Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan

CLIC event with Chopard Japan
2021-04-22 00:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
Dear members,

The BLCCJ is happy to announce an ONLINE networking event in the “CLIC” series. CLIC is a loose organization of 11 smaller European Chambers of Commerce in Japan (Austrian, Belgian-Luxembourg, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Icelandic, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish and Swiss).

This time we will invite as a speaker Mr. Thomas Döbeli, General Manager of Chopard Japan Ltd.

When: Thursday 22 April, 18:00-20:00 (presentation starts at 18:15, followed by online networking)
Where: online on Remo.co (link will be sent just before the event)
How much:
Free of charge for online participation only (members-only)
JPY 1,500 if you would like to enjoy an Austrian snack set (Austrian beer and salami snack) – limited to Kanto region

Seats for BLCCJ members and snack sets are limited, first come first serve!

Registration:
For online participation only: mail your full name, company name and title to info@blccj.or.jp. We will send a confirmation email.
For the snack set: mail your full name, delivery address and phone number to info@blccj.or.jp. We will send a confirmation email.
Registration deadline is Friday 16 April (or till seats are full).

Payment:
If you order the snack set, payment has to be done by bank transfer by Friday 16 April (details in attachment).
Cancelations after 16 April and no-shows will be charged in full.

For more information and payment details, please have a look at the attachment.

We hope to welcome many of you at this next CLIC event!

The BLCCJ office

Spring party CANCELED
2021-04-14 00:00
Due to the current corona situation we unfortunately need to CANCEL this event. We count on your understanding.

It has been a challenging start to 2021, but let us celebrate together the arrival of spring and be hopeful for better times to come!

Join us on Wednesday 14 April 2021, from 18:30 onwards, at Le Petit Tonneau in Toranomon.

We will start with a cocktail on the terrace, and then enjoy a tasty Belgian-style dinner with an open bar (incl. Luxembourg wine and Belgian beers) and the good company of friends and business partners from the Belgian-Luxembourg community.

You can find more details and the application form in attachment.

In view of COVID-19 safety measures, seats are limited to 50.
Signup deadline is Monday 12 April (or when the seats are filled, first-come first-serve).

We look forward to seeing you in person again!

Meet the BLCCJ Members
2021-03-30 00:00
Dear members,

We are happy to invite you to the next:
“Meet the BLCCJ Members”

At this online meet-and-greet 4 individual members will present themselves and their company: Kevin Dethoor – FunLife, Guillaume Hennequin- ABeam Consulting Japan, Philip Olivier – Total Japan, and Aiko Weber – Robert Half Japan.
After the presentations we will organize a Q&A session allowing you to interact directly with the BLCCJ members.
Join us for this casual meet-and-greet and expand your network!

Event details:
Tuesday 30 March
18:30-19:30
Free of charge
Presentations will be in English
Members-only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before 30 March noon, and we will confirm your registration.

This webinar will be conducted via Zoom Meetings. If your registration is accepted, you will receive the Zoom invitation link and passcode on the day itself.

We look forward to seeing you at this online meet-and-greet!

The BLCCJ office

Sustainability: doughnuts and water bottles
2021-03-18 00:00
Dear members,

We hereby invite you to our next WEBINAR:
“Sustainability: doughnuts and water bottles”

Sustainability, SDGs, they are on the mind of all companies these days.
In this webinar we will focus on the so-called “doughnut economy” and hear from a social entrepreneur in Japan.

While Johan Rockström proved that the planetary boundaries are constantly being exceeded, Kate Raworth additionally showed that the economic system of the 20th century fails in guaranteeing a minimal social foundation for everyone. She combined the idea of the ecological ceiling and the social foundation in the visually very appealing concept of the Doughnut Economy i.e., a safe and just place for humanity.
Our first speaker Prof. dr. Tom Kuppens, assistant professor in environmental economics and economics teaching methodology at Hasselt University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium, will briefly explain the 7 steps proposed by Kate Raworth to redefine the goals of the economy and link them to the concept of the circular economy. By means of inspirational examples of circular entrepreneurship in Belgium, it will be shown that doing business in a circular way has the potential to contribute positively to the ambitions of the Doughnut Economy.

Our second speaker is Robin Lewis, a social entrepreneur based in Japan. He is Co-founder of mymizu – an initiative to reduce consumption of single-use plastics, and Co-founder of Social Innovation Japan – a platform for social good focusing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He will share his insights on plastic waste in Japan and globally; discuss how technology and community may be leveraged to address sustainability related challenges; and present other trends and opportunities in the sustainability space.

You can find the biography of both speakers in attachment.

EVENT DETAILS
Thursday 18 March
18:00-19:00 Japan time / 10:00-11:00 Belgian time
Presentations + Q&A in English
Free of charge
BLCCJ Members only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp, and we will confirm your registration.

This webinar will be conducted via ZOOM. If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the day itself.

We hope to welcome many of you at this webinar!

The BLCCJ office

EPA 2 years later - expectations and reality
2021-03-10 00:00
Due to the pending extension of the state-of-emergency, we have decided to take our EPA seminar online.

The Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has been in place for 2 years. The BLCCJ will invite specialists to hear about the figures and issues so far, the impact of COVID-19, the expectations hereafter. Belgian companies Puratos and Solvay will share their experience with the EPA.
The presentations will be followed by a Q&A.

