Episode 68

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Published on:

6th Oct 2025

Aaron Astle - Descendant of the first Japanese immigrant to New Zealand

Meet Aaron Astle, whose remarkable family story connects two nations across time. As a descendant of Noda Asajiro - believed to be the first Japanese person to set foot in New Zealand in the late 1800s - Aaron brings a unique perspective to living in Japan. From growing up in Auckland immersed in Te Ao Māori to making music and studying Japanese in Osaka, Aaron shares his journey of cultural discovery and connection.

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In this episode you will hear:

  • The incredible story of Noda Asajiro: how a 10 year old Japanese boy accidentally became a stowaway and ended up marrying into Māori royalty
  • Striking similarities between Māori and Japanese languages 
  • Why Aaron felt instantly at home in Japan 
  • Aaron's musical journey and his upcoming single called "The Night Our Stars Fell"

About Aaron

Born to an American mother and Māori father in Auckland, New Zealand, Aaron Astle (Tainui iwi) has spent his life in love with his whakapapa Māori that he inherited from his father’s side. Since a very young age, at every turn Aaron has taken any opportunity to share Te Ao Māori with those wanting to engage with it. From teaching kapa haka, running cultural workshops with his father to eventually taking it into the corporate space as the Cultural Capability Lead for Vodafone NZ, alongside his role as a Solution Architect. Shifting gears to follow his childhood dream, Aaron moved to Japan in 2023 where he has since been immersing himself in the new culture, studying the language, making and performing music, and lastly drawing closer to his roots that also happen to lead back to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Links:

Banpaku Kouen Expo Park: https://www.expo70-park.jp/ 

Kiwi House http://www.kiwihouse.jp/ 

El Pancho https://tabelog.com/osaka/A2701/A270201/27001670/ 

Aaron’s Music: https://aeonaltars.bandcamp.com/community 

Jandals in Japan is brought to you by Catherine O’Connell Law and PodLaunch with Jayne


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/@jandalsinjapan

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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.