We cross swords/minds with Graham Sayer, a 7th dan Kyoshi kendo practitioner, former president of the New Zealand Kendo Federation and recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun.

Graham has been a huge supporter of Jandals in Japan Podcast from its early days and we are thrilled that he agreed to join us to share his wealth of experience in both kendo and business between Japan and New Zealand. Listen to hear more about this fascinating martial art that changed the trajectory of Graham’s life.

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In this episode you’ll hear:

• What Japan was like in the bubble era of the late 70s and early 80s
• Loyalty and the challenge of switching martial arts codes in Japan
• How learnings from kendo can take you into the business world
• Japan’s timber industry and why Graham is selling timber to New Zealand

About Graham

Graham Sayer: Kiwi spirit, global horizons

Graham grew up in Taranaki and in 1978, at 20 years of age, headed to Japan to chase his dream of getting a black belt in judo. A knee injury rerouted him to kendo which then became a lifelong passion, sparking a career blending entrepreneurship and cultural exchange. Graham founded a trading venture as well as running a private English school for children in Kyoto before returning to NZ in 1985 to raise his family.

Graham has been involved in many different businesses over the years including, importing wooden toys (into Japan) and cultured pearls (into NZ). He also ran a joint venture with a Japanese company, building a small chain of four photo/camera stores in Auckland as well as launching Escapepods motorhomes, and lastly, was a manufacturer and distributor of rota-moulded fishing kayaks in Japan.

Graham now focuses on Japanese timber exports and supporting his wife’s kendo travel business.

Graham was Kendo President, NZ Kendo Federation for 33 years as well as Auditor for the International Kendo Federation (present). He co-founded the Auckland Kendo club in 1988 which today is NZ’s largest Kendo club. In 2022, he was awarded Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun for services to cultural ties between Japan and New Zealand via the art of Kendo.

Today, he spends his time between Japan and NZ - embracing simplicity, tradition, and new ventures.

Connect with Graham

Kendo: https://akc.org.nz/

Kendo Tours: www.kendotours.com

Timber: www.japaneselumber.com

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