As Regional Manager - Asia, Hiro will be managing Wine Australia’s core and user-pays activities across the Asian region with a continued focus on Japan and an increasing focus on the emerging markets of South Korea and Taiwan. He will also be managing one of Wine Australia’s most important educational programs – the A+ Australian Wine School - across all Asian markets except for mainland China.

Wine Australia’s Tokyo office has become an in-market liaison point where Yuka Otsu, a member of the Wine Australia team since 2002, continues to provide required support for Wine Australia’s core and user-pays activities in Japan, on a part-time basis.

Hiro will continue to frequently visit Japan and other Asian markets to ensure a strong Wine Australia presence and maintain trade and media relationships.

Wine Australia’s General Manager Market Development, James Gosper said that the relocation will enable engagement with the Japanese market and other Asian markets in a more balanced manner and with greater agility.

“Since the establishment of the in-market office 15 years ago, we have long maintained a strong commitment to the Japanese market. We will continue to provide at a minimum the same service in the Japanese market and continue to undertake our key core and user-pays activities, however, the change in Hiro’s role will boost our capability and activities across the Asian region,” Mr Gosper said.

“This change will enable us to not only continue to hold a long-term interest and remain active in Japan, but also apply our experience gained in Japan over the years to other non-English speaking Asian markets where the Australian wine category has growth potential.
“Hiro’s relocation is an opportunity for Hiro to work closely ‘on the ground’ with Australian wine businesses to identify and activate market programs across Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, which continue to demonstrate strong growth opportunities.”
“Wine Australia is looking forward to welcoming Hiro and his family to Adelaide. Hiro has proven himself as a most dedicated ambassador for Australian wine in Japan through projects such as the A+ Australian Wine Specialist Program and the Australian Wine United for Japan charity among other initiatives.
“Our wine industry will greatly benefit from his expertise, points of view, language skills and cultural insights as we enhance our engagement within our Asian markets.”

Hiro will be joining other members of Wine Australia’s Asia and Emerging Markets team including Aaron Brasher, Regional Director - Australia, Asia and Emerging Markets and Ali Lockwood - Regional Manager, Emerging Markets including South East Asia, India, Hong Kong and other emerging markets around the world.
Hiro and his family have been granted Australian permanent residency and will be arriving in Adelaide in early October and will be commencing work in Wine Australia’s Adelaide office on 14 October. Hiro will be in Adelaide also prior to his move, in September, for Savour Australia 2013.

For the Japanese trade and media, the contact information for Wine Australia’s presence in Japan remains unchanged as follows:

Wine Australia Japan
12-18 Akasaka 2-chome,
Level 2 Minato-ku,
Tokyo 107-0052, Japan

Phone: +81 3 5545 9905
Email: japan@wineaustralia.com
In Australia’s wine export market portfolio, Japan is the ninth largest by value (A$41.3 million) and in volume (8.97 million litres), as of MAT June 2013. It is the second largest market in Asia for Australia wine, after mainland China. Other major destinations of Australian wine in Asia include Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Taiwan.