Senior global sales executive Sake Brewery, Master Sake Sommelier, Intercultural Consultant, Certified Travel Guide
Japan
- Current
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- Director Overseas Marketing & Sales at Daishichi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
- Master Sake Sommelier & Sake Instructor at Self-employed
- Consultant at Japan Intercultural Consulting
- Certified Guide & Interpreter at Self-Employed
- Past
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- Special Advisor at Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
- Advisor Special Projects at Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
- Director for Japan at Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
- Head Asia Desk at Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
- Deputy Director for Japan at Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
- Doctoral-Assistent at Universiteit Leiden
- Education
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- Kyoto University
- Osaka University of Foreign Studies
- Universiteit Leiden
- Nanjing University
- Connections
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34
connections
- Industry
- Food & Beverages
- Websites
Ad Blankestijn’s Summary
Ad Blankestijn is a Japan specialist working as senior marketing executive in the beverage and food sector for a sake (“Japanese rice wine”) company. In addition, he is a certified guide and interpreter in the travel sector and trainer in intercultural consulting. He has +20 years experience in Japan and is fluent in Japanese. He also has experience in other areas of Asia as China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. As head of the Japan Office of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, he was involved as consultant in the successful establishment of many major Japanese companies in the Netherlands. He was also Counselor at the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Tokyo.
At present, as Director Overseas Marketing and Sales, Ad is in the first place in charge of developing global sales for the Daishichi Sake Brewery, a sake house famous for its high-end, handcrafted sakes.
Besides that, as licensed Sake Sommelier & Sake Instructor Ad gives sake tastings and seminars about sake. Please see http://www.japannavigator.com/sake-tastings/.
In addition, Ad works as intercultural consultant for Japan Intercultural Consulting, an international training and consulting firm focused on Japanese business. Independently, he also gives country and cultural briefings. Please see http://www.japannavigator.com/trainings/.
Finally, Ad is a Travel Guide and Interpreter officially certified by the Japanese government. Besides working for major Japanese travel agencies, he also independently guides business trips and private visits to Japan. Please see http://www.japannavigator.com/tour-guide/.
Ad was born in the Netherlands and received his M.A. in Chinese Language and Culture with Japanese as 2nd subject with honors at Leiden University. He also spent 1 year at Nanjing University and after graduating 2 years on a Mombusho Scholarship at Kyoto University.
Besides being trilingual in Japanese, English and Dutch, Ad speaks German and understands French and Chinese.
Ad lives in Kobe, Japan.
Ad Blankestijn’s Specialties:
Industries: Japanese sake, rice wine, beverage and food, Japanese cuisine, intercultural training, intercultural consulting, travel, interpreting, translation, direct foreign investment, business in Japan.
Skills: marketing, international sales, sommelier, sake and food pairing, consulting, training, Japanese management, project coordination, government liaison, public relations, writing, editing, the Netherlands, Japan, China, Asia.
Ad Blankestijn’s Experience
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Director Overseas Marketing & Sales
Daishichi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
(Food & Beverages industry)
January 2009 — Present (7 months)
In charge of global sake sales, including marketing plans, advertising, visits to customers worldwide (restaurant chefs and sommeliers, owners of sake and wine shops), and participation in sake and wine fairs including presentations and tastings. I do the liaison with customers and distributors and receive foreign visitors at the Brewery.
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Master Sake Sommelier & Sake Instructor
Self-employed
(Events Services industry)
2008 — Present (1 year)
I am active in promoting sake and spreading knowledge about sake in various ways, for example by giving sake workshops and doing tastings in both Europe and Japan. Although I also work as Director Overseas Marketing and Sales for the Daishichi Sake Brewery, which provides me with first-hand knowledge “from the source,” it goes without saying that I do my sommelier work from a neutral and independent stance.
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Consultant
Japan Intercultural Consulting
(Privately Held; Professional Training & Coaching industry)
2007 — Present (2 years)
Japan Intercultural Consulting is an international training and consulting firm focused on Japanese business. For JIC I give intercultural trainings to Japanese businesspeople in preparation for their posting abroad, and to non-Japanese businesspeople to help them work smoothly with their Japanese colleagues.
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Certified Guide & Interpreter
Self-Employed
(Leisure, Travel & Tourism industry)
January 2007 — Present (2 years 7 months)
As officially licensed tour guide and interpreter (National Guide Certificate), I guide cultural tours or visits with a business purpose. In addition I do the necessary interpreting, also at a technical or business level. I work with a major Japanese tour agency, but can also be booked directly as an independent guide.
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Special Advisor
Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
(Government Agency; International Trade and Development industry)
January 2007 — December 2008 (2 years)
Stationed at the Netherlands Consulate-General in Osaka, it was my task to attract inward investment from the Nagoya region to the Netherlands, assist Japanese companies with their location studies and the establishment process, as well as develop relevant networks in the Nagoya/Aichi area.
