BCCJ Acumen October 2014 by Custom Media KK

October 2014 | 짜900

The magazine of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan

ACUMEN MEDIA ARTS BOOKS HEALTH HELP LIFESTYLE COMMUNITY EVENTS and much more

INDUSTRY & A-LIST PARTY SEASON SPECIAL AND MICE, TRAVEL & LEISURE

bccjacumen.com

BBA judges on the spot

Pass the cheese, please

Tourism bodies tie up ahead of Tokyo 2020

WORKING FOR

WOMEN Why Akie Abe and Cherie Blair want change

October 2014 34 7 EDITOR Crossing borders for gender equality kathryn wortley

34 BCCJ EVENT Tourism bodies tie up ahead of Tokyo 2020 VisitBritain and JNTO sign pact

8 MEDIA UK-Japan news

37 INDUSTRY Experiences, not attractions Tapping into Japan’s potential as a global destination

11 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Record-breaking month of events lori henderson mbe 12 MEDIA Japan news 15 PRESIDENT Gaining business insight david bickle 16 TOP STORY Working for women Why Akie Abe and Cherie Blair want change 20 BBA Judges on the spot 23 INTERVIEW Recruitment industry still on solid ground 24 LIFESTYLE Bike culture reborn Industry changes attract youth and return riders 27 EXPORT TO JAPAN Showcasing the best of British 29 INDUSTRY Pass the cheese, please UK firms take slice of market INDUSTRY Party Season Special and MICE, Travel & Leisure 33 A-LIST

39 EVENT Hawaii warms hearts Event raises ¥26mn for sick children

41 JET Where are they now? Coming full circle: championing globalisation then and now 43 HELP Creating a more supportive society

44 ARTS UK events in Japan • Art exhibition • Shakespeare celebration • Pop music special • Romantic musical • Craft lecture • Harp festival 46 COMMUNITY Photos from UK-Japan events 48 HEALTH Guide to dengue fever Steps to help avoid the mosquito-borne bug 49 IF YOU ASK ME Get ready, on your marks … 50 BOOK REVIEW An Encyclopaedia of Myself ian de stains obe

9 39

The British Chamber of Commerce in Japan

BCCJ MISSION To strengthen business ties between Britain and Japan, promote and support the business interests of all our Members, and actively encourage new business entrants into the Japanese market as well as Japanese investment into the UK. LEADERS President: David Bickle Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Vice-president: Anna Pinsky Individual Member EXECUTIVE STAFF Executive Director: Lori Henderson MBE Operations Manager: Sanae Samata Membership and Marketing Assistant: Sarah Firth EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Jonty Brunner | British Airways Graham Davis | Individual Member James Dodds | KPMG Simon Farrell | Custom Media K.K. Iain Ferguson | Lloyd’s Japan Inc. Philip T Gibb OBE | Canning Professional K.K. Yoko Kosugi | The Royal Bank of Scotland plc Anna Pinsky | Individual Member Reiko Sakimura | Clifford Chance Law Office Richard Thornley CBE | Individual Member James Weeks | Kreab Gavin Anderson K.K. Haruno Yoshida | BT Japan Corporation EX OFFICIO Sue Kinoshita | British Embassy Tokyo Jeff Streeter | British Council Japan BCCJ ACUMEN Editor in Chief: Simon Farrell British Chamber of Commerce in Japan 12F Ark Mori Bldg. 1-12-32 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6012 Tel: (03) 4360-8361 | Fax: (03) 4360-8454 info@bccjapan.com | www.bccjapan.com BCCJ ACUMEN is the magazine of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan

Printed on paper certified by the US Forest Stewardship Council with vegetable oil ink certified by The Japan Printing Ink Makers Association.

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CONTRIBUTORS

BCCJ members and writers are welcome to submit ideas for content, which will be reviewed by the editor. kathryn@custom-media.com

Julian Ryall

Mark Schreiber

Lucy Alexander

Vanessa Holden

Japan correspondent for The Daily Telegraph.

An author and translator who has been based in Tokyo since 1966. Mark was employed as a media analyst in market research before turning to freelance writing.

A freelance journalist and correspondent for The Times in Tokyo.

After an internship at the British Embassy Tokyo, Vanessa joined Business Link Japan as a project manager, where she is closely involved with the Export to Japan project.

Ashley Harvey Country manger for VisitBritain, Ashley is a seasoned sales and marketing professional with over 16 years of experience in Asia and Europe.

Antony Tran A Tokyo-based photographer, Antony specialises in events, commercial, portraits and street photography.

Cassie Easter Event coordinator and marketing assistant at Shine On! Kids, Cassie is a freelancer in the greater Tokyo area.

Dr Tom Lomax A general practitioner at the Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic. After training in the UK, he obtained a Japanese medical licence in 2008.

/BCCJapan

/BCCJ Company Page

/photos/bccjapan bccjacumen.com 5

Custom Media BCCJ 2013 Company of the Year

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PUBLISHER Simon Farrell

SALES MANAGER Leon van Houwelingen

PRESIDENT Robert Heldt

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STUDIO MANAGER Paul Leonard

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DEPUTY EDITOR Kathryn Wortley

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MARKETING MANAGER Megumi Okazaki

PROJECT COORDINATOR Reika Igarashi

To advertise or order BCCJ ACUMEN: inquiries@custom-media.com WARNING/DISCLAIMER Custom Media and the BCCJ will not accept liability for any damages caused by the contents of BCCJ ACUMEN, including, but not limited to, any omissions, errors, facts or false statements. Opinions or advice expressed in BCCJ ACUMEN are not necessarily those of the BCCJ or Custom Media. ÂŠ 2014 Custom Media K.K.

