Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan

Annual Golf Tournament with French and Swiss Chambers - FULL!
2022-05-27 00:00 (Asia/Tokyo)
The BLCCJ is pleased to announce that its 16th Joint Chamber Golf Tournament with the French and Swiss Chambers of Commerce will take place on Friday 27 May at the prestigious Tomisato Golf Club in Chiba.This golf tournament is kindly supported by en world.

Many of our members look forward to this event for its relaxed and casual atmosphere: 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.

Date: Friday 27 May 2022
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 19,900 car users (includes registration & green fee, lunch, drinks after the tournament)
JPY 27,900 bus users * (includes all of the above plus the bus fee)
Maximum 80 players, first-come first-serve – FULL

A shuttle bus will be foreseen, so you can leave your car at home and enjoy a few drinks at the prize ceremony after the tournament.

A special thank you to the (member) companies sponsoring the golf tournament:

AB InBev Japan
Godiva Japan
Shonan Boeki
Rosen
FLOS Japan
Moulinsart Japan
Tagore Harbor Hostel

We look forward to welcoming many of you there!

Belgian shop @ BBW 2022 Yokohama
2022-05-19 00:00
Belgian Beer Weekend 2022 Yokohama is coming up very soon!
“Belgian Beer Weekend” is Japan’s finest beer event, returning to Yokohama after 3 years with 80 different Belgian beers. The event is not only about the best beer, but also about great cuisine and a superb atmosphere.

Venue
Yamashita Park

Date
19 May (Thu) – 22 May (Sun)

Opening hours
Opening day (19/05) 16:00 – 21:00
Friday till Sunday 11:00 – 21:00
(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 Marche”, our shop selling a wide variety of Belgian products.
These include Jules Destrooper cookies (Americo), Dandoy cookies (C’ Select), gobelin goods (Forma International), chocolate cookies (Godiva Japan), beer goods (Konishi Brewing), Kipling goods (L&S Corporation), Tintin goods (Moulinsart Japan), Materne compotes (Nichifutsu Boeki), Manneken waffles (Rosen), Belgian non-alcohol wine (Shonan Boeki) and Trefin candy (Tomoe Corporation).

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 ITIC (The Foundation for International Trade and Industrial Co-operation), the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs of Belgium and AWEX.

Early Summer Party
2022-05-10 00:00
The first months of 2022 have been challenging, but let us finally celebrate together and in-person the arrival of early summer and better times to come!
Join us on Tuesday 10 May 2022, 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.
Signup deadline is Friday 6 May.

We look forward to seeing you in person again!

Pfizer's Pandemic Breakthrough
2022-04-27 00:00
Dear members,
Herewith we would like to invite to our next high-caliber speaker event in the framework of the BeLuxEur Chambers in Asia, this time hosted by our colleagues of BeLuxCham Malaysia.

Keynote speaker will be Mr. Karel Van De Sompel, Country Manager and Managing Director of Pfizer Belgium and Luxembourg (Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals Group).

In this event, we will get to dive into the insights of Mr. Sompel and his team in dealing with vaccines demand like never before in the history of modern day medical and pharmaceutical industries across the globe. Come and join as we listen to the challenges, glory and experiences throughout the pandemic.

EVENT DETAILS:
Wednesday 27 April 2022
16:00-18:00 Japan time / 9:00-11:00 Belgian-Luxembourg time
In English
Free of charge
Members only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Wednesday 27 April noon JST, and we will confirm your registration.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a Zoom invitation link and passcode on the day of the event.

Looking forward to seeing many of you attending this high-caliber webinar!

The BLCCJ office

Update on trade between Belgium/Luxembourg and Japan - the impact of COVID-19
2022-04-13 00:00
Dear members and friends,
We gladly invite you to our first Japanese webinar.
“Update on trade between Belgium/Luxembourg and Japan – the impact of COVID-19”

During this webinar we will hear about trade between Belgium, Luxembourg and Japan and go deeper into the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Our speakers wil share with you the figures and issues so far, the impact of COVID-19, the expectations hereafter.
Godiva Japan, Inc. will share its experience with the EPA.
The presentations will be followed by a Q&A.

Speakers will be:
-On trade between Luxembourg and Japan:
Ms. Yuriko Matsuno, Executive Director, Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office (LTIO) Tokyo
-On trade between Belgium and Japan, the impact of COVID-19 and EPA outcomes:
Ms. Saki Kuroda, Deputy Head of Economic and Trade Section, Embassy of Belgium in Tokyo
-On the EPA in the food import (specifically confectionary):
Mr. Dirk De Ruyver, Japan Representative, Flanders Investment & Trade Office
Testimonial from:
Mr. Shinya Kushiyama, Supply Chain Operations Director, Godiva Japan, Inc.

EVENT DETAILS
Wednesday 13 April
17:30-18:30 Japan time / 10:30-11:30 Belgian-Luxembourg time
Zoom Webinar
Presentations and Q&A in Japanese only
Free of charge

If you are interested, please send your name, company name and title to info@blccj.or.jp by Wednesday 13 April noon.

