Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan

Meet and greet cyclists of Le Tour de France Critérium Saitama
2023-11-01 19:00 - 21:00 (Asia/Tokyo) | L Espace @ CCIFJ, Nihonbashi Honcho YS Bldg. 1F, 2-2-2 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0023, Japan
BLCCJ, the Australia-New Zealand, the French, the Netherlands and the Spanish Chambers of Commerce, with the support of the French Embassy to Japan, are delighted to invite you to a special event titled “Le Tour de France Critérium Saitama”.
Join us for an evening filled with enthusiasm for cycling, as we have the privilege of hosting professional riders Victor Lafay and Alex Zingle from the Cofidis team. They will be sharing their deep love for the sport, alongside representatives from A.S.O, the esteemed organizers of the Tour de France.
Your host for the evening will be Florent Dabadie, who will present insights into the route of the Tour de France 2024, providing an exciting glimpse into what lies ahead.
Please note that available slots are limited, and reservations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Come and join us as we celebrate our collective passion for the Tour de France!

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Wednesday 1 November 2023
Time: 19:00-21:00
Venue: L’espace @ CCIFJ
Nihonbashi Honcho Ys Bldg. 1F, 2-2-2 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0023
Admission fee: JPY 3,000 (this includes food and drinks)
To register, please send your full name, company name and title to info@blccj.or.jp.
We will send a confirmation email.
You will need to arrange payment in advance by bank transfer (no cash payments).
We will send the bank details in the confirmation email.
Deadline for registration is Tuesday 31 October, 17:00 (or when seats are full).
Any cancelation after 31 October or no-shows will be charged in full.

We look forward to seeing you there!

BLCCJ Gala 2023: FULL
2023-11-10 18:30 - 23:00 | Conrad Tokyo, Shiodome, 1 Chome-9-1 Higashishinbashi, Minato City, Tokyo, 105-7337, Japan
We are pleased to announce the annual BLCCJ Gala, which will take place this year on Friday 10 November, from 6.30 pm, at the prestigious Conrad Tokyo hotel.
In the presence of representatives of the Belgian and Luxembourg Embassies, we will take you on a journey through the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Belgium and Luxembourg.
Don’t miss THE networking event of the year for the Belgian-Luxembourg community and our Japanese friends, a wonderful evening with exquisite cuisine, wines, live entertainment, fantastic raffle prizes, and of course, great company!

Attached you can find the application form. The application deadline is Tuesday 31 October or when seats are full.
If you wish to show your support to our Chamber by sponsoring a raffle prize, please send us back the attached sponsor sheet by Thursday 26 October.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming you at the annual gala!

CEO Webinar Series: Marc Biron, CEO of Melexis
2023-11-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
In the framework of our Asian network of Be(Ne)Lux Chambers, we are delighted to invite you to our CEO Webinar Series with CEOs from renowned companies from Belgium and Luxembourg. At the next edition – hosted by our colleagues of BeLuxCham Malaysia – we are proud to have as speaker Mr. Marc Biron, CEO of Melexis, to present the company to us.

SPEAKER
Marc Biron has been a member of the Executive Management of Melexis since 2009. He has been a CEO since August 2021.
Marc Biron was born in June 1970 in Liége, Belgium. He obtained a Master in Electrical Engineering in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Applied Sciences in 1999 at the University of Liége, Belgium.
He began his career in the electronics industry in 1997 when joining Melexis, where he held a number of senior positions over a 25-year period.

EVENT DETAILS
Monday 20 November 2023
18:00 – 19:00 Japan time / 10:00 – 11:00 BeLux time
In English
Free of charge
Members only
If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Friday 17 November 17:00 JST, and we will confirm your registration.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a Zoom invitation link on the day of the event.

We look forward to seeing many of you at this high-caliber inter-chamber webinar!

November beer gathering
2023-11-21 19:00 - 23:00 | BBC Antwerp Port, Akasaka Intercity AIR Bldg. 1F, 1-8-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0052, Japan
We are happy to inform you of November’s Beer Gathering, which will be held on TUESDAY 21 November.
Our friends of the Japan-Belgium Society (JBS) will be joining us again.
We will be going back to Belgian Brasserie Court ANTWERP PORT.
The exact address is as follows:
Belgian Brasserie Court Antwerp Port
Akasaka Intercity AIR Bldg. 1F
1-8-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052
Telephone: 03-5570-5557
Access map and other information:
https://www.intercity-air.com/
https://www.intercity-air.com/shoplist/shop/15
Closest station are Tameike-sanno (Ginza and Namboku lines, exit 14) and Kokkaigijido-mae (Chiyoda and Marunouchi lines, exit 14). Also 10-minutes walking distance from Kamiyacho, Roppongi-itchome and Toranomon stations.
You can find us there from 19:00 onwards (last order will be at 22:30).
As always the event is open to everybody, but for BLCCJ members the first beer is free of charge.
We look forward to welcoming many of you!

Belgian shop @ BBW Shinjuku
2023-12-06 - 2023-12-10 | Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Sankaku Hiroba, 2-6-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
At the Belgian Beer Weekend in Shinjuku, the BLCCJ – with support of the BLMC – is delighted to present also this year a festive “Belgian shop”. Immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit as we sell delightful holiday treats from BLCCJ member companies Godiva Japan, Rosen (Manneken waffles), Americo (Jules Destrooper cookies) and Grand-Place.
The shop will be managed by the BLCCJ office staff, so please drop by when you visit the event!
Next to our shop you can also find the Belgian beer shop operated by BLCCJ member company Konishi Brewing.

