Former Magpies captain Lee, who played 65 first-class games for the Bay from 1994 to 2008, has a two-year deal with the Heat side which has no former Magpies or Kiwis on the playing roster.
"They are a similar team to the Magpies ... up and down from the Top League and they were relegated last year. My job this season is to get them up to the Top League for next year and then help them stay there."
With little understanding of Japanese, Lee said he would have to work through interpreters and simplify his presentation. For a bloke who loves to chat this will be a huge challenge.
Both of the Magpies Ranfurly Shield tenures during his coaching stint (he never won it as a player) will be the best memories Lee takes with him.
"The first one in particular because it had been such a long time since the Bay last had it. Winning the championship was pretty good too as well as the growth in talent which has gone on.
"Being able to hold on to Bay boys and help them make a career out of rugby and push for higher honours. We've put faith in these boys and helped them grow as people and as rugby players."
The former Havelock North club player hasn't ruled out a return to the Bay.
"I wouldn't turn down a head coach job here. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Hawke's Bay Rugby both as a player and in recent years as a coach. Hawke's Bay is in my blood and always will be but I am really looking forward to the opportunity to be a head coach and to work towards helping Honda to strive for success in the near future," Lee said.
While Lee declined the opportunity to name his paper-only Magpies XV, a selection of the best Magpies during his time as a coach (he will do this when he retires from the coaching game) the one-game Hurricane was happy to give his prediction for Friday night's Super Rugby match between the defending champions and the Brumbies at Napier's McLean Park.
"One would expect the Hurricanes to be too strong. They have been the most consistent team in the comp and while they are away from Westpac Stadium they will still have the home advantage. The Brumbies were looking sharp until they slipped up last weekend against the Rebels and they have some strong forwards up front who work well ... it should be a pretty good spectacle."
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union CEO Mike Bishop said: "Danny has been a fantastic servant of Hawke's Bay Rugby during his years with us, firstly as an inspirational player and captain, then as backs coach for the last five seasons. He is thoroughly professional and is universally respected by all the players who have come under his charge over that period.
"During his coaching tenure the Magpies won the Ranfurly Shield twice and the ITM Cup Championship in 2015 which marks him out as one of the most successful coaches in Hawke's Bay rugby history. His attention to detail is second to none and he genuinely cares about the players he has worked with throughout those years. We are sorry to see him head offshore but the opportunity to experience an overseas environment and grow his coaching knowledge is an exciting one," Bishop added.
The recruitment process to find a new Magpies backs coach will begin this week.