Sincerely yours,

The BLCCJ office

Webinar with BNP Paribas Fortis - It's a new world
2022-04-12 00:00
At one of our first webinars 2 years ago, Mr. Koen De Leus, Chief Economist at BNP Paribas Fortis (Belgium), then presented us his economic outlook with the corona crisis just in its beginning phase.
On 12 April Mr. De Leus will return to share his insights on the global economy 2 years into the corona crisis and with the war going on in Ukraine.
Because of that war a new world has emerged / is emerging, we’re being catapulted back to the era before the 90’s, with big consequences for countries and companies alike. Of course this war and the rising inflation will have an impact as well on the economic forecasts.

Event details:
Tuesday 12 April
16:00-17:00 Japan time / 9:00-10:00 Belgian-Luxembourg time
Presentation and Q&A in English
Free of charge

If you are interested, please send your name, company and title to info@blccj.or.jp by Tuesday 12 April noon JST 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 passcode on the day itself.

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

Live visit to the Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
2022-03-28 00:00
© EXPO 2020 DUBAI

On 31 March, the Expo 2020 Dubai will come to an end after 6 months. One of the most talked about pavilions is certainly the Luxembourg Pavilion, not only for its stunning architecture which includes a slide, but also its unique scenography highlighting Luxembourg’s diversity, its sustainable goals and its enterprising spirit.
Due to the travel restrictions many of you might not have had the chance to visit, so the BLCCJ, together with the Luxembourg Embassy and Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office Tokyo, gladly invite you to a live tour!

During our online event Luxembourg Pavilion Director Daniel Sahr will give us a peak into the ongoings at the Expo and inside the Pavilion, while sharing some history, stories and answering your questions.

Afterwards Steven Koener, Senior Advisor International Affairs at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, will talk about the economic programming at the Expo, the missions, bilateral trade and promotion schemes that are involved.

By using the Zoom Meeting platform we hope to make this an interactive session allowing you to ask questions while visiting the Expo from behind your desk!

EVENT DETAILS
Monday 28 March
17:00-17:45 Japan time / 12:00-12:45 Dubai time / 10:00-10:45 Belgian-Luxembourg time
Presentations + Q&A in English
Free of charge
BLCCJ members and friends

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by 28 March noon JST and we will confirm your registration.
This event will be conducted via Zoom Meeting. If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a Zoom invitation link and passcode on the day itself.

We hope to welcome many of you at this exciting look behind the scenes!

The BLCCJ office

Expo 2020 Dubai - Organising an International Event during a Pandemic
2022-03-23 00:00
Dear members,
On 23 March, the BeLux Chambers in Asia Collective presents its next High Caliber Speaker web talk. This time featuring two speakers providing our guests insights in how one goes about postponing an enormous event like the Dubai Expo 2020!

The Directors of the Belgian & Luxembourg Pavilions Myriam Cops (BE) and Daniel Sahr (LUX) join us from Dubai as the Expo draws to a close, talking to our guests about questions such as:

how does one postpone such a massive event & keep morale high?
what is it like to organize national pavilions during a World Expo?
how did the cultural differences affect the organization?
as Myriam was involved in the previous World Expo in Shanghai as well, how was this World Expo different?
what learnings, tips & tricks can our speakers share with our guests from their experience?
what is next for our 2 speakers?

SPEAKERS:
Bio Myriam:
Myriam is an enthusiastic person who combines a creative mind with a pragmatic and professional attitude. She has extensive international experience, e.g. as Director of the Belgium Pavilion in Shanghai in 2010 and General Manager of BenCham in Shanghai.
Myriam has great management and event planning experience and in-depth knowledge of international business culture.
Bio Daniel:
As an International Business Developer, Advisor and Project Manager, Daniel worked for various industries on a local, regional or global scale.
He’s highly skilled in International Relations & Foreign Trade, Business Planning & Corporate Strategy, Marketing Management, Innovation and International Project Management, with a specific passion for World Expo’s. He understands how to build teams who are thriving to deliver the best visitor or customer experiences.

EVENT DETAILS:
Wednesday 23 March 2022
18:00-19:30 Japan time / 10:00-11:30 Belgian-Luxembourg time
In English
Free of charge
Members only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Wednesday 23 March noon JST, and we will confirm your registration.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a Zoom invitation link and passcode on the day of the event.

Looking forward to seeing many of you attending this inter-Asian Chambers webinar!

The BLCCJ office

Pictures and logo © EXPO 2020 DUBAI

Webinar with BIO: Investing in a sustainable future
2022-03-11 00:00
Dear BLCCJ Members,
We would like to invite you to join the webinar with the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries – BIO Invest with the topic “Investing in a sustainable future“. This webinar is co-organized by our colleagues of BeLuxCham Vietnam, but is open to BLCCJ members as well.