6 bccj acumen, october 2014

EDITOR

espite my disappointment at being unable to gain entrance to the World Assembly for Women in Tokyo on 12–14 September, I was delighted to hear this was because it was a standing-roomonly occasion. Attendees heard the thoughts of leading lights from around the world on how Japan might develop a society “where women shine”. However, BCCJ ACUMEN was lucky enough to get in on some of the action, including a dialogue on the role of women between Cherie Blair CBE QC and Akie Abe, Japan’s first lady (page 16). Global leaders Also central to the assembly was Shine Weeks, a series of events supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. I was honoured, on 17 September, to attend the Women in Leadership Workshop organised by global leadership programme Flourish. The hostess, South African Ambassador to Japan Mohau Pheko, outlined the monumental impact of the women’s movement on social change in the Republic of South Africa following the end of apartheid. She spoke of her belief in the collective determination of women, and

Foodies also will be keen to learn of the rising number of top-quality British cheeses available in some of the capital’s bars, shops and restaurants (page 29). Interestingly, it is not only the British who are soaking up this much-sought product, but an increasing number of Japanese customers.

Crossing borders for gender equality Sharing global best practice in Japan kathryn wortley kathryn@custom-media.com

the important role of gender in empowering both sexes. Although attendees agreed there was much work still to be done, the inspirational women of South Africa are a testament to what women can do. Time for foodies With fresher weather it’s a great time to enjoy the fantastic British

food on offer as part of GREAT Week Japan on 27–31 October (page 27). Designed to support UK firms in the retail, luxury, creative as well as food and drink industries to enter the Japan market, this event ties in to UK Trade & Investment’s ongoing work to promote food. A number of British businesses based in Tokyo will be showcasing their tasty wares.

From the publisher As task force leader of the BCCJ 2014 British Business Awards (BBA)—and one of last year’s winners—it’s great to report very strong interest from sponsors, guests and nominees for the 14 November gala event. There is still time, however, to book one of the last corporate tables or seats, and the deadline for nominations is 31 October: www.bccjapan.com/events/bba/ In our final teaser before one of the foreign business community’s most anticipated occasions, BCCJ ACUMEN puts the five diverse and experienced judges on the spot (page 20) to see what makes them tick. And finally, huge thanks indeed to my fellow BBA task force members, the BCCJ office, Custom Media staff, and others who have selflessly helped plan the BBA so far.

UK-JAPAN NEWS

MEDIA Think tank reports rise in nations’ output 1

Switzerland

Global Competitiveness Index 2014-2015 Rankings

Singapore

5.70 5.65 5.54

Japan

5.47

Hong Kong

5.46

Netherlands

5.45

5.49

Germany

5.50

Finland

U.S.

U.K.

5.41

Both the UK and Japan have moved up in the 2014–15 Global Competitiveness Index, The Guardian reported on 3 September. Covering 144 economies, the ranking measures national competitiveness—defined as the set of institutions, policies and factors that determine the level of a country’s productivity. The think tank behind the results, the World Economic Forum, has said that the UK’s wealth of sophisticated businesses, and willingness to adopt new technologies puts the country in a good position to improve productivity further. Japan has been praised for its industrial strength and competitiveness.

Confab advises close bilateral ties

Sweden

5.41

The UK–Japan 21st Century Group has published the recommendations decided at its 31st annual conference in Hakone on 16–18 May, according to a press release dated 29 August. The think tank said Japan’s drive to double foreign investment by 2020 would be aided by treating foreign firms in Japan the same

Good and bad of new lifestyle Japanese adjusting to life in the UK are at risk of mental health problems as a result of communication difficulties and the “unpredictability of British life”, The Japan Times reported on 29 August. London-based counsellor and psychotherapist Yuko Nippoda said problems occur when the romanticised image her clients have of the country do not match reality. Moving from a “collectivist” culture to one where the needs of the individual are paramount also proves difficult. However, patients can also benefit. “Living in Britain, Japanese are often able to find their sense of self and identity”, Nippoda said.

Spurs youth prefers Samurai Blue squad

Nostalgia trip for Oasis exhibit Tokyo is to host “Chasing The Sun: Oasis 1993–1997”, the first exhibition dedicated to the iconic Manchester band, Japan Today reported on 22 September. Coming in October, the event will display rare and iconic photographs, artefacts and memorabilia of Oasis, who shot to international stardom following the success of three landmark albums. Instruments played by the Brit pop group will be on display, along with previously unseen images taken by photographers who had behind the scenes access to the band. Special exhibits include photos from the group’s first Japan tour and rarely seen live footage of their performance at the 1994 Shibuya Quattro show.

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as Japanese firms. It encouraged the relationship between Japanese investors in UK regions and local educational institutions to provide a skills base for the future. The group also agreed that the transfer of British experience and knowledge in the field of gender diversity would be valuable to Japan.

An exhibition showcasing Oasis will open in Tokyo.

Attacking midfielder Cy Goddard has turned down advances from England national football scouts in the hope of playing for Japan, The Daily Mail reported on 13 September. A product of Tottenham Hotspur, the 17-year-old half-Japanese half-English player has pledged his allegiance to the Samurai Blue squad, saying it has been his ambition to play for them since he was 10. Goddard made his international debut for the Japan Under-16 side in 2013 at the Montaigu Tournament in France, after having impressed scouts from the Japanese Football Association with his technical ability. He is currently taking Japanese lessons after training sessions to improve his communication skills.

