Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan

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 (Asia/Tokyo) | 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!

June beer gathering
2024-06-17 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 June beer gathering, coming up on Monday 17 June.
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!

Asian BeLux Chambers Online Networking
2024-06-19 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
The BLCCJ – together with 12 other Asian BeLux Chambers of Commerce – has the pleasure to invite you to a next event in the framework of our Asian BeLux network.
Join us for an online networking with professionals from the different Chambers, a unique opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and form new business relationships.

Event format:
– The event will be held on Zoom and will feature two breakout rooms, each focusing on a specific economic sector.
– Each breakout session will last 30 minutes, with attendees having the option to switch rooms afterwards.

The following 5 sectors will be featured:
– FINANCE
– A.I.
– TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
– HR
– MANUFACTURING

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Wednesday 19 June 2024
Time: 18:00-19:30 Japan time / 11:00-12:30 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 17 June 17:00, and we will confirm your registration. We need your full name, company name and title, as well as your preferred breakout rooms.
If your registration is accepted, you will receive an email with a Zoom invitation link and passcode on the day of the event (19 June).

This event is a fantastic chance for members of BeLux Chambers in Asia to connect and share insights.
We hope to welcome many of you!

BLMC presentations + networking
2024-06-25 19:00 - 21:00 | Embassy of Luxembourg in Tokyo, Luxembourg House 1F, 8-9 Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0081
Our sister organization BLMC (Belgo-Luxembourg Market Council) is holding its AGM on Tuesday 25 June at the Luxembourg Embassy.
After the meeting, Mr. Daniel Sahr, Pavilion Director of the Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, will give a presentation via Zoom.
This will be followed by a talk of Mr. David Goebbels, Chargé d’Affaires at the Luxembourg Embassy, about his experiences of living in Japan (in summer he will return to Luxembourg).
After the presentations the guests can enjoy a networking reception.

The AGM is open to BLMC members only, but BLCCJ members are kindly invited to join the presentations and the networking reception.
So take this opportunity to expand your network, and get to know the BLMC members!

Date: Tuesday 25 June 2024
Time: 19:00-21:00 (the BLMC AGM is scheduled from 18:30 till 19:00)
Location: Embassy of Luxembourg in Tokyo
Fee: free of charge
Format: in-person only
If you would like to join this event, please inform our office (info@blccj.or.jp) by Wednesday 19 June 17:00. We need your full name, company name and title.
We will send you a confirmation email.
BLCCJ seats are limited to 15, first-come first-served.

We hope to welcome several of you at this event!

Belgian Beer and Food Academy in Osaka
2024-06-27 18:30 - 21:30 | Windows 35F, Hilton Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Join us for the 10th anniversary of the Belgian Beer and Food Academy, returning to Osaka this year!
We are honored to welcome H.E. Mr. Antoine Evrard, Ambassador of Belgium to Japan, and H.E. Mr. Pieter De Crem, Belgian Commissioner General for Expo Osaka 2025.
Beer expert Jan De Bock will share his insights alongside a menu featuring Belgian products, crafted by the Hilton Osaka Chef and team.

Join this BLCCJ event in Osaka, and indulge in 4 courses paired with a selection of Belgian beers.

This exclusive fusion of Belgian food and beers is a must for F&B professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Don’t miss out – invite your business contacts and friends* for an unforgettable evening!
*We can arrange tables for you and your guests; 1 table seats 8 people.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday 27 June 2024
Time: 18:30-21:30

Registration and aperitif from 18:30 till 19:15
Presentations
4-course dinner from 20:00 till 21:30

Location: Hilton Osaka, Windows (35F)
Fee: JPY 16,800 members and their guests / JPY 18,800 non-members
You can find the menu** and beer selection in attachment.
**Please inform us in advance if you have any food restrictions.

To register, please send the full name, company name and function of all attendees to info@blccj.or.jp and we will send a confirmation email.
Deadline for registration is Thursday 20 June 17:00.
We kindly ask you to arrange payment by Thursday 20 June by bank transfer. We will send the bank details in the confirmation email.
(Cancelations after 20 June or no-shows will be charged in full.)

We look forward to welcoming you!

This event has the kind support of the Embassy of Belgium in Tokyo, Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT), Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) and hub.brussels.