The mission of the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO) is to support a strong private sector in developing and emerging countries, to enable them to gain access to growth and sustainable development within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Speakers Mr. Gaëtan Herinckx & Ms. Marie Watelet (please find their cv below) from BIO will present BIO – Invest in general and more specifically the types of financing that they offer to companies in emerging markets.
Afterwards Mr. Michel Bertsch from Geuther Vietnam will share his experience when developing his business with BIO – Invest

Webinar details:

Date: Friday 11 March 2022
Time: 17:00-18:00 Japan time / 09:00-10:00 BeLux time
Venue: Zoom Meeting platform
Participating fee: Free of charge
Language: English
To sign up, please contact info@blccj.or.jp

Agenda:

Open and welcome – Mr. Bart Verheyen, President BeLuxCham Vietnam
Presenting BIO and the types of financing they offer to companies in emerging markets – Mr. Gaëtan Herinckx & Ms. Marie Watelet
Sharing experience – Mr. Michel Bertsch (Geuther Vietnam)
Q&A

We look forward to welcoming several BLCCJ members at this interactive webinar!

Asian BeLux Chambers Networking
2022-02-24 00:00
Dear members,
The BLCCJ – together with 14 other Asian BeLux Chambers of Commerce – has the pleasure to invite you to a next joint event.

This time join us for an online networking with professionals and entrepreneurs from the different Chambers, a great way to accelerate business contacts and exchange information. During the interaction the participants can share their professional backgrounds and business goals, as well as intent to seek exposure to new markets or expand their networks.

Participants will be matched into breakout rooms by industry/sector where they will meet with like-minded individuals working with(in) Asia.
There will be 8 breakout rooms:
– FINANCE
– TECH
– TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
– HR
– MANUFACTURING
– AGRONOMY
– HEALTHCARE
– TOURISM
(Kindly note that some breakout rooms might be canceled if not enough interest.)

Event details:
Date: Thursday 24 February 2022
Time: 18:00-19:15 Japan time / 10:00-11:15 BeLux time
Venue: Zoom Meeting platform
In English
Free of charge
Members-only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Monday 21 February, and we will confirm your registration. We need your full name, company name and title, as well as your 2 preferred breakout rooms.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a Zoom invitation link and password on the day of the event (Feb 24).

We hope to welcome many of you at the event!

6th Inter-Chamber Ski and Snowboard Networking Retreat
2022-02-12 00:00
Time to register!Skiing, snow, fun, race, family and friends – the 6th Inter-Chamber Ski Race and Networking Retreat, Lotte Arai resort, Niigata

Open for registration

The Inter-Chamber Ski Race 2022 brings together members of foreign business chambers in Japan, members of the Japanese business community, contacts from Niigata and friends of Alpine winter sports.
Supporting chambers include the chambers from Austria, Britain, Belgium-Luxembourg, Germany, Spain and Swiss.

The event location – the refurbished Lotte Arai Resort in Myoko, Niigata – is a popular destination in Japan, guaranteeing snow security even in warm winters.

The race in the morning of Feb. 12, is a two-runs, painless giant slalom catering to all levels of skiers. We also have a snowboard race, so feel free to apply as a snowboarder! And for those interested, join us in the evening of Feb. 11 in the sports bar for a laid back get-together (drinks only, pay as you order).
As the race finishes in the morning, the afternoon is at everyone’s disposal to do skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing or enjoying one of the many local hot spas (onsen). The evening award and networking party brings together some 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/

Registration for the event does NOT include accommodation.
Accommodation can be arranged freely by participants themselves, fitting their needs as families, groups of friends or single participants.
Currently the following hotels still take reservations:
Kaminomiya Onsen Kawaratei
APA Hotel Joetsu-Myoko Ekimae
Art Hotel Joetsu
Lotte Arai Resort in Myoko (for waiting list only, rooms are fully booked)

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

We are also inviting companies to become raffle sponsors of this event! Please contact the Austrian Chamber for any raffle prizes you have in mind.

For the main event sponsor we thank OSF Digital for their support for the 2022 version.

Online event: Meet the BLCCJ Members
2022-02-07 00:00
We are happy to invite you to a next edition of our:
“Meet the BLCCJ Members”

At this online meet-and-greet 3 new BLCCJ members will present themselves and their company: Julien Hora, Founder/CEO at Factorize; Pierre Masai, Senior Advisor to the President/Chief Global Strategy at Toyota Systems Corporation; and Adrien Caron, Business development and marketing strategist at RealCRO.
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:
Monday 7 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 7 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 passcode on the day itself.

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

New Year Party 2022 - CANCELED
2022-02-03 00:00
Due to the current corona situation and the restrictions that will likely be put in place, we unfortunately need to CANCEL this event.
Instead we aim to organize a spring party, we will share details in due time.

Let’s start 2022 in a festive manner – together with the new BLCCJ Board of Directors – at our annual New Year Party!
After a 1-year hiatus we are returning to Le Petit Tonneau Toranomon on Thursday 3 February 2022.