OCTOBER 2014

Royal to study in Midlands Princess Mako has embarked on postgraduate studies in England, Japan Today reported on 17 September. The 22-year old daughter of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko will study for a Master’s degree in museology at the University of Leicester, where she will live in a students’ dorm. The one-year programme will allow her to build on her previous studies: she read English at the University of Edinburgh in 2012. She is expected to return to Tokyo to attend official duties over the new year period.

J-brand thanks British style tradition for business success A Tokyo fashion brand inspired by British style is set to target UK consumers, The Telegraph reported on 6 September. Tomorrowland Co., Ltd., which sells its contemporary own-label menswear, as well as that of foreign designers, will launch its autumn 2014 collection in Selfridge & Co’s Oxford Street shop.

Hiroyuki Sasaki, founder of the 36-year-old brand, attributes part of its success to his use of the UK’s menswear tradition. “We take inspiration from classic British style. We actually recreated English materials in Japan using exclusive fabrics, treatments and finishes only available in Japan”, he said.

Plymouth event could boost business and exports A UK-Japan event to foster bilateral trade links has been held in Plymouth, the Western Morning News reported on 22 September. “Doing Business with Japan”, designed to support firms wishing to export to Japan, provided delegates with information on the opportunities available (see page 47). Co-organiser The Clove plays a role in reenactment. Dr Jonathan Mackintosh from Plymouth University said he hoped the event would also show the value of the region to potential Japanese investors. The event marked the launch of Japan400 Plymouth, a series of events focusing on business, learning, culture, history and food to celebrate 400 years of relations between the two countries. As part of the initiative, the 400th anniversary of the homecoming of the Clove from Japan on 27 September 1614 was recreated in Sutton Harbour, Plymouth.

First UK choir to sing at top festival

The Bath Male Choir will perform in venues across Japan.

The Bath Male Choir is to be the first UK choir to sing at the prestigious Bacchus Festival in Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture, the Bath Chronicle reported on 13 September. The event is organised by the Japan Choral Association Kansai Division, the City of Itami and the Itami Culture Foundation.

Some 42 members of the male-only group will sing at the festival on 3 November, which attracts choirs from across Japan. The event is to be the highlight of the choir’s planned Japan tour that will include shows in Kyoto and Tokyo. A special tour CD features members singing a Japanese folk song.

Film offers insight into social role of love hotels A new documentary set to reveal inner workings of a love hotel in Osaka is to be screened in London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts, The Daily Mail reported on 22 September. Phil Cox, the British filmmaker behind the film, said that by providing accommodation to rich and poor, old and young, the love hotel offered “a window into Japanese society”. A concept which began in the 1960s, the hotels are currently said to have a total yearly turnover of more than £23bn. It is estimated that 1.4mn couples visit a love hotel each day, to rent a room by the hour or for overnight stays. Traditionally places of escape, they often feature themed rooms, outfits for dressing up, and karaoke and amusement facilities.

bccjacumen.com 9

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

n September, the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ) ran a record number of seven events. Sport and social Congratulations to Iain Ferguson, BCCJ excom member, who picked up the individual champion trophy at our most recent golf day. Organised by the BCCJ golf taskforce led by Richard Straughan, around 40 members and guests enjoyed the “Japan vs rest of the world tournament” at the Brick & Wood Club in Chiba Prefecture on 13 September. The rest of the world claimed overall victory. Thank you to Moet Hennessy Diageo, Grand Hyatt Tokyo, Armani/ Ristorante, InterContinental Hotels Group, Berry Bros. & Rudd, as well as Hynd and Peak K.K. who generously donated prizes. British Consul-General Michael Shearer OBE (see page 41) joined over 60 members of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Japan on 17 September at a social evening in Osaka. Held at the Swissôtel Nankai Osaka, this event followed our Tokyo Euromixer in March, allowing

Record-breaking month of events Sports, social and Shine Weeks lori henderson mbe

guests the chance to expand their business network beyond the Kanto region. Over 100 members of the BCCJ and the Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce gathered for our annual “A Night with the Irish”, held at the Irish ambassador’s residence on 25 September. As well as enjoying the freely flowing Guinness from member Diageo plc, guests were

also pleased to have the chance to meet newly appointed Irish Ambassador to Japan Anne Barrington, who took up her post in September. Supporting government An event highlight of mine was “What do we really want? Women and Womenomics”, held at BT Japan in Ark Hills on 19 September.

The panel discussion was held in support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s Shine Weeks initiative, and supported by the British Embassy Tokyo. It brought together women executives—from BT Japan, Hays plc and Price Global—as well as BCCJ member organisations and 18 students and graduates (see page 16). The young people in the audience suggested that a conflict has emerged in their minds between the traditional Japanese culture of wa (harmony) and the self-expression required to reach their potential in the 21st century workplace. On the road to 2020 At our final event of the month at the Conrad Tokyo on 26 September (see page 34), Christopher Rodrigues CBE, chairman of VisitBritain, and Ryoichi Matsuyama, president of the Japan National Tourism Organization, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on tourism in relation to Tokyo 2020. At the behest of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan is now aiming to reach the lofty goal of attracting 20mn foreign tourists by 2020. Matsuyama quipped that, “this is easy to say, but not so easy to do”.

