Following its acquisition of ESPM, a prominent project management firm, at the end of last year, Colliers International Japan has now completed the full integration of all former ESPM staff and operations.

“This is a significant expansion of our existing project management business and will enable us to service our clients during the entire process from design to execution of construction and fit-out, including due diligence, planning, scheduling, budgeting, cost review and control, through to final delivery of the project”, according to Richard van Rooij, Representative Director of Colliers International. “Colliers International has a strong presence and tremendous client base and our integration will enable us to grow exponentially”, according to Jason Wilson, General Manager of Project Management.

Colliers International is a full range real estate services firm with operations in Japan since 1952.

The NCCJ held its annual shin-nenkai (New Year Party) with de Nederlandse Kring in de Kanto (NKK – Dutch circle in Kanto) on Jan. 27, a particularly popular event, with about 55 members and guests attending, and we were honored by a visit from the Dutch Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Radinck Jan Van Vollenhoven. The event was held at Aux Bacchanales at the Hotel New Otani.

The evening began with a Sector Briefing on KLM’s new route between Fukuoka and Amsterdam. Mark Arxhoek, sales director at Air France and KLM in Japan, introduced his company’s new route, and gave a brief overview of the processes involved in setting up a new air route in Japan. At first glance, considering the fierce competition in the air travel field, opening a new route might be a bit surprising. But as Mr. Arxhoek noted, Fukuoka’s modern, convenient airport serves a population of almost 19 million potential passengers, and the Kyushu region’s thriving electronics and automobile industries are a ready customer base for the cargo trade.

The potential for connecting flights to the rest of Japan and Asia is also promising, especially since the Fukuoka-Tokyo route is, many of us were surprised to learn, the No. 3 route in the world in terms of passenger numbers. And Amsterdam, of course, boasts easy connections to over 60 cities in Europe, which is very appealing to Japanese travelers.

Junichiro Mizumoto, sales manager for Kyushu and Fukuoka at Air France and KLM, also gave us a rundown on the local implementation process for the new route, including details of his efforts to promote the route among the target population in the Kyushu-western Honshu region.

Ambassador Vollenhoven then gave a talk on embassy news and events in the last year and the months to come.

After the presentations the attendees stayed at Aux Bacchanales for a shin-nenkai, a few hours of drinks and fellowship to welcome the New Year.

The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is inviting applications for their forthcoming "Human Resources Training Programme - Japan Industry Insight" (HRTP) 4-week programme in Japan, a scheme financed by the European Commission.

There are special participation conditions for European SMEs. Participants from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can benefit from a scholarship of up to €3000.

What is HRTP?
This 4/5-week managerial programme in Japan provides an outstanding opportunity for EU companies to acquire within a short time an integrated in-depth view of Japanese industrial structure and business practices.
“HRTP – Japan Industry Insight” programme is targeted at EU managers who have a major role in defining and implementing their company's policies in relation to Japan, or who are to be transferred to Japan, or who wish to be kept informed about management practices in Japan.
Open to all-sized companies, the next course will include: lectures on Japanese history, economy, politics and legal matters; joint seminars with Japanese business people (with role-play exercises about decision-making, team management and negotiation); Japanese language course, field trips and optional individual company visits.

Programme dates: From 12 May to 6 June (or 13 June) 2014
Applications deadline: Thursday, 13 February 2014
Costs: For the first four weeks of the programme, the EU-Japan Centre will cover costs relating to tuition, travel costs for visits, interpretation, etc.

The participants' companies will have to cover travel costs to/from Japan, accommodation and any other costs not covered directly by the EU-Japan Centre.

More details are available on their website or please contact Céline Godart at: c.godart@eu-japan.eu

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The NCCJ held its popular annual Welcome Back Drinks event at the Amusement bar in Shibuya on Sept. 26, to welcome members back to Tokyo after the summer holidays and ease into fall, as well as to give us a chance to mingle, network and catch up with old friends. The event was held in collaboration with NKK, the Dutch circle in the Kanto region.

We were honored to have as our guest at the event Mrs. Annemarie Jorritsma, currently Mayor of the city of Almere and former Minister of Economic Affairs. She was in Japan on a trip to visit several large Japanese companies that have operations in her district, and stopped by for a quick beer and a chat with the NCCJ members.

NCCJ member Richard van Rooij performed the duties of emcee and judge of the table football games, and Taco de Vries gave the welcome-back speech.

Our first annual table football tournament was a smashing success. Daniel Leussink and Franck van Overbeek dominated the event, taking home the first prizes, a Philips Nonfryer and a case of Heineken. They had clearly played the game before, which everyone agreed was an unfair advantage. Taco de Vries and Arend de Haan came in second, with Merei Wagenaar and Munenori Yoshihara in third.

Several NCCJ member companies very generously donated the prizes for the football tourney: Asian Tigers Mobility, BRITA Japan K.K., Heineken Kirin K.K., MIE PROJECT Co., Ltd., Philips Electronics Japan, Ltd. and Unilever Japan Customer Marketing K.K.

Event Photos