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Advisor Special Projects
Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
(Government Agency; 51-200 employees; International Trade and Development industry)
2005 — 2006 (1 year)
After enjoying a 6 month Sabbatical, I was again stationed at the Headquarters of the NFIA within the Ministry of Economic Affairs. My tasks consisted of account management of Japanese and other Asian companies in the Netherlands and organizing fact-finding trips for new projects. I maintained a network among Japanese/Asian companies in the Netherlands and tried to find practical solutions for problems to make companies feel at home in my country.
I translated information obtained from this network into policy proposals, to improve the investment climate. -
Director for Japan
Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
(Government Agency; 51-200 employees; International Trade and Development industry)
1998 — 2004 (6 years)
Developed networks and approached Japanese companies with information about the Netherlands as a superior inward investment location. Assisted Japanese companies during the process of evaluating the Netherlands, and helped them as consultant during the establishment process. Networked with companies and intermediaries to get the message out. Kept close contacts with already established companies as an important part of the network.
To support this, organized seminars and symposiums, and gave direct presentations to interested companies. Also coordinated advertising campaigns and mailings; published a newsletter and developed a website.
Organized visiting programs for local authorities and VIPs from the Netherlands.
Managed the Japan Office of the NFIA including coaching of local staff. Made annual plans including budgeting.
Also coordinated other Asian NFIA offices as Hong Kong and (part of the period) Taiwan. -
Head Asia Desk
Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
(Government Agency; 51-200 employees; International Trade and Development industry)
1997 — 1998 (1 year)
Based at the NFIA Headquarters at the Ministry of Economic Affairs in The Hague. Organized and accompanied fact-finding trips of Asian companies. Answered their questions related to setting up a company in the Netherlands. Coordinated with the Asian offices on the one hand and regional authorities in the Netherlands on the other hand. Networked with Japanese/Asian companies in the Netherlands and provided ‘after service' to already established companies.
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Deputy Director for Japan
Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency
(Government Agency; 51-200 employees; International Trade and Development industry)
1987 — 1997 (10 years)
Stationed at the Netherlands Embassy in Tokyo for the NFIA, first as Assistant Director and later as Deputy Director, I developed contacts with Japanese companies and a network of intermediaries to attract Japanese companies to the Netherlands.
Analyzed Japanese industry to find suitable sectors and companies. Answered questions of companies with plans for Europe and kept in contact with headquarters of companies already established there.
Organized seminars, presentations, and programs for visiting VIPs. -
Doctoral-Assistent
Universiteit Leiden
(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)
1984 — 1986 (2 years)
Ph.D. research and teaching at the Sinological Institute of Leiden University. Due to sabbatical of my Professor, I took over many classes, including formal lectures.
Ad Blankestijn’s Education
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Kyoto University
Kenkyusei , Chinese literature , 1982 — 1984
Research for (still-to-be-finished) PhD in classical Chinese literature (as Monbusho scholar). A great time, in which I in the first place became fascinated by Japanese culture. The ancient capital of Kyoto, with its numerous temples and beautiful green setting, was also a great place to live.
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Osaka University of Foreign Studies
Japanese 1982 — 1982
As Monbusho scholar, first studied 6 months at Osaka Gaidai in Mino to learn better spoken Japanese.
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Universiteit Leiden
M.A. , Sinology, Japanology , 1973 — 1982
Studied Chinese languages and culture (Sinology) as my major, Japanese language and culture (Japanology) as my second subject. This was a great time, discovering two fascinating new cultures in their full scope: not only the language but also the way of thinking, the art, the literature, the history, the economy, the religion, and so on...
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Nanjing University
Chinese 1978 — 1979
As exchange student studied for one year Chinese and classical Chinese literature at Nanjing University. This was a great chance to experience China!
Additional Information
Ad Blankestijn’s Websites:
Ad Blankestijn’s Interests:
Sake, Japanese cuisine, intercultural training, travel in Japan, business in Japan, Japanese culture, Japanese history, Japanese film, Japanese literature, translation, interpreting, writing
Ad Blankestijn’s Groups:
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Alumni van de Universiteit Leiden -
The Dutch Connection -
Friends of Japan -
Wines & Spirits (Number 1 W&S group on Linked) -
Wine Business Network -
Friends of Japan / Nippon no Yuujin -
The Netherlands -
Business in Japan -
Expats in Japan -
Asia NetWork -
Japan Networking Group -
Bilingual Workforce in Japan -
Ministerie van Economische Zaken -
Wine Connections -
All Food, Beverage, Hospitality, Hotels, Restaurants, Culinary, Catering, Coffee, QSR Professionals -
Sake -
Japanese Speaking Executives -
Japan Intercultural Consulting
Ad Blankestijn’s Honors:
Sake Sommelier (Sake Service Institute, Tokyo)
Sake Instructor (Sake Service Institute, Tokyo)
National Guide Certificate, Japan (Language English)
Kyoto Tourist and Culture Certification Test, 3rd grade
Ad Blankestijn’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