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JAPAN NEWS BY MARK SCHREIBER

MEDIA sharp changes foreseen in e-commerce sector Japanese people have taken to the e-commerce market with a vengeance. Total revenues in 2013 reached ¥15.9trn, surpassing the ¥12.7trn in sales for supermarkets and general retailers, ¥9.4trn for convenience stores and ¥6.2trn for department stores. Over the next two years, sales by the two market

increase to ¥20.1trn. With ¥4trn in growth at stake in 2014–15, Nikkei Business (11–18 August) is predicting anarchy in the e-commerce sector, as established players contend with new entries. Driving growth will be business via smartphones. One example is Line Mall. Launched in December

applications are reported to be available for downloading, despite the firm not having engaged in advertising or sales promotion. The message service provider has also diversified into distribution. From 30 July, in a tieup with mail-order firm Felissimo, Line began “Line Delivery”

The firm began its TV advertising in May and claims it had surpassed 4mn downloads by July. Monthly turnover has already exceeded ¥1bn, with over 100,000 items moved each business day. Another new type of business can be found at the website bento.jp. Its ¥800 bento (boxed

leaders, Rakuten Ichiba—the online site of Rakuten, Inc.—and Amazon Japan, are expected to increase from ¥1.7trn and ¥1.1trn to ¥2.5trn and ¥1.6trn, respectively. By 2015, e-commerce transactions are projected to

2013 by Line Corporation—a provider of message texting and other applications that claims to have 480mn users worldwide and 52mn in Japan—the service is still in a tentative testing stage. However, more than two million

services that charge a uniform rate for nationwide deliveries. The charges vary according to dimensions but, if width and depth measurements are in total less than 60cm, the charge is ¥650. This is cheaper than fees charged by major transport firms. “In a few years, sales via smartphones will eclipse sales via personal computers”, said Takeshi Shimamura, Line’s senior executive director and head of commerce and media. The resale shopping app Mercari was launched by Shintaro Yamada, Mercari’s president and chief executive in July. Its key feature is a furima (flea market) that permits the seller and potential purchaser to haggle over the price.

meals)—the menus of which are changed daily—can be delivered to the home or office of the customer within 20 minutes of receiving an order. The service has been in operation since April in the Roppongi and Shibuya districts of Tokyo, and gets several hundred orders a day. Sales margins are slim, however, since the firm outsources production of the meals. Its chief executive, Atsumasa Kobayashi, explained that bento are merely a test item to give his new firm experience in the field. Bento.jp is striving for extremely fast distribution of orders of other products from customers located close by, as well as innovative ways to pare its costs.

A new online boxed meals delivery service is proving popular. • ©BENTO. JP, INC.

supermarkets, foreign beers grab more sales Over the past decade, sales channels for beer have been changing, suggesting shifts in preferences and consumer segments, reports the Nikkei Marketing Journal (5 September). In recent years, the younger age groups have been showing greater preference for wines and whiskeys. According to Kirin Company Ltd., one of the nation’s top four breweries, in 2005 supermarkets accounted for 26.2% of its beer sales, compared with 11.3% for

12 bccj acumen, october 2014

convenience stores. Last year, the figure was 38.6% for supermarkets, with convenience stores almost unchanged at 11.9%. One factor in supermarket sales growth is believed to be the relatively long shelf life of beer, which means purchasing it from supermarkets by the six-pack or case brings cost benefits. But, beer firms nevertheless feel that convenience store channels bring them benefits in terms of greater brand or label recognition. In the future, therefore, breweries will be emphasising

development of new limited-edition products and specialty labels. The 8 September issue of the same publication reports that imported beer labels are also gaining sales. Some medium-sized supermarkets, such as Yaoko Co., Ltd., based in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, which operates 133 outlets, stock up to 60 varieties of beer from Europe and South East Asia. Although imported bottled or canned beer typically costs from ¥300 to ¥500—

OCTOBER 2014

evolution of “big three” convenience stores In 2013, roughly 80% of convenience store total revenues in Japan were in the hands of three major chains: Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd. (16,764 outlets, sales of ¥3.7182trn); Lawson, Inc. (11,922 outlets, sales of ¥1.7586trn); and Familymart Co., Ltd. (10,847 outlets, sales of ¥1.7219trn). According to the Weekly Diamond (6 September) this sector of retailing accounts for ¥10trn in annual turnovers. With a total of 50,000 outlets nationwide, some analysts have voiced the opinion that the growth of convenience stores has peaked. But moves to diversify may soon alter that view. One growth trend over the past half decade has been the setting up of convenience stores in rail stations. From March this year, Seven-Eleven concluded contracts to take over operations at West Japan Railway Company stations in Kyushu, and Shikoku Railway Company stations in Shikoku. In the past, the firm had resisted invitations for such business ventures, since such a move would not allow the firm to operate around-the-clock as stations close after train services have ended. Currently, Familymart dominates this railway sector, with 437 stores in stations operated by seven rail firms. In contrast, SevenEleven operates 70 station outlets, and Lawson 60. As convenience stores in Japan are limited by statute to a fixed floor area, another new and growing trend is to have korabo (collaboration) shops. In the case of Lawson, the stores are joined to pharmacies that, in addition to sales of over-the-counter medications, are also licensed to dispense prescription drugs. At Lawson’s Yushima station outlet, in Tokyo’s Bunkyo ward, the number of items for sale has more than doubled—to about 5,600—compared with standard-sized outlets. Management apparently is content to use the pharmacies to attract customers, who purchase take-out food and other merchandise. Since its conversion to a korabo enterprise in September 2013, the shop’s sales have reportedly risen 1.5-fold. Lawson management has announced plans to have 500 such outlets in operation over the next three years.

as much as double the price of domestic brews—the firm reports that by offering products not sold in convenience stores, it has increased beer sales by more than 40% on the previous year. Earlier in 2014, Seiyu shops, part of the US’s Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., began sales of imported beers from UK supermarket chain ASDA. The firm sells Extra Special Golden Ale in a 500ml bottle at the bargain price of ¥150, and Spitfire Premium Kentish Ale at an affordable ¥189.

