Meet Norman Munroe: A Jamaican Entrepreneur in Japan

Hello, friends!

Here is another individual here in Japan who has launched a business here. He is our second guest in this newly added feature to my blog.

Welcome, Norman! Please tell us about yourself. 

My name is Norman Munroe and I’m from Chapelton, Clarendon. I’ve been living in Japan since 2003 having come here as an ALT on the JET Programme. I started cooking and messing about in the kitchen when I was a child and my mother encouraged it, so I pay tribute to her for that. My form teacher at school, Mr. Paul Reed, who was also our church organist, made an outstanding banana bread and was a pretty good cook himself and he was also a source of inspiration. Plus, I loved then and still love to watch cooking shows.


So you moved from playing around in the kitchen as a child to an actual business making money in the kitchen. Cool! How long have you been operating Sweet Jamaican Things?

I’ve been operating SJT for about three years now and I started doing this mostly at the prompting of former Jamaican Ambassador to Japan Claudia Barnes. On a couple of occasions I made some stuff for the Embassy, they loved it, and the Ambassador was quite surprised when I told her that I only did it as a hobby. She suggested that I think about turning it into a business and I took her up on the suggestion. 

SJT's Bread Pudding

Interesting. Your business idea came from someone taking interest in what you did. Tell us, how do you run your business?
I make Jamaican pastry to order and I sell them via my website, www.sweetjamaicanthings.com, and also my SJT Facebook page. I also occasionally go on the road and sell at festivals and other events. It is a one-man operation and sales are up and down. My busiest time of the year is Christmas when many Jamaicans want to get their hands on traditional Jamaican Christmas cake. Easter buns also sell fairly well, too. Among my other items are Jamaican favourites like sweet potato pudding, bread pudding and banana bread. I deliver all over Japan, via parcel delivery services.

SJT's Sweet Potato Pudding

Rum cake, anyone?

Sounds yummy! Any words for someone wanting to start a business here?

If someone is thinking of starting a business here, make sure you have drive, determination, patience and also the ability to innovate. All these, of course, plus the necessary capital and the assistance of Japanese speaking people who can assist you to tap into markets that you may not be aware of, as well as with things like translations etc. There is a market for Jamaican goods and if you can tap into it then so much the better.

Sweet Jamaican Things’ mission: “To provide the finest quality, authentic products to our customers, in good time, at a reasonable price.”

Thanks, Norman! You've also given me something to think about. What's next for you?

My dream is to see Jamaican sweet treats with my brand on them in pastry shops and supermarkets all across Japan and also further afield. That and also a successful chain of pastry and coffee shops, although that side of the food industry is particularly competitive.


Well, I hope you enjoyed meeting Norman. Do head on over to his page for Sweet Jamaican Things at, https://www.facebook.com/SweetJamaicanThings. いただきます！