Event details:
Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Sankaku Hiroba
12.6 (Wed.) – 12.10 (Sun.)
weekdays 16:00 – 22:00
Saturday 11:00 – 21:00
Sunday 11:00 – 20:00
https://belgianbeerweekend.jp/en/shinjuku

Besides at the Belgian shop we also hope to see you all at the BLCCJ bonenkai beer gathering on Thursday 7 December from 19:00!

Come visit BBW Shinjuku for great Belgian beers and food, a fun Christmas vibe and now also tasty omiyage goods!

The Belgian shop in Shinjuku has the support of ITIC (The Foundation for International Trade and Industrial Co-operation), the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Flanders Investment & Trade, hub.brussels and the Walloon Export-Investment Agency.

Bonenkai beer gathering @ BBW Shinjuku
2023-12-07 19:00 - 22:00 | Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Sankaku Hiroba, 2-6-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
From 6 till 10 December Belgian Beer Weekend will be returning to Shinjuku for an indoor Christmas edition.
Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Sankaku Hiroba
12.6 (Wed.) – 12.10 (Sun.)
weekdays 16:00 – 22:00
Saturday 11:00 – 21:00
Sunday 11:00 – 20:00
https://belgianbeerweekend.jp/en/shinjuku

The BLCCJ will hold its bonenkai beer gathering at BBW Shinjuku on Thursday 7 December from 19:00 (exact location on the map).
If you plan to join us, please send “I plan to join” to info@blccj.or.jp so we can have an idea of the number of people to expect.
Our friends of the BLCCJ Starters, the Japan-Belgium Society (JBS) and the Belgium-Luxembourg Market Council (BLMC) will be joining us!

You will need to purchase a BBW 2023 Starter Set (glass and tokens) (if you already have a glass, you can just purchase tokens).
To minimize the wait time at the ticket counters, we recommend purchasing your Starter Set in advance either online or through FamilyMart.
All BLCCJ members will receive 2 tokens for free – please ask BLCCJ office’s Sophie or Akiko at the venue.

Come join us for our bonenkai beer gathering at a Christmassy BBW with a great selection of Belgian beers and food.
And don’t forget to purchase some omiyage at the BLCCJ Belgian shop!

Annual General Meeting
2023-12-14 18:00 - 20:00 | BNP Paribas Tokyo Branch, GranTokyo North Tower, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-6740, Japan
Dear BLCCJ members,

The President and the Board of Directors of the BLCCJ are pleased to invite you to the Annual General Meeting, which will be held as follows:
Date & Time: Thursday 14 December 2023 from 18:30 to 20:00
Venue: BNP Paribas, Tokyo Branch 42F seminar room
(please refer to the attached map)

The agenda of the meeting will be as follows:

Activity report 2023 YTD
Closing of books 2023 YTD
Activity proposals 2024
Budget 2024
Election of Directors 2024-2025

Please take note that your vote or your proxy is very important to us in order to reach the necessary quota to validate the Director election process.
In case you cannot attend, please reply with the attached ”Proxy nomination” sheet.

As an active BLCCJ member or representative of an active corporate or professional member, with the exception of honorary and advisory members, you are eligible to become a Director of the BLCCJ.
If you are interested in joining our active BLCCJ Board of Directors, please fill in and return the attached “Candidacy” form.
All candidates are asked to introduce themselves at the AGM.

Deadline to send back all documents is Monday 11 December 17:00 JST.

As usual, we foresee a dinner after the AGM. This time we have booked at Beer Cafe Brugse Zot Nihonbashi (JPY 8,000 pp) from 20:15.
Please kindly indicate your attendance or non-attendance to the dinner in the attached registration form.

Attachments are:

Convocation letter/registration form
Proxy nomination form
Candidacy for Directorship form
Constitution
Access map to BNP Paribas

As this will be our last event of the year and there will be a Board election, we hope to see many of you at the AGM!

The BLCCJ office

Smart Manufacturing Summit 2024: online info session
2023-12-18 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
We gladly invite you to an online info session on the upcoming Smart Manufacturing Summit (SMS) 2024 by Global Industrie in Aichi.
The BLCCJ is an official supporter of this event.

As Europe is embarking on a new industrial policy, guided and driven by the imperatives of the ecological and digital transition, a new and innovative event is proposed to European and Japanese companies about Smart Manufacturing. Taking place in Aichi, the “industrial capital of Japan”, Smart Manufacturing Summit (SMS) by Global Industrie offers an original new format devoted to Innovation and Industry 5.0.
The first edition of the SMS promises:

A significant step forward in the global cooperation between Europe and Japan facing challenges of the industry.
An innovative event format dedicated to innovation and business opportunities for the industry: a matchmaking solution, pitch sessions, conferences, visits of smart factories…
The presence and the support of key stakeholders: industry leaders, governments, clusters of innovations, startups…

Morgan Chaudeler, Project Director of the Smart Manufacturing Summit, will give an overview of the event, and present how Belgian, Luxembourg and Japanese companies can get involved, be it as exhibitors, speakers or visitors.

EVENT DETAILS
Monday 18 December
17:00-18:00 Japan time / 9:00-10:00 BeLux time
Online (Zoom Meetings)
In English (questions in Japanese are welcome too)
Free of charge
Members-only
If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Monday 18 December noon JST, and we will confirm your registration.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with the Zoom invitation link on the day of the event (18 Dec).

We look forward to welcoming many of you at this informative online session.

Shinnenkai beer gathering
2024-01-15 19:00 - 23:00 | BBC Antwerp Port, Akasaka Intercity AIR Bldg. 1F, 1-8-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0052, Japan
Our first event of the year will be our January “shinnenkai” Beer Gathering, which will be held on Monday 15 January.
Our friends of the Japan-Belgium Society (JBS) will be joining us again.

