Aya Miyauchi-Nakamura World Famous & Living in NZ

Media Release
18 May 2004

Aya Miyauchi-Nakamura World Famous and Living in New Zealand.

In Japan her name is synonymous with international fashion and style. She has a contact book studded with names like Lagerfeld, Gaultier, Givenchy, Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs and McQueen.

Now Aya Miyauchi-Nakamura wants to link her new life in New Zealand with her extraordinary connections and influence in Japan.

From her base in Auckland, Miyauchi is setting up business as an agent to the New Zealand fashion and tourism industry in a bid to make trade and access easier between the two countries.

Born into the world of fashion and media, Miyauchi-Nakamura’s mentor and career advisor has been her mother, Junko Ouchi, a key figure in the international fashion scene, a pioneer of fashion journalism in Japan and famous for her fashion television programme, now in its 20th year.

However, after 17 years in journalism, Aya has forged her own path in the world of fashion, her reputation winning a direct request from Gucci’s Tom Ford, who insisted that she interview him for a feature article in Elle Japon on the launch of his first collection for YSL.

Reflecting on that experience, Aya says “I’ve followed Tom’s work since the beginning of his career at Gucci, and we have developed such a relationship that he wanted me to do the story, despite the fact that I had just moved to New Zealand”.

Aya has regularly contributed to all the major Japanese woman’s magazines, newspapers, trade journals, as well as having her own radio programme and hosting TV programmes for several years. Her new life in New Zealand is also part of her CV, with coverage of “Aya in her new home” in a number of glossy features.

Her outstanding reputation has lead to global fashion brands such as Bally and Club Med Fashions to call on her expertise to re-launch their brands in Japan, which is where the opportunity for New Zealand arises.

Now based permanently here with her husband and two young sons, Aya is keen to use her experience and valuable connections in Japan to aid New Zealand based companies.

“I can assist New Zealand companies in terms of media coverage, making the right connections with importers and agents while giving advice on the Japanese mentality and its unique market”

Aya says understanding the differences and the subtleties of both cultures is half the battle for New Zealand companies operating in Japan.

“I can take care of everything from facilitating business in the Japanese market, to choosing the right retail outlet and advising the most effective PR methods.”

Her first mission is to assist Air New Zealand Fashion Week organisers in targeting more Japanese media and buyers for this year’s collection in October.

Aya, who has covered the event for the last three years for Japanese publications, has a clear understanding of how New Zealand designers are perceived in her home market and is looking forward to guiding them to success in her home country.

Cathy Campbell Communications
www.ccc.net.nz

© Scoop Media