March 2011
Translation 『BCCJ ACUMEN』Volume 2 / Issue 3のまとめ |
Building Business PartnershipsPeople occasionally ask me what the benefits are of BCCJ membership and receiving ACUMEN. Well, apart from the obvious merits of networking, events, information and influence, let me give you a prime example of a modest start-up that partnered with an established global giant, all thanks to the Chamber and its monthly magazine. |
Books Japan-Bashing: Anti-Japanism since the 1980sFrom the “yellow peril” to the fear—now seemingly ridiculous—of a Japan-dominated world, the book looks at the portrayal of anti-Japanese sentiment in Western media, political circles, popular culture and public opinion. |
Books Lost in Transition: Youth, Work, and Instability ...Telling the story of the “lost generation” who have experienced the breakdown of secure employment patterns since the 1990s, this book looks at how the system that once channelled young people smoothly from school to work has come apart in the subsequent decades. |
Books Japanese Consumer DynamicsThe 11 chapters chart the course of the Japanese consumer market from the high growth post-war decades through to the most recent financial crisis, analysing the groups and trends that have emerged, through the eyes of eight contributing authors. |
Books People Who Eat Darkness: The Fate of Lucie Blackman“Lucie Blackman died … before I ever knew that such a person existed. In fact, it was only because she was dead or missing … that I took an interest in her at all”, admits Richard Lloyd Parry at the beginning of his book. |
Tongue-tied TakeawaysAs “exotic” takeaways become favorite foods-to-go after a few beers on Friday nights, a survey of mispronounced dishes in the UK put a Japanese dish top, the New York Times reported on 22 February. |
Glasgow Accent Comes TopJapanese speakers of English believe that Glaswegians have the most attractive accent, ELT News reported on 9 February. The Glasgow accent came top for social attractiveness, a survey by Northumbria University found. |
Tokyo Wins Green AwardTokyo was named the greenest city in the Asia-Pacific, The Independent reported on 17 February. Consulting firm Solidance evaluated CO2 emissions, energy usage, transport facilities, air quality, water, waste treatment, green space and environmental governance. |
Four Firms in Tech DealSoftbank Mobile Corporation announced it would tie up with the Vodafone Group, China Mobile Limited and Bharti Airtel Limited to exploit next-generation communication technology, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on 15 February. The partners believe cooperation across the four countries will boost sales. |
Pharma Announces BuyoutKyowa Hakko Kirin Co. said it will buy Scottish pharmaceutical product maker ProStrakan Group plc for £292 million, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on 22 February. |
Museum MangaAn English-language release of Professor Munakata’s British Museum Adventure, a manga created by the celebrated Yukinobu Hoshino, will be published, the animenewsnetwork website announced on 9 February. |
NHK Airs Techno Experiment on FamilyThe Sullivan-Barnes family from Reading took part in an experiment to see how they could live without the technology of the past 30 years, NHK reported on 17 February. |
Olympus Names UK PresidentOptical-equipment and digital-camera maker Olympus has picked a Briton as president, the Asahi Shimbun reported on 10 February. |
Schools Blamed for Low RankingCardiff University ranked Japan low and Britain high in the biggest global survey on knowledge of pregnancy and sterility, the Mainichi Shimbun reported on 14 February. |
Firms Pitch Fighter JetsAmbassador David Warren is vigorously promoting the Eurofighter in Japan amid increasingly fierce competition, the Mainichi Shimbun reported on 3 February. |
Haken Hiring and New Salary SurveyAs Robert Walters published its 12th annual Global Salary Survey, the firm’s haken expert spoke to the media in February on developments and misconceptions in Japan’s contract employment system. |
New Haneda Hotel Offers Free StaysThe Tokyu Stay Kamata hotel will open on 18 April near Haneda Airport, local media reported in February, and it is offering free stays to BCCJ ACUMEN readers. |
Entertainment Japan’s Got TalentThe number of Japanese musicians and singers who have made it in the lucrative markets of Europe and North America is miniscule. Artists who cut their teeth in this market have fared somewhat better in other parts of Asia, but J-pop is still a relatively minor export. |
Education Learning “Real World” LanguageThe world of business changes rapidly and this has never been more true than over the past 10 years. |
Industry Rise of the RedbackIf there is to be a rival to the US dollar as the dominant global reserve currency in the 21st century, it surely must be the Chinese renminbi. Home to the world’s second-largest economy, China is likely to have the highest gross domestic product by the 2030s. |
Industry 2011 Tax Reform ProposalsOn 16 December 2010, the Japanese government published the 2011 tax reform proposals. They include changes designed to promote the country as a principal Asian financial market. |
Great British Brands Lloyds TSB BankAlthough some two out of three adults in the UK enjoy a financial relationship with the Lloyds Banking Group, many residents of Japan are unaware of the firm’s global size and long history. |
Entrepreneur Fusion FingersThe quaint image of a lavender-lined path and pink roses trained around the door of a thatched cottage is one that many Japanese bring back from a visit to the UK. And despite Japan’s own considerable gardening heritage, some want to recreate their very own English garden here. |
Arts & Culture Save our SoulsIn a recession, it is inevitable there will be arts funding cuts, but what are these going to be and how will they impact art’s ability to sustain and invigorate society? With rumoured cuts of 25-40%, arts organisations are facing funding uncertainty in three main areas: government, local authorities and private sources. |
Embassy Chevening ScholarshipsThe British Embassy Tokyo’s annual Chevening Scholarship programme offers Japan’s future leaders a chance to study in the UK’s world-famous educational institutions and be part of the future of UK-Japan relations. |
Trade and Investment Gift Show Nostalgia TripRecently demonstrating children’s colouring products at a gift show in Japan brought back wonderful memories of my childhood. This may sound like a strange activity in which to engage, but it is just one practical way we can support UK firms expanding into overseas markets. |
Interview Keiichi HayashiAppointed Ambassador of Japan to the United Kingdom on 11 January 2011. |
CSR Helping HandsIt’s a busy weekday evening at the Azabudai offices of Hands On Tokyo, where the air is filled with the clunking of plastic bottles and the scent of luxury toiletries. |
Business Risk FCPA EnforcementGlobal regulators are intensifying corruption prosecutions and enforcement. Although the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) took effect more than 30 years ago, there has recently been an increase in indictments, cases of civil enforcement, fines and other penalties. |
Great British Brands British AirwaysBritish Airways began its new service from Heathrow to Tokyo International Airport, also known as Haneda Airport, on 20 February, underlining the importance the carrier places on its routes to Japan and its ongoing commitment to convenience, flexibility and choice. |
Advocacy Industry AdvocacyRules and regulations that are applied to firms in the financial-services sector in Japan have been eased over the past five years or so, a development that has been broadly welcomed by foreign firms operating here. |
New BeginningsMarch is traditionally the month of renewal and awakening from the depths of winter, and nowhere is this more evident than at the BCCJ. It seems like no time at all since I took over as president last April. |
New UK Trade and Investment White PaperThe white paper demonstrates that trade and investment are critical for the UK to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced growth in the future. |
Exciting Era AheadSince 1 February, I have been shadowing and learning from our incumbent Executive Director Ian de Stains in the lead up to his departure on 31 March. Following nearly 25 years of dedicated service and commitment to the membership, Ian’s retirement naturally presents the organisation with a significant challenge, but also with the opportunity to learn and grow in new directions. |
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