A tasty 3-course menu (waterzooi! vol-au-vent!), an open bar with Luxembourg wine and Belgian beers, and the good company of friends and business partners from the Belgian-Luxembourg community, all the ingredients for a fun night!

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

Seats are limited to 80, first come first serve.
Deadline is Monday 31 January (or when seats are full).

We look forward to seeing you again!

Webinar with Puratos - Sustainability in the chocolate world
2022-01-26 00:00
Dear members,

Our first webinar of 2022 is a joint effort with BLCCJ flagship member Puratos:
Sustainability in the chocolate world:
Cacao-Trace – An Impact Revolution Approach To Address Chocolate Chain Issues

Mr. Gricha Safarian, GM Puratos Vietnam, and Mr. Sylvestre Awono, Puratos Cacao-Trace Expert, will present on the following:

Impact Revolution – Stakeholder Capitalism
Brief history of the birth of Cacao-Trace
Cacao-Trace Impact and success stories

This will be followed by a talk about the Cacao-Trace program in Japan by Mr. Jean-Pierre Bernardino, President Puratos Japan and BLCCJ Board Member.
Afterwards all 3 speakers will gladly take your questions.
You can find all 3 bios in the attachment.

EVENT DETAILS
Wednesday 26 January
18:00-19:00 Japan time / 10:00-11:00 Belgian 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 26 January noon JST 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 passcode on the day itself.

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

The BLCCJ office

Annual General Meeting 2021
2021-12-15 00:00
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: Wednesday 15 December 2021 from 6:30PM to 8:00PM
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 necessary safety measures will be taken.

The agenda of the meeting will be as follows:
• Activity report 2021 YTD
• Closing of books 2021​​ YTD
• Activity proposals 2022
• Budget 2022
• Constitution revision​​​​​
• Election of Directors 2022-2023

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

As a BLCCJ member, you are eligible to become a Director. If you are interested in joining our active BLCCJ Board of Directors, please fill in the attached “Candidacy” form.

Deadline to send back all documents is Friday 10 December.

As usual, we foresee a dinner after the General Meeting. We have booked at Bistro Buzz in Akasaka (JPY 6,500 pp) from 8:15PM.
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
• Summary revised Constitution
• Revised Constitution

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

The BLCCJ office

BLCCJ beer gathering @ BBW Christmas
2021-12-09 00:00
Great news! The Belgian Beer Weekend (BBW) has added a Christmas event in Shinjuku, the very first indoor winter edition!!

Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Sankaku Hiroba

12.8 (Wed.) – 12.12 (Sun.)

weekdays 16:00 – 21:00
weekend 11:00 – 21:00

https://belgianbeerweekend.jp/en

The BLCCJ will be holding a beer gathering on Thursday 9 December from 18:00!
If you plan to join us, please send “I plan to join” to the BLCCJ office. 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 2021 Starter Set (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/shinjuku/tickets
You can also purchase tickets at Family Mart.

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

Come join us for this first indoor BBW Christmas edition with a great selection of Belgian beers and food!

Belgian shop @ BBW Christmas
2021-12-08 00:00
At Belgian Beer Weekend Christmas you will find a “Belgian shop” selling Christmas (and other) sweets of BLCCJ member companies Godiva Japan, Rosen (Manneken waffles) and Americo (Jules Destrooper cookies).

The shop will be run by the BLCCJ office staff, so please pass by when you visit the BBW event!

Next to the Belgian shop there will also be a beer shop run by BLCCJ member company Konishi Brewing.

Event details:
Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Sankaku Hiroba
12.8 (Wed.) – 12.12 (Sun.)
weekdays 16:00 – 21:00
weekend 11:00 – 21:00
https://belgianbeerweekend.jp/en

Besides the BBW Christmas shop, we also hope to see you all at our BBW Christmas beer gathering on Thursday 9 December from 18:00!

Come visit the BBW Christmas event for great Belgian beers and food, and now also tasty omiyage goods!

Belgian Beer and Food Academy in Osaka
2021-12-02 00:00
We are happy to announce that the Belgian Beer and Food Academy will be returning to Osaka after a 1-year hiatus!We will serve a unique combination of Belgian food and beers which you will not be able to taste anywhere else.
This event is a must for F&B professionals and lovers of Belgian beer and food, as well as a great occasion to invite business contacts and friends

Date: Thursday 2 December
Time: 18:30-21:30
Location: Hilton Osaka, Windows Sky banquet room 35F
Fee: JPY 13,500 members and guests / JPY 15,500 non-members

Application form in attachment.
Application deadline is Friday 26 November.

Come and join us for a great Belgian culinary evening!

BLCCJ beer gathering @ BBW Toyosu
2021-11-11 00:00
Great news! The Belgian Beer Weekend (BBW) will still take place in Tokyo in 2021!!A “Bayside Chill” edition will be held in Toyosu, Tokyo bay.

