Name: Oliviero Morelli
Title: President, MSC Cruises Japan
URL: https://www.msccruises.jp
Hometown: Naples
Time in Japan (cumulative): 9 years
What was your first encounter with Japanese culture?
We grew up with Japanese anime and manga in Italy. Many companies found it cheaper to buy the rights from Japan than from the USA, so Italian kids in the 1980s and ’90s were seeing temples and onigiri (rice balls). I came to Japan for the first time at age 18, rail pass in hand. Before moving here for my work in 2014, I had visited between 10 to 15 times. In terms of hotels and train stations, I can say I almost knew Japan better than my Japanese staff.
What do you love about your work?
I think I have the best job in the world. I began working for MSC in Naples on the cargo side, and then I moved over to cruises after three years. Containers — although they make the world go round — are quite a static object. They don’t talk and they don’t complain! Cruises are more of a challenge, as you have to deal with your guests. There is probably no other job that is so diverse, so challenging and so fun.
Tell us about your team.
I previously worked in London with a team representing around 30 nationalities, but I was the first foreign person at the Tokyo office when I arrived. Now we have many different nationalities and some Japanese who grew up abroad. It’s a very welcoming and supportive corporate culture.
Where is the Japanese cruise market heading?
Currently the three main groups among Japanese cruisers are retirees, families and joshi tabi (groups of women traveling together). The largest segment are the over-60s, and they are very genki (fit)! Sometimes we’ll have a 90-year-old person celebrating their birthday on board. However, Japan is still a young market in terms of the overall cruise industry, and there is lots of potential for future growth. MSC is on track to become Japan’s largest cruise line by the end of this year.
Exploring Japan is one of your passions. What are some of your favorite spots?
I particularly love Japanese onsen (hot springs), and so let me mention two places I highly recommend: One is Takaragawa Onsen in Gunma Prefecture. I took my wife and parents there when it was snowing, and it was magical. The other is Ginsan Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture. It is incredible when it is lit up at night, like a fairytale.