October 2011
Mobile Concert For Quake Zone
Indian-born British sculptor Anish Kapoor and architect Arata Isozaki will create a mobile concert hall to bring music and arts to areas hit by the March earthquake and tsunami, the Sankei Shimbun reported on 6 September.
Briton Designs EV Sports Car
Toray Industries Inc. unveiled a carbon fibre two-seat prototype of an electric sports car created by renowned Formula 1 designer Gordon Murray, the Asahi Shimbun reported on 14 September.
Car Firm Marks 25 Years in UK
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. celebrated 25 years in Britain with a ceremony in Sunderland, the Mainichi Shimbun reported on 9 September. In 1986, Nissan became the first Japanese car manufacturer to set up a base in the UK, where it now operates the country’s most productive car plant.
Olympic HQ for UK and Japan Opened
Lord (Sebastian) Coe opened SportPark at Loughborough University, the preparation camp headquarters of Team GB and Japan for the 2011 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, the London Press Service reported on 12 September.
Some Guest Seats Still Available!
The BBA recognises excellence and promotes success and innovation across all industries, while acclaiming the important social contributions made by organisations through their commitment to community, ethical behaviour and environmental sustainability.
Going to the Dogs
Life has been particularly hard for the pets of the Tohoku region abandoned since 11 March, according to Elizabeth Oliver who founded Animal Refuge Kansai (ARK) in 1990.
Social Responsibility a Key Mission of the BCCJ
By the time this edition of BCCJ ACUMEN goes to print, we will have reached the nomination deadline for the 2011 British Business Awards (BBA), although tables and seats may be reserved by all guests until 24 October.
BBA: Great Way to End a Tough Year
I am delighted to see so many nominations coming in for each of the five categories of the 4th annual British Business Awards. The winners will be announced on 4 November at the ANA InterContinental Tokyo. And, in the meantime, the judges are working hard to select the best entrant for each award. The deadline for nominations is 14 October, but reservations to book your seats or table are still open until 24 October (see page 8).
Blown Away
Down a rain-slicked back alley in Chigasaki, the sound of The Waterboys’ A Man Is in Love wafts from the windows of a second-floor bar. The singer’s voice is deep and mellow; the flute-player’s notes hang in the air hauntingly.
Children’s Cancer Charity Event Raises Millions
More than 350 people attended the Tyler Foundation’s White Hot Extravaganza Night on 28 September which raised ¥25mn from auctions and donations to support its programmes in Japan that improve the quality of life for children with cancer and their families.
Book Reviews
This month: Japan: An Attempt at Interpretation, Unbeaten Tracks in Japan, and Japan
Wood’n You Believe It!
He may be 71 years old, but CW Nicol still gets a twinkle in his eye when he has a new project. And as he outlines his latest scheme—to reintroduce horse logging to Japan’s neglected forests—his blue eyes are positively gleaming.
Jetstar Japan to Say Konichiwa in 2012
After becoming the first low-cost carrier to fly internationally to Japan in 2007, Jetstar Airways recently announced its participation in a joint venture to establish a new low-fare domestic airline under the Jetstar brand that is expected to stimulate fresh travel demand in Japan.*
E-idea Winners Announced
The remarkable work of young Japanese eco-entrepreneurs has been recognised by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Ltd. (LRQA) and the British Council, with the six winners of the E-idea Competition having received their awards in a ceremony at the British Embassy Tokyo on 21 September.
Pride and Purpose
Takeshi Kamigouchi’s shirt is drenched, his face slightly sunburnt and his callused hands beginning to resemble those of a hardened labourer rather than a top business executive. “I think I might have overdone it a bit”, he said, leaning breathless on his spade and wiping away perspiration dripping down his forehead.”
Innocent Passion for English Cabbages & Roses
Founded in 1988, Innocent Inc. initially focused on importing and selling European antiques, clothes and lifestyle items. With 60 NIMES outlets across Japan and 250 staff, that business has been performing well—but founder and owner Hisa Tsuchida and director Nori Sakaue have long held a particular passion for British style, design and taste.
See the Real Japan
Walk Japan Ltd. pioneered and specialises in off-the-beaten-track walking tours of Japan. Since 1992, it has been introducing little-known areas of Japan that would otherwise remain elusive to most visitors. Avoiding tourist buses, Walk Japan’s tours bring fascinating aspects of the country up close, and enable participants to mix with local people and experience a slice of their way of life.
Haneda or Narita?
The chrome and glass at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport and the international terminal at Haneda Airport gleam and sparkle, the lines for immigration and customs are orderly, rapid and unfailingly polite, while both facilities are efficient, clean and secure.
FA Gives Japan New Cup
English Football Association (FA) Chairman David Bernstein presented his Japanese counterpart, Junji Ogura, with a trophy modelled on the cup originally given by the FA to Japan in 1919. The event, which took place on 23 August at Wembley Stadium, is part of a year-long celebration organised by the Japan Football Association (JFA) to mark its 90th year.
New Way to Apply for UK Passport
The British passport has seen a fair few changes over the years, from that rather large blue book through to the many versions of the current biometric one. Now, the way we apply for passports overseas is also changing.
Revitalising UK-Japan trade and spreading the message
Twenty Japanese firms are among the first to benefit from the joint campaign launched this summer by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and British Airways (BA) to reinvigorate business between Japan and the UK, in the wake of the tragedies of 11 March.
More Than a Mission
It takes guts, drive and focus to open a business at the best of times, let alone with the present economic mood. So it’s a rare pleasure to encounter people with the necessary faith in a product or service, and to hear their inspiring story, but even more so when that product is British.
Japan’s First Aviation Finance Forum
As its name suggests, Ascend is on the up. The London-based provider of data, analysis and advisory services to investors in the aerospace sector recently opened an office in Tokyo and hosted Japan’s inaugural aviation finance conference over two days in late September.
Football Gentleman Scores Latest Gong
Christopher W McDonald OBE— Chris to his many friends—looks as if he’s stepped out of central casting to play the British ambassador: tall and distinguished; handsome and urbane; witty and intelligent; astonishingly well-connected.
Peter V Handal
The technology that was considered the best and cutting-edge a century ago today is long past its sell-by date. The first jump from a moving aeroplane took place in March 1912, while that marvel of engineering, the RMS Titanic, started—but failed to complete—her maiden voyage across the Atlantic in the same year.
