Too late to make this issue of ACUMEN, meanwhile, Sir John Major spoke at a BCCJ luncheon on 8 May, with his vast array of credentials and experience suggesting a very stimulating occasion. ACUMEN did have a presence there, so we will feature a full report in the June issue.

After all the serious politics, softening this issue a bit—if softening is the right word—is the incredible adventure of our indomitable cover girl, Sarah Outen. She is now paddling furiously and alone across the Pacific Ocean, focused on reaching Tower Bridge in London, her starting point of more than a year ago. As Sarah waited for the wind and rain to stop before departing from Japan, she shared with ACUMEN her darkest (and most unlikely) fear. She’s probably reached Okinawa by now—if she’s rowing that way—which is very fitting, since we found three British entrepreneurs there who have been living the dream since washing up on the tropical island several years ago, after rejecting big city lifestyles.

Finally, there are more UK-related events scheduled in Tokyo, so please don’t hesitate to apply for the free tickets we are offering.

The committee meets every month at the British Embassy Tokyo’s Number 4 House, by kind permission of our ex-officio member Sue Kinoshita, director of UK Trade & Investment. There the team agree organisational policy, discuss general BCCJ business, and review progress in promoting the interests of all members.

Certain executive committee members take responsibility for specific areas of BCCJ growth and development, and this often includes heading a task force charged with specific objectives, such as events, communication, legal issues, finance, CSR, the European Business Council, and the British Business Awards (BBA).

More generally, team members are asked to attend and host as many BCCJ events as possible (40 were held in 2011–12) to mix with guests, help everyone feel welcome, and solicit feedback on the BCCJ. The secretariat welcomes feedback and encourages members to familiarise themselves with executive committee representatives, in order to express thoughts and opinions that will lead us to providing the highest levels of service for the membership at large.

Executive committee members are, essentially, ambassadors for the BCCJ. They introduce new members, invite guests to events, and support organisational goals.

You will be hearing more from individual members of this 2012–13 committee in subsequent issues of ACUMEN. Should you have any questions for executive committee members, please email: info (at) bccjapan.com.

2012 British Business Awards
In response to feedback over the years from the executive committee, for the fifth British Business Awards we will encourage more nominations across all categories, to create even more of a buzz in advance of this headliner event—this year slated for 2 November at the Conrad Tokyo hotel. The more nominees, the more attendees—and the more opportunities for business development for everyone.

YouTube
As part of the BCCJ’s communications strategy, we now have our own YouTube channel, designed to drive traffic to the BCCJ website through search-engine optimisation, and showcase the diversity of our events programme, this year led by Graham Davis of the Economist Group. A number of videos, including “BCCJ British Business Awards 2011”, have been uploaded. Stay tuned to see more BCCJ member firms featured in the weeks and months ahead.

Steve Crane, chief executive of Business Link Japan K.K., and winner of the Person of the Year prize at the British Business Awards 2011, said recently: “Following on from the BCCJ’s comment about utilising videos to maximise opportunity, there has been a steady flow of viewers to my BBA video (360 so far). Many prospective clients have watched it, and have gone on to do business with us. Since winning the award, I have seen a clear upturn in our sales, which suggests that (a) winning a BBA has a clear, positive effect on business, and (b) capturing the moment and putting it out there on social media is a very good thing!”

Any holding up of the economy through further action will be determined by external forces, rather than more action by the BoJ. Now there is a 1% target in play for inflation; this points, once again, to the fact that actions have greater impact than words.

Spring also brings with it the BCCJ annual general meeting. This year it is being held at the Hilton Tokyo hotel in Shinjuku, and all members are welcome to attend. The event is free, but please reserve via our website.

Following the formal meeting, Sir David Warren will give a speech, his final address to the chamber as British ambassador prior to his retirement from the diplomatic service later in the year. The evening will conclude with a buffet reception.

The relationship between the chamber and the British Embassy Tokyo has grown even closer over the recent past thanks to close collaboration and recognition that a combined approach to business in Japan and the UK benefits everyone equally.

