EP in Japan, Cultural Nuances & the Olympic Games | Kenji Okamoto

The Olympic games are less than a month away and ordinarily,
protectors across the globe would be making preparations to
facilitate their client’s attendance. However, in the current
climate of uncertainty, many HNW’s will be apprehensive and
undecided about travelling.


Are you ready for Tokyo, if you get the call? 


This week we're looking at how we can thrive in a facilitation
mindset when protection skills are less called upon. Our guest is
Kenji Okamoto, MD of Vector Risk Management, based out of Japan.
We're going to hear what it’s like to operate in Japan, drill
down into the cultural nuances, and look at how protection is
viewed through Japanese eyes.


In this week’s episode, Kenji paints a picture of what the
landscape looks like for EP practitioners operating in Japan;
we’ll hear…


What is it about Japanese culture that makes for such a
different operating environment compared to the West?

How 80% of the Japanese population do not want the games to
go ahead and believe them to be a public health risk. So, what
are the considerations for keeping your clients safe and
protected?

That the official response to most logistical questions is
‘To be Determined.’ So, how does that affect your planning and
preparation?

Because Japan is considered such a safe country, bodyguards
and personal protection is an alien concept to many. Even clients
who employ protection want them to blend in and not stand out.



There's a saying in Japan, as Kenji puts it…  


“The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.”


Tune into the show for this week’s illuminating interview with
Kenji Okamoto.


More about Kenji:


Kenji Okamoto has been in the risk management and security
services industry since 2004 and currently heads operations in
Japan and Korea. He is engaged in all aspects of the security and
risk management space including close protection, security
consulting/management, site security assessments, and due
diligence investigations, supporting various foreign MNCs and
public sector entities in Japan and Korea.


Notable clients include ultra high net worth individuals
including three of the Top 10 HNWs, CEOs/founders of several
Fortune 500 companies, a US lobby group which met the Japanese
Prime Minister at the PMO, and foreign dignitaries who met the
Japanese Imperial Family. Kenji graduated from Sophia University
and holds an MBA from McGill University.


Kenji Okamoto


Vector Risk Management


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