Memories of Shinji Wada

Last week I read the terrible news about many lives being taken after the horrible tornado Hagibis in Japan. That was the moment that I started to think about a very good friend, Shinji Wada who unfortunately passed away almost a year ago. I turned on my tablet and listened to Shinji singing a Beatles song (Twist and Shout) at one of the company gatherings. I had bittersweet feelings watching this emotive, fun loving man. My overall feeling is sadness that he is no longer with us, but I feel fortunate that I have had the opportunity to know him for so many years and could call him a true friend.

I met Shinji the first time about 20 years ago when we were trying to develop a footprint in Japan. He was the company representative for Alpha Therapeutics Corporation and joined us on several trips to Tokyo. It was an amazing time for different reasons. Not only did he know the business, but he was a wonderful teacher to help us understand how to conduct business in Japan. In addition, he was able to show the good places in Tokyo where to dine or where to sing Karaoke in Roppongi. He impressed many with his fabulous talent as a singer!

One time he was insulted by a taxi driver. We were driving to a location and Shinji gave good instructions in Japanese. The taxi driver was surprised because Shinji looked more like an American businessman than Japanese. And of course, he communicated to us in English. At a certain moment the taxi driver told Shinji that he really spoke good Japanese. The expression on Shinji’s face was priceless. We all thought this was funny, he however felt insulted......

We also traveled together to China and visited the Great Wall on a day when it was freezing cold. Only with the help of a warm Russian hat we were able to deal with the temperature. At the end of that trip we went back to the USA and had a small bus waiting for us so we could travel together. One of the team members decided to hire a luxury hotel car for his own transportation. We all decided to tease him. Our local consultant, who is fluent in Mandarin, instructed the hotel car driver to stay behind the bus. Once we were on our way to the airport, we all (including Shinji) were busy to make faces to the team member in the hotel car. We thought this was funny, but I am not sure that this team member, (who is now a co-owner of a company) had the same sense of humor.

After Shinji became responsible for the plasma collection activities of Grifols he became a very important industry representative at different occasions. He was a very respective chairman of the Board, knew how to develop consensus and was always able to speak with an industry mind.

During his illness I visited him a few times in his home and we both enjoyed those times. The last time I saw Shinji was at the service for his funeral. I had the opportunity to say a few words while Shinji was next to me in an open casket. I truly felt he was with us. At the end of the memorial service we were able to greet him for the last time. I laid my hand on his shoulder and said: “Farewell my friend”. I continue to think a lot about him.

Jan M Bult
October 2019