This is also my final piece for BCCJ ACUMEN as president of the BCCJ. I will be standing down at the annual general meeting after two years’ service. Much has happened during the past two years, but I have been impressed most by the positive comments received from the membership regarding what we have strived to do continuously—deliver a relevant, focused business organisation with a strong emphasis on value, provided through meetings, networking opportunities and effective business development in the Japan–UK relationship.

These things do not just happen—they have to be worked at constantly and I have been privileged to be part of a very strong team in the form of our executive committee. You see their names every month on the masthead page of BCCJ ACUMEN, but this is scant acknowledgement for the tremendous work that each member contributes throughout the year for the benefit of the membership.

I have been ably supported by two executive directors, Ian de Stains OBE and, most recently, Lori Henderson. And Samata-san, our stalwart office manager, has kept us all in order as the chamber has evolved and grown.

Last year saw the inception of our internship programme and my thanks go to Stuart Busby and Duygu Ozturk, who have worked brilliantly in helping run the office and take photos at our events.

However, the biggest thank you is to you, the members, without whom none of the hard work would be worthwhile. The BCCJ may only be the fourth-largest foreign chamber of commerce in Japan, but it is a shining light in terms of what we do and how we do it. Our twin targets for the year were to increase membership and attendance at events—both achieved magnificently—and it is testament to our success that many other chambers are studying closely what makes the BCCJ so special, and are emulating much of what we do. But we are not complacent. Our goal will remain to become the best chamber of commerce in Japan, and our mantra “Making Connections”.

The choice often is self-evident; at other times, it’s a toss up between two. But what is to adorn the cover is always decided at the last minute—and is never for sale.

Moving to the back of ACUMEN, you can tell it is spring because the number of events is increasing—so we’ve expanded the Community section in this issue. These social pages are a great way to publicise how active your organisation is. But I didn’t always appreciate such pages.

While acting editor of a weekend newspaper’s arts and entertainment supplement, I was bemused by a survey’s revelation that most readers first turned to the back section—the social pages. Not only was I was indifferent to that part, but it drained our budget not at all.

All these years later, I’ve come to understand the reason people like to see who is doing what, where, when, how and why, and the Community pages have become a favourite. So please let me know if you would like to share in print memories of an event held recently, or one you are planning.

Before being completely washed away by the 3/11 tsunami, PAO Bakery had been operating in Ishinomaki for more than 50 years. In December 2011, owner Shinichi Abe restarted the business in one of the city’s temporary shopping areas, and sought to buy equipment to support the preparation of his well-known soy milk bread. B2B funds have been used to buy a bread slicer for PAO from a local supplier, leading to increased productivity and the re-establishment of partnerships with local supermarkets, which require sliced loaves.

With profit now at about 30% of pre-3/11 rates, PAO’s five staff members send their thanks to the BCCJ.

Since mid-2011, BCCJ member firm KVH has been working with evacuees from Naraha-machi who have few chances to gather outside their temporary housing complexes in Aizumisato-machi. Approval for building a small community centre has been obtained from town officials, and the BCCJ has allocated funds to provide equipment and infrastructure for this capacity-building initiative.

There are few compelling reasons for younger survivors to stay in Minamisanriku. Many NPOs are concentrating on supporting children and the elderly, so there is little focus on caring for residents who are between the ages of 20 and 35. Although some in this age bracket departed after the events of 3/11, many young families stayed and are committed to the town.

As well as seeking jobs and educational opportunities, these young people lack enjoyment: there are no places to meet, unwind and meet new friends. O.G.A. For Aid has identified this gap, and is working with a committee of young residents to begin clearing, cleaning and redesigning an old shop space, with a view to opening a small bar. The head of the organisation, Angela Ortiz, said: “A bar can be a refuge from a troubled home life or a troubled soul. A bar is a place to rest for people in transit. Or it’s simply a place to shelter from the rain”. The committee will submit a sustainable business start-up plan to the BCCJ; we look forward to providing further updates in BCCJ ACUMEN.

After buying goods sold at our Road to Recovery (R2R) Tohoku booth, a Tokyo businessperson has expressed an interest in securing a distribution channel for handicrafts made by the women of Izushima. Coasters and bags made from fabric rescued from the tsunami might be coming to a shop near you soon.