Dishes from snack bars can be consumed on the premises or taken away. PHOTO: FAMILYMART+MAIDOOOKINI HIGASHIIKEBUKURO4CHOME TEN

Familymart has adopted a different collaboration strategy of not limiting tie-ups to any one retail sector. For instance, in April of this year, the firm tied up with Daiichi Kosho Co. Ltd. to install self-service Karaoke Club Dam units. The arrangement permits customers to take in and consume items purchased in the convenience store on the premises. Another scheme, initiated in July, is a tie-up with Fujio Food System Co. Ltd. to operate Maido Okini Shokudo snack bars. Dishes prepared in open kitchens on the premises can be consumed there or taken away to be eaten at home. Initially concerns surfaced that the snack bars on the premises would drain off convenience stores’ sales of boxed meals and other prepared food; but, according to a spokesperson for the firm, that has not been the case. Apparently, people who dine there in the evenings pick up bread and other items for their breakfast the next morning so, if anything, sales have increased. Familymart aims to have 300 collaboration outlets in operation over the next five years.

By selling imported beers not available in convenience stores, supermarkets have seen increased beer sales.

bccjacumen.com 13

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PRESIDENT

busy events programme is undoubtedly an important ingredient for a flourishing British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ), but we are aware that it is the quality of events that drives the level of member participation to which we aspire. Welcoming the best We are proud to sharpen our focus this month on Japanese business with two outstanding speakers. On 10 October we were scheduled to welcome Ken Osuga, director, senior executive officer and chief financial officer of Konica Minolta Inc., to take us behind the scenes of one of Japan’s technology giants, and share with us his personal insights on working with Japanese business people. Later this month we will host a very special breakfast, on 31 October, at which we will welcome Michael Woodford MBE. Upon rising to the top of Olympus Corporation, Woodford found himself thrust into the limelight as Japan’s highest profile whistleblower. Having kindly participated in judging last year’s British Business Awards (BBA), we are delighted to welcome him to share his story. An accomplished speaker,

Gaining business insight BCCJ events to provide learning david bickle @BCCJ_President

we will hear his own account of the events as they unfolded, together with his broader views on corporate behaviour.

the thinking and practices of business leaders is a key part of the BCCJ’s objective of supporting the interests of our members. Promoting these interests is also a commercial imperative, which is one of the reasons we are so proud to host the BBA. Now thriving in its seventh year, this year’s ceremony, on 14 November, will provide

Delivering for members Events such as these provide us with a chance to benefit from one of the very best business opportunities: the opportunity to learn. Gaining insight into

us all with an opportunity to showcase shining examples of the best of British business. From the award nominees to the firms and organisations that are represented by our generous sponsors and attendees, the gala occasion provides an unparalleled networking opportunity to share your message with clients and business partners. With 210 bookings already secured, we are looking forward again to another sell-out event. This is a tribute to the enthusiasm and engagement of our members, and a testament to the quality of the BBA as the premier British business event in Japan. Opportunities rarely come without sacrifice though, and in this case it manifests itself in the time invested by the organising committee. No one appreciates this more, or has given their time more freely, than Alison Jambert. A former BBA organiser, BCCJ vicepresident and president, she has now decided to step down from the BCCJ excom to focus on the further development of her business. On behalf of our members, I thank Alison for her tremendous contribution to the BCCJ over the years, and wish her every success as she continues to build her business in Japan.

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TOP STORY

• Women needed to boost GDP and firms’ profits • More childcare, parental leave can ease strain on parents • Challenging gender roles increases women’s confidence

by lucy alexander

Akie Abe shared her views on growing up in Japan as a woman.

Working for women Why Akie Abe and Cherie Blair want change

16 bccj acumen, october 2014

iversity, inclusion and female empowerment. These are the new buzzwords infiltrating Japan’s ultra-conservative business

the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Akie Abe, the Japanese prime minister’s wife, and Hillary Clinton. Running concurrently were

culture, the cardinal virtues of which long have been the very opposite: assimilation, conformity and deference to a patriarchal hierarchy. Yet, the leader intoning this radical mantra is none other than Shinzo Abe, Japan’s conservative prime minister. Abe’s conversion to the cause of womenomics—or how to halt economic free fall by letting the other half of the population into the male-only employment club—came in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Here, he announced a target of “30% female representation in leadership positions across Japanese society by 2020”. A tall order, considering only about 9% of current senior managers in Japan are women, compared with a global average of 24%. Following up on his Davos debut, Abe spoke at the World Assembly for Women (WAW) in Tokyo on 12–14 September, an event hosted by the government of Japan, Keidanren (the Japan Business Federation), Nikkei Inc, and the Japan Institute of International Affairs. Cherie Blair CBE QC was a guest speaker, alongside Christine Lagarde, managing director of

more than 100 related events under the umbrella initiative Shine Weeks, which aims to create a “society where women shine”. One such event was a womenomics forum held by the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ) that gathered together school students and women managers working for British firms in Japan. Blair, who was criticised by the British media for being “outspoken” during her time in 10 Downing Street, described how she had been raised to be ambitious. “I was brought up by two very strong women when my father abandoned my mother when I was eight”, she said. “They had not much education but were keen for my sister and me to have better chances”. Appearing on stage with Ms Abe, Blair explained how she went on to become the top law student in the country in her graduating year, and competed directly with her husband, Tony, for jobs in law and politics. “We agree that he is the better politician and I am the better lawyer”, she added. Ms Abe, despite a radically different upbringing, agreed that it does prime ministers no good to have a subservient spouse.