Joint Chamber Summer Cocktail 2024 : FULL
2024-07-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Hilton Tokyo, 6-6-2 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
We are thrilled to announce the Joint Chamber Summer Cocktail 2024 on July 11th!
Hosted at Hilton Tokyo, this is one of the largest networking events of the year with 13 international chambers incl. BLCCJ and more than 200 guests. It is a perfect occasion to enhance your network, connect with industry leaders and professionals from various fields, in an ambience infused with the summer vibes of Ibiza.
Enjoy a variety of refreshments during the event, including Spanish wines and cava provided by the Spanish Chamber, and delightful authentic pinchos and tapas crafted by the culinary team of Hilton Tokyo. Guests will also enjoy a selection of beers and DIY craft gin cocktails at the Hilton Tokyo’s acclaimed ‘Beer Garden in the Sky‘ *. The evening is set in a vibrant open-air club atmosphere, with a live DJ echoing the sophisticated club culture of Ibiza.

Please note that space is limited, so secure your tickets quickly to avoid missing out on this beautiful opportunity to grow your professional network in a truly memorable setting!
(*In case of rain the event will be moved to the ZATTA Bar on the 2F, and the content might see some modifications.)

EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Thursday 11 July 2024
Time: 19:00-21:00 (doors open at 18:30)
Venue: Hilton Tokyo, Beer Garden 7F
6-6-2 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0023
Fee: JPY 8,000 BLCCJ members / JPY 12,000 non-members
BLCCJ spots are limited to 15, first come first served!
Due to limited spots, we limit to max. 2 persons per company.

To register, please send your full name, company name and position to info@blccj.or.jp We will confirm if you are on the guest list or on the waiting list.
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 Friday 28 June 12:00, or when seats are full.
Any cancelation after 28 June or no-shows will be charged in full.

PARTICIPATING CHAMBERS:

Austrian Business Council
Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan
British Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Danish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan
German Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Irish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan
Also supported by the European Business Council

July beer gathering
2024-07-16 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 July beer gathering, coming up on TUESDAY 16 July.
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!

Meet the BLCCJ Members
2024-08-07 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 the following 3 members: individual member Hideki Matsubara, President and Representative Director, FLOS Japan K.K.; individual member Abdel el Madrari, Head of Portfolio Management and Product Marketing, Daimler Truck Asia; and Starter member Guillaume Nicolas, Researcher and Master’s student in hydrogen transition systems at Kyoto University.
They will not only present you their company and activity in Japan, 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 7 August
18:30-19:30 Japan time / 11:30-12:30 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 7 August 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!

Nippon Export Award 2024-2025
2024-08-30 18:00
The BLCCJ is launching the 12th edition of its 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 Nippon Export Award 2024-2025” on their materials, 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 NEA and its recipient
–Special feature coverage on the BLCCJ website and social media
Previous winner in 2022 was software company AppTweak Japan (HQ in Brussels).

If you want to try your chance this year, please fill out the attached questionnaire, and send us a presentation of your company.
The application deadline is Friday 30 August 2024.
You can find more details in the attached outline and on the website.

If you know other 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!

After-summer beer gathering @ BBW Roppongi
2024-09-12 19:00 - 22:00 | BBW Roppongi, Roppongi Hills Arena, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-0032, Japan
From 12 till 16 September Belgian Beer Weekend 2024 will set up its tents in Roppongi!
ROPPONGI HILLS ARENA
9.12 (Thu.) – 9.16 (Mon.)
weekdays 16:00 – 22:00 (last order 21:30)
weekend 11:00 – 21:00 (last order 20:30)
last day 11:00 – 20:00 (last order 19:30)
https://belgianbeerweekend.jp/en/roppongi

The BLCCJ will hold an after-summer beer gathering at BBW Roppongi on Thursday 12 September (opening day), starting from 19:00.
As we have a dedicated and closed area for our beer gathering (see map attached), you will receive a wristband for access – please ask BLCCJ’s Mayo Motoki or Kevin Dethoor upon arrival at the venue.

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, expecting at least 40 people!

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.
If you already have a glass, you can just purchase tokens.
All BLCCJ members will receive 2 tokens for free – please ask BLCCJ’s Mayo Motoki or Kevin Dethoor at the venue.

Come join us for great Belgian beers, food and vibes in Roppongi!

Joint Chamber Young Professionals Speed Networking
2024-09-17 18:30 - 20:30 | L Espace @ CCIFJ, Nihonbashi Honcho YS Bldg. 1F, 2-2-2 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0023, Japan
Are you 35 or under and interested in expanding your network? Then join the BLCCJ and 8 other chambers of commerce for the second Joint Chamber Young Professionals Speed Networking!
Modeled after speed dating, the speed networking format allows young professionals to meet at least 5 people.
Spots are limited, so don’t wait to register!

