A fruitful first day back in Tokyo: how long lasting connections keep creating new opportunities

There is something energizing about landing in Tokyo and diving straight into meetings with people like Rob Van Nylen of Akisha, Zach Krause at GLOBIS University, and Maya Matsuoka. Maybe it is the city’s rhythm: efficient yet warm, fast yet thoughtful. Or maybe it is the way connections formed years ago continue to show up in new and unexpected ways. My first day back reminded me that in Japan, relationships do not just endure. They mature quietly and steadily, and when you least expect it, they bear new fruit.

Starting the day with Rob Van Nylen: a connection that goes back to Leuven

My first meeting was with Rob Van Nylen of Akisha, a company doing important work to secure the future of Japanese businesses through thoughtful succession. In a country where many small and midsize companies face closure due to a lack of heirs, Akisha steps in with practical vision and human warmth.

What made this meeting particularly meaningful is that Rob and I go way back. We both graduated from the University of Leuven’s Japanese Studies program, long before either of us imagined the professional paths that would eventually bring us to Japan. Sitting together in Tokyo many years later, discussing the local business ecosystem, felt like a reminder that the seeds planted in our student years have continued to grow in parallel.

Rob has a gift for combining realism with optimism. He speaks clearly about the challenges Japanese regional economies face, yet always with a spirit that invites collaboration. The conversation left me feeling grounded and inspired, and it reinforced the idea that even old connections can continue to evolve and create new possibilities.

At GLOBIS University with Zach Krause: community as a living connection

From there, I made my way to GLOBIS University, my MBA alma mater. Walking into GLOBIS always feels like stepping into a place where ideas and relationships continuously circulate. I met with Zach Krause, who has been working tirelessly to strengthen the GLOBIS alumni community.

Zach’s approach to community building is deeply aligned with Japanese relationship culture. Community, for him, is not a slogan but something living. It grows through shared experiences, unexpected reunions, and ongoing conversations, even years after graduation.

As we talked, I realized that GLOBIS itself represents a long lasting connection in my own career. So many opportunities, collaborations, and friendships have emerged from that one decision to pursue an MBA in Japan. Revisiting the campus made me appreciate how those bonds continue to generate new ideas and directions, long after the diplomas have been framed and hung.

Meeting Maya Matsuoka in person: a connection that began with conversation

My final meeting of the day was with Maya Matsuoka, whose podcast I appeared on last year. Although we had spoken deeply and openly on air, we had never met in person until today. It is always fascinating how a connection can begin with nothing more than a shared conversation and gradually solidify into something wonderfully real.

Meeting Maya in person felt natural and effortless. She is as warm and insightful off the microphone as she is during her interviews. Our discussion flowed into cross cultural business, personal development, and the ways Japanese society shapes how we build trust and relationships.

What struck me most was how this connection, born from a simple podcast appearance, now feels like the start of something much deeper. Again, a reminder that connections often sprout in unexpected places and take shape over time.

Closing thoughts: connections that keep growing

By the end of the day, I found myself reflecting on a theme that ran through every meeting. Whether it was reconnecting with a fellow Leuven alumnus, revisiting my MBA alma mater, or meeting someone in person whose voice I have known for months, each encounter reminded me that connections do not end once the meeting, the class, or the podcast is over.

They continue quietly beneath the surface, shaped by time, trust, and shared purpose. And then suddenly, often in Tokyo, they appear again, offering new insights, new projects, and new energy.

It was not just a productive day. It was a day that revealed how relationships, especially in Japan, grow like well tended trees. Their roots run deep, and every so often, they surprise you with new fruit.

Here is to many more days in Tokyo filled with meaningful encounters and lasting connections.