EVENT DETAILS
Wednesday 10 March
17:00-18:30
Zoom Webinar with English-Japanese simultaneous interpretation
Free-of-charge

If you are interested, please send your full name, company name and title to info@blccj.or.jp by Wednesday 10 March noon.

For more information, please have a look at the attachment.

This event is co-hosted by the BLMC (Belgo-Luxembourg Market Council) and has the support of ITIC (The Foundation for International Trade and Industrial Co-operation).

CANCELLED - 6th Inter-Chamber Ski and Snowboard Networking Retreat
2021-03-06 00:00
Due to the extension of the state-of-emergency till March 7, the below event has been CANCELLED.

Winter is getting ready for our 6th Inter-Chamber Ski Race – tons of snow in Niigata and resorts opening or having opened already.

Networking at a mountain retreat while enjoying a good time with friends, family and business contacts is the promise of the Inter-Chamber Ski Race series.

Open also to snowboarders it brings together members of foreign business chambers in Japan, members of the Japanese business community, local top contacts from Nagano and friends of Alpine winter sports. Supporting chambers include the chambers from Belgium and Luxembourg, Canada, Czech, Germany, Greece, Spain and Switzerland.

The event location – the Lotte Arai Resort in Niigata – is known for great snow conditions (even in difficult years), totally refurbished and renewed most recently and easily accessible well under 2hrs from Tokyo.

The race in the morning of January 30 is the traditional two-runs, painless giant slalom catering to all levels of skiers. For snowboarders we have a combined group of all ages.

As the race finishes in the morning, the afternoon is at everyone’s disposal to do skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, enjoying a local hot spa (onsen) or some of the facilities at the resort, e.g. the bouldering hall. The evening award and networking party brings together – in a Corona friendly setting – some 80 to 100 people including race participants, their families and friends and business contacts.

Attending the race is NOT mandatory, you are welcome to just attending the race or the evening party.

All details, the registration and online payment forms are available at the event website:
https://www.abc-jpn.net/event/6th-inter-chamber-ski-race/

Please do not hesitate to share this information or the attached event flyer with your friends, family or business contacts.

Meet the New BLCCJ Members
2021-02-09 00:00
Dear members,

We are happy to invite you to the first BLCCJ event of 2021:
“Meet the New BLCCJ Members”

In 2020-2021 we had several companies joining and upgrading within the BLCCJ network.At this online meet-and-greet we will gladly introduce you to AB Inbev, Safran Helicopter Engines and Tokusen.
After the presentations we will organize a Q&A session allowing you to interact directly with the new faces in the BLCCJ community.
Join us for this informal meet-and-greet!

Event details:
Tuesday 9 February
18:30-19:30
Free of charge
Presentations will be in English
Members-only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before 9 February noon, and we will confirm your registration.

This webinar will be conducted via Zoom Meetings. If your registration is accepted, you will receive the Zoom invitation link and password on the day itself.

We look forward to seeing you at this online meet-and-greet!

The BLCCJ office

General Assembly 2020
2020-12-10 00:00
Dear BLCCJ members,

The President and the Board of Directors of the BLCCJ are pleased to invite you to the Annual General Assembly, which will be held as follows:

Date & Time: Thursday 10 December 2020 from 6:30PM to 7:30PM
Venue: Natixis Japan Securities office
Ark Hills South Tower 8F
1-4-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032
https://apac.cib.natixis.com/japan/en

The agenda of the meeting will be as follows:
• Activity report 2020
• Closing of books 2020
• Activity proposals 2021
• Budget 2021

In 2013 you agreed on the BLCCJ constitution revision (in attachment), which stipulates that the BLCCJ Board of Directors is elected every 2 years instead of 1. This means that the mandate which our Board of Directors received in December 2019, will continue for 1 more year. So there will be no directors’ election in 2020 (the next election will take place in December 2021).
However, since this annual meeting is mainly meant to inform our members in detail about what we have been doing this year and what we plan to do next year, we very much would like to request your presence.
The necessary safety measures will be taken.

As usual, we foresee a dinner after the General Assembly. We have booked at Bistro Buzz in Akasaka (JPY 6,000 pp) from 8:00PM.
Please kindly indicate your attendance or non-attendance to the dinner in the attached registration form.

Attachments are:
• Convocation letter/registration form – please send them back by 4 December
• Current constitution (revised in 2013)

We hope to see you at this year’s General Assembly!

The BLCCJ office

Gala 2020 "Back together"
2020-11-27 00:00
Dear members and friends,

After careful consideration the Board of the BLCCJ has decided to go ahead with the BLCCJ Gala Ball 2020, which will take place on Friday 27 November, from 18:30, at the prestigious Conrad Tokyo hotel.

Even within COVID times, we believe it is important to bring people “back together”, which will be the main theme of this year’s gala.
We hope you can join us at the most prominent networking event of the year for the Belgian-Luxembourg community and our Japanese friends in the presence of Belgian Ambassador Roxane de Bilderling and Luxembourg Ambassador Pierre Ferring.

Attached you can find the application form. Seats will be limited to 160, so sign up soon, first come first served. The application deadline is Thursday 19 November or when seats are full.
We gladly take care of your seating requests (1 table seats 6 persons).

All required safety measures will be taken in close collaboration with the Conrad hotel.