CITABRIA BAYPARK
11.2 (Tue.) – 11.7 (Sun.)
11.11 (Thu.) – 11.14 (Sun.)
weekdays 16:00 – 21:00
weekend, holidays 11:00 – 21:00
https://belgianbeerweekend.jp/en/toyosu/beers

The BLCCJ will be holding a beer gathering on Thursday 11 November from 18:00!
This will be the first live beer gathering in 2021.

If you plan to join us, please send “I plan to join” by email. 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 2021 Starter Set (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/toyosu/tickets
You can also purchase tickets at Family Mart.

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!

Gala 2021 "Ready To Take Off Again" - SOLD OUT
2021-11-05 00:00
Dear members and friends,

First of all, we hope very much you are all doing well.

For us, as a chamber of commerce, networking and social exchanges are at the core of our activities. Unfortunately with COVID-19 this social contact has become extremely limited.

Last year we succeeded in organizing a safe gala ball in COVID times and therefore, after careful consideration, the Board of the BLCCJ has decided to continue with the launch of the BLCCJ Gala Ball 2021, which is scheduled to take place on Friday 5 November, from 18:30, at the prestigious Conrad Tokyo hotel.

After another year of COVID-19 restrictions and not many places to go to, we feel more than ever that we are “Ready To Take Off Again”!

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 registration form.

Seats will be limited to 160, so sign up soon, first come first served. The application deadline is 27 October 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 19 October.

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

Please note that the event might be cancelled due to COVID-19. We are daily following up the COVID-19 situation and will inform you immediately if we deem it necessary to cancel. Thank you very much for your understanding.

The BLCCJ office

European Joint Chamber Cocktail 2021
2021-10-14 00:00
The next edition of the traditional European Joint Chamber Cocktail will be held this year on Thursday 14 October at Shangri-La Tokyo.

The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan is taking the lead in the organization, 7 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 business networking with fine food and free-flow wine.

*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 Thursday 14 October
Time 19:00 to 21:00 (registration starts at 18:30)
Venue Shangri-La Tokyo
Admission fee (to be paid by bank before 4 October)
JPY 9,000 BLCCJ Members
JPY 12,000 Non-members
Deadline for registration/cancellation Monday 4 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 15, 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 Monday 4 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: Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan

We look forward to finally meeting in person again!

The BLCCJ office

Webinar: Leveraging Green Towards a Profitable and Sustainable Business
2021-10-07 00:00
Dear members and friends,

The BLCCJ, together with the Luxembourg Embassy and Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office Tokyo, are honored to invite you to the following webinar with FinCity.Tokyo Chairman Hiroshi Nakaso and LuxFLAG Chairwoman Denise Voss:
Leveraging Green Towards a Profitable and Sustainable Business
Managing Assets with ESG in Japan and Luxembourg

As Japan’s Prime Minister announced ambitious targets of carbon neutrality by 2050 and a 46% reduction of the country’s carbon footprint by 2030, corporate Japan has stepped up its active stance in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters to catch up with their peers in Europe and the United States. Beyond the obvious reasons of social responsibility, companies across the world realize the positive financial outcomes of ESG investing: efforts in sustainability lead to actual business success and there is growing evidence that ESG-themed strategies boost returns.

But how can one invest profitably in Green and ESG-conscious companies?

After a welcome by H.E. Luxembourg Ambassador Pierre Ferring, our first speaker, Mr. Hiroshi NAKASO, Chairman of FinCity.Tokyo and formerly Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan, will present how Japan emphasizes asset management and the introduction of innovative strategies to make Tokyo a leading global financial city, and moreover how ESG fits in this picture.

Our second speaker Ms. Denise VOSS, Chairwoman of LuxFLAG, the Luxembourg Finance Labelling Agency, will share the agency’s definition of Green and ESG, the approach/criteria to label ESG funds, how this labeling contributes to the growth of Luxembourg companies, and how Green in general can be profitable for your business.

Afterwards the speakers will gladly take your questions.

EVENT DETAILS
Thursday 7 October
16:00-17:00 Japan time / 9:00-10:00 Belgian-Luxembourg time
Presentations + Q&A in English
Free of charge
BLCCJ members and friends

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by 7 October noon JST 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 passcode on the day itself.

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

The BLCCJ office

Meet the BLCCJ Members
2021-09-27 00:00
Dear members,

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

At this online meet-and-greet 4 members will present themselves and their company: newly arrived Johannes Münzer, Managing Director at Paul Wurth IHI Co., Ltd.; Francois Copus and Wim Eynatten, both working for Deloitte; and newest member Nobuaki Yoshimura, former JAL Belgium.

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:
Monday 27 September
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 27 September 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

Paralliance webinar: "Reflections on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics"
2021-09-17 00:00
On September 17, 2021 we invite you to a special lunchtime event in association with the Paralliance – a coalition of 20 international chambers of commerce in Japan.

The postponed Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games drew to a colourful close on Sunday, September 5, after nearly two weeks of competition among more than 4,400 of the world’s top athletes with impairments. The Games saw athletes compete in 539 events across 22 different sports, with an astonishing 69 World and 124 Paralympic records being broken. The 2020 Games also saw more female athletes take part than ever before.

