December 2025 – January 2026 Bumper Wrap-Up: From summer in New Zealand to sunrise over Mt Fuji

As Tokyo’s autumn leaves finally began to fall (a little late this year), I headed in the opposite direction, to New Zealand’s early summer greens, blossoms, and blue skies.Five glorious weeks of remote working, reconnecting, travelling, and soaking up sunshine later, I returned to Japan just in time for the annual ritual of Nenmatsu Ousouji (年末大掃除) - the end-of-year deep clean to welcome the new year with a clean house, clean mind, and clean spirit. It was the perfect reset for a busy January.

Here’s the December–January highlight reel.

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🌱 Word of the Year for 2026: Intention

After hearing Oprah Winfrey speak about how intention always precedes action - whether we’re conscious of it or not - I knew instantly this would be my word for 2026.

She shared that before accepting any opportunity, she always asks:

What is the intention behind this?

It felt like a powerful lens for decision-making, growth, and alignment - and one I’m excited to live by this year.

🎶 Out & About — December Adventures

🌋 NZ–Japan Business in Rotorua (Again!)

My second conference in NZ in 2025 - Japan New Zealand Business Council Conference and the second time to be held in Rotorua. The geothermal magic and wairua (spirit) of the place never disappoint. Between geysers, hot pools, and a packed program, it was a powerhouse gathering of NZ–Japan business minds. And for 2026 JNZBC is back in Japan but for my next NZ conference venue, let’s just say Rotorua might be making it a hat-trick.

🥂 Out & About in New Zealand

Institute of Directors Christmas Drinks — Christchurch

A festive evening at the beautiful Christchurch Club — complete with cocktails, great conversations… and a door prize win for me (tickets to the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra!).

What made it extra special?
I knew absolutely no one there despite it being my hometown. Proof that cities and networks evolve over time. I still managed to connect with five or six new people, which felt like a mini networking victory.

🎤 Highlight of the year: Oprah Live in Auckland
Wow. Seeing Oprah Winfrey live was immensely moving and joyful.

Her ability to hold a room — making each person feel like she’s speaking directly to them — is something truly special. So many takeaways on authenticity, resilience, purpose, and reimagining your path forward. Drinks beforehand with the Global Women tribe made it even sweeter. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I’ll never forget.

✂️ Auckland Adventures (and Hair!)

I didn’t go to Auckland just for a haircut, but the timing worked perfectly. A fabulous salon in Parnell, jacaranda trees in bloom, and my first real experience using Auckland’s trains and buses (on time, easy, and lovely!). A timely reminder to me that small everyday adventures can be surprisingly fun.

🐾 Co-working with doggies

Remote working came with three furry colleagues - all extremely well behaved and absolutely deserving of their Christmas bonuses.

🍷 South Island Wine & Food Festival

A scorching Canterbury day in Hagley Park (yes, I got sunburnt!) and a wildly fun afternoon tasting far too many wines. Best moment: reuniting with Kate from Coal Pit Wines - and now I am proudly sporting my unofficial ambassador cap in Tokyo.

🇯🇵🇳🇿 First Meet-Up of Japanese Kiwi Lawyers – Auckland

On a warm Auckland morning, I convened the very first informal gathering of Japanese-Kiwi lawyers and Japan-connected legal professionals over flat whites and cheese scones in Newmarket. We shared career journeys, insights across both legal systems, and aspirations for 2026 - with plans already underway for the next meet-up.

These bridge-building moments are always my favourite.

🎭 Movies & Stage

• Saw Nine to Five at Christchurch’s stunning new Court Theatre (and surprised myself by loving it - perhaps the pre-show rosé helped!)

• Watched Prime Minister, the documentary on Jacinda Ardern — a powerful, eye-opening look at leadership through crisis

👓 New Glasses Treat

I refreshed my red Miu Mius with new lenses as the old ones had got scratched, and treated myself to a clear-frame pair too.I was amazed how fast OPSM turned them around during Christmas season. Efficiency win, New Zealand!

