eurobiz

11/07/2022

It’s the 50th anniversary of the European Business Council in Japan (EBC) this year. Congratulations to everyone involved, past and present.

To mark the occasion, we’ve put together an article on the history and milestones of the organisation: “Five decades of advocacy”.

As I’ve worked on the article, I’ve been reminded of the fascinating dynamics of the EBC: it brings together competitors, often from different countries and with different native languages, and gets them to sit around the same table and use one voice to solve the problems they are facing. The history of the organisation is really about finding this voice then continuing to use it — to object, to inform, to effect change.

Thank you to the many people who have lent their voice to this story.

https://lnkd.in/di3fXs4B

There is one simple reason behind the founding and growth of the European Business Council in Japan (EBC): frustration.

01/06/2022

We have some very high-level content for you in the latest issue of Eurobiz Japan.

First of all, we are including an interview with President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis who speaks about his official visit to Japan at the end of April. And we also have an interview with Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria Alexander Schallenberg, in conjunction with our Country Spotlight on Austria.

Both leaders speak about the need for even closer cooperation with Japan at this time, and we are extremely grateful to them for their willingness to appear in our pages.

Also, special thanks to the many people who are featured this month, including Ingomar Lochschmidt, Austrian trade commissioner for Japan; Martin Schultz, chief policy economist at Fujitsu; Artur Olszewski, tax policy advisor at the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration; and Fumino Sugiyama, co-chair of Tokyo Rainbow Pride.

And, of course, we appreciate all the firms that have helped to make this issue possible, among them ProWorks Group, Aryzta Food Solutions Japan, Whisk-e, and Dassault Systemes.

Flip through the whole issue: https://lnkd.in/dQ8ree-W

28/04/2022

We're privileged to be including an interview with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Dr Anže Logar in the April 2022 issue of Eurobiz Japan. Read “A time for unity” here:

https://eurobiz.jp/the-interview/a-time-for-unity

In 2003, Dr Anže Logar left the private sector to work as an adviser to Slovenian members of the European Parliament.

27/04/2022

In this month’s issue of Eurobiz Japan, we look at a bunch of important acronyms: the government’s amendments to APPI, the rise of BNPL in Japan, and the value of well-designed UI/UX.

I’d like to extend my gratitude to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Dr Anže Logar for his willingness to appear in our pages, as well as to Ambassador of Spain to Japan Fidel Sendagorta for his contribution to our Country Spotlight on Spain.

We are also very pleased to be featuring an article from Hiromasa Nakai of the Japan Committee for UNICEF on how the organisation is currently supporting children and vulnerable families in Ukraine.

Special thanks goes to the many firms that have helped us put this issue together, including Goodpatch, Klarna, PwC Tax Japan, BNP Paribas Fortis, Bonsai-Zentrum Münsterland, Mölnlycke Health Care, Vidal Candies, Arqis Foreign Law Office, and Smartpay.

Flip through the entire issue: https://ebc-jp.com/publications/eurobiz-japan/eurobiz-japan-april-2022/

28/03/2022

In this issue of Eurobiz Japan, we look at e-government, ethical supply chains, and Italy’s first nation-branding campaign.

First of all, we would like to extend our gratitude to Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike for contributing an article on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s APT Women initiative, which supports female entrepreneurs.

Also, special thanks to the many people who are featured this month, including Tanja Franck, director-general of the Danish Agency for Digitalisation; Andres Sutt, Estonia’s Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology; and Ambassador of Italy to Japan Gianluigi Benedetti.

And, of course, we appreciate all the firms that have helped to make this issue possible, including Ducati Japan, KMD, Unilever Japan, H&M, and Ferrero Japan.

Flip through the whole issue: ebc-jp.com/publications/eurobiz-japan/eurobiz-japan-march-2022/

28/03/2022

We're privileged to have an article by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in the March issue of Eurobiz Japan about how the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is supporting female entrepreneurs through its APT Women initiative. Read about the programme and how it is helping women succeed in "Creating future role models".

https://eurobiz.jp/illuminating-voices/creating-future-role-models/

With over 14 million residents, Tokyo is one of the world’s most populous cities. In order to achieve a sustainable recovery — as our continually evolving society emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic — Tokyo needs to make use of the full potential of our women, who make up half of the population...

28/02/2022

The latest issue of Eurobiz Japan looks at the value of internships, the business of football, and the innovativeness of Switzerland.

Thanks to the many firms that have helped bring this issue to life, including Smartpay, Mitsubishi Fuso, Arqis Foreign Law Office, Adidas Japan, WOWOW, LaLiga, MHD Moët Hennessy Diageo, PwC Tax Japan, Roche Diagnostics, and swissQprint Japan.

We’re also grateful to Ambassador of Switzerland to Japan Dr Andreas Baum; Gregor Muischneek, head of the economy and finance section at the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan; and Thom Zaleski, general manager of the Murasakizuka Golf Club for their willingness to appear in our pages.

Read through the whole issue here: https://ebc-jp.com/publications/eurobiz-japan/eurobiz-japan-february-2022/

01/02/2022

Here’s our first issue of Eurobiz Japan for 2022.

We’ve been calling this one our fish & chips issue since we have one feature on the growth of the market for European fish in Japan and one on the EU’s aims to secure supplies of semiconductors.

Also, we are honoured to be including an interview with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium Sophie Wilmès.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the companies that have contributed to make this issue possible, including Estée Lauder Japan, Baron Philippe de Rothschild Orient, Leroy Japan, ARCA Dynamics, and Godiva Japan.

