On January 15th the two NCCJs gathered at the Norwegian espressobar / cocktailbar Fuglen in Shibuya. Almost 30 participants braved the snow covered slippery streets of Tokyo to attend this Dutch - Norwegian evening to celebrate a good start on an exciting year 2013.

In the atmosphere of Fuglen, both Dutch and Norwegian guests soon found themselves relaxing, mixing and mingling with some sipping their Kopstoots while others preferred to try one of the Fuglen's famous coffees. As old and new friends met for the first time over the holidays, the venue was soon buzzing with congratulations for the New Year, laughter and fingers pointed at one of the many Norwegian 40's to 60's vintage items both displayed and as a part of the interior which makes up for the concept which is Fuglen.

Before opening the buffet, Mr. Hans van der Tang, Chairman of the Dutch Chamber, warmly greeted and welcomed everyone to the shinnenkai, presenting and introducing the Dutch Minister Plenipotentiary Nienke Trooster who kindly and timely welcomed everyone to do their best to make 2013 into a prosperous year by doing what we can to stimulate to growth.

On the cocktail menu was several cocktails, all based on the Dutch spirits Jenever for this evening:
Jenever Old Fashion
John Collins
Martinez
kopstoot
The theme for the evening & the short history of Jenever

By the way, you can visit Fuglen Tokyo at:
Tomigaya 1-16-11, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
6 minutes walk from Yoyogi Koen Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
15 - 20 minutes walk from Shibuya Station

Custom Media KK joined our Chamber last summer as an Associate member with Representative Leon van Houwelingen, Senior Account Executive. Custom Media KK is an independent, creative publishing and design house and business communications agency based in Tokyo. They provide a wide range of services, from bespoke magazines, newsletters, direct mail and online content creation to advertising, branding, communications, editing, and translating services. Some of their key products include C-Level publications for BCCJ Acumen directed at C-level readers at large and ACCJ digital promotion services.

Leon is born and raised in Hardinxveld-Giessendam in the Netherlands. After graduation Leon travelled the world during which in Australia he made a Japanese friend with whom he travelled to Japan, a journey that inspired him to return various times due to his admiration and appreciation of Japanese culture, food, nature and much more. In 2004 he decided to study TMA at Rotterdam University which allowed him to return for 1 year to Japan guaranteed to study at Sophia University in Tokyo and an internship in Nagoya. Leon has since returned in August 2011 and married his Japanese girlfriend.

As for other interest Leon mentions that prior to coming to Japan he had plenty of hobbies, however he nevertheless makes an conscience effort to go jogging at night, bike rides along the Arakawa river and surely likes to go out and meet friends and make new ones, either for business or pleasure.

As a reason for joining NCCJ Leon looks forward to learn from fellow members from different ranks and industries and to share business ideas which will assist him in his position at Custom Media KK and his desire to become a successful businessman / entrepreneur in Japan. In addition Leon is keen to proactively work with the NCCJ and to help the Chamber go from strength to strength.

Saying goodbye to 2012 at the NCCJ Bonenkai

NCCJ members toasted farewell to 2012 at the Chamber’s annual bonenkai year-end party on Dec. 12.

The bonenkai (literally “forget the year party”) is an ancient Japanese tradition, observed by all kinds of groups in Japan, a time to get together with friends and colleagues and put the trials and tribulations of the past year behind us.

About 25 members attended the event, at Indian restaurant Diya at Roppongi Hills. For some of us it was a time to celebrate a year of continuing accomplishment and success; for others it was an opportunity to toast our survival in these turbulent times, forget our troubles and begin the new year with a clean slate.

Since 1979, the European Commission’s Executive Training Programme (ETP) has been helping European companies to succeed in the Japanese and South Korean markets by providing intensive language and business training for their executives.

Applications are now open for the 2013/2014 cycle of the Executive Training Programme, aimed at helping European executives and companies to develop their business in East Asia. The programme offers a unique combination of executive business and language training provided by leading universities in Japan/Korea and an internship in a local company all of which is funded by the EU along with a scholarship. Participants will learn how to shape a credible business plan for their company, gain useful skills and insights to pave a path to successful expansion in Asia, and make useful contacts. 

For information, consultation and assistance with your application in Tokyo, contact:
Ms. A. Murray (EBC)
Tel: 03-3263-6225  |  E-mail: ebcam@gol.com

Or apply now via www.euetp.eu

The NCCJ held its annual 2012 Deshima Business Awards ceremony Oct. 11, attended by a full crowd at the TEPIA building in Gaiemmae. The ceremony this year was honored by the presence of H.E. Mr. Jan Kees de Jager, finance minister of the Netherlands, who presented the awards.

