Maki Nibayashi

Occupation:
Founder and President of Tribal Nation Security

Time in Japan:
Around 18 years


Where are you from?
Springfield, Ohio.

What brought you to Japan?
The US Navy. I was a 19-year-old sailor aboard the USS Midway.

What was your first impression of Japan?
I was in a state of shock. I thought everyone would be walking around in kimonos. Instead, I saw Japanese people in afro hairstyles, mini-skirts and bell bottom pants.

What did you find the most different?
Our cultures, when it comes to eating. How little they knew about us back then. The money exchange, which was JY360 to the dollar, and the size of the streets when it came to driving.

What do you do now?
I was working on Camp Zama, but now I have devoted all of my time into getting more clients for my business, and learning more Japanese reading and writing in the process.

What does your company do?
Tribal Nation Security currently has on permanent staff ten executive security specialists. Our goal by the end of July 2000 is to have a total of 30 executive security specialists. TNS can, with prior notice, provide up to 120 experienced event security staff anywhere in Japan. Tribal Nation Security requires at least a week' advance notice for any event, and we require at least 24 hours advance notice for any personal security requests in Japan.

Have you guarded anyone famous?
My first client was Mariah Carey when she first came to Japan on a promotion tour. Others were James Brown, Naomi Campbell, Nicolas Cage, Yokozuna Wakanohana, Japanese singers Gackt, Green Day, Prodigy, various K-1 Fighters and a list of others too long to mention.

Any funny or interesting on-the-job stories?
We were doing a concert at Akasaka Blitz and were in the middle of catching all the crowd surfers coming over so they would not get hurt, when suddenly, one of my guys said "Look out Rozz!" So I threw my hands back in order to catch whoever it was and I caught a guy in my arms, but the only thing was, he was butt naked like the day he was born. And when I caught him, he had his arms wrapped around my neck and he would not let go! The band stopped playing, my security guys were laughing along with the audience and the band. They never let me live that down.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I see myself as providing corporate bodyguard services for different firms and companies here in Japan and becoming a concert/event promoter here in Japan.

What's your favorite thing about Japan?
The way the Japanese people adopt different cultures into their lifestyles but still retain their heritage at the same time.

What's one Japanese thing you can't live without?
The spiritual bond that you make in love and friendship here in Japan; I need that emotion in my life.

Your recipe for a happy and successful life in Japan?
Japan is like a big mountain. There will be many obstacles in your way and sometimes you have to jump to the right, then to the left, and even then you will get hit by a few rocks and boulders as you climb. But let faith be your guide, and with this all things are possible. If you realize that only I, and I alone, can stop myself from being successful, then you will make it. See you at the top of the mountain!

Contact Robin at tribal_nation@surfline.ne.jp

Robin Rozzell spoke to Maki Nibayashi.

Do you know someone who has an interesting life in Japan? Email us at maki@tokyoclassified.com