December 2009 / January 2010
Promoting UK Interests — in business and across the board
It's a great pleasure to be asked to write a foreword [...]
Welcome to Acumen
I 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.
Chamber Initiatives: Member Feedback Makes BCCJ Better
When I first stood for election as President of the Chamber, I told my colleagues on the Executive Committee that I wanted to hear from [...]
Best of British — business, lifestyle, community
I 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 Games
About 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...
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!
2010 HR Trends
Employment 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 [...]
Conflict and Change
The 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...
Funds Aid Fight for Rights
Refugees 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 Power
Long 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 Prize
In 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.
Workplace Trends
Mobile 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.Clean up with green investment
By 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.
Business Survey
The 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.
2009 British Business Awards
It 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.
Road to Recovery
After four consecutive quarters of contraction, Japan’s economy is slowly moving along the road to recovery. Industrial production bottomed out in February and...
Triumph over Adversity
There’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...
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...
Not Scotch Mist
Few 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...
Interactive Dialogue
Among 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.
20 Years of Teaching
This 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...