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Tuesday 17 September 2024
Time: 18:30-20:30

18:30 – 18:45 Registration
18:45 – 18:55 Opening remarks
18:55 – 19:45 Speed networking event
19:45 – 20:20 Free networking session
20:20 – 20:30 Closing

Venue: L’espace @ CCIFJ
Nihonbashi Honcho Ys Bldg. 1F, 2-2-2 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0023
Admission fee (to be paid by bank transfer by 10 September):
JPY 3,500 BLCCJ members (incl. Starters)
JPY 6,900 non-members
(this includes light food and drinks)

BLCCJ spots are limited to 5, first come first served.
Priority will be given to members.
To register, please send your full name, company name and title to info@blccj.or.jp.
We will confirm if you are on the participants’ list or on the waiting list.
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 10 September, 17:00 or when seats are full.
Any cancelation after 10 September or no-shows will be charged in full.

PARTICIPATING CHAMBERS:

American Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan
British Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Japan
French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan
German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan
Greek Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in Japan

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Practical Use of AI in Marketing
2024-09-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Attention BLCCJ Members and Friends!
Discover how AI can transform your marketing efforts in our exclusive webinar on “The Practical Use of AI in Marketing.”
Key Takeaways:

AI Overview: Understand the impact of AI on marketing
Concrete Examples: Learn practical uses of AI in marketing campaigns for startups, big companies, and SMEs, including:

Manpower Solutions: How AI can compensate for lack of manpower
Language Barriers: Utilizing AI for overcoming language barriers
Localized Advertising: Strategies for localized advertising using AI

Tools & Techniques: Explore the latest cutting-edge AI tools
Q&A: Get expert insights and answers

Featured Speaker:

Sven Van Stichel: Associate Professor Marketing & Strategy at Globis University; COO/CMO at Globis Europe

Why Attend?

Practical Approach: Gain actionable insights with concrete, everyday examples that are easy to implement in your business
Latest Tools: Learn about the newest AI tools and technologies
Local Expertise: Hear from a speaker who understands the unique business challenges in Japan and in Europe

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday 24 September 2024
Time: 18:00-19:00 JST (11:00-12:00 CET)
Via Zoom
Free of charge for members / JPY 2,000 for non-members (will be waived if you sign up as a member)

How to Register:
Please contact info@blccj.or.jp before 24 September 12:00 JST, and we will confirm your registration.
You will receive the Zoom invitation link and passcode on the day itself.
Note: image, English text and Japanese translation have been created by AI!

Navigating Japan s Tech Future: Quantum Computing 101
2024-10-04 08:00 - 09:30 | Grand Hyatt Tokyo, 6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 106-0032, Japan
AI, IoT and big data are reshaping industries. But did you know that quantum computing, another cutting-edge technology, could outpace today’s fastest supercomputers by a staggering 100 million times? Join us to explore the world of quantum computing!
On the morning of October 4th, BLCCJ, BCCJ, CCCJ and SpCCJ members and guests will have the opportunity to dive into this groundbreaking technology with experts from Oxford Instruments and Oxford Quantum Circuits Japan, who will break down the basics and guide us through the latest developments in this cutting-edge technology. As quantum computing begins to influence key industries in Japan, poised to revolutionise industries such as healthcare, finance, and materials science, understanding its potential is crucial for staying ahead in a competitive landscape.
Speakers will cover Quantum Computing 101 – Japan’s quantum computing landscape, fundamental concepts, potential applications, and the initiatives being undertaken by both the government and private sectors in this field. Join us to hear from leading voices in this emerging sector and gain a clear understanding of quantum computing’s role in shaping Japan’s technological future, and explore how these advancements might impact your industry and business going forward.
This event is led by the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ).

SPEAKERS
Professor Todd Tilma | Senior Quantum Engineer, Oxford Quantum Circuits Japan
Todd is a former associate professor of physics at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. He earned his doctorate in mathematical physics from the University of Texas in Austin focusing on group theory and its applications to fundamental questions in quantum mechanics. He has lived in Japan off and on since 1995.
Tony Ford | Fellow, Oxford Instruments Japan
Tony Ford, Fellow, Oxford Instruments Japan. Tony graduated in Mathematics and has worked for Oxford Instruments for most of his career. He organises the Millennium Science Forum which awards the “Sir Martin Wood Prize” to rising stars in the Japanese science community. Winners of the prize give lectures to their counterparts in UK research groups which enhances scientific collaborations between Japan and the UK.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Friday 4 October
Time: 8:00-9:30
Location: Grand Hyatt Tokyo, Residence Anise
Fee: JPY 7,000 members / JPY 9,000 non-members
This fee includes breakfast.
To register, please send your full name, company name and title to info@blccj.or.jp. Also inform us of food restrictions/allergies if any.
We will send a confirmation email.
Deadline for registration is Friday 27 September 17:00.
We kindly ask you to arrange payment by 27 September by bank transfer. We will send the bank details in the confirmation email.
(Any cancelation after 27 September or no-show will be charged in full.)

We look forward to welcoming you at this exciting breakfast event!