We will be going back to Belgian Brasserie Court ANTWERP PORT.
The exact address is as follows:
Belgian Brasserie Court Antwerp Port
Akasaka Intercity AIR Bldg. 1F
1-8-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052
Telephone: 03-5570-5557
Access map and other information:
https://www.intercity-air.com/
https://www.intercity-air.com/shoplist/shop/15
Closest station are Tameike-sanno (Ginza and Namboku lines, exit 14) and Kokkaigijido-mae (Chiyoda and Marunouchi lines, exit 14). Also 10-minutes walking distance from Kamiyacho, Roppongi-itchome and Toranomon stations.

You can find us there from 19:00 onwards (last order will be at 22:30).
As always the event is open to everybody, but for BLCCJ members the first beer is free of charge.

We look forward to welcoming many of you!

Expo 2025 Osaka: info session with the BelExpo team
2024-01-19 12:00 - 14:00 | Le Rire, Sendagaya, Monparte Kitasando Bldg. B1, 4-19-12 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-0051, Japan
As BLCCJ we are proud that both Belgium and Luxembourg will have their own pavilion at the upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka.
On 19 January 2024, BelExpo, or the Belgian Commission General for International Exhibitions, responsible for the Belgian participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, will give a presentation to the BLCCJ members on the concept of the Belgian pavilion, the progress made so far, and the next steps to come.
They will also highlight how you as Belgian or Japanese companies can get involved in the Belgian pavilion.
As speakers we will welcome Mr. Pieter De Crem, the new Commissioner General, and Mr. Aldwin Dekkers, Senior Program Lead.
BelExpo team
There will be ample time for Q&A during the lunch.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Friday 19 January 2024
Time: 12:00-14:00 (doors open 11:45)
Venue: Le Rire, Sendagaya
Language: English
Menu: fish lunch, incl. salad or soup, rice or bread, coffee or tea
Fee: JPY 2,500 (lunch fee)
To register, please send your full name, company name and title to info@blccj.or.jp by Tuesday 16 January 12:00, and we will send a confirmation email.
Also inform us if you have any food restrictions or food allergies.
Either way you can pay in advance by bank transfer (we will send the bank details in the confirmation email), or you can pay the exact amount in cash at the event.
(Please note that any cancelations after 16 January or no-shows will be charged in full.)

We look forward to welcoming many of you at this luncheon.

New Year Party 2024
2024-02-06 18:30 - 22:00 | Le Petit Tonneau Toranomon, 2-1-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0001, Japan
Let’s celebrate the new year in a festive manner with our annual New Year Party!
As tradition prescribes, we are returning to Le Petit Tonneau Toranomon on Tuesday 6 February, from 18:30 onwards.
We will present you the new BLCCJ Board 2024-2025, and will have the pleasure of welcoming guests from both Embassies, as well as musician Philippe Marchand.
A cocktail reception with Luxembourg wine and Belgian beers, a tasty 3-course dinner, atmospheric music, a fun little raffle, and the good company of friends and business partners from the Belgian-Luxembourg-Japanese community – all the ingredients for a fun night!

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Tuesday 6 February 2024
Time: cocktail from 18:30 / dinner from 19:30 / end at 22:00
Venue: Le Petit Tonneau Toranomon
Fee: JPY 10,000 BLCCJ members / JPY 12,000 non-members
(this includes dinner and free flow of drinks till 22:00)
Menu*:

Pâté au Riesling luxembourgeois
Carbonades flamandes à la bière, garniture frites
Tarte fines aux pommes – with coffee or tea

*Please inform us in advance if you have any food restrictions or allergies.

To register, please send the full name, company name and company title of all your attendees to info@blccj.or.jp and we will send a confirmation email.
Deadline for registration is Thursday 1 February 17:00, or when seats are full.
We kindly ask you to arrange payment by Thursday 1 February by bank transfer. We will send the bank details in the confirmation email.
Any cancelations after 1 February or no-shows will be charged in full.

We look forward to seeing you again in the new year!

Japan s Path Forward: Economical and Political Outlook 2024
2024-02-08 18:00 - 20:00 | L Espace @ CCIFJ, Nihonbashi Honcho YS Bldg. 1F, 2-2-2 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0023, Japan
As Japan stands at a crucial juncture of economic and political transformation, we have invited 2 well-renowned speakers to share light on the intricacies of Japan’s evolving landscape for 2024.
BLCCJ, together with the CCIFJ, DCCJ, SCCJ and SpCCJ, invites you to an insightful evening of knowledge sharing, discussion and networking.

Our keynote speakers, Mr. Jakob Edberg, President & CEO, GR Japan and Mr. Philippe Avril, Senior Executive Officer, International Bankers Association of Japan (IBA) will be sharing the stage on this evening. (profiles in attachment)

JAPAN ECONOMICS
What are the potential economic impacts of a declining workforce participation rate coupled with anticipated shifts in monetary policy for the year 2024?
How does Japan’s status as a trade-dependent economy affect its relationships with key partners and its role in international trade agreements, particularly in navigating trade relations with major economies like the U.S., China, and the EU, and how does participation in regional trade agreements impact its economic performance?

JAPAN POLITICS
What could be the consequences of the recent financial misconduct allegations, considering the sharp decline in the approval ratings of Kishida’s administration?
What are the key features of Japan’s 2024 political landscape, including parliamentary elections, defense and economic policy debates, climate change actions, and diplomatic engagements in the G7 and with global partners?

