Sir Steve Hansen, the former All Blacks Coach and current Head Coach of Toyota Verblitz joins us on Jandals in Japan and we were thrilled when he shared his favorite treat from a Japanese convenience store on treat night! We also dive into his experience in Japan and insights into coaching and team dynamics here, his deep respect for Japanese culture while making changes and questioning norms to take the Toyota Verblitz to the next level.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about Steve Hansen's coaching philosophy this is the episode for you.

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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:

• Steve’s early years on a dairy farm to a family run pub and what it taught him about people
• The importance of flexibility, communication, and positive reinforcement in fostering a high-performance team
• The challenges of integrating multinational players and the significance of mentoring
• The future of rugby in Japan and improvements that would transform the competition
• Unexpected mentors in shaping Steve’s journey

About Steve

Sir Steve Hansen is the Head Coach of the Toyota Verblitz Rugby Team. He was a former New Zealand rugby union coach and a former player. He famously led the All Blacks to victory during the 2015 Rugby World Cup as their head coach, a role that he held from 2012 to 2019. He built the All Blacks in this era to be not only the world’s most successful rugby team but also the most successful sports team at the time.

Steve was born in Mosgeil to dairy farming parents who had a farm on the Taieri Plain. He did his secondary school education and Christchurch Boys’ High School and spent six years in the New Zealand Police working at the Hornby Police Station. He played centre in rugby union representing Canterbury at first-class level on 21 occasions.

He began his coaching career with the Canterbury provincial rugby union team from 1996 to 2001, coached the Wales National Team, then returned to New Zealand as assistant coach for the All Blacks, rising to Coach of the team in 2012.

Steve ventured to Japan in 2020 to take up his assignment with Toyota Verblitz in coaching consultant for Top League side Toyota Verblitz serving as an advisor and mentor and was appointed Head Coach in 2024.

Steve became Sir Steve Hansen after being awarded a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby in the New Year’s Honours list in 2020.

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

Links:

Japan Rugby Weekly Podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/japan-rugby-weekly

Connect with Jayne and Catherine

Linked In:

We wanted to share our submission to the New Zealand Podcast Awards for 2024. Although we were certainly pipped at the post, we are so proud of the work we have done and thankful to the wonderful guests who have shared their experiences with us.

Jandals" is a unique podcast focused on guiding New Zealand businesses entering the Japanese market. It exemplifies the power of going niche, offering extreme value to listeners who apply its insights directly to shape their Japan business strategies. The podcast features guests from a broad range of sectors, including sports, education, hospitality, F&B, forestry, seafood, tech, pet food, fitness, horticulture and logistics. These experts provide invaluable insights into every facet of the business relationship between New Zealand and Japan, sparking cross-sector collaborations. Budding NZ exporters often reach out to our guests for trusted, in-market advice.

With its niche focus and measurable impact on businesses, careers and community, "Jandals" is a valuable platform to profile New Zealand-Japan business success.

[00:00] Episode 45: Cookie Time lands a massive deal with Costco, a decade in the making. This frank discussion reveals what it's like working with this retail giant and why it’s not for everyone.

[04:05] Episode 51: Jessica Tisch from FreshCo shares surprising insights on selling New Zealand's premium apples in Japan. From sustainability to Japan’s unexpected tech gap in agriculture, this episode explores the challenges of fruit exports and showcases how NZ agri-tech innovation is driving advancements in Japan's agricultural industry.

[07:44] Episode 43: Joe Harawira tells the inspiring founder story behind Wai Mānuka premium beverage brand born from a New Year’s Eve Kiwi BBQ. Now it’s a premium beverage export riding the wave in Japan. With Māori business values resonating well in Japan, the future looks bright for Wai Mānuka’s success.

[10:54] Episode 52: We scored a major win with rugby legends Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith, opening up about their time at Toyota Verblitz, what Japan has taught them and the pivotal role families play in their careers. Fun and insightful, we discover a different side of these sports icons boosting the business of rugby between Japan and NZ.

Teri Tall is the Kiwi owner of the Hakuba Matata Lodge in Hakuba. She shares her experiences and insights on running a ski lodge in Japan. Teri shares the journey to finding their own ski lodge and setting up business here, with her motto, just do it, ask questions and tread respectfully. The winter sports industry is thriving in Japan and there is much scope for Kiwis to be part of it as Teri explains.

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 Teri and her husband turned a love of winter sports into a lifestyle in Japan
• Things to look for in a town when you are purchasing a business
• The Outdoor Women's Network Japan and their activities
• Teri’s gems and crystal ball moments

About Teri

Teri is the Kiwi ski lodge owner of Hakuba Matata Lodge located in Hakuba, Japan.

She has a passion for the mountains that she loves sharing with others. Hosting guests at Hakuba Matata Lodge is a source of pride and joy for her, especially when bringing more women into the outdoors.

Being new to both business ownership and Japan when they arrived in 2018, Teri and her husband have approached their Japanese mountain business adventures together with a Kiwi attitude and a “no worries” mantra.

As an outdoor enthusiast and entrepreneur Teri is also the creator of the Outdoor Women's Network Japan.

Connect with Teri

Website: https://hakubamatata.com/

Links

Outdoor Women’s Network Japan: https://www.facebook.com/groups/outdoorwomenjapan

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