Newsletter 27 January
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We hope that the year of the horse took a galloping start for you all!
BLCCJ Board of Directors 2026-2027
After the AGM on 16 December 2025, we presented you the 13 BLCCJ Directors for 2026-2027.
They have now amongst themselves elected a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer and a Secretary General:
- Fabrice Tilot (Triple-A Management Co., Ltd.) – BLCCJ President
- Frederic Lucron (Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk) – BLCCJ Vice President
- Guillaume Nicolas (Kyoto University) – BLCCJ Treasurer
- Kazuma Kato (Kamiyacho International Law Office) – BLCCJ Secretary-General
- Jo Anseeuw (freelance) – BLCCJ Director
- Stanislav Belooussov (Port Cities Japan) – BLCCJ Director
- Jean-Pierre Bernardino (Puratos Japan Co., Ltd.) – BLCCJ Director
- Jerome Chouchan (Orchid Inc. (Godiva Japan Inc.)) – BLCCJ Director
- Abdel El Madrari (Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation) – BLCCJ Director
- Hironori Kato (Barco Co., Ltd.) – BLCCJ Director
- Maxim Luxen (SeTraL sarl) – BLCCJ Director
- Alexis Marivoet (Decathlon Japan) – BLCCJ Director
- Sandrine Monette (Lemon-Boost) – BLCCJ Director
Furthermore they appointed the following Advisors for 2026-2027:
- Bernard de le Court, former BLCCJ Secretary General, now based in Belgium
- Hidenori Tsutsui, former Toyota Motor Europe
- Kazumasa Imoto, former Solvay
The representatives of the 2 Embassies and the regional trade offices also sit on the Board as Advisors.
Laurent Swinnen, former BLCCJ President, has been appointed an Honorary Member.
Upcoming BLCCJ Events
10th Inter-Chamber Ski and Snowboard Weekend
- Date: Saturday 31 January
- Location: Hakuba, Nagano
- Date: Monday 2 February, 17:45-20:00
- Location: L’espace@CCIFJ
- Fee: JPY 5,000 members / JPY 7,000 non-members
You can register until Thursday 29 January 17:00.
- Date: Monday 16 February, 19:00-22:00
- Location: BBC Antwerp Port
Save-the-date! Belgian shop @ BBW Yokohama
- Date: 21-24 May
- Location: Yamashita Park
Save-the-date! Golf tournament 2026
- Date: Tuesday 9 June
- Location: Taco CC
Save-the-date! BLCCJ Gala 2026
- Date: Friday 27 November, 18:30-23:00
- Location: Conrad Tokyo
Many more events are in the making such as the next edition of our Nippon Export Award, Meet the Members, a company visit, a DEI event, a running event etc.
So keep an eye on our mailings, website, LinkedIn and Facebook page
News from and for the BLCCJ members
–In Memoriam – Mr. Ryuichi Watanabe
We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing away of Mr. Ryuichi Watanabe, Managing Director of BLCCJ professional member Ney & Partners Japan.
We extend our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to his family, colleagues and friends.
-We are happy to welcome no less than 4 new members into the BLCCJ network:
- Corporate member Manuport Logistics (represented by Regional Director APAC Kristoff Wharton)Manuport Logistics is a dynamic international freight forwarding company.The all-round MPL divisions transport every commodity by every mode of transport: sea, inland waterways, road transport, rail, air, or any combination of these. With own offices in over 15 countries, an extensive network of partners and 33 group owned terminals, they can offer highly personalised logistic solutions.
- Corporate member Showtex (represented by Branch Manager Daniel Kwintner)ShowTex is a worldwide leader in inventing, manufacturing and installing the most innovative drapes, backdrops, curtain tracks, projection screens, glassless mirrors, scrims and accessories to achieve the creative vision of event and entertainment professionals. They were heavily involved in Expo 2025 Osaka.
- Corporate member Nisshin Kogyo (represented by President Yukihiro Sohdai)Nisshin Kogyo was founded in 1922 as the pioneer in manufacturing waterproof materials in Japan. Since then, for over 100 years, the company has been well received by their customers for merchandise such as asphalt waterproof roofing with brand names as “Maruesu” and “Kappa”. Nisshin Kogyo is the exclusive Japanese partner of Belgian company Buzon, which was a Diamond Partner for the Belgian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka.
- Individual member Jan-Pieter Catrysse, Akisha KK
We hope to present them all to you soon!
-Valentine’s Day is around the corner – THE chocolate season in Japan!
Here are some inspirations from our chocolate members:
- Godiva Valentine collection
- Wittamer Valentine collection
- Grand Place Valentine collection
- Manneken Valentine waffles
-For the Belgians in our network: recently it has become possible to download Belgian apps itsme® and MyGov on a Japanese phone.
You should keep your Belgian e-ID and a card reader ready when doing so.
News from related organizations
-2026 marks the 160th anniversary of Belgium-Japan relations
The official website of the 160 years is now online:
you can find information on the celebrations, official words from Japanese and Belgian officials, the list of events (which will be updated as more events are being organized), and a list of the sponsors.
For patronage requests (companies who would like to use the 160th anniversary logo for their events), the conditions to fulfill and procedure to follow can be found on the website of the Embassy.
-BLCCJ members are kindly invited to the following EBC seminar:
“Practical Insights for In-House Counsel: EU and Japan Perspectives on Global Regulatory Trends” – more information here
One of the speakers is BLCCJ member Yujin Suga, Partner, Nishimura & Asahi
- Date: Tuesday 10 February, 16:30-18:30
- Location: Europa House, Tokyo
- To register, please send an email to: ebc@ebc-jp.com
News from other organizations
-BLCCJ is an official supporting organization of the 17th Asia Offshore Wind Day, on Monday 16 March in Tokyo.
-BLCCJ members are kindly invited to attend the webinar “Understanding Gen Z: New Ways of Working & Thinking / Special Webinar for Leaders”, organized by the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce
- Date: Thursday 26 February, 12:00-13:00
- Location: online (Teams)
- Language: Japanese only
-The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is organizing a next “Get ready for Japan” training mission – application deadline is 12 March
-53rd H.C.R. International Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition 2026 & Forum: 7-9 October @ Tokyo Big Sight
Interested BLCCJ members can apply now, application guidelines in attachment
A few recent news headlines
- Japan expected to miss fiscal health goal again in FY 2026 (Mainichi Japan, 23 January)
- BOJ keeps policy rate unchanged at 0.75% (NHK World – Japan, 23 January)
- Japan’s inflation tops 3% in 2025, driven by high rice prices (NHK World – Japan, 23 January)
- Japan department store sales fell in 2025 (NHK World – Japan, 26 January)
- Average price of used condominium in Tokyo tops 100 mil. yen for 1st time (Mainichi Japan, 22 January)
- Japan 2025 foreign visitors at record 42.7 million, spending at all-time high (Kyodo News, 20 January)
We look forward to reconnecting with you all in 2026!