Our prominent keynote speakers will elaborate on these questions and give us some hints of what to expect of 2024.
After the presentations we invite you for networking where refreshments and light food will be served.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday 8 February 2024
Time: 18:00-20:00 (doors open at 17:30)
Venue: L’espace @ CCIFJ
Nihonbashi Honcho Ys Bldg. 1F, 2-2-2 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0023
Admission fee: JPY 3,000 members / JPY 5,000 non-members (this includes drinks and light food)

To register, please send your full name, company name and title to info@blccj.or.jp. We will send a confirmation email.

We prefer payment in advance by bank transfer but we can accept cash payment on the spot. We will send the bank details in the confirmation email.
We do not provide an invoice, but will prepare a receipt – to be handed over at the event.

Deadline for registration is Friday 2 February, 17:00 or when seats are full.
Any cancelation after 2 February or no-shows will be charged in full.

We look forward to seeing many of you there!

8th Inter-Chamber Winter Networking
2024-02-17 | Okushiga Kogen, Nagano, Okushiga Kogen, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano-ken, 381-0405, Japan
8th Inter-Chamber Ski and Snowboard Weekend, 17 February 2024, Okushiga Kogen, Nagano
Open for registration
All winter sports enthusiasts – welcome to our winter networking event for 2024!
In the 2024 edition we will continue the epic journey that is the Inter-Chamber Ski and Snowboard Weekend in Okushiga Kogen, Nagano.
Open to everyone – whether Chamber member or not! Family, friends, business contacts, children and adults, skier, snowboarders, winter afficionados – this event is for you!
Jointly organized and promoted by the chambers from Austria, Belgium-Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, South Africa and France, this event promises a very diverse crowd! Usually, half of the participants are from Japan, the other half from abroad, with a great mix of young and more senior members. The “race” is a friendly competition, easy-set giant slalom, open to the experienced or skilled, but ready for everyone. We also always have a group for snowboarders!

Timetable for the event

17 February 2024, Saturday
Morning: race, afternoon: free skiing, ski school, or other winter activities
Evening, from 6 pm to 9 pm: award ceremony and networking party
With around 100 participants including race participants, their families and friends and business contacts
18 February 2024, Sunday
free skiing

Note
Participation in the race or the evening party is NOT mandatory, you are also welcome to just attend the race OR just the evening party.

All details, the registration and online payment forms are available at the event website:
https://www.abc-jpn.net/event/8th-inter-chamber-ski-and-snowboard-weekend

Accommodation
Registration to the event does NOT include accommodation.
Please arrange according to your needs.
For early birds who sign-up until end of December 2023 – check out the option “Okushiga Kogen Hotel” at the event website.

Feel free to share this information with all your contacts – family, friends, business partners, etc. The more, the merrier!

We also invite companies to become sponsors for this event!
We are looking for max. 2 main event sponsors and sponsors for raffle prizes – we need your support!

For details, please contact organizers Arnold Ackerer or Mami Iwasaki at the Austrian Business Council (not BLCCJ): tokyo@advantageaustria.org 03-3403-1777

February beer gathering
2024-02-19 19:00 - 23:00 | L Abreuvoir, Daiaparesu Masago 102, 4-5-9 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
We are happy to inform you of our February beer gathering, coming up on Monday 19 February.
As usual our friends of the Japan-Belgium Society will be joining us.
This time we are going back to L’ABREUVOIR トラフ, the bar run by Belgian and newest BLCCJ member Greg Van Passel.
The bar can accommodate up to 35 people, so it will be reserved just for us.
There is a nice selection of Belgian beers, and the bar will prepare a few food options for us.

The exact address is as follows:
L’abreuvoir トラフ
Daiaparesu Masago 102, 4-5-9 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033
It is a short walk from Hongo-sanchome station (Marunouchi line and Toei Oedo line).

You can find us there from 19:00 onwards (last order is at 23:00, the bar closes at 23:30).
As always the event is open to everybody, but for BLCCJ members the first beer is free of charge.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Towards Gender Equality and Women Empowerment: Insights from the GEAC 2023 Report
2024-02-21 18:45 - 20:30 | L Espace @ CCIFJ, Nihonbashi Honcho YS Bldg. 1F, 2-2-2 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0023, Japan
The Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) released its Recommendations in December 2023 during the G7 Hiroshima Summit Follow-up at the United Nations University Headquarters. The report outlines concrete measures for gender mainstreaming in ‘economic empowerment,’ ‘education,’ ‘peace-building,’ and ‘data,’ sharing best practices and actionable solutions.
During this seminar, we will explore key insights, focusing on the recommendations to address gender gaps in these areas. Our objective is to be updated on the latest frameworks and recommendations, fostering women’s leadership and engagement.

<Time schedule>
18:30 Doors open
18:45 Presentation ＋ Q&A
19:30 Networking
20:30 End of the event

Speaker will be Ms. Samia JAMAI, FAJ Association – Faciliter l’Ambition des Femmes au Japon
Samia, a diversity and inclusion consultant with extensive experience in marketing strategy and employee experience, is a passionate advocate for gender equality and women empowerment. Her Ph.D. research explores the influence of sustainable development initiatives on women’s career advancement, aiming to provide guidance on promoting gender equality, shifting mentalities, and supporting women’s career development.
In Tokyo, Samia founded ‘Sawa,’ a circle that serves as a bridge between academia and corporate best practices to prepare youth for gender equality in both life and work. Recognizing the significance of building a robust network and giving back, Samia took on a leadership role with FAJ association.