If you wish to show your support to our Chamber by sponsoring a raffle prize, please send us back the attached sponsor sheet by 10 November.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming you at this special evening!

The BLCCJ office

Inter-Chamber WEBINAR: Asian Economic Update
2020-11-17 00:00
Dear members,

We are delighted to inform you of the next webinar organised by the Asian network of Belgian-Luxembourg Chambers of Commerce.

On Tuesday 17 November at 8pm Japan time we are organising a webinar focusing on the current economic situation. More specifically we have pulled together a panel of senior bankers who will talk about the following subjects:

Economic trends expected to develop out of the current stage of COVID-crisis, particularly across the Asia Pacific region
Impact on currencies and other macro-economic factors
The consequences of the US election on the Asian economies
Economic nationalism: a potential threat for global recovery in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic
And much more!

For this event we will be joined by the following speakers, sharing their knowledge & expertise in this field:

Herald Van Der Linde: Head of Equity Strategy, Asia Pacific at HSBC
Robert Carnell: Chief Economist and Head of Research, Asia-Pacific at ING Bank
Jan Van Hove: Chief Economist at KBC Bank

You can find their profile in attachment.

Talking points will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with featured speakers.

EVENT DETAILS
Tuesday 17 November
20:00-21:00 Japan time
Presentations + Q&A in English
Free of charge
BLCCJ Members

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Tuesday 17 November noon (Japan time), and we will confirm your registration.

This webinar will be conducted via ZOOM. If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the day of the event.

We hope to welcome many of you at this webinar!

The BLCCJ office

WEBINAR with EY: Update on border restrictions and how to manage mobility in the pandemic
2020-11-12 00:00
Dear members,

Faced with ongoing border restrictions and frequent changes to migrant entry and exit requirements globally in response to COVID-19, planning and resuming business operations is challenging.
To help you navigate the shifting landscape and manage your migrant workforce needs across Japan, Belgium and Luxembourg, we invite you to join our next webinar in cooperation with Ernst & Young:
“Update on border restrictions and how to manage mobility in the pandemic.”

In this immigration live session we will discuss the latest developments to the Japan, Belgium and Luxembourg immigration landscapes and what they mean for your business, including:

Current border entry and exit restrictions for Japan, Belgium and Luxembourg
The travel restriction exemption process and examples of what a successful and unsuccessful case looks like
The additional considerations to be taken into account when considering travel

As speakers we have invited EY specialists from the 3 countries:
-Japan: Ms. Hinako Tsunoda, Senior Manager, EY Immigration Co.
-Belgium: Mr. Nivard Bronckaers, Manager, Ernst & Young Tax Consultants BV
-Luxembourg: Mr. Alain Marcel, Senior Manager, Ernst & Young Tax Advisory Services S.à.r.l.

EVENT DETAILS
Thursday 12 November
17:00-18:00 Japan time/9:00-10:00 BeLux time
Presentations + Q&A in English
Free of charge
BLCCJ Members + EY invitees

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Tuesday 10 November 17:00 (Japan time), and we will confirm your registration.
This webinar will be conducted via ZOOM. If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the day of the event.

We hope to welcome many of you at this webinar!

The BLCCJ office

WEBINAR with Hong Kong Chamber: Managing the IBOR Transition
2020-10-29 00:00
Dear members,

We are happy to inform you of the following webinar organized by the BeLux Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and open to BLCCJ members as well.

The upcoming phase-out of the interbank lending rate (IBOR) means big changes to financial services – but few firms are prepared.

On Thursday 29 October 13:30 Japan time BNP Paribas will give an insightful overview on the IBOR transition.

Julien Szternberg from BNP Paribas will provide us with an introduction to the IBOR transition, followed by an overview of the reasons for moving away from (L)IBOR & the alternative RFRs. In addition, he will discuss the consequences of the IBOR transition for FI & SMEs and the pricing implications.

Afterwards Jenny Huang and Tracy Chan from Ernst & Young Hong Kong will present their insights from a consultancy point of view. They will cover topics including risk and valuation, legal implications & accounting and tax implications.

The webinar will be concluded by a Q&A session with all the attendees.

Why should you attend the IBOR transition webinar?

Get the latest developments on IBOR transition globally & within the APAC region directly from the experts;
Learn about the implications of the IBOR transition – it is key for organizations to take the necessary steps to mitigate the emerging risks of transitioning including: legal and client outreach, risk management and finance, operations and technology, accounting and tax.
Discover how to manage stakeholders throughout the IBOR transition.

Event page.

Event details:
Thursday 29 October
13:30-14:45 JPT (presentations + Q&A)
In English
Free of charge
Members-only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp and we will confirm your registration.
We can accept registrations till Thursday 29 October noon.
If you’re registered, you will receive the invitation link and password just before the event.

We hope that we can welcome many BLCCJ members at this webinar!

The BLCCJ office

BLCCJ-CCIFJ-SCCIJ Golf Tournament - FULL!
2020-10-28 00:00
The BLCCJ is pleased to announce that the 14th Joint Chamber Golf Tournament, organized with the French and the Swiss Chambers of Commerce, has been rescheduled for Wednesday 28 October at the prestigious Tomisato Golf Club in Chiba.

Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Time: from 8:00 to 17:00 (approx.)
Location: Tomisato Golf Club
Address: 773 Obaraku, Shibayama-machi, Sanbu-gun, Chiba 289-1611
Admission fee:
JPY 19,500 car users (includes registration & green fee, lunch, reception after the tournament)
JPY 24,500 bus users (includes all of the above plus the bus fee departing near Yotsuya station at 6:15)
(We have switched to a larger bus, so extra seats have become available!)

You can also become a sponsor of the event by giving a prize for the award ceremony. This is ideal for strengthening your image among the communities of three active chambers, and your prize will be properly acknowledged.

You will find more information, the application form and the sponsorship form in the attachments.
Application deadline is Friday 16 October 17:00.

We certainly hope to be able to hold this prestigious event, and welcome many of you there!

The BLCCJ office

The event is kindly sponsored by BMW JAPAN.

All required safety measures will be taken in close collaboration with the golf club.
http://www.tomisatogolf.net/

European Joint Chamber Cocktail 2020
2020-10-21 00:00
The next edition of the traditional European Joint Chamber Cocktail will be held this year on Wednesday 21 October at Park Hyatt Tokyo.

The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan is taking the lead in the organization, 8 other European Chambers of Commerce inc. BLCCJ are joining.

This traditional gathering of European Chambers is the perfect opportunity to remind ourselves that we are stronger together.
So come and join us for an evening of networking with fine food, free-flow wine and a free raffle.

*In view of the COVID-19 situation, proper measures will be taken by the French Chamber and by the hotel. You can read more details in the attachment.
We kindly ask you to refrain from joining the event if you have a fever or show any cough-like symptoms.

Date Wednesday 21 October
Time 19:00 to 21:00 (registration starts at 18:30)
Venue Park Hyatt Tokyo 39F
Admission fee (to be paid by bank before 15 October)
JPY 8,000 BLCCJ Members
JPY 12,000 Non-members
Deadline for registration/cancellation Thursday 15 October, 17:00 or when seats are full
*Any cancellation after the deadline or no-show will be charged.

Register for this event:
BLCCJ seats are limited to 20, first-come, first-serve!
To register for this event, please send your full name, title, company name and email address to info@blccj.or.jp
We will inform you if there are still seats.
If yes, we ask you to pay by bank transfer before Thursday 15 October 17:00. Only after the payment your seat will be booked.
Bank details:
Bank: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Kojimachi Branch
Account: Check Account (toza) No. 226330
Account holder: The Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan

We look forward to finally meeting in person again!

The BLCCJ office

BLCCJ beer gathering @ BBW Toyosu
2020-10-16 00:00
Great news! The Belgian Beer Weekend (BBW) will still take place in 2020!!A great location has been found in Toyosu, Tokyo bay.
This BBW will be a smaller version in line with the COVID-19 safety guidelines, but will definitely be a lot of fun.

CITABRIA BAYPARK

10.16 (Fri.) – 10.18 (Sun.)
10.23 (Fri.) – 10.25 (Sun.)

Fri. 16:00 – 22:00 / Sat. Sun. 10:00 – 21:00

https://belgianbeerweekend.jp/en/

The BLCCJ will be present on Friday 16 October from 18:00!
This will be a first live beer gathering since February.

If you plan to join us, please send an email “I plan to join”(info@blccj.or.jp). So we can have an idea of the number of people to expect, and the BBW organizers can reserve us a spot (we will inform of exact location later).

You will need to purchase a BBW 2020 glass and tokens (if you already have a glass, you can just purchase tokens).
Since the number of tickets available per day is limited based on the capacity of the venue, and in order to reduce waiting and check-in time at the registration desks, we recommend you buy your tickets in advance via Rakuten Ticket:
https://belgianbeerweekend.jp/en/tickets

All BLCCJ members will receive 2 tokens for free – please ask BLCCJ office’s Sophie or Hitomi at the venue.

Come join us for the Bayside Chill in one of Tokyo’s hotspots with a great selection of Belgian beers and food!

WEBINAR: Venture Capital in Japan - new opportunities for foreign startups
2020-10-08 00:00
Dear members and friends,

Our next WEBINAR is another joint effort with Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT).
“Venture Capital in Japan – new opportunities for foreign startups”

When foreign startups are looking for additional capital, not only USA or Europe should be on their radar, also Japan has become an interesting capital venture country in recent years. During this webinar 3 speakers will give us an insight on what’s currently moving in the venture capital market in Japan.

Our first speaker will be Mr. Gregory Van Bellinghen, Managing Partner, Toppako Capital. He will sketch some broad dynamics of the Venture Capital landscape, how cross-border funds fit into that picture, and share his experience co-investing with Japanese and Asian strategic investors.

Doing business in Japan could be a big challenge in many aspects. Second speaker Alex Odajima, CEO of EDGEof Innovation, will explain you the fundamentals of the Japanese business culture and give you some tips to help you deal with Japanese corporate.

Third speaker will be Yuin Tei, Ventures Associate, Fintech at Plug and Play Japan. He will discuss the market trend of venture investing in Japan and how European startups can leverage their network.

You can find the profile of all 3 speakers in attachment.

EVENT DETAILS
Thursday 8 October
17:00-18:00 Japan time/10:00-11:00 Belgian time
Presentations + Q&A in English
Free of charge
BLCCJ Members + companies with a FIT account

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before Thursday 8 October noon (Japan time), and we will confirm your registration.

