April 2011
『BCCJ ACUMEN』Volume 2 / Issue 4のまとめ
BCCJ Role in Japan Recovery
When the BCCJ launched its 3R CSR project in mid February, no one had an inkling of the dramatic events that would unfold almost one month later. The 3R initiative now takes on a whole new meaning—the rebirth, renewal and regeneration of Japan.
Keeping You Connected
Since the tragic events of 11 March the BCCJ, like many organisations in Japan, has been presented with an extraordinary situation. One of the key challenges centres on the dissemination of information.
Pride of Place
Due to the difficulty of sourcing paper since the earthquake and tsunami in March, ACUMEN is a few pages short this month. We’ve also brought forward our CSR features, originally scheduled for the May INDUSTRY special [...]
Best Intentions
“What can I do to help? What do you need?” are the two most frequent questions I hear, several times a day. And not just from people in Japan. We have been inundated with offers of help from as far away as Germany and Africa. We fully appreciate this desire to help, especially in a crisis of this magnitude. It represents one of the best aspects of humanity—that we are willing to make sacrifices for people we probably will never meet. It does give us hope.
Earthquake: The British Effort
BCCJ Members were quick to respond to the Great Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake. Here is a selection of organisations that have donated or are donating products, services or manpower.
Two Hats, One Job
As a teenager, Jane Best MBE says she was “terribly shy”. That is a little hard to understand, given her position today. As president and CEO of Refugees International Japan (RIJ), she is constantly required to meet people in remote—and sometimes dangerous—parts of the developing world, and to be equally at ease in settings with high-flying businesspeople, diplomats and other officials who support the organisation.
The Good News Salary Guide
The dark days of late 2008 and 2009 have been well and truly left behind for the specialist recruitment industry, with the 2011 Hays Salary Guide underlining the strength of the rebound in Japan and across the key markets of Asia.
Simon Berry
Simon Berry, the chairman of Britain’s oldest wine merchants, laughs at the first question I ask. As we sit down to our early morning breakfast meeting at The Peninsula Tokyo, I enquire what wine he would recommend pairing with the full English breakfast he has just ordered.
Original Ideas
Whether they are enjoying a quiet drink after work or staging their long-planned wedding ceremony, Japanese people want a sense of place and authenticity in their venue. That’s where Sue Anamizu comes in.
Lending a Listening Ear
For almost 40 years, one organisation has been at the front line in Tokyo when it comes to community mental health care: the non-profit Tokyo English Life Line (TELL). But it offers more than just a telephone counselling service, having the two additional core competencies of counselling for children and for families.Effects of Earthquake on the Australian Dollar and Yen
Japan’s importance to Australia is undoubted, as it is the country’s second-largest market after China, taking 19% of exports. Disruption to Japan’s economy might, therefore, be seen as a short term negative for Australia.
Security Is Key to a Smooth Move
Relocating an employee to a foreign country is an information-intensive activity. Personal information about the employee, their firm, family and budget is collected and sent to relocation firms, realtors and their contractors. In the past, this data was mailed or faxed overseas and filed in a physical set of drawers under the employee’s name. But now, this information is sent digitally and stored the same way.
Willie Walsh
We initially provided support to a number of parties who were helping with search and rescue operations, immediately mobilised our teams to get whatever help we could from the UK to Tokyo, and provided assistance to anybody who urgently needed to travel.
Serenading CEOs
At Tokyo Sinfonia’s Tchaikovsky °Serenade in Oji Hall, on 18 March, donors among the 126 people present generously left almost ¥100,000 in the boxes for Japan’s disaster relief efforts. The Tokyo Sinfonia and I should be out there performing as much as possible for people who now more than ever need to experience the healing power of our music.
More than Sport
As a newspaper headline, “The Japanese are Coming,” would catch the eye of anyone involved in UK-Japan ties. And that’s exactly what happened in June 2009, when the Leicester Mercury covered the Japanese Olympic Committee’s (JOC) signing of an agreement to use Loughborough University as a pre-tournament training camp for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Fog over Channel, Continent Cut Off”
Irate readers deluged the Financial Times in early March with complaints about how difficult it was for business people, students and tourists to get UK visas.
Writer Plans Arctic Adventure
An author has left for the Canadian Arctic to trace the route taken by Sir John Franklin, who disappeared in 1845 with 128 explorers, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on 24 February. At the time, Franklin was attempting to chart and navigate a section of the Northwest Passage.China Military Concern
The UK-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) expresses concern over China in its “Military Balance 2011” paper, the Asahi Shimbun reported on 8 March.Car Production Increase
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. CEO Toshiyuki Shiga said at the Geneva International Motor Show that he plans to increase production at the firm’s UK plants, the Nikkei reported on 2 March.Tyre Seller to Be Sold
Itochu Corp. will buy Kwik Fit from private equity firm PAI partners for about ¥85bn, the Business Link blog reported on 3 March.LNG Deal Signed for Oz
Tokyo Gas and the BG Group signed a deal to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Australia, the Nikkei reported on 7 March.Coach Training in London
The Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) said that former judo competitor Maki Tsukada will go to London for coach training, the Asahi Shimbun reported on 10 March.Wedding Plans Changed
The Imperial Household Agency said Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako will not attend the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29 April following the earthquake and tsunami, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on 21 March.
First Foreign Sake Expert
When Philip Harper came to Japan from the UK in 1988, he had no idea that, 20 years later, he would be the first and only foreign toji, or head brewer, at a sake maker in Kyoto the Mainichi Daily News reported on 5 March.Kawaii Trend Dismissed
Reports saying the kawaii (cute) pop culture style is having an impact on UK youth and society were widely ridiculed on forums and by bloggers in early March.
Cruise Ship Visits Osaka
The Queen Mary 2 docked in Osaka Port for its maiden trip to the prefecture, local papers reported on 10 March.