This event is jointly organized by ABC, ACCJ, AHK, BLCCJ, CCIFJ, ICCJ, NCCJ and SpCCJ.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Wednesday 21 February 2024
Time: 18:45-20:30 (doors open at 18:30)
Venue: L’espace @ CCIFJ
Nihonbashi Honcho Ys Bldg. 1F, 2-2-2 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0023
Admission fee: JPY 4,500 members / JPY 8,500 non-members (this includes drinks and light food)

To register, please send your full name, company name and title to info@blccj.or.jp. We will send a confirmation email.
We prefer payment in advance by bank transfer but can accept cash payment on the spot. We will send the bank details in the confirmation email.
We do not provide an invoice, but will prepare a receipt – to be handed over at the event.
Deadline for registration is Friday 16 February, 17:00 or when seats are full.
Any cancelation after 16 February or no-shows will be charged in full.

We look forward to seeing many of you there!

Meet the new BLCCJ Members
2024-02-28 18:30 - 19:30 | Online
We are happy to invite you to a next edition of our online event:
“Meet the BLCCJ Members”

This time we will hear from 3 new members: corporate member Azelis Japan, represented by Hirotaka Kawano; corporate member Scania Japan, represented by Alain Soudan; and individual member Daniel Kwintner (Supa Ninki LLC.).
They will not only present you their company, but also share a bit about their personal story.
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
Wednesday 28 February
18:30-19:30 Japan time / 10:30-11:30 Belgian-Luxembourg time
Free of charge
Presentations will be in English
Members-only
If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before 28 February 12:00 JST, 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 many of you at this online meet-and-greet!

Smart Manufacturing Summit in Aichi
2024-03-13 10:00 - 2024-03-15 16:00 | Aichi Sky Expo, 5-10-1 Centrair, Tokoname, Aichi, 479-0881, Japan
The first edition of the Smart Manufacturing Summit (SMS) is coming up soon, from 13 till 15 March, at Aichi Sky Expo.
BLCCJ is an official partner of this new event devoted to Japanese & European innovations for Industry 5.0.
The SMS event will enable you to expand your network by meeting the key players in the European and Japanese manufacturing industry.
Exhibitors, startups, c-level speakers for panel discussions and keynote speeches, demonstrations and factory tours…they will all be part of this innovative event.

For more detailed information, check out the dedicated website and the attached newsletters.

If you are interested to become an exhibitor, you can find all details and the application form here.
Startups can join the Innovation Showcase.
(please inform the BLCCJ office if your company becomes an exhibitor)
If you are interested to visit the event, please register here.

As BLCCJ we are happy to inform that the SMS will have a Belgian presence.
-3 Walloon organizations (2 SME and 1 research center) will be represented in the AWEX booth (as part of the larger EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation booth):

IONICS, surface technologies
Materia Nova, R&D center
PEPITe, advanced analytics

-Furthermore a spotlight will be put on Belgium during the panel session on Industrial cooperation between EU members and Japan, on 14 March at the Business Summit.

We hope many of you will take part in this new event!

March beer gathering
2024-03-18 19:00 - 23:00 | BBC Antwerp Port, Akasaka Intercity AIR Bldg. 1F, 1-8-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0052, Japan
We are happy to inform you of our March beer gathering, coming up on Monday 18 March.
As usual our friends of the Japan-Belgium Society (JBS) will be joining us.

We will be going back to Belgian Brasserie Court ANTWERP PORT.
The exact address is as follows:
Belgian Brasserie Court Antwerp Port
Akasaka Intercity AIR Bldg. 1F
1-8-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052
Telephone: 03-5570-5557
Access map and other information:
https://www.intercity-air.com/
https://www.intercity-air.com/shoplist/shop/15
Closest station are Tameike-sanno (Ginza and Namboku lines, exit 14) and Kokkaigijido-mae (Chiyoda and Marunouchi lines, exit 14). Also 10-minutes walking distance from Kamiyacho, Roppongi-itchome and Toranomon stations.

You can find us there from 19:00 onwards (last order will be at 22:30).
As always the event is open to everybody, but for BLCCJ members the first beer is free of charge.

We look forward to seeing many of you there!

Generative A.I. Demystified: A Business-Focused Webinar by BLCCJ
2024-03-25 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
With a strong emphasis on a business-oriented approach, the BLCCJ is organizing two webinars on the latest A.I. technology: generative A.I., and its specific application, ChatGPT.
We’re kicking off with a webinar on the hot topic of Generative A.I., presented by Michel Herquet, founding partner of B12 Consulting, the Belgian company at the forefront of A.I.

Since the recent revolution in generative AI over the past few months, companies have a multitude of opportunities at their grasp to significantly evolve their productivity, business and innovation like never before. With its potential to revolutionize operations, the impact of this technology goes far beyond the bounds of science fiction.
Should we be excited about recent advancements or should we be concerned? What are the implications for the global and local economy? How to embark on the AI journey to enhance the performance of my business?

Join us for an insightful discussion led by Michel Herquet, co-Founder and Managing Partner of one of Belgium’s most innovative companies in this field. Learn about the practical business implications of generative AI and how it is shaping our business landscape.

Open to anyone interested in the potential of A.I. in business.

B12 Consulting, one of Belgium’s foremost companies in AI, transforms businesses by driving organizational performance, growth and competitiveness through customized technological solutions. Drawing upon a wealth of expertise spanning software development, data science, artificial intelligence and innovation, B12 Consulting consistently delivers transformative and impactful results for its clients.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Monday 25 March 2024
Time: 17:00-18:00 JST / 9:00-10:00 CET
Online (Zoom Webinar)
In English
Free of charge for members / JPY 2,000 for non-members (will be waived if you sign up as a member)
To register, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before Friday 22 March 18:00 JST. We will send you a confirmation email.
Payments by bank transfer have to be confirmed by 22 March 18:00 JST. We will send the payment details in the confirmation email.
This webinar will be conducted via Zoom Webinar.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive the Zoom invitation link, meeting ID and passcode on the day itself.

We look forward to seeing many of you at this exciting webinar!

