Editor August 2018

Heatwave

Office trends, disasters and a punk legend

The summer plods on, the mercury continues to rise and the exciting 2018 FIFA World Cup seems but a distant memory. Our offices have become a sanctuary, a cool bubble in which we can sit in relative comfort thanks to the ever-whirring air conditioner.

In this month’s BCCJ ACUMEN, we have explored one of the latest trends to hit Japan regarding the office—office sharing. A number of firms are offering shared workspaces, where workers can set up their computers, sit in comfort and work without the restraints of a traditional office environment. Some of the spaces have kitchens and private telephones, others provide regular networking events and beer on tap. Read more.

Disaster ready
While the weather of late has largely been sunny and hot around the nation, in June and mid-July torrential rain in south-western Japan caused flooding and landslides, resulting in the deaths of more than 200 people.

Events such as these serve as a reminder that the country which we call home is prone to severe natural disasters, which can claim lives and destroy property to a frightening degree.

With this in mind, we bring you an article on what the British Embassy Tokyo can do for you and your family in the event of a natural disaster, conflict or an act of terror. The advice, well worth remembering, can be found here.

Wit and wisdom
As a music fan, it is my great pleasure to bring you an interview with punk icon John Lydon—a.k.a. Johnny Rotten. It seems age has brought the former Sex Pistol a great deal of wit and wisdom, and some of his thoughts on life, particularly on getting older, are truly quite inspiring. You can read more here.

Hokkaido to Yorkshire
Another story that caught my attention concerns four brown bears. They are being taken from cramped conditions in Hokkaido to the vast spaces of the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster. As a Yorkshire man, it makes me proud to see my home county make the news in such a positive way. This would be a good moment to wish BCCJ ACUMEN readers a belated Happy Yorkshire Day (1 August).