The 29-year-old, whose steps up his quest for a second World Cup title against Wales in a Twickenham quarterfinal on Saturday, joined the Panasonic Wild Knights for the 2013-14 Japanese Top League.
Not all countries approve of players going abroad. And there has long been a view that foreign players only joined Japanese clubs, bankrolled by large industrial corporations, for the money.
But with no clash of seasons, Pietersen was able to turn out for the Durban-based Sharks in the southern hemisphere Super Rugby competition.
Pietersen, who has played under New Zealander Robbie Deans, a former Australia coach, at the Wild Knights was in no doubt about the benefits.