BeLux Business Talk with the European Business Council (EBC)
2024-04-10 12:00 - 14:00 | Le Rire, Sendagaya, Monparte Kitasando Bldg. B1, 4-19-12 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-0051, Japan
BLCCJ is a founding and long-time member of the European Business Council (EBC).
But what is the EBC? What do they do?
How can the European lobby from EBC help Belgian and Luxembourg companies expand in Japan?
How can the 22 sectoral and transverse EBC committees help European, Belgian and Luxembourg companies solve problems related to Japanese regulations?

To get an answer on all these questions and more, please join us for a lively discussion over lunch.
We are delighted to invite as speakers new EBC Chairman Laurent Depus (Belgian and former BLCCJ Vice President) and EBC Executive Director & COO Valerie Moschetti.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Wednesday 10 April 2024
Time: 12:00-14:00 (doors open at 11:45)
Venue: Le Rire, Sendagaya
Language: English
Members-only
Menu: a light fish lunch, incl. salad or soup, rice or bread, coffee or tea
Fee: JPY 3,000 (incl. lunch)

To register, please send your full name, company name and title to info@blccj.or.jp. We will send a confirmation email.
We prefer payment in advance by bank transfer but can accept cash payment on the spot. We will send the bank details in the confirmation email.
We do not provide an invoice, but will prepare a receipt – to be handed over at the event.
Deadline for registration is Thursday 4 April, 17:00 or when seats are full (max. 30 people).
Any cancelation after 4 April or no-shows will be charged in full.

We look forward to seeing many of you there!

April beer gathering
2024-04-12 19:00 - 22:00 | BBW Toyosu, 6-4-26 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-0061, Japan
On 5 April Belgian Beer Weekend 2024 will kick off in Toyosu!
CITABRIA BAYPARK
4.5 (Fri.) – 4.7 (Sun.)
4.12 (Fri.) – 4.14 (Sun.)
weekdays 16:00 – 22:00
Saturday 11:00 – 21:00
Sunday 11:00 – 20:00
https://belgianbeerweekend.jp/en/toyosu

The BLCCJ will hold its April beer gathering at BBW Toyosu on Friday 12 April from 19:00 (exact location on the attached map).
If you plan to join us, please email “I plan to join” to info@blccj.or.jp so we can have an idea of the number of people to expect.
Our friends of the BLCCJ Starters, the Japan-Belgium Society (JBS) and the Belgium-Luxembourg Market Council (BLMC) will be joining us!
You will need to purchase a BBW 2024 Starter Set (BBW 2024 glass and tokens).
To minimize the wait time at the ticket counters, we advise that you buy your Starter Set in advance online.
All BLCCJ members will receive 2 tokens for free – please ask BLCCJ office’s Sophie or Akiko at the venue.

Come join us for a great selection of Belgian beers and food with a wonderful view on Tokyo Bay!

Japanese webinar on the BeLux pavilions at Expo 2025 Osaka
2024-04-16 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
We are happy to invite you to a webinar in Japanese about the Belgian and Luxembourg pavilions at the upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka.
As a BeLux Chamber we are proud that both countries will have their own pavilion, and we invite you to hear directly from the people behind the scenes how preparations are going, what you can expect from both pavilions, and how your company could get involved.
As speakers we will welcome:
-(ADDITIONAL SPEAKER) Mr. Manatsu Ichinoki, Deputy Secretary General (Executive Board Member), Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
-Ms. Ayae Hoshi, Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office Tokyo
-Mr. Hänsel Van Boxstael and Mr. Arnaud Biot, BelExpo
The presentations will be followed by a Q&A.

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Tuesday 16 April
Time: 17:00-18:00 Japan time / 10:00-11:00 BeLux time
Format: online (Zoom)
Language: Japanese
Free-of-charge
Members-only (also open to guests from the BeLux embassies, trade offices and BLMC)
To register, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Tuesday 16 April 12:00 JST. We will send you a confirmation email.
This webinar will be conducted via Zoom Webinar.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive the Zoom invitation link, meeting ID and passcode on the day itself.

We look forward to welcoming many of you at this Japanese webinar!

ChatGPT for enterprises: How should companies best leverage this powerful tool?
2024-04-17 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
With a strong emphasis on a business-oriented approach, the BLCCJ is organizing 2 webinars on the latest A.I. technology: generative A.I. and its specific application, ChatGPT.
After a first webinar on Generative A.I., we now invite you for an insightful second webinar on the current state and future of Conversational A.I. in the corporate world, with a special focus on ChatGPT.
This session will provide a comprehensive overview of where corporations stand today in terms of adoption and policies, showcase concrete examples of how businesses are leveraging ChatGPT, and give you an overview of what the next 2-3 years hold for Conversational A.I. in the enterprise environment.

As a speaker we will welcome Stuart Pinchen, seasoned IT professional and project manager at Altera Consulting, a Tokyo-based consulting firm specialised in Digital Transformation (DX).

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Wednesday 17 April 2024
Time: 17:00-18:00 JST / 10:00-11:00 CET
Online (Zoom Webinar)
In English
Free-of-charge
Members-only

To register, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before 17 April 12:00 JST.
This webinar will be conducted via Zoom Webinar.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive the Zoom invitation link and passcode on the day itself.

We look forward to seeing many of you at this exciting webinar!

CLIC Networking Event: Tetra Pak
2024-04-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Steelcase showroom, Kowa Hiroo Bldg. 4F, 5-2-32 Minamiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-0047, Japan
The BLCCJ is happy to announce a next networking event in the “CLIC” series. CLIC stands for “Creative Linking of International Chambers” and is a loose organization of 12 smaller European Chambers of Commerce in Japan (Austrian, Belgian-Luxembourg, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Icelandic, Irish, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish and Swiss).

