December 2009 - January 2010
Foreword Promoting UK Interests — in business and across the boardIt’s a great pleasure to be asked to write a foreword [...] |
Executive Director Welcome to AcumenI am thrilled to introduce BCCJ ACUMEN, the magazine of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan. It has been many years since the Chamber had a regular publication and many Members have wanted to see us produce one again. |
President Chamber Initiatives: Member Feedback Makes BCCJ BetterWhen I first stood for election as President of the Chamber, I told my colleagues on the Executive Committee that I wanted to hear from [...] |
Publisher Best of British — business, lifestyle, communityI sincerely hope you have enjoyed the first issue of BCCJ ACUMEN. It took us two solid months of hard work to put it together, and many weeks of planning before that. What surprised me most in this process was discovering the large number of successful British firms and individuals operating in Japan. |
27th Japan Scottish Highland GamesAbout 1,100 people gathered at Kanda University, Makuhari on 4 October for a pageant of Scottish traditional sounds and colour. The massed Pipes & Drums of the Tokyo Pipe Band and judges marched past in the opening event. Spectators and competitors then enjoyed the bagpipes and drums, kilts and sporrans, Glengarry caps and tartan shawls… |
Embassy Are you a British National in Japan?Welcome from the British consular network in Japan. Some of you may have used our services, some of you may have heard of us, and some of you may have no idea who we are or what we do. I hope we can help clarify! |
Jobs 2010 HR TrendsEmployment figures — a key indicator of economic activity — are revealing welcome trends for early 2010, as firms begin to position themselves to exploit opportunities in the economic upturn. Data from the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications suggest hiring activity will start to pick up [...] |
Books Conflict and ChangeThe biggest surprise about Conflict and Change was learning that, according to the publisher, it is the first book on the challenges associated with foreign takeovers of Japanese firms. At a BCCJ luncheon at the Hilton Tokyo hotel on November 11… |
CSR Funds Aid Fight for RightsRefugees International Japan (RIJ) began in 1979 with advocacy efforts to improve conditions for Indochinese refugees, particularly Cambodians in camps in Thailand. |
Scotland—Front Line of Wind PowerLong dependent on North Sea oil, Scotland is now spearheading Europe’s quest to harness strong winds to create energy and employment — leaving Japan way behind in this industry, Nikkei Business reported in October. |
Kagoshima Bags UK Black Tea PrizeIn a blow to the British cuppa, a Kagoshima black tea became the first Japanese entrant to win a top award at London’s prestigious Great Taste Awards, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported in October. |
Industry Workplace TrendsMobile business tools have widened the potential definition of the workplace well beyond the confines of a specific piece of real estate. Yet we still cling dearly to our tactile office, and employees become defensive of personal space and amenities during renovation or relocation. |
Feature Article Clean up with green investmentBy the time you read this, Copenhagen and its relevance to Climate Change will have been forgotten. Memories of the Little Mermaid statue in the harbour and of the Danish capital as the home of Tuborg beer will have been restored. |
Economy Business SurveyThe global economic uncertainties seem to have eased and the economic outlook for Japan in the next six months is positive, according to the latest Foreign Chambers in Japan (FCIJ) Business Confidence Survey. |
Feature Article 2009 British Business AwardsIt may have been a testing 12 months for firms large and small everywhere, but the BCCJ’s 2009 British Business Awards gala dinner on 26 November underlined the excellence in the UK business community here. |
Economy Road to RecoveryAfter four consecutive quarters of contraction, Japan’s economy is slowly moving along the road to recovery. Industrial production bottomed out in February and… |
Great British Brands Triumph over AdversityThere’s nothing quite like the rumbling, throaty growl of a Triumph as it kicks into life. In the country renowned for mass global motorbike production, the president of Triumph Japan says… |
Politics End of ‘Iron Triangle?’The speed of change under the government of Yukio Hatoyama has been faster than most expected. Arguably, the most profound changes are being made to the way Japan governs itself… |
Feature Article Not Scotch MistFew companies have emerged from the global downturn unscathed, but Scotland’s whisky industry has proven relatively resilient — with increased exports to Japan. “It’s an affordable luxury”, says David Croll, who established Whisk-e… |
Industry Interactive DialogueAmong the reforms to the regulatory inspection process recently announced by Japan’s Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission (SESC) is an emphasis on “more interactive dialogue” with management. |
Education 20 Years of TeachingThis year marks the 20th anniversary of The British School in Tokyo. Today, we are a two-site school for over 650 students, with a reputation for providing a British education of the highest calibre to Nursery children… |
Feature Article Tribute to Creative UKFor the first time, four of the five laureates in Japan’s prestigious Praemium Imperiale Awards are from the same country — a result hailed as a reflection of the creative depth and cultural diversity of Great Britain. |
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