Nature and sports are the origins of business.
NOASC Co., Ltd.
Representative director ROSS CARTY, KUNIYO CARTY
I was born in Brisbane in southeastern Australia in 1966. I was
brought up from 10 years old in Canberra and loved ski since the days
of child. But it is ice hockey that I got absorbed most. I was chosen
as vice-captain of national team of the boy generation and came for
Kushiro( Hokkaido) and Tomakomai( Hokkaido) in 1983. It was my first
visit to Japan. I was 17 years old then.
For school days, I skied in Europe and Canada. In 1989 to graduate
from university, I came to An’nupuri skiing area of Niseko to ski. I
just stayed in Japan to learn Japanese to come to Niseko again. I stayed
in Sapporo in summer.
I graduated from university and found a job in Australia. But I sent
resume to Saint Moritz lift Corporation (Hirafu) because I intended to
go to Hirafu in the next year. It worked, and I was assigned to work of
patrol in Hirafu.
Ross: Kuniyo worked in company of Tokyo.
Kuniyo: It was work of business assistance of apparel maker. But I
came to Niseko after all and began part-time job in Alpen shop.
Ross: I dropped in at Alpen shop well elsewhere in those days because there was not shop to buy chocolate and Coke.
Kuniyo: We did the first date in in employee dining room of Hotel
Niseko Alpen. We did the second date in in house of Hank which had
closed. Ross was able to talk about only some Japanese, and, as for me,
dictionary was necessary for our conversation because we were not able
to speak English at all. Ross studied Japanese hard.
Ross: I worked in bar and Graubünden of Watanabe Junko. In Graubünde, Ross Findlay worked, too.
With Kuniyo, we launched business to import Australian snowboard
into Japan before long. But the yen became weak, and profit has
decreased. Therefore I opened shop and school of snowboarding in Niseko.
I founded NOASC(Niseko Outdoor Adventure Sports Company) in 1994.
Tour of backcountry, summer rafting, kayak, adventure camping. I
extended business.
From about 1995, sports business of me and Ross Findlay, Australian
business of Hirafu including tour business of Peter Murphy came to
attract attention. Then powder snow of Niseko comes to be known to
people of Australia and East Asia rapidly, and it becomes big topic in
Japan.
Ross: We married in 1996.
Kuniyo: At first Ross got along well from neighboring women to persuade my parents into our marrying.
Ross: We became parent of 3 children all too soon when we noticed.
Kuniyo: Ross loving children works on swimming and outdoor activity with other children very eagerly.
Ross: Rugby is minor sports in Japan than Australia. I want to diffuse
rugby as summer main sports of Hirafu in cooperation with various
people. I want to teach children splendor of rugby.
Kuniyo: Through child, adults not to know can make friends
immediately. Because bond with area becomes stronger by being concerned
with event and PTA of school.
The 21st century began, and, in addition to NOASC, I made travel
agency and real estate company. Range of business spreads, and this can
cover both hardware and software to enjoy Niseko. I want to call in
Asian people that there is more as well as people of the English zone
that I did including Australia from now on in Niseko. Across Kutchan,
Niseko, Rankoshi, local government, we think that we should make an
effort jointly to promote it.
Nature and sports are the origins of my business here. I think that
town of Kutchan and Niseko becomes town with agriculture and industry
to assume nature and sports resources. Japan does not yet have such a
town. I want to do my best for the realization. And I look forward to
the future of this town.