We are pleased to invite you to an inspiring evening of dialogue and connections on Wednesday 24 April, at the Steelcase showroom in Hiro-o, featuring our keynote speaker Alejandro Cabal, President of Tetra Pak Japan & Korea.
Tetra Pak is  a  world leading food processing and packaging solutions company. Working closely with customers and suppliers, the company provides safe, innovative and environmentally sound products that each day meet the needs of hundreds of millions of people in more than 160 countries. With more than 25,000 employees around the world, Tetra Pak believes in responsible industry leadership and a sustainable approach to business.
The promise, “PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD™,” reflects the vision to commit to making food safe and available, everywhere.

Following Mr. Cabal’s presentation, we encourage you to engage in meaningful conversations with industry peers during the networking session.
To complement the evening’s focus on environmental responsibility, the food served will be a selection of vegan delights.

This gathering is a great opportunity for those dedicated to sustainable practices and eager to establish new connections!

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Wednesday 24 April
Time: 19:00-21:00 (doors open at 18:30)
Venue: Steelcase WorkLife Tokyo showroom
Kowa Hiroo Bldg. 4F (same building as the McClaren showroom)
5-2-32 Minamiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0047
Closest subway station is Hiro-o on the Hibiya line, exit 3.
Fee: JPY 5,000 members / JPY 7,000 non-members (incl. vegan finger food and drinks)

To register, please send your full name, company name and title to info@blccj.or.jp and we will send a confirmation email.
Deadline for registration is Friday 19 April 17:00, or when slots are full.
We kindly ask you to arrange payment by 19 April 17:00 via bank transfer. We will send the bank details in the confirmation email.
(Any cancelations after 19 April or no-shows will be charged in full.)

We hope to welcome many guests from BLCCJ at the event!

Belgian shop @ BBW Yokohama
2024-05-16 16:00 - 2024-05-19 20:00 | Yamashita Park, Yokohama, 279 Yamashitacho, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 231-0023, Japan
Belgian Beer Weekend 2024 Yokohama is coming up soon!
BBW is the finest occasion to explore the Belgian beer culture. In 2024 the festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary in Japan!
It is a place to share great beer experiences and stories with friends, to make new friends, just hang around, grab a concert, enjoy crunchy Belgian fries, or really work on your Belgian beer mastery.
BBW will be setting up its tents in Yokohama 16-19 May with no less than 88 different Belgian beers.
Venue
Yamashita Park
Date
16 May (Thu) – 19 May (Sun)
Opening hours
Thursday 16:00 – 21:00
Friday & Saturday 11:00-21:00
Sunday 11:00 – 20:00
(last order 30min before closing time)
More information on the website:
https://belgianbeerweekend.jp/en/yokohama

Also this year the BLCCJ will be present with the “Belgian Marché”, our shop selling a wide variety of Belgian products:

Royco instant soups (Zero-Nana-Hachi Limited)
Jules Destrooper cookies (Americo)
Pipaillon jams (DeCima Japan)
chocolate cookies (Godiva Japan)
nuts mix (Grand Place Corporation)
Belgian beer goods (Konishi Brewing)
Tintin goods (Moulinsart Japan)
Manneken waffles (Rosen)
Belgian non-alcohol wine (Shonan Trading)
Trefin candy (Tomoe Corporation)
Vermeiren cookies (Yutaka Trading)

So come and visit us!
We will be at the end of the park, next to the Konishi beer shop.

The Belgian shop in Yokohama has the support of BLMC (Belgo-Luxembourg Market Council), ITIC (The Foundation for International Trade and Industrial Co-operation), the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Flanders Investment & Trade, hub.brussels, and the Walloon Export-Investment Agency.

What awaits Belgium and the Regions after the 2024 Elections? Analysis and Scenarios
2024-05-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
We are delighted to invite you to the next BLCC Collective in Asia webinar, this time about the upcoming Belgian elections. Join us for a comprehensive analysis with Belgian political expert Ivan De Vadder​, journalist at VRT NWS, who will outline for us possible scenarios on how, once again, we are going to piece out this Belgian, Regional and European puzzle after the 2024 Elections.
2024 is an important election year in Belgium. On June 9 we will elect the Belgian, Brussels, Flemish, Walloon and European parliamentarians, and on October 13 there will be municipal and provincial council elections. These elections are now subject to the “paradox of democracy”. According to this paradox, over the years, politicians have done everything they can to allow as many citizens as possible to participate: women were admitted in 1948, EU citizens and migrants are allowed to vote, and in 2023 the age limit has even been lowered to 16 years, although only for the European parliamentary elections.
Now that the group of citizens who have been the opportunity to vote has become as large as it possible could, the citizens themselves are threatening to drop out, even in an electoral system with mandatory vote.
Moreover, in Flanders, this compulsory attendance will disappear in October 2024 at the local elections. That may be the biggest political experiment in years. Do we know who will drop out? What will be the consequences of that political experiment? And aren’t elections the ultimate means for citizens to express themselves politically and adjust policy? Who no longer wants to seize that opportunity, and thus risks no longer having any influence on their political future
A webinar you do not want to miss!

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Monday 20 May 2024
Time: 18:00 – 19:00 Japan time / 11:00 – 12:00 BeLux time
Platform: Zoom Meeting
Free of charge, members only
If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Friday 17 May 17:00 JST, and we will confirm your registration.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a Zoom invitation link on the day of the event.

We look forward to seeing many of you at this inter-chamber webinar!
The event will be led by the Belgium Luxembourg Chamber in Singapore.