     The 2012 Deshima Business Awards Chairman Leon Halders gave the opening remarks, and spoke of the challenges and joys of doing business in Japan, and the successes that the Deshima awards have celebrated in the past. Mr. Halders was well qualified to talk on this subject, his company – DSM Japan KK – having won a Deshima award in 2006.

     After being introduced by H.E. Mr. Radinck Jan van Vollenhoven, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Japan, H.E. de Jager gave an entertaining talk on the history of Dutch business in Japan, and praised this year’s winners, “two firms that know they must engage in order to survive, who understand that change is the only constant.”

     Mr. de Jager noted that prior to his political career he was himself an entrepreneur, and so he knows “what it’s like to have a head full of ideas but feel restricted by rules and regulations.” He went on: “Every good entrepreneur is impatient, but knows that patience is a virtue and good things come to those who wait. But good things also come to those who make them happen, who take the initiative.”

     But by the same token, Mr. de Jager noted, “No business thrives in isolation; no matter how hard one works, every so often everyone needs a little help,” and the Deshima awards recognize this too.

     Mr. Shinji Fukukawa, a longtime friend of the NCCJ, Senior Advisor to TEPIA and former Vice Minister of International Trade and Industry (METI), presented the small/medium business segment prize to winner Dick Bruna Japan, the licensing agent in this country for Miffy and Friends, a popular group of animated characters and an extremely strong household brand in Japan. Mr. Fukukawa said the committee recognized the company’s long-term and creative marketing efforts in its decision to give the award to the company. Mr. Shogo Tetsuda, representative of Dick Bruna Japan, gave a rundown on the company, noting that Japan is the second market for Miffy and her friends, having come here in 1964, and now enjoys an almost 100% recognition rate in this country.

     Runner-ups in the segment were Hauzer Techno Coating B.V., Scelta Mushrooms BV, and Wheelylift.com BV.

      Taco de Vries, Vice President of Randstad KK, introduced the winner of the large company segment prize, CSM Japan KK, a leading player in its sector worldwide, and the largest supplier of baked products, natural foods products and bio-based chemicals serving a variety of industries. Since opening its first sales office in Japan in 1989, CSM has grown its business to gain a 50% market share in this crucial market.  Mr. Koji Nakamura gave a talk on his company’s large and growing activities in this country and its efforts to expand market share. He noted that CSM’s Purac division, which produces lactic acid and succinic acid for a variety of products such as bioplastics, uses processes based on nature such as fermentation, to make products which are environment- and human-friendly, biodegradable and CO2 neutral.

     Runners-up in the large company category were Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. Japan Branch, and AEGON Sony Life Insurance Co., Ltd.

     After the awards were presented, NCCJ Chairman Hans van der Tang gave an inspiring speech for his closing remarks, and all attendees retired to the TEPIA’s second-floor restaurant for a reception.

The NCCJ held an excursion to Nissan’s auto plant at Oppama, outside of Yokohama, on Sept. 25. The trip was interesting and surprising, and provided some insights into how the carmaker has turned itself into one of the most successful and efficient companies in its field.

     At the plant’s main assembly line, the group was surprised to discover that the plant builds three different models on the same line – the Leaf electric vehicle, the Juke compact car and the Cube minivan. Each car that passed on the line was different – electric, gasoline, left-hand drive, right-hand drive, minivan, compact, various colors and options – and the plant can deliver them to customers within 4-5 days of receiving the order.

     This speed and efficiency is a huge competitive advantage for Nissan, and is due to the flexibility afforded by the cars’ modular design and the company’s douki seisan synchronized production system, as well as the highly trained and motivated work force. The guide said the relatively new system allows the automaker to quickly ramp up production, as well as introduce new models without the expense of building a new line. The company is planning to deploy the system at its plants worldwide.

     The group then transferred by bus to Nissan’s Grandrive proving ground for some hands-on experience of several of the company’s latest models – a Leaf EV, a hybrid version of the Cima luxury car, and a very zippy GT-R roadster, a car the automaker has positioned as competition for the Porsche 911. Participants were able to try out the cars on a variety of road surfaces, including expressway-type straightaways, S-turns, simulated rough surfaces and an exciting, steeply banked turn for the GT-R.

     There was also a demonstration of Nissan’s charging system for EVs, which boasts both a trickle charger for home use, and a new Quick Charge system for quickly topping up the battery while on the road – 0-80% charged in under 30 minutes, an innovation that the company is confident will eliminate “range anxiety,” the main barrier to full adoption of EVs.