Nick Wood, of BCCJ member firm Syn Songs, has come together with Julian Lennon, Grammy Award-winning producer John Jones, and Japan’s top-selling record producer Tetsuya Komuro to raise money for the ongoing recovery effort, through a song called Hope, which premiered at our R2R event.

The song, featuring backing vocals by orphans in Tohoku and the Boston Boys and Girls Club, pays homage to a single pine tree left standing in the Iwate Prefecture city of Rikuzentaka, which was destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami. All proceeds from this song, now available on iTunes, will go to Beyond Tomorrow, a non-profit initiative dedicated to supporting young survivors of the earthquake and tsunami through leadership training.

One news item released just before ACUMEN was being sent to the printer was the appointment of a new British ambassador to Japan, effective from December. Timothy Hitchens CMG, LVO will succeed Sir David Warren KCMG, who will retire from the diplomatic service.

After joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1983, Mr Hitchens’ first posting was Japan, according to the FCO. Briefly, he has since worked on Asian, European and African issues and spent four years as assistant private secretary to the queen. He is currently the FCO director for Africa.

He has stated that higher education, science and the environment are the sectors he is most interested in, and ACUMEN wishes him all the best in broadening the UK-Japan partnership following the great achievements of Sir David.

Naturally, ACUMEN will continue to play its part in promoting the strong relationship between the BCCJ and the British Embassy Tokyo.

Home from home

Knowing the English language is dominated in Japan by the American model, I was relieved to be handed a free copy of the Financial Times on a recent flight with a US airline from Tokyo to Saipan, a US territory. As we enjoy a special relationship with the pink newspaper (ACUMEN is delivered with the FT to key subscribers in central Tokyo), it felt particularly good to feast on the bulky weekend issue during breakfast over the next few days at the rather grand Pacific Islands Club (PIC).

I was intrigued enough to ask how many Britons visit Saipan, to be told the number is modest. Coming between two major snowfalls in Tokyo, Saipan and PIC proved to be a wonderful and warm spot for a restful, entertaining and hassle-free winter break, something it offers all year. Another motivation is that British and Japanese passport holders need not apply for the tiresome ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) clearance to land in Saipan, unlike many visa holders must do to enter Hawaii and the US mainland. And should you wish to hire a classic American car or motorbike to cruise the beautiful coast, UK and Japan driverís licences are valid so no need for an international permit. This kind of laid-back attitude is ubiquitous throughout the islands, making it an altogether more pleasant experience.

Special offer

In case you needed further encouragement to visit Saipan, PIC is offering ACUMEN readers a generous discount between 1 April and 13 July 2012, based on availability; receive $25 off an Ocean Front Room per night plus a complimentary daily breakfast.

Please email PIC requesting “BCCJ reader promotion”:

reservations (at) picsaipan.com

www.picresorts.com/saipan

For Japan, the months since March last year have been seismic, in more ways than one could have imagined possible. Home to one of the most active earthquake zones, the country sits on not one tectonic plate, but on four of these solid rock slabs.

Who will ever forget 3/11 or, indeed, 2:46pm? Never have four sets of numbers been more etched on people’s minds, usurping the place of both New York’s 9/11 and London’s more symmetrical 7/7. But the latter two events resulted from manís inhumanity to man, rather than the force of Mother Nature that hit eastern Japan.

From looking at before and after photographs, one can see that much has been done for those displaced by the events of 3/11, although the residents of Tohoku, who want to get on with their lives, must wait until others decide whether to rebuild in much of the devastated areas.

The chamber has been doing its bit over the past 12 months by supporting the recovery efforts with its Back2Business (B2B) initiatives. We have achieved this by helping small firms with some of the less glamorous projects, among which are providing: an industrial freezer, to store fish until they can be transported to market; plumbing, for the Peace Boat’s Ishinomaki Central Kitchen that daily prepares 2,000 meals for the area’s evacuation centres; and bicycles for fishermen to travel from temporary accommodation 5km from the coast.

One goal we have had throughout is to source items directly in Tohoku, to enable the business and wider community to restore their local economies along with their business and social networks.

We were able to do this with the kind generosity of our sponsors and members who have attended a range of events throughout the year, culminating in the “Special 51 Night: Road to Recovery” event at the British Embassy Tokyo on 8 March (see page 21). By the date of our AGM on 26 April, we will have identified and committed all proceeds raised since 3/11. Thank you to everyone who has helped to make a difference in Tohoku.

