Year in Review 2014

I always tend to think that a year is only 12 short months long and that in simplistic terms little change happens from start to end. While this may hold true for most people I must say that if there’s been a year defined by change this year has got to be it.

From the start of 2014 my company and I started at full speed being very active from the very first week of the year. As work got progressively busy, the company grew and the more it grew I made the decision to invest growth in more growth. Truth to the fact, a lot of money was invested in this and in what I now call the year of internationalization.

Always never comfortable sitting at a fixed place I made the most of my inherently nomad capability by working from anywhere anytime literally round the clock and of course having fun along the way. All this while keeping some sort of work/life balance in place for the sake of good sanity.

This year I travelled out of Japan 8 times for work and this tells a great story. It also goes without saying that the results behind the story have been great.

London, of course London to get started with travel and while in there my wifey and I got to see the football (soccer) world cup from different perspectives while of course being engaged in a dynamic business life.

London Technology week brought me to international stages by the hand of partner company Emarsys (that absolutely loves Adrian Roche KK). This propelled my exposure while my wifey and I strengthen new bonds in a city we absolutely love in much the same way we love Tokyo.

My later travels took me to Singapore and ad:tech ASEAN, to another stage with my partner company where my international exposure continued. From then on, Mumbai was next for busy work at beloved partner company Neosoft Technologies.

It was great to be in Mumbai and meet in person the best developers (on earth) I’ve ever had and it was even greater to feel welcomed with open arms to a city I never thought I was ever going to visit. Great admiration goes to Mumbai and his great people. And it goes without saying again and on this particular note that my passion for very spicy curry got on me like never before.

Soon after the start of the great discoveries that took place in mid year, a bumpy road arose. In looking back today I’m glad the bumpy road presented itself when it did since otherwise I would not have the life I have today.

At the end July 2014 I ended the relationship with my primary shareholder and regained control of my company giving me 100% of Adrian Roche KK. After a buy-back of shares we became privately owned and after the bumps, I can say things will stay this way for a long time and of course this is all in the spirits of no hard feelings to the former shareholder who so much had done to bring this company up to existence.

Summer found us in a great position to make things better and new markets opened in Hong Kong with new clients. Later on new opportunities in Ho Chi Minh, a city of dreams I deeply enjoyed which I am now bound to revisit because of the quality of work our design partners produce there.

From then on I re-discovered my passion for teaching and started developing the business of a Japanese client entering Singapore and this way Singapore has become my 2nd home.

With three more visits in the year to Singapore and now with real business connections driven by tangible results at a regional level, I am truly established as an international regional player. Adrian Roche KK is now a company that exists in other parts outside of Japan and my name is now being more recognized in the markets where I work today.

What a year this has been! I am deeply grateful.
I have put my name and the name of my company on the map, people in many countries and cities love us and I feel welcomed to tears every time I travel to all my countries.

As 2014 draws to an end I must say THANK YOU! Thank you, Japan, Singapore, India, Vietnam, Hong Kong and a very special thank you for all else said in the personal heart front to London! And also to the very many Brits who stood behind Argentina in the World Cup final game!

Kohaku Utagassen 2013

The 64th edition of Kohaku Utagassen held no surprises. The show was rather plain and less exciting than previous years. The gents won again and this time I give great respect to them for having delivered a win with nothing.

In general the music scene in Japan was rather boring in 2013 with no new artists standing out, no big-hit songs and no raise of existing artists. Perhaps all due to some structural changes at giant Avex Tracks.

Kohaku Utagassen reflected the industry trend and it was all up to the marketing efforts of each team to deliver an appealing show. The ladies made their effort with a good lineup which was not properly matched by their host Ayase Haruka who put a very tense performance filled with mistakes in enunciation and timings.

Overall and once again Kudos go to Arashi for great MCing, but that's to expect after four years in the job. Ayase made her effort, but in humble opinion, she lost in landslide the moment she cried when presenting the story she chose to produce and cover.

Emotional moments on both sides, Arashi delivered the goods and certainly a high number of votes with their story "furusato" which was one of the best moments in the show.

This year white won again with a conservative and safe approach filled with the right emotions at the right time and with great hosts. The ladies put a great show of innovation, new songs and effort, but were greatly not managed well by a host who seemed sometimes lost and full with hesitation.

Looking forward, we should expect the music industry to come to life again in 2014. For now, good job boys on having done it again!