ProfileCulture clash in Niseko? How a third-culture COO navigates Japan resort’s complex terrain

Niseko, a ski resort on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, exists at the intersection of international energy brought by visiting skiers and Japanese tradition. But this convergence creates friction. Western expectations, Japanese protocols and a hyper-seasonal environment are third-culture problems that require third-culture solutions. This is where Patrick Ohtani comes in. As chief operating officer of luxury holiday rental management company The Luxe Nomad, he moves between worlds. He was born in Canada to an Irish mother and a Japanese father, raised in the UK, and is 12 years into building his career in the resort. The Luxe Nomad is Asia-Pacific’s largest luxury holiday rental management company, specialising in high-end, curated ski-in/ski-out chalets, apartments and condominiums in Japan’s premier Hokkaido destinations, including Niseko, Rusutsu and Furano. Around 50 per cent of the staff in Niseko are Japanese, while the other half are from other parts of the world to cater to the seasonal resort’s diverse customer base. “There’s very much a view of it as a Westernised culture versus a Japanese culture,” Ohtani says, “and there are a lot of differences in terms of the approach to work, society, manners and respect, and how those things get interpreted. “You have to be reactive and adaptive to be able to work in that environment.” According to the 43-year-old, culture clashes in Niseko often arise from differences in expectations surrounding prearranged plans. In Japanese culture, things are meant to be executed exactly according to prearranged plans, whereas in Western culture, things are a bit more flexible and details can be overlooked so long as the result ends up being the same. “In Japan, last-minute changes can be very sensitive because the process was agreed upon,” Ohtani says. “From a Western perspective, you might think, ‘Why are you so stressed about how I executed this? We still got to where we needed to go.’ And that difference really causes friction between the two cultures.” Ohtani began his career in hospitality as a part-time bartender at Nocturne, a bar in Bristol in the UK. The venue, which was famously owned by trip-hop group Massive Attack, was also known for its exclusivity and edgy atmosphere. Ohtani worked there until he graduated from university. “Eventually, I moved away from bartending to start a professional career, but I found my way back,” he says. “About 12 years ago, I moved to Japan and re-entered the hospitality sector. “I started with a smaller company here in town, initially as a kind of liaison, and then moved into management. I was then approached by the owners of The Luxe Nomad to manage the properties here.” Ohtani never learned Japanese from his father. “My dad made a conscious decision about not teaching us Japanese,” he says. “I had an older sister, and he didn’t want to teach her Japanese because he speaks from a very male, masculine perspective. In Japanese, the feminine lexicon is quite different, with tonality and even some grammar. He didn’t want to teach her a masculine way of speaking. “And when it came to me, I think he just thought, ‘Well, I’ve already skipped one child, so I’m not going to favour the other by teaching him Japanese.’ So, English became our home language.” With his nuanced, multicultural background, Ohtani naturally thrived in a tourist spot like Niseko. “You’ve got Japanese culture, but then you’re in Niseko, which is already a little different from the rest of Japan,” he says, “and on top of that, you’re in a very tourist-driven town, which makes it completely different from somewhere like Tokyo or the capital. It adds another layer.” The Masonry, a Bali-based restaurant concept, has opened at the Niseko Kyo hotel. During the summer, or green season, in Hokkaido, one of the most popular activities among Japanese people is to enjoy stays at natural hot spring, or onsen, resorts. Such stays typically include a half-board package with onsen access. The Masonry provides something different from the onsen packages in the area. The Masonry’s co-founder, Ben Cross, and head chef, Tom Jack, have created a menu around Hokkaido’s seasonal produce. “Think giant scallops cooked over fire, Furano Wagyu, all with that Mediterranean simplicity The Masonry is known for,” Ohtani says. “It’s going to be a warm, lively space for long lunches and après-ski, right on the slopes.” In a demographic like that of Niseko, Ohtani is providing unique solutions with his own third-culture approach. “The green season is predominantly dominated by the domestic market at the moment,” he says. “With an international footing growing in Niseko, we want to provide something that will translate and satisfy either or both markets.”

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The Luxe Nomad executive Patrick Ohtani talks about overcoming the issues that arise as cultures mix in the popular Japanese ski resort

The Luxe Nomad executive Patrick Ohtani talks about overcoming the issues that arise as cultures mix in the popular Japanese ski resort