TOP STORY

Women who do not wish to accept low-grade, part-time work increasingly remain childless, with devastating consequences for Japan’s future.

“I had to marry before age 25”, she said, “because women were called Christmas cake—after 25 you are left over. I did not have big ambitions. My father cautioned

Only 2.6% of Japanese fathers take their paternity leave entitlement, compared with nine out of 10 British fathers. This culture of presenteeism, rather than

me not to have strong views when I spoke with boys”. Today, Ms Abe is affectionately known as “the domestic opposition” for her frequent questioning of her husband’s policies. Reinforcing the personal anecdotes were some damning statistics on the chronic underrepresentation of women in leadership roles in Japan, delivered by Lagarde: Japan’s gender–wage gap is 29%, while 60% of women abandon their careers when they have their first child. They are then sidelined into “informal, temporary, or part-time work”. For those who would argue that part-time work is women’s choice, she made it clear that it’s a choice born of desperation. An August report by independent brokerage and investment group CLSA states, “If a woman returns to work [after having children] as a non-regular employee, she earns 49% less than a male regular worker … So, the labour market is being hit by a wall of women charging half-price for their labour”. Family-friendly hours do not exist at the majority of large Japanese firms. “Companies demand long hours, insist on face time, and tie pay to seniority rather than merit”, said Lagarde.

results-focused work, has left Japan with a productivity rate 34% lower than the G7 average. Women who do not wish to accept low-grade, part-time work increasingly remain childless, with devastating consequences for Japan’s future. The working age population, which was at a peak of 87mn in the mid-1990s, is expected to fall to 55mn by 2050. The argument of the IMF, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and a host of investment banks is that Japan simply can’t afford to continue keeping women out of the workplace. There are financial benefits to taking women seriously, said Lagarde. “The Fortune 500 companies with the best records of promoting women have

Cherie Blair CBE QC said she was raised by strong women.

been shown to be 18–69% more profitable than the median firm in their area. Japanese firms with the most women managers reported returns on equity exceeding 10%, while the firms with the fewest women managers had low or negative returns”. Goldman Sachs estimates that, if the 62.5% employment rate for women in Japan rose to that of

men (80.6%), 7.1mn employees would be added to the workforce, raising GDP by as much as 12.5%. Lagarde recommends liberalising the childcare market (currently dominated by state providers), and switching to a system in which pay and promotion are based on performance and productivity, not overtime or years served.

A dialogue with Abe and Blair was a prominent part of the World Assembly for Women in Tokyo on 12-14 September.

bccjacumen.com 17

TOP STORY

Japan—with its big-eyed moe (cute) characters, maid cafes and schoolgirl fetish—can be said to idealise and infantilise women to an even greater extent than the global norm.

Attendees of the BCCJ womenomics event, part of MOFA’s Shine Weeks.

Both sexes should be incentivised

Lori Henderson MBE, executive

to take parental leave. Finally, she is a reluctant advocate of quotas, saying they are necessary, “not for ever, but for a long enough time that the gap is reduced to the point where we can let the expression of talents finish the job”. Her view was supported by most of the women senior managers who shared their experiences with school-leavers at the BCCJ forum on womenomics. The panel discussion on 19 September, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the British Embassy Tokyo, was the latest in a series of diversity-related events held by the BCCJ over the past two years. According to

director of the BCCJ, these seminars have been particularly popular with Japanese firms. Julia Longbottom, deputy head of mission, said that the British Embassy had helped to organise the BCCJ event because it considered gender equality to be a core British value. “We believe strongly in the importance of diversity and the ability of every individual to fulfil their potential”, she said. “We are missing out if economies like the UK and Japan are not maximising the potential of women”. Inflexible working hours are not the only thing holding Japanese women back, said Suzanne Price, representative director of Price Global, an Asia–Pacific business consultancy specialising in diversity. “We hear a lot about those ‘pull factors’—women choosing to leave [employment] to spend more time with their families. What are overlooked are

the ‘push factors’. Women tell us that they leave because they’re stuck, they’re not being promoted, they’re frustrated”. The problem, she said, is that “women are often assumed to be suited to supporting roles, and

Japan—with its big-eyed moe (cute) characters, maid cafes and schoolgirl fetish—can be said to idealise and infantilise women to an even greater extent than the global norm. Mr Abe inadvertently played into this in his speech at

are overlooked for promotion”. Christine Wright, Asia managing director of Hays plc, a global recruitment firm, agreed, saying, “we see a lot of women moving at mid-career because they are not getting the same opportunities as men”. Several young women present said that they were pessimistic about the future. “The advice I’m given a lot is that Japan is not the best place to job hunt if you’re a woman”, said Nodoka

WAW when he listed examples of women’s business success—a handbag designer, a childcare provider, a designer of a laptop that allows women to “open it without damaging their fingernails”. This list of stereotypes provided the perfect illustration of his subsequent statement that “the most difficult part [of empowering women] may be transforming the division of roles based on gender, something that is, unwittingly, firmly ingrained within us”. Yet, the fact that these issues are even being discussed by a Japanese prime minister represents progress, and has been warmly welcomed internationally.