On Friday September 17, the Paralliance is delighted to welcome New Zealand’s most decorated Paralympic athlete, Sophie Pascoe, to share with us about her journey as a Paralympic athlete swimmer and her experiences of Japan and the Tokyo 2020 Games. Sophie has won an extraordinary total of 19 medals – 11 golds, 7 silvers and 1 bronze – making her New Zealand’s most successful Paralympian to date. In addition to her stellar medal collection, Sophie has won New Zealand’s Sportsperson with an Impairment of the Year four times. She is also a mentee EY’s Women Athletes in Business Network programme, which won the British Business Award for Diversity & Inclusion in 2020.

International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons said in his closing speech on Sunday, “In 12 magical days, athletes gave the world confidence, happiness, and hope. Athletes broke records, athletes won hearts, athletes opened minds. Importantly, athletes changed lives.”

Join us on September 17, to hear from one of these very athletes who is an inspiration to so many, both in and outside of the pool.

Event details

Date: Friday 17 September 2021
Time: 12:30–13:30
Online Zoom event
Organizers: Joint Chamber Paralliance (led by the British, New Zealand and American Chambers)
Free-of-charge
Registration/Cancellation: send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before the deadline. We will confirm your registration. You will receive the Zoom link on the day itself.
Deadline: Friday 17 September 10:30 JST

(Kindly note that BCCJ is hosting this webinar, not BLCCJ.)

Meet Sophie Pascoe
Sophie Pascoe is New Zealand’s most successful Paralympian. Sophie appeared at her first Paralympics games in Beijing 2008 as a 15 year-old producing stunning performances in the pool, winning 3 gold and 1 silver medal. Over the past decade, Sophie has firmly cemented her place as a national treasure in New Zealand. Along with 19 Paralympic medals (including 11 gold), Sophie also holds 13 IPC world titles and multiple world records.
In 2018, Pascoe made further history when she was named flag-bearer and team captain at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Para athlete to lead the New Zealand team out at a major Games. A below-the-knee amputee following a lawnmower accident when she was 2 years old, Pascoe is a fierce competitor and is known for her work ethic in and out of the pool always bringing passion and humility to anything she does.
Sophie has strived to increase Paralympic awareness not only in New Zealand but globally and is intent on leaving a lasting legacy for others to aspire to as she has paved the way for equality for disabled athletes and females in sport.

About the Paralliance
This joint alliance of 20 international chambers of commerce in Japan – The Paralliance – was created in 2020, to support the success of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The Paralympics are a global celebration of diversity and inclusion, sporting achievement, and personal endeavour.
Mission
Support Japan’s delivery of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, fostering a legacy of more inclusive communities and embracing opportunities for international business and exchange.
Pledge
Participating Chambers of Commerce will collectively support the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Committee in its delivery of an outstanding and popular games.
This is an opportunity for all of us to recognise our mission and commit to our pledge –
Join the Paralliance’s third event on Friday, September 17!
Members of the Paralliance are:

American Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Australia/New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Austrian Business Council
Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan
British Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
CCI France Japon
Danish Chamber of Commerce and Industry Japan
German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Japan
Greek Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Icelandic Chamber of Commerce Japan
Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce
Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Norwegian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
South African Chamber of Commerce Japan
Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry Japan

Inter-Chamber webinar with CEO Solvay Dr. Ilham Kadri
2021-09-09 00:00
Dear members,
We hereby would like to invite to a next Inter-Asian BeLux Chamber Zoom Webinar on Thursday 9 September, this time hosted by our colleagues of BeLu Thai together with Solvay.

Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Ilham Kadri, CEO & President of the Executive Committee of Solvay.
You can find her resume in the attachment.

Dr. Ilham Kadri will address Solvay’s Business & Sustainable Development in Asia.

If you have specific questions for the speaker, please email them to admin@beluthai.org by Tuesday 7 September at 20:00 JST

EVENT DETAILS:
Thursday 9 September 2021
16:00-17:00 Japan time / 09:00-10:00 Belgian time
In English
Free of charge
Members only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Tuesday 7 September 18:00 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 (September 9).

Looking forward to seeing many of you attending this webinar (and more to be announced soon).

The BLCCJ office

Webinar with KPMG: An Approach to Transfer Pricing: Arising Concerns and the Impact of COVID-19
2021-09-06 00:00
Dear members,
Our next webinar is a joint effort with KPMG:
“An Approach to Transfer Pricing:
Arising Concerns and the Impact of COVID-19”

Our speaker, Ms. Mamiko Kimura, Manager at KPMG Tax Corporation, will be providing her insights on transfer pricing based on 15 years of experience in the field.
She will start the seminar by explaining the fundamentals of transfer pricing and familiarize with the concepts of the Arm’s Length Principle.
She will then introduce aspects unique to Japan (i.e. donation) and contemporaneous transfer pricing documentation that was last updated in 2019.
Finally, she will discuss recent topics in the field of transfer pricing, such as the concerns and impacts of COVID-19 on global businesses, along with ICAP (International Compliance Assurance Programme), a framework for multilateral risk assessment.