🗻 Back in Japan: New Year Magic

Sunrise & Mt Fuji on New Year’s Day

Gone are the New Year’s Eve party days as I’m now firmly in my sunrise era. Watching the sun break through the clouds with Mt Fuji capped in snow was breathtaking. It’s said to be excellent fortune to spot Fuji on New Year’s Day - a beautiful omen for the Year of the Horse.🐎

⛩️ Shrine Blessings

I braved the cold for my local shrine visit - adding wishes and intentions for the year ahead alongside hundreds of others sending hopes into the universe.

🎍 ACCJ Shinnenkai

It was wonderful catching up with the Tokyo community at the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan New Year’s party. Fresh barrel sake served in cedar masu cups made it extra special, and it was a perfect way to toast 2026.

📻 On the Airwaves

I kicked off 2026 on Tokyo radio, appearing on interFM’s Peace & Business Talk, interviewed in Japanese by Keiko Okada.

Three episodes exploring cross-cultural collaboration, leadership, and bridge-building between Japan and New Zealand:

• Episode 1 aired January 4
• Episode 2: February 1
• Episode 3: March 1

Such a fun new platform to share stories and insights.

🎙️ Podcast Highlights

Jandals in Japan on Kiwi Flees
Jayne Nakata and I joined the Kiwi Flees podcast to share our 20+ year Japan journeys — from rural Fukushima life to Tokyo boardrooms covering resilience, storytelling in Japan, and lessons for Kiwi businesses entering this market.

Huge thanks to Paul Sinclair and the Kiwi Flees team for the opportunity.

You can listen to this conversation here.

🎧 Lawyer on Air — Season 11 in Full Flight

December turned into a joyful sprint as Lawyer on Air powered toward a major milestone, a little end-of-year flurry that carried us all the way to Episode 99 and then into the unforgettable 100-guest moment in January..

Season 11 continued with three incredible conversations exploring reinvention, leadership, and courage across careers in Japan:

Episode 3 – Special Guest: Yu Watanabe

A powerful story of choosing curiosity and impact over the traditional senior associate track — detouring into legislative work and redefining what a fulfilling legal career can look like.

🔗Listen here

Episode 4 – Special Guest: Liting Cong

A thoughtful conversation on navigating cross-border careers, leadership growth, and finding your voice in complex professional environments.

🔗Listen here

Episode 5 – Special Guest: Maya Ito

An inspiring deep dive into career evolution, confidence, and making bold moves when the path isn’t linear.

🔗Listen here

And then came a very special moment…

✨ Episode 6 – The 100 Guest Milestone

This time the microphone was turned on me, with previous guest Yoko Oshima stepping into the interviewer’s seat to reflect on the journey, the stories behind the podcast, and the incredible community that has grown around it.

🔗 Listen here

Reaching 100 guests felt surreal - and deeply meaningful.

One hundred voices. One hundred stories. One shared mission of connection, growth, and possibility.

And Season 11 is only just getting started.

🌏 Jandals in Japan Podcast - Culture, Creativity & Connection

Over on Jandals in Japan, recent episodes took us deep into the heart of cross-cultural storytelling:

Episode 71 – Art, Ancestry & Adventure on Naoshima

Featuring Sarah Hudson, Aotearoa’s first artist in residence at the Setouchi Triennale, exploring Māori and Japanese worldviews, rural Japan creativity, and how stepping outside big cities transforms perspective.

You’ll hear about:

Beautiful parallels between Māori and Japanese culture
The realities of being an artist in residence in Japan
Why rural Japan offers some of the deepest connection experiences

🔗Listen here

Episode 72 – From Rugby Fields to Banking: Building NZ–Japan Bridges

Brandon Jackson - former player and coach with Ricoh Black Rams and now Growth Sectors GM at Bank of New Zealand - shared hard-won insights on:

Lessons from a decade of rugby in Japan shaping leadership
Why NZ must re-energise its Japan business focus
Cultural differences that make or break market entry
And the myth of “just rocking up” and succeeding in Japan

Practical, honest, and full of bridge-building wisdom.

🔗Listen here

👋 Wrapping December and January

From summer sunshine in New Zealand to snow-capped Fuji, from global conversations to quiet shrine moments … December and January felt like a beautiful blend of reflection, reconnection, and fresh energy for the year ahead.

Thank you for continuing to follow along on this journey.

Here’s to 2026 — led with intention.

— Catherine 🌿