We’re also grateful to Ambassador of Luxembourg to Japan Pierre Ferring; Heidrún Lind Marteinsdóttir, CEO of Iceland Fisheries; and Johan Kvalheim, director for Japan and South Korea at the Norwegian Seafood Council for their willingness to appear in our pages.

Flip through the whole issue here: https://ebc-jp.com/publications/eurobiz-japan/eurobiz-japan-january-2022/

31/01/2022

We are truly privileged to be featuring an interview with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium Sophie Wilmès in this month's issue. In “Seizing opportunities for cooperation”, she speaks the importance of ties with Japan, Belgium’s climate goals, and how her nation is working to protect the rights of women and children.

Read the full text here: https://eurobiz.jp/the-interview/seizing-opportunities-for-cooperation/

Sophie Wilmès is Belgium’s deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs, European affairs, foreign trade, and the federal cultural institutions.

23/12/2021

Have a peek inside the last issue of Eurobiz Japan for 2021.

This month, we put the spotlight on sustainable innovations, cutting-edge materials for electronics, and food and drink for the holidays from Europe.

Our thanks to the companies that have contributed to make this issue possible, including Merck Japan, Bosch Corporation, Moët Hennessy Diageo Japan, Pernod Ricard Japan, La Maison du Chocolat Japan, LEGO Japan, and Rakuten.

We’re also very grateful to Ambassador of Denmark to Japan Peter Taksøe-Jensen and Niklas Karvonen of the Nordic Innovation House Tokyo for their willingness to appear in our pages.

Flip through the whole issue here: https://ebc-jp.com/publications/eurobiz-japan/eurobiz-japan-december-2021/

Happy holidays from the Eurobiz Japan team.
And all the very best for a healthy, happy, and successful 2022.

29/11/2021

We’re pleased to bring you the latest issue of Eurobiz Japan.

This month, find out about how European businesses are supporting Japan in the areas of healthcare and defence. Also, as Germany and Japan celebrate 160 years of diplomatic ties, we take a look at three of Germany’s oldest firms in Japan and how they have supported the Japanese economy over the decades.

Special thanks to Consul General of Germany in Osaka–Kobe Martin Eberts, and Marcus Schürmann, delegate of German industry and commerce in Japan and CEO of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan, for their willingness to be featured this month.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to Colonel Stephen Morris, territorial commander of The Salvation Army in Japan, who contributed an article about the organisation’s history and activities here.

Flip through the whole issue: https://ebc-jp.com/publications/eurobiz-japan/eurobiz-japan-november-2021/

29/10/2021

Have a look at the latest issue of Eurobiz Japan.
This month, we take you inside cars, inside satellites, and inside the Japanese Diet.

Thanks so much to the many companies that have contributed, including Continental Japan, Thales Japan, Groupe SEB Japan, AXA Life Japan, and thyssenkrupp Japan.

We’re also very grateful to Diet member Nobuteru Ishihara, who is chair of the Japan–EU Parliamentary League of Friendship, for sitting down with me for an interview.

And a special thank you to Dr Reiko Kuroda — L’Oréal UNESCO Women in Science Laureate and member of the Gender Equality Advisory Council, which advises the G7 — for contributing an article to our Illuminating Voices column.

Flip through the whole issue here: ebc-jp.com/publications/eurobiz-japan/eurobiz-japan-october-2021/

28/09/2021

The September 2021 issue of Eurobiz Japan is out!
We're grateful to the many firms that contributed to our articles this month, including BMW Japan, Roche Diagnostics, Nestle, Diesel Japan, Airbus Japan, and JR East.
And thank you to Ambassador Yasushi Masaki, Christian Wiedmann, and Stephane Ginoux, among many others.
Find a selection of stories at https://eurobiz.jp/
And read the full issue here: https://lnkd.in/gZf4GjpZ

31/08/2021

Like many European businesses in Japan, Japanese businesses in Europe are invested in ensuring goods, data, and people can move smoothly between the EU and Japan.

In our interview with Chris Jackson, president of the Japan Business Council in Europe (JBCE) and president and CEO of NEC Europe, he speaks about how the JBCE’s committees are working to lower barriers to trade and strengthen cooperation between Japan and the EU. He also shows how his firm is investing in Europe and helping it to digitalise.

https://eurobiz.jp/the-interview/an-active-eu-stakeholder/

Based in Brussels, the Japan Business Council in Europe (JBCE) is a business organisation that promotes open trade and investment, and advocates for the interests of Japanese firms with operations in the EU. Last year, Chris Jackson, president and CEO of NEC Europe, became president of the JBCE. He....

28/07/2021

It is truly a privilege to be featuring Masaki Sakuyama, co-chairman of the EU–Japan Business Round Table (BRT) and chairman of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. In “Making a difference behind the scenes”, he speaks about how BRT member firms from both Europe and Japan see “green” as a keyword for their businesses, as well as how his own firm is dedicated to meeting the needs of society with green, energy-efficient products.
https://eurobiz.jp/the-interview/making-a-difference-behind-the-scenes/

Masaki Sakuyama joined the manufacturing giant Mitsubishi Electric Corporation as an engineer in 1977. He was appointed president and CEO in 2014, and he has been chairman since 2018.

28/06/2021

Sadly, many of the long-planned European national houses and pavilions had to be cancelled ahead of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But, thanks to the generous help of representatives from five European countries, we have put together “Many missed celebrations” to give you a glimpse of what could have been, had the pandemic not revoked the hard work and meticulous planning of so many.
https://eurobiz.jp/feature/many-missed-celebrations/

If this were a normal Olympic year, many countries would soon be opening their national houses and pavilions. These spaces, which can take years to plan, give countries a chance to promote tourism and business, host cultural events, and provide their athletes with a place to connect with the media ....