This webinar will be conducted via ZOOM. If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the day of the event.

We hope to welcome many of you at this webinar!

The BLCCJ office

Webinar VIDEO data

A New Start: Challenges and Business Opportunities in the New Normal
2020-10-01 00:00
Dear members,

Mrs. Roxane de Bilderling, Ambassador of H.M. The King of the Belgians, is kindly inviting the BLCCJ members to a seated event on Thursday 1st of October 2020 from 17:30 at the Embassy of Belgium.

A new start: challenges and business opportunities in the new normal
Presentations by field experts, followed by a seated dinner

PROGRAMME:
17:30 Doors open – registration => everyone is kindly asked to go straight to their designated seat
18:00 Event starts
– Opening words by the Ambassador
– Presentations on the opportunities & challenges of post –COVID in Japan, as seen by different field experts:
1. Mr. Michael Mroczek, President of the European Business Council in Japan (EBC)
2. Mr. Vincent Devloo, CFO at IKEA Japan K.K.
3. Mrs. Yumiko Murakami, Head of Tokyo Centre at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
– Q&A and Debate led by Jan De Bock, Vice-President of the BLCCJ
– Conclusions by Jan
19:30 Dinner starts
Kampai by Fabrice Tilot, President of the BLCCJ

EVENT DETAILS:
Thursday 1 October
Starting at 18:00 (doors open 17:30)
Presentations + Q&A in English
Free of charge
BLCCJ Members only

Please note that places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp
We will confirm if we can accept your registration or not.
Deadline is Friday 25 September 17:00 OR when the seats are full.
Due to limited seating we will accept only 1 signup per member.

Proper COVID-19 measures will be taken. We kindly ask you to refrain from joining the event if you have a fever or show any cough-like symptoms.

We look forward to seeing many of you at this live event!

The BLCCJ office

WEBINAR: A Prime Minister and his Legacy
2020-09-08 00:00
Dear members,

Japan will soon have a new Prime Minister following Mr Abe’s record breaking stint in office. Mr Abe won three Lower House elections and became a familiar figure internationally – in itself, an unusual achievement for a Japanese Prime Minister. His Abenomics programme and the Three Arrows promised much – but what did they really achieve and how will history judge this interesting figure? And what happens next – where do his successors propose to lead Japan?

Our guest speaker will be Tobias Harris, Executive Vice President and Japan analyst in Washington, DC, for Teneo Intelligence. His biography ‘The Iconoclast: Shinzo Abe and the New Japan‘ was published by Hurst on 27 August and has been very well received.
He is an expert on Japanese politics, and worked in 2006-2007 on the staff of Keiichiro Asao, at that time a member of the upper house of the Japanese Diet and shadow foreign minister for the Democratic Party of Japan, for whom he conducted research on foreign policy and Japan’s relations with the United States. He is also the Fellow for Economy, Trade, and Business at Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA.

Tobias’ review will be followed by an open Q&A facilitated by Melanie Brock, CEO of Melanie Brock Advisory and one of Japan’s best known APAC specialists.

More information on the event website.
Kindly note that the British Chamber of Commerce is taking the lead in this event.

EVENT DETAILS:
Tuesday 8 September
12:00-13:00
In English
Free of charge
Members-only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Monday 7 September evening and we will confirm your registration.

If your registration is accepted, you will receive the ZOOM link from the British Chamber 1 hour before the webinar.

We hope that we can welcome many BLCCJ members at this joint chamber webinar!

The BLCCJ office

Webinar VIDEO data

WEBINAR: The organic market in Japan
2020-09-02 00:00
Dear members and friends,

Our next WEBINAR is another joint effort with Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT).
“The organic market in Japan:
the new JAS logo regulations”

We are delighted to present 3 speakers who will give us an insight on what’s currently moving in the organic industry in Japan.

Our first speaker will be Ms. Mayu Nishikawa, Director of Agricultural Standard at the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). She will present the new organic JAS logo regulations that took effect on 16 July 2020.

This introductory presentation will be followed by 2 testimonies from organic initiatives in Japan.
Pascal Gerbert-Gaillard, Asia Director for Bio c’ Bon, will share his company’s take on the market:
-Who they are and what they are doing
-Trends they are seeing and what is a likely future for the market
-Challenges ahead and notably the new JAS regulation in that part

Third speaker will be Simon Grunberger, CEO and founder of Ecoloupe, a new organic label and supplier in Japan.
Simon will discuss:
-Ecoloupe’s missions
-The importance of organic food and responsible farming
-The future of organic food in Japan

You can find the profile of all 3 speakers in attachment.

EVENT DETAILS
Wednesday 2 September
17:00-18:00 Japan time/10:00-11:00 Belgian time
Presentations + Q&A in English
Free of charge
BLCCJ Members + companies with a FIT account

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before Wednesday 2 September noon (Japan time), and we will confirm your registration.
This webinar will be conducted via ZOOM. If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the day of the event.

We hope to welcome many of you at this webinar!

The BLCCJ office

Webinar VIDEO data

WEBINAR with tasting: Luxembourg, the wine country.
2020-08-27 00:00
Dear members and friends,

Our next WEBINAR will be a joint effort with the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and LTIO Tokyo.
“Luxembourg, the wine country.
Join us for a taste!”