You can find the seminar agenda and speaker biography in attachment.

EVENT DETAILS
Monday 6 September
17:00-17:45 Japan time / 10:00-10:45 Belgian-Luxembourg 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 passcode on the day itself.

We hope to welcome many of you at this webinar!

The BLCCJ office

NEA 2021-2022 - POSTPONED to 2022
2021-08-31 00:00
This year the BLCCJ is organizing the 11th edition of the Nippon Export Award (NEA).
The NEA is an initiative of the BLCCJ to reward those SMEs or large companies that have made significant achievements in exporting to Japan, importing into Japan, or distributing within Japan, Belgian-Luxembourg products or services.

The winning company will receive an award, will be allowed to mention “Winner of the NEA 2021-2022” on all their documents, and will be granted use of the NEA logo.
The winner will also benefit from:
-The possibility to invite guests/business contacts to the Award ceremony
–Media attention: local media are invited to the Award ceremony and encouraged to write articles on the Nippon Export Award and its recipient
–Special feature coverage on the BLCCJ website and social media

If you are interested, please fill out the attached questionnaire, and send us a presentation of your company.
The application deadline is Tuesday 31 August 2021.

You can find more details in the attached outline, and on the website.
Note: for the purpose of this year’s NEA selection, any impact -positive or negative- caused by COVID-19, will be taken into consideration in the evaluation.

If you would know Belgian/Luxembourg or Japanese companies that are eligible for participation in the NEA competition, please do not hesitate to circulate the information to them. This competition is open to BLCCJ members and non-members.

May the best one win!

Webinar with Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever
2021-08-30 00:00
Dear members,
Herewith, we would like to invite to our upcoming Inter-Asian BeLux Chamber Zoom Webinar on Monday 30 August, this time hosted by our colleagues of BeLuxCham Malaysia.

Our keynote speaker will be Mr. Bart De Wever, Mayor of Antwerp, the second largest port in Europe and leading business city.
Mr. De Wever will address A story of Strategic Logistics, Pandemic Consequences and Resilience.

EVENT DETAILS:
Monday 30 August 2021
16:00-17:00 Japan time / 09:00-10:00 Belgian time
In English
Free of charge
Members only

If you are interested, please send an email to info@blccj.or.jp by Friday 27 August 17:00 JST, and we will confirm your registration.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a Zoom invitation link and passcode on the day of the event (August 30).

Looking forward to seeing many of you attending this webinar (and more to be announced soon).

The BLCCJ office

Paralliance webinar: "Tokyo 2020 Paralympics—One Day to Go! The Impact of the Tokyo Paralympics in 1964 and 2021"
2021-08-23 00:00
The Paralympics are coming to Tokyo! Join us for this special event co-hosted by the Paralliance – a coalition of 20 international Chambers of Commerce in Japan (incl. BLCCJ).
After a presentation and Q&A (18:30-19:30) this event will be followed by the chance to network in breakout networking rooms, led by a Paralympic athlete (19:30-20:00).

About this Event
The Paralympic Games often improve accessibility for people with an impairment in the country where the event is being hosted. The Games are also an excellent way to raise awareness, and this was particularly true in 1964, when problems faced by people with an impairment in Japan often went unseen. The 1964 Paralympics, supported very visibly by then-Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko, put a whole new level of capability and way of life on display – not only for the Japanese athletes and their families and friends, but for all of Japanese society.
In the 21st century, our definition of impairment has significantly broadened as Japan’s rapidly ageing society has led to a demographic shift. Leaders and citizens alike have come to realise that the needs and goals of individuals with a physical impairment often align with those of the elderly. Accordingly, they have started to leverage available knowledge, tools, and resources that will enable them to lead full and enjoyable lives.
On August 23 we will be joined by Dr. Mark Bookman, historian of disability in Japanese and global contexts at the University of Tokyo. He will use the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, which will take place August 24 – September 5, and the 1964 Paralympics as case studies to explain how activists and legislation have both failed and succeeded to point a way forward for people with an impairment, who, according to the United Nations, make up 15% of the world’s population. And if you believe there is a correlation between ageing and impairment, then that number is actually closer to 100% of those who make it into their golden years. Indeed, with old age on the horizon, the day may come when you also need improved access.

Event details:

Date: Monday 23 August 2021
Time: 18:30–19:30; optional networking 19:30–20:00
Speaker: Dr. Mark Bookman, historian of disability in Japanese and global contexts
Organizers: Joint Chamber Paralliance (led by the American Chamber)
Free-of-charge
This event will be hosted as a webinar using Webex Meetings
Registration/Cancellation: send an email to info@blccj.or.jp before the deadline. We will confirm your registration. You will receive the Webex link on the day itself (August 23).
Deadline: Monday 23 August @ 14:00

NOTE 1: This event is OFF THE RECORD.
NOTE 2: Please note that, as with all guest presentations, the content and comments of the speakers reflect their own opinions and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the hosting organizations.
NOTE 3: If you have trouble joining the meeting, please click the link below for instructions: https://help.webex.com/en-us/nrbgeodb/Join-a-Webex-Meeting
As staff availability will be limited during the meeting, we recommend that you try the video conferencing system in advance of the meeting. Please test out the system at this link: https://www.webex.com/test-meeting.html
(Kindly note that ACCJ is hosting this webinar, not BLCCJ.)

