Episode 67

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Published on:

28th Jul 2025

The Quiet Success of Kiwi Dairy: Charles Wilson's Insights from Tatua Japan

Join us for an insightful conversation with Charles Wilson, who leads Tatua Japan's operations as both President and Representative Director in one of New Zealand's most important export markets. From his childhood introduction to Japan through the Japanese supplemental education calculation & maths program “Kumon mathematics” to becoming president of a dairy ingredients company, Charles shares his unique journey and valuable insights about building successful business relationships in Japan. You will enjoy this story of how an SME like Tatua Japan can partner with Japanese companies for mutually beneficial outcomes. 

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In this episode you will hear:

  • Why arriving 5-10 minutes early for meetings is essential for building trust and success in Japanese business culture
  • How Japan's "ringi-sho" consensus-building process really works with pre-meetings and side discussions before official approvals
  • About the "proteinisation" trend driving demand for protein-enhanced products among Japan's aging population
  • Charles' unexpected summer survival tip - escaping to Tama's cool river waters and Japanese workplace "cool down rooms"

About Charles

Charles Wilson has been at the helm of Tatua Japan since 2023, as both President and Representative Director. This role has enabled him to live his passion for strengthening trade and business ties between Japan and New Zealand. 

He leads a growing team, oversees key customer relationships, drives strategic initiatives, and manages the company’s day-to-day operations.

His interest in the agricultural and dairy industries originates from his upbringing on an avocado orchard in the sunny Bay of Plenty and his experience spending summer holidays milking cows. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, and a Bachelor of Business in Finance from Massey University. 

Prior to joining Tatua, Charles spent nearly a decade with ITOCHU Corporation—one of Japan’s largest general trading companies—working in both Tokyo and Sydney. At ITOCHU, he developed infrastructure investment strategies and managed a portfolio of global infrastructure assets.

The blend of Charles’ Kiwi upbringing and his adaptation to Japanese culture has deepened his appreciation for the vital harmony between people, nature, and enterprise—a balance that lies at the heart of agriculture and fuels his passion for the field.

Links

Tatua Japan: https://jp.tatua.com/ 

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

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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.