Did you know that Luxembourg is home to 9 different wine varieties?
It is no coincidence that the valley of the Moselle is one of Luxembourg’s major tourist attractions. The mild climate and the spectacular beauty of the hilly vineyards at whose feet the Moselle ambles, gives the region its quite unique character. Moreover the Moselle valley fulfills all the right conditions allowing vintners to grow excellent wines which are appreciated far beyond Luxembourg’s borders.
Join us in this webinar on a historical, cultural and touristic journey of Luxembourg wines, culminating in the tasting of 2 wine varieties: Auxerrois and a sparkling Crémant 36.

Our Luxembourg guides on this wine journey will be Claire Sertznig, Project Manager, IVV (Institut Viti-Vinicole); and Lisa Vesque, Oenologist, Domaine viticole Cep d’Or.

For those who would like to do an actual tasting at home, BLCCJ member DeCima Japan is offering a set of Auxerrois and Cremant (1 bottle each) @ JPY 5,500 (incl. tax and delivery fee).
If you prefer to buy only 1 bottle (Auxerrois or Cremant), the price is JPY 3,300 (incl. tax and delivery fee).
If you wish to purchase, please inform the BLCCJ office of the order details when you sign up.

EVENT DETAILS
Thursday 27 August
17:30-18:30 Japan time / 10:30-11:30 Luxembourg time
Presentations in English
Free of charge for the webinar / JPY 5,500 or JPY 3,300 if you wish to purchase the wines

If you are interested to join, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp, and we will confirm your registration.
Signing up to the webinar is possible till 27 August noon (Japan time).

However, if you wish to purchase wines, please inform by Friday 21 August 17:00 (Japan time) the latest. You need to specify if you buy the wine set or only 1 bottle, give a delivery address and phone number, and make the payment to the BLCCJ account before the webinar.
Purchase is only possible for people based in Japan.
Payment details:
Bank: Mitsui Sumitomo Banking Corporation, Kojimachi Branch
Account: Check Account (toza) No. 226330
Account holder: The Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan

This webinar will be conducted via ZOOM. If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the day of the event (27 August).

We hope to welcome many of you at this tasty webinar!

The BLCCJ office

Webinar VIDEO data

WEBINAR: Tokyo 2020 Paralympics 1 Year to Go!
2020-08-24 00:00
Dear members,

Monday 24 August, 20:00 will mark exactly one year to go until the start of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in 2021. The Paralliance Chambers incl. BLCCJ invite you to hear from President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Mr Andrew Parsons, as well as IPC Chief Brand & Communications Officer, Mr Craig Spence, and IPC Governing Board Member at Large and President of the Japanese Paralympic Committee, Mr Yasushi Yamawaki.

Andrew, Craig and Yasushi will speak on renewed expectations, principles for re-planning and what lies ahead for the 2021 games. The panel will also speak on the Inclusion Summit, a natural extension of the current IPC activities that focuses on inclusion and accessibility from a community, sport, and labour perspective. Following which, our speakers will engage in a short discussion followed by a Q&A session opened up to members of the Paralliance.

More information on the event website.
Kindly note that the British Chamber of Commerce is taking the lead in this event.

EVENT DETAILS:
Monday 24 August
20:00-21:00
In English
Free of charge
Members-only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Monday 24 August 14:00 and we will confirm your registration.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive the ZOOM link from the British Chamber 1 hour before the webinar.

We hope that we can welcome many BLCCJ members at this joint chamber webinar!

The BLCCJ office

Webinar VIDEO data

WEBINAR: COVID-19 in Japan and its effect on retail
2020-08-18 00:00
Dear members,

Our newest WEBINAR is a joint effort with Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT).
“COVID-19 in Japan and its effect on retail”

What started as a health crisis about 6 months ago, has become a worldwide deep economic crisis, with the end still not in sight.
Japan was one of the first countries to be hit, but compared to others the numbers are relatively low. So how bad of an economic blow is Japan facing? And how is the retail industry in Japan behaving?

Our first speaker will be Jan De Bock, BLCCJ Vice President and Managing Partner of trainspot KK, the creative agency behind the Belgian Beer Weekends festivals in Japan. He will give his view on how the COVID-19 crisis evolved in Japan, and how it largely affected his business.

Next Dirk De Ruyver, Japan Representative for FIT, will give an overview of the latest retail numbers in Japan.

Based upon these numbers our third speaker, Lionel Desclee, CEO of Walmart Japan (Seiyu), will give a first-hand testimony on how the crisis has impacted his business.

EVENT DETAILS
Tuesday 18 August
17:00-18:00 Japan time/10:00-11:00 Belgian time
Presentations + Q&A in English
Free of charge
BLCCJ Members + companies with a FIT account

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before Tuesday 18 August noon (Japan time), and we will confirm your registration.

This webinar will be conducted via ZOOM. If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the day of the event.

We hope to welcome many of you at this webinar!

