Jim Andretta is a New York-born, Tokyo-based tech strategist, musician and improviser.

Born in Woodstock, NY, and living between Tokyo and New York since 2005, Jim attended the School of International Liberal Studies at Waseda University in 2011, prior to graduating with a BA from Colgate University in 2012. During this time he also lived in Kyoto, Japan, where he continued his Japanese studies at Kyoto Institute of Culture and Language. He started his IT career at Rakuten in Tokyo, prior to joining New York Times-published food and beverage startup, Happy, as a founding member.

Jim received his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and Leadership Fellowship award from the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University, where he served as Social Chair in the school’s student council. Jim returned to Tokyo in 2018 after graduating where he has resided ever since. A six year veteran at Apple Inc., Jim now leads the APAC Carrier Program managing Asia’s largest telecoms in Apple Retail and Online.

Studying Japanese since 2004, Jim has presented on behalf of several Fortune 500 companies to C-suites across Australia, Japan and South Korea, as well as in local language to various government agencies, including the Ministry of Internal Communications and Affairs. He also served as Daniel Powter’s interpreter for his 2022 Japan tour.

Jim has been a member of numerous improv comedy groups since 2009, starting with Charred Goosebeak (now Broken Lizard of Supertroopers fame) and collaborating with numerous comedians including Jim Belushi. Jim graduated 401 from Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in 2014 and is currently a member of Pirates of Tokyo Bay, Japan’s first and only bilingual improv comedy team. He performs in English and Japanese and has played to audiences of over 300 throughout Asia, including Tokyo, Vietnam and Manila. He can also be seen in the 2013 Electric Daisy Carnival documentary, “Under the Electric Sky.”

Jim has held a Level 3 Sommelier certification from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust since 2015 and worked three years in the wine industry prior to his MBA. He has his marriage license as a Minister in the State of New York. An avid thrill-seeker, Jim also received his solo pilot’s license from Hamilton Aviation in 2012, flying Cessna 152 & 172 airplanes.

Jim drums, DJs and produces music under the DayWalk moniker, as well as performing B2B alongside longtime friend and collaborator Tim Chard as Merman. He’s played Japan’s largest nightclubs including CÉ LA VI, Womb, Zouk, ZERO and ageHa.