About the Speaker
Mark Bookman is a historian of disability in Japanese and global contexts based at the University of Tokyo. He holds PhD and master of arts degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor of arts from Villanova University. Bookman’s research has been supported by various grants and awards, including a Fulbright U.S. Student Fellowship to Japan and a Japan Foundation Doctoral Fellowship. His scholarship on disability inclusion can be found in Japan Focus: The Asia-Pacific Journal and other peer-reviewed journals, as well as public-facing media outlets such as The Japan Times and Japan Today.
Outside of the academy, Bookman also works as an accessibility consultant. He has collaborated with government agencies and corporate entities in Japan, the United States, and Canada—as well as the International Paralympic Committee and the United Nations—on projects related to inclusive education, equitable transportation, and disaster risk management for diverse populations with impairments.
For additional information about Mark Bookman, see his website:
www.bookmanresearch.com

Meet the Paralympians
Noel Thatcher MBE (Great Britain)
Noel is a six-time Paralympian 1984-2004, and five-time Gold Medallist.
He studied Japanese at SOAS achieving the JLPT level 1 in 2003. Prior to this he was third place prize winner at 1997 Sir Peter Parker Business Japanese Speech Contest.
Noel has delivered Japanese language and culture sessions in schools and to national sports organisations across the UK including ParalympicsGB, UK Sport, British Athletics and the English Institute of Sport.
He has worked in collaboration with the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation. the Japan Foundation London, the Japan Sports Council and the Embassy of Japan in the UK supporting sport and cultural exchange programmes.
In 2019 Noel was awarded the Japanese Government Foreign Minister’s Commendation for promoting Japan-UK relations through sport.
He is a frequent speaker on Parasport and Disability in both the UK and Japan, and is co-host of the Japan Sport Stories Podcast.

Andreas Onea (Austria)
Andreas Onea (born 9 July 1992), an Austrian Paralympic swimmer, represented Austria at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London and at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. At Rio 2016, he won the bronze medal in the men’s 100 meter breaststroke SB8 event and is highly expected to perform well at Tokyo 2020.
In 1998, when he was almost 6 years old, Andreas lost his left arm in a serious car accident that could have been fatal. After this accident, he started swimming as a therapeutic sport. He continued the training step by step and developed an athletic performance fit for international competitive sporting events like the Paralympics.
Through his swimming Andreas shows that a disability does not have to be a reason for a reduced quality of life and neither a reason to give up on your goals and dreams. Andreas Onea today is an internationally requested motivational speaker, as well as a TV host (ORF, Austria’s leading broadcaster)
TV credits include:
Ohne Grenzen – Das Behindertensportmagazin“(Disabled Sports Magazine)
ORF Sport+ (“Without Limits” – TV-Show about disability sports)
Licht ins Dunkel Aktionstag“ and „Licht ins Dunkel Weihnachtsabend“ – (biggest TV charity show in Austria)
Follow Andreas:
Web: http://www.andreasonea.at/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreasOnea
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndreasOnea
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/andreasonea
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreasonea/

About the Paralliance
This joint alliance of 20 international chambers of commerce in Japan – “The Paralliance” – was created in 2020, to support the success of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The Paralympics are a global celebration of diversity and inclusion, sporting achievement, and personal endeavour.
Mission
Support Japan’s delivery of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, fostering a legacy of more inclusive communities and embracing opportunities for international business and exchange.
Pledge
Participating Chambers of Commerce will collectively support the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Committee in its delivery of an outstanding and popular games.
This is an opportunity for all of us to recognise our mission and commit to our pledge – Join the Paralliance’s second event on the evening of Monday 23 August!
Members of the Paralliance are:

American Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Australia/New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Austrian Business Council
Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan
British Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
CCI France Japon
Danish Chamber of Commerce and Industry Japan
German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Japan
Greek Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Icelandic Chamber of Commerce Japan
Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce
Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Norwegian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
South African Chamber of Commerce Japan
Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry Japan

Meet the BLCCJ Members
2021-07-29 00:00
Dear members,
We are happy to invite you to the next:
“Meet the BLCCJ Members”

At this online meet-and-greet 4 members will present themselves and their company: Samuel Blondel – IKEA Japan, Veronique Dezonne – B.N.L. Brussels-Nagoya-Languages, Atsuya Hanazawa – Umicore Japan, and Kazuma Kato – Keiwa Sogo Law Offices.

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:
Thursday 29 July
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 29 July 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
