Newsletter 20 October
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With the cooler temperatures, fall has finally arrived – and so has another busy event season!
Expo Osaka
On Monday 13 October, the 6-month Expo 2025 Osaka closed its doors. More than 25 million people visited the Expo, including many BLCCJ members.
Besides enabling numerous fast-track entrances to the Belgian and Luxembourg pavilions, the BLCCJ organized 3 events on site:
- a visit to the Belgian and Luxembourg pavilions with the Japan-Belgium Society on 20 May
- a joint Chamber visit with the Austrian, French, Netherlands and Swiss Chambers on 2 September
- a BLCCJ Expo visit with stops at the French, Luxembourg, EU and Belgian pavilions on 10 October
We thank not only our members for their enthusiasm and participation, but also the Belgian and Luxembourg Embassies, and above all the teams of the Belgian and Luxembourg pavilions for their wonderful cooperation during those 6 months and beyond!
->In the final days the Luxembourg and Belgian pavilions were awarded by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE):
- Luxembourg received the “Sustainability Award” in the category of self-built pavilions with a surface area under 1,500 m²
- Belgium received a bronze award in the category “Theme Interpretation – Self-built pavilions – Type A (larger than 1,500m2)”
Congratulations to both! Next up is Expo 2030 Riyadh!
Upcoming BLCCJ Events
-Joint Chamber European Cocktail 2025
Date: Thursday 23 October, 19:00-21:00
Location: The Capitol Hotel Tokyu
Date: Saturday 25 October, 9:00-12:00
Location: start/end at the Embassy of Belgium in Tokyo, run around the Imperial Palace
-Second edition of the Women’s Discussion Circle
Date: Friday 31 October, 12:30-14:00
Location: Embassy of Belgium in Tokyo
-Making It in Japan: Career Tips and Success Stories!
This event is organized by the BLCCJ Starters
Date: Thursday 6 November, 19:00-20:30
Location: VILLENT Hamamatsucho
-Company visit to Paul Wurth IHI
Date: Friday 7 November, 14:00-16:00
Location: IHI Corporation
Date: Monday 10 November, from 19:00
Location: l’Abreuvoir
-BeLux Business Talk on Belgian Tax Measures
Date: Tuesday 18 November, 16:00-18:00
Location: Deloitte Tohmatsu office
Date: Friday 28 November, 18:30-23:00
Location: Conrad Tokyo, Kazanami
Fee: JPY 31,500 members / JPY 36,000 non-members
Only 15 seats left, book fast!!
- We are currently looking for raffle prizes – deadline is 13 November
- We are also looking for students to sell raffle tickets at the event – interested parties should send their resume to info@blccj.or.jp by 30 October
-Save-the-date! Belgian shop @ BBW Shinjuku
Date: 3-7 December
Location: Shinjuku Sumitomo Bldg. – Sankaku Hiroba
-Save-the-date! December beer gathering @ BBW Shinjuku
Date: 3 or 4 December (TBC), from 19:00
Location: Shinjuku Sumitomo Bldg. – Sankaku Hiroba
-Save-the-date! BLCCJ Annual General Meeting 2025
Date: Tuesday 16 December, 18:30-20:00
Location: Embassy of Belgium in Tokyo
- This year we will have an election of Board members – call for candidates will go out mid-November.
- After the AGM we foresee a networking dinner at Aux Bacchanales Kioicho.
->For all the event details, please check our mailings, website, LinkedIn and Facebook pages!
News from and for the BLCCJ members
-We are happy to welcome 2 new members into the BLCCJ network:
- Individual member Marc Van Autreve
- Starter member Wouter Lausberg
We hope to present them to you soon!
-The end of the year is approaching – time to think of the BLCCJ Christmas Basket!
Is your company doing a promotion for the holidays, a special seasonal sale?
Do you have products/services that you want to promote amongst the BLCCJ members with the holiday season coming up?
Please inform us (info@blccj.or.jp) of all the details by Thursday 20 November, and we will gladly include it in our Christmas Basket mailing.
News from related organizations
-A historic moment for Luxembourg!
On 3 October, H.R.H. the Crown Prince Guillaume ascended to the throne, following the abdication of H.R.H. the Grand Duke Henri.
BLCCJ would like to express its most heartfelt and respectful congratulations!
-A Belgian Fair is being held in Yokohama – discover the charms of Belgium through authentic Belgian cuisine
Date: from Saturday 18 October 2025 until Friday 9 January 2026
Location: All Day Dining Compass, Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers
-On 24 and 25 September, General Manager Sophie represented the BLCCJ at the annual BLCCA Academy in Belgium, organised by the Federation of Belgian Chambers, celebrating their 150th anniversary.
Sophie could meet with several related organizations and people.
You can find pictures of this trip on our LinkedIn and Facebook pages.
-The Japan Market Expansion Competition program (JMEC) has started its 32nd year. BLCCJ is 1 of 18 supporting Chambers of Commerce of the program.
Companies interested in a business plan can become “project clients” – deadline is 30 November.
–Tokyo Employment Consultation Center (TECC) webinar “Notice of Employment Conditions” is open for BLCCJ members
Date: Tuesday 21 October, 12:00-13:00
Location: online (Zoom)
Free of charge, but prior registration is required – deadline is TODAY
–MIPRO webinar “Invest into Japan Forum” is open to BLCCJ members
Date: Tuesday 11 November, 14:00-16:00
Location: online (Zoom)
Free of charge, but prior registration is required
In Japanese only
A few recent news headlines
- IMF raises 2025 global growth outlook, but warns of Trump’s tariffs (Mainichi Japan, 15 October)
- IEA cuts outlook for 5-year global growth in offshore wind power (Kyodo News, 19 October)
- Japan eyes hike in visa fees for international visitors (Kyodo News, 17 October)
- Japan tops 31 mil. visitors in Jan.-Sept., surpasses 30 mil. at record pace (Kyodo News, 16 October)
- Osaka expo wraps up 6-month run after drawing over 25 million visitors (Kyodo News, 13 October)
- Japan summers lengthened by 3 weeks over 42 years: researchers (Kyodo News, 11 October)
We hope to see you all at the upcoming BLCCJ events!