Zealand. Whether you're interested in brand building, cross-cultural marketing, or living a purpose-driven career, Kanako's wisdom will resonate. Subscribe to our list so you never miss an episode of Jandals in Japan 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: What drew Kanako to move her career to a kiwifruit company from New Zealand How Kanako and her team created the now-iconic Kiwi Brothers characters (and now their little sister “Ruby”) The importance of being consumer centric marketing Kanako’s experience working remotely from Fukushima and leading teams across APAC