The BLCCJ office

WEBINAR: The Future of Digital Marketing
2020-07-16 00:00
Dear members,

Our next WEBINAR will be another joint effort with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Japan (SpCCJ):
“The Future of Digital Marketing:
Global Trends and Localization”

One of the major revolutions in the media industry was the irruption of computer and internet. Development of search engines along with the emergence of the social media and the arrival of the smartphones brought new disruptions and pushed the industry to evolve. And now, digital marketing is entering a new era with the appearance of AI. By using AI and big data, companies can get access to real time information about consumer behaviour and purchase tendencies, which makes it possible for them to take a more efficient approach.
Traditional media such as TV commercials, newspapers and magazines have been occupying the advertisement industry for many years, and Japan is not an exception. However, in 2019, total expenditure of digital advertisement exceeded its tv media advertisement for the first time.
As further growth of digital marketing is expected, using digital platforms are essential in current marketing strategy.
But which are the platforms preferred in the Japanese society? Is Yahoo! still the search engine most used in Japan? Is there any difference between global trends and local (Japanese) tendency? Which are the main points mostly discussed about the Japanese Data Protection Law? Has COVID-19 made any influences on consumer trends?
On 16 July, the SpCCJ – with the cooperation of the BLCCJ – has invited three experts in digital marketing, to share with you the current market trends and tips for successful digital marketing in Japan.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, 16 July 2020
Time: 18:00 – 19:00 JST
Place: Zoom Online Webinar
Language: English
Price: Free for BLCCJ & SpCCJ Members | Others: 2,000JPY
If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Thursday 16 July noon, and we will confirm your registration.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the day of the event (July 16).

We hope that we can welcome a full house for this joint webinar!

The BLCCJ office

Webinar VIDEO data

Inter-Chamber WEBINAR: Cracking Supply Chains
2020-07-15 00:00
Dear members,

The BLCCJ – together with 8 other Asian BeLux Chambers of Commerce – has the pleasure to invite you to a next joint webinar:

Cracking Supply Chains
Rebuilding or reinforcing? Learnings from COVID-19

In this interactive multi-country webinar we have 3 experts investigate the cracks that have shown in Supply Chains in the last few months under Covid-19. Together with participants we zoom in on the learnings, present the current status from a transporter point of view, and provide a wrap-up with tips going forward.
What were the contingencies already in place to prevent the worst cracks? What transportation options are now available to suppliers & manufacturers? And how can we take the learnings of the last few months to reimagine and reinforce our Supply Chains?

Join participants dialing in from 9 different countries in this Asian multi-Chamber webinar for answers to these questions and many more insights from our experts Paul Melkebeke (Samsonite), Ingrid Sidiadinoto (UPS) & Renaud Anjoran (Sofeast) – biographies in attachment.

This webinar will be held in ZOOM so we can use the breakout room function during short interactive networking & discussion among participants on 2 questions put forward by our experts.

The 9 countries represented are Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Hong Kong, China & Japan.

EVENT DETAILS:
Wednesday 15 July
19:00-20:15 Jap time
In English
Free of charge
Members-only
If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by July 15 noon, and we will confirm your registration.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the day of the event (July 15).

We hope that we can welcome a full house for this high-level webinar!

The BLCCJ office

WEBINAR: The Only Certainty in Uncertain Times: Death and Taxes - Japan gift/inheritance and Japan Exit Tax Updates
2020-06-22 00:00
Dear members,

We hereby invite you to a next WEBINAR, this time in cooperation with PwC Japan:
“The Only Certainty in Uncertain Times: Death and Taxes – Japan gift/inheritance and Japan Exit Tax Updates”

Given the current global pandemic environment and looking forward to the future – new normal, have you given some serious thoughts about your own situation? Will you stay in Japan longer term or plan to relocate back to your home country? How will Japan Exit Tax affect you if you do decide to relocate? Have you thought about your/your extended family back home’s estate planning matters? If you do decide to stay in Japan for the longer term, how will Japan gift/inheritance taxes apply to your own situation and your extended family’s estate if you are the expected heir/named beneficiary? Do you have a Will in place in case of any unexpected event happening? We will go over all these difficult but necessary topics within this presentation and hope to address your concerns through a Q&A session at the end.

Speakers from PwC Japan are Marcus Wong, Partner; Jia Ee, Senior Manager; and Thomas Y. Lu, Senior Manager.
You can find their profiles in the attachment.

EVENT DETAILS:
Monday 22 June
12:00-13:00 (45 minutes presentation, 15 minutes Q&A)
In ENGLISH
Free of charge
Members-only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before 22 June 10:00, and we will confirm your registration.

We are still discussing which online platform to use, and will inform asap.

We look forward to welcoming you at the webinar!

The BLCCJ office

Webinar VIDEO data
You can also find a SUMMARY of the webinar in the attachment.

WEBINAR - Recent amendments in Japanese labor law
2020-06-11 00:00
Dear members,

We hereby invite you to our next WEBINAR:
“Recent amendments in Japanese labor law”

As part of the so-called “Work Style Reform Legislation”, two amendments were passed in 2018 and 2019. They attempt to address the dangers of overworking and to introduce the system of ‘Equal Work Equal Pay’ widely. The amendment regarding the limits of overtime took effect with almost all the companies. On ‘Equal Work Equal Pay’, from April 1, 2020, large companies are now obliged to follow new laws dealing with employee management (full-time and part-time), with SMEs to join suit a year later.
On the other hand, we are facing the spread of COVID-19, which has affected our way of doing business greatly. It can lead to change of the working style such as teleworking and to rebuild systems of work conditions. Both amendments above might demand a specific care accordingly.
With this webinar, we will be reality-checking laws introduced in past revisions, better understanding the equal work for equal pay amendment, and addressing the current situation surrounding COVID-19.