Prudent business

Corporate Governance has also been in sharp focus in Japan with Olympus Corporation, the Oji Paper Group and, most recently, AIJ Investment Advisors Co., Ltd. having failed to observe prudence over the years. The challenges that Japan faces in the world economy will be determined by how it deals with these serious breaches. The jury is out on this.

Trade alliances, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the EU-Japan Economic Integration Agreement will shape the future of business both inbound and outbound, presenting great opportunities and challenging the status quo and the accepted practice, among some, of inertia. Japan is, once again, at a crossroads and the business community is ever hopeful that taking a new road will lead to prosperity and good fortune.

AGM

The 2012-2013 AGM will be held on 26 April at the Hilton Tokyo hotel in Nishi-Shinjuku, starting at 6:30pm. Formal notice of the meeting will be sent out shortly to members. I warmly welcome you all to attend and participate in the further growth and success of the BCCJ.

While the ACUMEN News pages will continue to feature UK–Japan issues originally reported in English or Japanese, Mark will focus on the vernacular press to give readers an idea of what many Japanese like to read about, while keeping out a sharp eye for any UK mentions. The Tokyo resident since 1966 has already spotted two items that had escaped my attention: the Beatles’ 50th anniversary and the setting up of a permanent Madame Tussauds Tokyo. Both events occur this year. Please see page 12.

Where can one find the best British pub grub in Tokyo? I know a spot without a fake fireplace, eye-level blinding candles or fish ’n’ chips served in fake newsprint, but with a new carvery buffet featuring apparently endless amounts of a vegetable rarely served at restaurants here—Brussels sprout. BierVana, managed by a Bristolian, is a “europub” near Akasaka-mitsuke Station. It has a warm atmosphere and features occasional events, such as jazz and other live music performances. It’s also cosy, good for a quiet pint or business lunch, and has hosted one of the more successful BCCJ 51 Nights and a recent Brits at Lunch event (see page 54). Not surprisingly, considering the amiable and talented new chef, Fred, the Sunday carvery is getting busier by the week.

It reminds me, though, of what we all need to do from time to time—some blue sky thinking. What if? Why not? Challenge the accepted practices and do things in a new, or better, way. How often is it that we sit back and think about why and how we do what we do?

This was the BCCJ’S thought process last year when, after more than 10 years, we decided to upgrade our online web presence; to look hard and seriously at how automation can bring real benefits to the people that we serve—our members and the secretariat.

A key milestone in our journey was 23 January. We continue delivering a value-added service to our members wanting news, information and to book for our events. It is now possible for them, with a few clicks, to book in for an event. Payment confirmation arrives immediately, allowing them to get on with their busy lives.

What about new members? We have thought of that, too, and now offer one-stop, online membership applications. We are one of the few foreign chambers of commerce in Japan—if not the only one—that new members can join online.

Our event-payment system has improved immensely using Paypal—which provides a safe, secure gateway and rapid acknowledgement of payments.

One feature we are really proud of is the customisation available in the members-only section, called “My BCCJ”. You can select up to six widgets that will display such things as the time in London, yen/sterling exchange rates, and our Flickr photo stream of past events.

One thing is clear: we are not being complacent. Doubtless, this will be a continuing journey for us as we strive to stay ahead of the curve in serving online our members and prospective members.

Your feedback is important, so please tell us what you think. Please log in to www.bccjapan.com and let us know your thoughts by clicking on the contact us section of the website.

VIP visit

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne paid an early and welcome visit to Japan, where he attended a reception at the British Embassy Tokyo and met his Japanese counterpart and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda earlier in the day. Osborne gave an upbeat message about the strength and durability of the UK–Japan relationship. He also showcased the great new advertising campaign that supports the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June.

51 Night

January also saw the BCCJ return to the Shangri-la hotel Tokyo for the first 51 Night networking event of the year. Thank you to all the attendees: 104 people, a record number. It was good to see so many new and old faces as well as many potential new BCCJ members.

As the year unfolds, it is indeed great to be getting off to such a promising start amid all these blue skies.