Newsletter 9 September
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Summer holidays are behind us, we’re now gearing up for the busy fall season!
Upcoming BLCCJ Events
-Nippon Export Award 2026-2027
We are happy to announce that we received 4 applications this year!
Later this month the BLCCJ Board of Directors will choose 3 finalists, who will be invited to the jury session on 9 October.
Stay tuned!
-BJA x BLCCJ Webinar: The Japanese Government’s Growth Strategy 2026
- Date: today, 18:00-19:00 JST
- Location: online (Zoom)
- Date: Monday 14 September, 19:00-22:00
- Location: Shibuya Cast
Market Outlook: Navigating fast-moving global trends and persistent geopolitical tensions
- Date: Friday 18 September, 18:00-19:00 JST
- Location: online
- This is a webinar in the framework of the Asian BeLux Chambers network, hosted by BLCC Singapore.
- Date: Tuesday 29 September, 18:30-19:30 JST
- Location: online (Zoom)
Save-the-date! Cross Chamber Young Professionals Speed Networking
- Date: Tuesday 6 October, 18:30-20:30
- Location: Engawa (Tokyo Weekender)’s office in Roppongi
Joint Chamber EU Cocktail 2026
- Date: Monday 19 October, 19:00-21:00
- Location: Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
- Date: Saturday 24 October, 9:00-12:00
- Start/end: Decathlon office – course: Yoyogi Park
–BLCCJ Gala 2026: Friendships Across Centuries
Celebrating 160 years of BEL-JPN and 100 years of LUX-JPN relations
- Date: Friday 27 November, 18:30-23:00
- Location: Conrad Tokyo, Kazanami
- EARLY BIRD fee ends on 9/30! JPY 30,000 members and guests / JPY 35,000 non-members
->We are currently looking for raffle sponsors.
Please use this Google form or send back this sponsorship form by 12 November.
->We are also looking for enthusiastic young people to sell raffle tickets at the Gala and help distribute raffle prizes.
If you are interested or you know someone, please send a short motivation and resume to info@blccj.or.jp by 30 October.
-Save-the-date! Belgian shop @ Belgian Beer Weekend Shinjuku
- Date: 2-6 December
- Location: Shinjuku Sumitomo Bldg. – Sankaku Hiroba
-Save-the-date! BLCCJ AGM 2026
- Date: Tuesday 15 December, 18:30-20:00
- Location: Belgian Embassy in Tokyo
The AGM will be followed by a dinner at Aux Bacchanales Kioicho
News from and for the BLCCJ members
-We are happy to welcome a record number of new members into the BLCCJ network:
- Corporate member Atsumi & Sakai, represented by Naoki Kanehisa, Partner LawyerAtsumi & Sakai is a multi-award-winning independent full-service law firm based in Tokyo, advising a wide range of international and domestic companies and financial institutions across finance and business law.
With an international team and a global network spanning Japan, Europe, the US and Asia, Atsumi & Sakai supports clients navigating complex cross-border business and legal matters. The firm also has a dedicated office in Brussels. -
Corporate member Vondelmolen, represented by Thomas Jonniaux, Director Business Development Asia
Founded in 1867, Vondelmolen is a long-established, family-owned and traditional Belgian pioneer in Peperkoek (spice cake).
Vondelmolen uses only natural ingredients for their basic recipe: rye flour, liquid sugar and/or honey and spices – your tasty source of energy! - Individual member Patrick Torrekens, Director Japan, Enterprise Ireland
- Individual member Lu Hong, President, Grand Enterprise
- Individual member Thibaut Vrand, Supply Chain Planner, Ranson NV
We hope you all get to meet them in person soon! In the meantime you can find their contact information in our online directory.
-AB InBev’s Hoegaarden WHITE BEER GAARDEN event is being held from Saturday 5 September until Monday 12 October at Shibuya Cast. Don’t miss our beer gathering there on Monday 14 September!
-Belgian Beer Weekend is welcoming you in Kyoto from 8 till 12 October at Ohigashi-san Hiroba Square.
-BLCCJ professional member Beloras has launched a new product in the Japanese market: Arduenna Aperitivo, a balanced combination of fresh citrus notes, gentle bitterness and aromatic herbs.
News from related organizations
-In 2027 we will celebrate 100 years of Luxembourg-Japan relations.
The official logo has been revealed and both countries’ government now accept applications for official endorsement of commemorative projects.
-Belgian Minister of Defense Mr. Theo Francken brought a visit to Japan between 31 August and 2 September. During his three-day mission, he visited Tokyo, where he had a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi and METI State Minister Ino, before going to Hiroshima where he visited the Memorial museum. His visit was also the occasion for the Embassy and the three Regions to organize a high-level seminar at the Embassy on the Belgian defense industry and the potential for cooperation with Japan.
Minister Francken also inaugurated the opening of the new posting of a Belgian Defense attaché in Tokyo. Colonel Laurent H. Petit will be in charge of Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. He is accompanied by his assistant, Chief Petty Officer Emmanuel Uytterhaegen.
-From 28 October to 4 November, the National Orchestra of Belgium will tour Japan as part of the celebrations marking 160 years of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Japan. The schedule is as follows :
- 28 October – Oita | iichiko Culture Center
- 30 October – Nagoya | Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater – Concert Hall
- 1 November – Kurashiki | Kurashiki Civic Hall
- 2 November – Tokyo | Sumida Triphony Hall
- 3 November – Mie | Mie Center for the Arts
- 4 November – Tokyo | Suntory Hall
For more information and tickets please visit the 160 years website.
-BLCCJ is 1 of 18 supporting Chambers of the Japan Market Expansion Competition (JMEC) program. Info sessions for JMEC 33 are now open – don’t miss them if you are interested to hear more about this business program!
On 30 September a special info session is planned for our BLCCJ Starters.
-BLCCJ members are welcome to join TechBIZKON X, bringing together innovative European startups, Japanese and international corporates, investors, and business leaders. This year’s edition focuses on LifeTech+, with 30+ selected European startups participating and showcasing innovative technologies and solutions. FIT is one of the organizers.
- Friday 9 October 2026
- Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB)
- To learn more & register, use this link
A few recent news headlines
- Japan budget requests swell to pandemic-era scale under Takaichi (The Asahi Shimbun, 7 September)
- BOJ to raise key interest rate by 0.25 percentage point in Sept. meeting: sources (Kyodo News. 8 September)
- Japan’s April-June growth revised up to 1.4% on smaller investment fall (Kyodo News, 8 September)
- Japan July real wages rise 2.4%, biggest gain since 2021 (The Asahi Shimbun, 9 September)
- Japan household spending fell for 8th month in July (NHK World – Japan, 4 September)
On a final note, BLCCJ GM Sophie will soon leave for Belgium and Luxembourg to represent BLCCJ at the BLCCA Academy, the annual gathering of bi-lateral and local BeLux Chambers of Commerce.
We look forward to seeing you soon at BLCCJ events!