Oyama, an intern at the British Embassy Tokyo. Corine Shimazu, a pupil at the British School in Tokyo, outlined the basic problem as she sees it. “Japan cannot get over conventional expectations of women. Nice women are like AKB48—silent and pretty”, she said. “My guy friends tell me I’m very male and cocky when I express my opinions”.

“The most difficult part [of empowering women] may be transforming the division of roles based on gender, something that is, unwittingly, firmly ingrained within us”. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the event.

Christine Lagarde gave a keynote speech.

bccjacumen.com 19

BRITISH BUSINESS AWARDS

Judges on the spot What it takes to be a winner custom media

s the judges of this year’s British Business Awards (BBA) get ready to consider the nominations with which the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ) have already been inundated, BCCJ ACUMEN asked them for their insights into the judging process. Specialists from a range of industries including communications, government, non-profit, finance and recruitment, the five panellists will be choosing which members and firms deserve to be honoured for their contribution to business and community relations over the past year. BBA winners will receive their prestigious accolade from British Ambassador to Japan Tim Hitchens CMG LVO at a special UK–Japan gala at the Hilton Tokyo, Shinjuku on 14 November. With nominations closing on 30 October, there is still time to put forward the names of deserving BCCJ members and firms for one of the six

20 bccj acumen, october 2014

1. Philippe Fauchet 2. William Saito 3. Sue Hunt 4. Richard Boggis-Rolfe 5. Keiko Akaho

BBA categories: Company of the Year; Entrepreneur of the Year; UK–Japan Partnership; Community Contribution; New Market Entrant; and Person of the Year. The judges agree that the scope of the categories and talent within the BCCJ means their task will not be an easy one. BCCJ ACUMEN asked them each five questions: 1. What will you be looking for in nominations? 2. What advice can you give nominees about presenting? 3. Which three words would you use to describe the ideal candidates? 4. Why do you think you were asked to be a judge? 5. What do you anticipate will be the hardest part of this task?

BRITISH BUSINESS AWARDS

Philippe Fauchet President GlaxoSmithKline Japan

William Saito Special advisor to the Cabinet Office Government of Japan

Sue Hunt Global ambassador Flourish

Richard Boggis-Rolfe Chairman Odgers Berndtson

Keiko Akaho Section editor Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun

1. I will be looking for authenticity first, originality when relevant, and nominees who have made a distinctive contribution to society and business. People and businesses providing inspiration as role models, and with an ethical mindset, are also high up among my priorities. 2. Be yourself, be clear, and depict your competitive advantage and recent achievements. Share your vision and how you inspire others.

3. Innovative, inspired, empathetic 4. It may be because my firm received the BBA Company of the Year award in 2012, or due to my long business experience, both in Japan and other countries. Or, with me being French … to bring greater diversity to the panel. 5. Making a sincere and fair selection from many good propositions that certainly will not be easily comparable will be a challenge.

1. I will be looking for the value the firm or individual offers, as well as their sustainability, scalability, team composition and innovativeness. 2. Presenting well is important and answering the questions is key. If someone outside your firm or not directly related to your industry cannot understand what you are trying to convey, your ideas are probably not fully baked yet, either in presentation quality or as a business model.

3. Passion, vision, teamwork 4. I don’t know the one specific reason, but it could be because I have judged over 12,000 firms in 47 countries over the past 10 years. 5. The top winner is usually easy to select as they stand out for whatever reason. However, selecting 2nd- and 3rd-place winners is always difficult in this type of competition.

1. I will be looking for exciting and creative ventures that make a difference and demonstrate that success can be delivered by adopting diverse and sustainable leadership. 2. Keep it simple, be clear and engaging but back up your statements with statistics and evidence of successful delivery. 3. Impactful, sustainable, exciting 4. I am really excited about being given the opportunity. I like to think I am versatile, as I have

had a very wide range of experiences during my career across businesses, industries and cultures. I am a chartered accountant with 20 years of experience in global investment banking with The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., leading to my dream job in relation to London 2012, and I am now on the board of Impact International. 5. I expect there will be lots of top quality candidates, the competition will be intense, and that we will want to give them all the top accolade.

1. Above all, I will look for businesses that have found a way to create distinctively Anglo–Japanese opportunities. Winners should not simply be marketing British products or services in Japan, or vice-versa: they will have found a way to create value out of a novel combination of Japanese and British know-how, culture, aspirations, techniques and/or markets. 2. A slick presentation may be necessary, but is certainly not enough. Entrants must communicate real passion to succeed, as well as creative ideas

and well thought through plans that demonstrate their ideas can be turned into effective action. 3. I would invest. 4. Literally, nothing is more important than a business’s leaders. Everything flows from the top: culture, values, strategy and results. Perhaps I was chosen because my business is in picking leaders. 5. Comparing apples with pears will be a challenge. Also, judging leadership, and thus the likelihood of success, without meeting the leaders is likely to be difficult.

