Page 10 - HW December 2019

hard news
ITM ga Nihon o hōmon (ITM goes to Japan)
ALMOST 160 ITM Shareholders, Store Managers, Support Office executive
staff and key suppliers landed in Tokyo on 18 November, just in time to see the two RWC 2019 Quarter Finals that took place in Tokyo (NZ v Ireland, and Japan v South Africa).
The Ireland game was a “super-fast/ entertaining game” and, although the eventual outcome was cut and dried, by all accounts the ITM group went into it “a little apprehensive that the Irish would come at us firing...”
The atmosphere in the stadiums was
“incredible”, and despite rugby not being one of Japan’s favourite sports, the local crowds were incredibly passionate and the emotions were running high when the Brave Blossoms lost to South Africa.
A Semi-Final booked for the ABs,
the ITM group boarded the famous Bullet Train to Kyoto – an experience in itself moving 157 people on the tightest timeline in the world! – for a few slower- paced days and the chance to enjoy some more “authentic” Japanese cultural experiences.
Definitely a favourite location of the
tour, Kyoto’s experiences included the Golden Pavilion (an iconic Zen temple covered in gold leaf), a beautiful Geisha performance and time to explore the ancient city and incredible markets.
Back to Toyko, the main group flew back to NZ on 24 October, although a number of Shareholders stayed on to host a group of customers who would stay through to the finals.
Summing up, ITM Marketing Manager, Juliana Raven, says: “Overall it was a really great trip, the measure being if you’ve left people wanting more... And,
8 NZHJ | DECEMBER 2019
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