BLCCJ-CCIFJ-SCCIJ Golf Tournament 2024
2024-05-28 | Taco Country Club, 1315 Iizasa, Taco-cho, Katori-gun, Chiba-ken, 289-2231, Japan
The 18th edition of our Joint Golf Tournament with the French and Swiss Chambers of Commerce will take place on Tuesday 28 May at the Taco Country Club in Chiba.
Many of our members look forward to this annual event: a great opportunity to invite and meet friends, colleagues and business partners out on the greens, an exciting challenge for golfers of all levels of experience.

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Tuesday 28 May 2024
Time: from 8:00 to 17:00 (approx.)
Location: Taco Country Club
Address: 1315 Iizasa, Tako City, Katori District, Chiba 289-2231

We hereby want to express our gratitude to the event sponsors, including:

Tako CC
Shonan Trading
Godiva Japan
Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk
A. Global The New Otani Tokyo
Brussels-Nagoya-Languages
Moulinsart (Tintin Japan)
Decathlon Japan
Tagore Harbor Hostel

Starters event: Meet the Boss with Karine Colyn, HSBC
2024-05-29 18:30 - 20:30
Dear Starters and friends,

We hope you are doing well.
We are pleased to extend an invitation to you for our first Meet the Boss of 2024 with Karine COLYN, the Chief Operating Officer of HSBC Japan (and BLCCJ member).
This event will take place on Wednesday May 29th, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the HSBC offices in Nihonbashi.

During this exclusive session, she will share insights from her extensive experience and discuss her responsibilities as COO of HSBC Japan.
There will be ample opportunity for open discussion and exchange, allowing you to gain valuable insights and ask any questions you may have.

Kindly fill in the following form if you wish to participate: https://forms.gle/mGjCcZxaf6nweUGS9

Following the discussion, we invite you to join us for drinks and pizza, providing an informal setting for further networking and conversation.
Non-Starter members will be required to pay a participation fee of 3,000 JPY to cover the cost of drinks, pizza, and venue.

Please note that this event is on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to secure your spot early. More details will be provided upon registration, which closes on May 22nd.

We look forward to your participation in this enriching event.

Best regards,
Your Starter Directors,
Maxim Luxen,
Sandrine Monette,
Samuel Blondel

A.I., a threat or asset for cybersecurity?
2024-05-30 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
We are delighted to invite you to the next online event in the framework of the BLCC Collective in Asia, and a next one in our series on A.I.:
“A.I., a threat or asset for cybersecurity?”
We will welcome 3 esteemed speakers with abundant expertise in the field of cybersecurity:
1) Mr. Bernard R. Collin, Chief Executive Officer, Safecoms Thailand and Myanmar
2) Mr. Abbas Kudrati, Lead Chief Cybersecurity Advisor for the Security Solutions Area, Microsoft Asia
3) Mr. Mohamed Ourdane, Chief Security Officer, POST Luxembourg
(profiles attached)

Cybersecurity is more and more driven by artificial intelligence and machine learning technics, and has captivated the digital landscape with its ability to create realistic yet deceptive content.
During the presentations and Q&A panel several topics will be addressed:

How to gain better visibility: machine learning applied to detect smishing attacks and automate response?
Seeing is not believing: the intriguing world of deepfake technology.
Explore how AI technologies are being used to gather and analyze threat intelligence data, enabling organizations to proactively identify and respond to cyber threats.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday 30 May 2024
Time: 18:00-19:30 JST / 11:00-12:30 CET
Platform: Zoom Meeting
Free-of-charge, members-only
To register, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before 29 May 12:00 JST.
This webinar will be conducted via Zoom Meeting.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive the Zoom invitation link and passcode on the day itself.

This webinar is a collaboration of the BeLux Chambers in Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and Singapore, and will be hosted by the Chamber in Vietnam.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Delighting Customers in Japan XX : FULL
2024-06-03 18:30 - 21:00 | L Espace @ CCIFJ, Nihonbashi Honcho YS Bldg. 1F, 2-2-2 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0023, Japan
Our flagship seminar “Delighting Customers in Japan” is celebrating its 20th edition!
Known as one of the most challenging markets globally, navigating Japan’s business landscape requires innovative strategies and keen insights into customer preferences.
“Delighting Customers in Japan” has been bringing together numerous esteemed executives to share their experiences and strategies for success in this complex market.
To celebrate the 20th edition we will welcome the following 3 distinguished speakers (profiles in attachment):

Ms. Nathalie Oosterlinck, Managing Executive Officer, JERA Co. Inc. & CEO, JERA Nex Limited
Mr. Martin Steenks, CEO, DOMINO’S PIZZA JAPAN
Mr. Philipp von Witzendorff, President & CEO, PORSCHE JAPAN

The presentations will be followed by a Q&A and a networking cocktail.
This event will be open to other chambers of commerce too.
Don’t miss this chance to gain actionable strategies for success in Japan!

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Monday 3 June 2024
Time: 18:30-21:00 (doors open at 18:00)

registration from 18:00
presentations + Q&A 18:30 – 20:00
networking cocktail 20:00 – 21:00

Venue: L’espace @ CCIFJ
Nihonbashi Honcho Ys Bldg. 1F, 2-2-2 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0023
Fee: JPY 6,000 members / JPY 8,000 non-members
(this includes drinks and finger food)
Seats are limited to 80, first come first served.

To register, please send the full name, company name and title of all your attendees to info@blccj.or.jp and we will send a confirmation email.
Deadline for registration is Wednesday 29 May 17:00, or when seats are full.
We kindly ask you to arrange payment by 29 May by bank transfer. We will send the bank details in the confirmation email.
(Any cancelation after 29 May or no-shows will be charged in full.)

We hope to see many of you at the seminar!