We have invited Hiroshi Chiba, a labor lawyer, to speak, and Catherine O’Connell, a foreign registered lawyer in Japan, to moderate the webinar.
You can find their biographies in the attachment.

Event details:
Thursday 11 June
14:00-15:00 (30 minutes presentation, 30 minutes Q&A)
In ENGLISH
Free of charge
Members-only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before 11 June noon, and we will confirm your registration.
We also welcome questions in advance.

This webinar will be conducted via ZOOM. If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the day itself.

We look forward to welcoming you at the webinar!

The BLCCJ office

Webinar VIDEO data

WEBINAR - Working together virtually: challenges & opportunities
2020-06-09 00:00
Dear members,

We gladly inform you of our next WEBINAR:
“Working together virtually: challenges & opportunities”

The Covid pandemic has boosted virtual working. And even in the post-Covid era, it’s highly likely that working together virtually is “here to stay”. In this webinar we will address both the challenges but also the opportunities that virtual collaboration offers. We will focus on items such as open two-way communication and direct feedback, installing trust in teams, and bridging interpersonal and intercultural differences. We will look at how using the right technology in the right way can help us in tackling some of the virtual collaboration challenges, and how technology can add value in meeting both the organization’s and the individual employee’s needs.

As a speaker we have invited Frans van de Ven, Executive Coach (based in Belgium).

EVENT DETAILS:
Tuesday 9 June
15:00-16:00
In ENGLISH
Free of charge
Members-only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before 9 June noon, and we will confirm your registration.

This webinar will be conducted via ZOOM. If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the day itself.

We look forward to welcoming you at the webinar!

The BLCCJ office

WEBINAR with Deloitte: Managing through the maelstrom: COVID-19 - a health and economic crisis
2020-05-29 00:00
Dear members,

Our next WEBINAR will be a joint effort with Deloitte Japan and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Japan:

“Managing through the maelstrom: COVID-19 – a health and economic crisis”

What started as a health crisis has morphed into an economic crisis. Navigating a state of emergency, business leaders are challenged daily to attend to the needs of multiple stakeholders. Initial imperatives of ensuring employee safety, and enabling operational continuity, have been joined by concerns over supply chain integrity and changing modes of customer engagement. As budgets bend and forecast fracture, financial risk is ever-present. The accelerated adoption of digital technologies has the potential to unlock exciting new business models and facilitate mobility and decentralized working – yet these virtues bring vulnerability. Amongst this complexity and uncertainty, leaders must conceive and create their command center – an organizational response to these challenges that enables them to operate their business, manage risk, and ensure regulatory compliance. Supporting decision making today, whilst planning for tomorrow.

To help navigate these challenging times, 5 Deloitte professionals (profiles in attachment) will share perspectives related to doing business in Japan during the COVID-19 emergency.

Topics will include:
-Evolution of a crisis:

Japan’s COVID-19 experience
Consumer response

-Relief measures:

Government subsidies on employment adjustment
Special loans from government supported institutions
Deferral of tax payments
Carryback of net operating losses

-Financial reporting matters:

Accounting and disclosure considerations
Impact on forecasting and management estimates

-Technology vision and vulnerability:

The effect of COVID-19 on the three most affected Cyber pillars (Phishing, Cloud & Identity, Home & Privacy)
Applicable risk mitigations
Way forward and best practices

-Command center: evolution from rapid response to thoughtful recovery

Command Center Recover focus and organization
Drive strategic conversation on building resilience
Capture insight and prepare for change

EVENT DETAILS
Friday 29 May
11:30-12:30 (45 minutes presentation, 15 minutes Q&A)
In ENGLISH
Free of charge
Members-only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before Thursday 28 May 18:00, and we will confirm your registration.

This webinar will be conducted via ZOOM. If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the morning of the event.

We hope to welcome many of you at this joint webinar!

The BLCCJ office

ONLINE Beer Gathering
2020-05-25 00:00
Dear members,

While Tokyo is still under a state-of-emergency, we hereby invite you to our second ONLINE BEER GATHERING!
Join us with a beer in the hand for a casual catching up with other members of the BLCCJ!

EVENT DETAILS:
Monday 25 May
18:30-19:30 (you can join and leave as you want during this time frame)
Through Zoom Meetings
Free-of-charge
Members-only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp We will confirm receipt of your signup.
You will receive an email with a Zoom meeting ID and password on Monday PM.

We hope many of you will join us!

The BLCCJ office

WEBINAR with the 2 Ambassadors
2020-05-21 00:00
Dear members,

The BLCCJ is honored to invite you to a webinar with Belgian Ambassador Roxane de Bilderling and Luxembourg Ambassador Pierre Ferring.
Both Ambassadors will give a short overview of what is happening in Belgium and Luxembourg, and how the Embassies in Tokyo are dealing with COVID-19. Afterwards they will gladly take some questions.
Join us for this unique opportunity to hear from and reach out to both our Ambassadors in these times of COVID-19.

EVENT DETAILS:
Thursday 21 May
16:00-17:00
In English
Free of charge

Members-only
If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp and we will confirm your registration.

This webinar will be conducted via ZOOM. You will receive an email with a ZOOM invitation link and password on the day itself.

If you already have some questions for the Ambassadors, please send them to us: info@blccj.or.jp

Let’s welcome both Ambassadors at a full house webinar!

The BLCCJ office