1. Particularly in the Entrepreneur of the Year category, I will look for business owners of venture firms in Japan who are trying to expand operations. Any field the nominee is working in is fine; what I am looking for is someone who has set up a business model that, up until now, has not existed. 2. Explaining clearly why you decided to tackle the work you do is crucial. Nominees should also explain its impact and influence on other businesses and the wider society. 3. Decisive, honest, fair

4 As a reporter with the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, I have over 20 years of experience in a variety of fields, including in the electronics, telecommunications, food and textile industries. As part of my work, I have conducted interviews of top executives in these fields. 5. I am grateful for the opportunity to see the issues that people from various industries are tackling. As this is my first time to be a judge in such a competition, I feel a great responsibility, but I am also really looking forward to the experience.

bccjacumen.com 21

INTERVIEW

RECRUITMENT INDUSTRY STILL ON SOLID GROUND Confidence in the market has brought more growth

• No major economic or political shocks foreseen • Growth in number of European firms entering Japan market • Japanese firms more willing to consider mid-career hires

custom media

here will always be bumps in the road—an economic downturn, a political shock, a major natural disaster— but recruitment specialists Michael

when the Tohoku earthquake struck. And then, when things began to recover again, there was the Eurozone crisis”. Despite those substantial

Page are growing strongly in Japan, and see this country as a market with untapped potential that will continue to provide excellent returns. Given the trials and tribulations that have beset the global economic order in recent years, Japan is a good place to be. “[Problems] are, of course, hard to predict, but we do not see any serious macro-economic or political shocks on the horizon. We anticipate that Japan will continue on its current, gradually rising path”, said Basil Le Roux, managing director of the Japan operations at the London-based firm. “Our predictions are that there will continue to be growth opportunities, and we expect Japan to remain a good place for us to do business”, he said. South Africa-born Le Roux has worked with Page Group, incorporating Michael Page and Page Executive, for 16 years. He arrived in Japan in July 2011, a time of uncertainty nationwide. “Business had been very good for Michael Page in Japan for a number of years, and then the world experienced the Lehman crisis”, he points out. “That situation bottomed out in 2009, and things were picking up again

dents to national and regional economies, and shaken confidence on a broader scale, Le Roux says 2012 and 2013 were “very good”, and once again saw strong growth in the recruitment sector. Results this fiscal year are “harder to call at the moment”, he said, but 2014 is expected to bring another record performance. Confidence in Japan has seen Michael Page increase its locally based staff from 70 around two years ago to 120 today, with plans to double the number. The business is placing around 1,000 candidates per year in every sector, including finance, banking, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, consumer goods and manufacturing. Moreover, it has a significant number of temporary staff on its books as well. The majority of its clients are large, foreign multinationals that require capable and experienced bilingual staff. “These are well-established companies that have been here for a good period of time and have ongoing demand”, Le Roux said. “Much of that is because of the shortage of candidates with the required language skills. “Recently, we have been seeing a growth in the number of European companies trying

Basil Le Roux is managing director of Michael Page Japan.

to enter the Japan market, which is perhaps a reflection of the slowdown in their home markets, as well as US technology firms looking to expand”, he added. While the operations of these firms are relatively small at the moment—usually comprising a representative office with a staff of four or five—the firms are going to require people with knowledge and an understanding of the Japan market as soon as they take the plunge and commit to a full-scale presence in the country. Interestingly, Le Roux points out, Michael Page is seeing a gradual change in attitudes among some Japanese firms, particularly those in the technology and applications sectors, as they become increasingly willing to consider mid-career hires. “I would not classify it as a wholesale shift across all sectors,

but it’s definitely there”, he said. “I think it might take a few more years before changing jobs mid-career becomes completely acceptable to everyone in the Japan market, but it is encouraging to see it happening at last, and to see candidates realise that they are not beholden to Japan’s traditional model”. The change is reflected in Michael Page’s Japan office, where Japanese corporations account for 30% of business, a ratio that is expected to rise. And if the third arrow—growth strategy designed to restore confidence and turn expectations into actions—of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s much-vaunted Abenomics strategies can find its target, then Le Roux is confident that Japan will remain a key element of Michael Page’s international portfolio.

bccjacumen.com 23

LIFESTYLE

Bike culture reborn Industry changes attract youth and return riders by julian ryall

azuo Noda may not have the high profile and advertising budgets of his biggest international competitors, but in the Triumph range of

movement which set out to stop young people buying a bike, claiming they were dangerous or only driven by bosozoku street hoods. And people blindly

I think that is changing slightly, possibly because people have spent too much time in virtual worlds, and they have become aware they need to be more in the

At the Tokyo Motorcycle Show 2015, held at the Tokyo Big Sight convention centre in March, Noda sensed a change in the wind. “It used to be that the

motorcycles he knows that his product leaves the opposition in the dust when it comes to engineering, technology and sheer riding enjoyment. The biggest regret for the new president of Triumph Motorcycles Japan, who will assume the post on 1 November, is that today, fewer Japanese are buying motorbikes. “The 1980s were the heyday for motorcycles in Japan, but then about 20 years ago, strong opposition to the bike culture suddenly emerged”, he told BCCJ ACUMEN. “There was a

believed it”. That anti-biking sentiment has faded away over recent years, in part because the Japanese government realised that it was doing a great deal of damage to a domestic industry that earns significant tax revenues from sales in the sector, both at home and abroad. But, there have been other distractions for potential buyers. “[There was a time when] young people were more interested in mobile phones, games and the virtual world, and I think that was a pity”, said Noda. “But nowadays

real world, to feel again”.

people who attended would be

24 bccj acumen, october 2014

Kazuo Noda is president of Triumph Motorcycles Japan.

LIFESTYLE

Anti-biking sentiment [in Japan] has faded away over recent years.

motorcycle fanatics all done up in their leathers, but this year there were more young people in casual wear admiring the bikes, and that has to be a good sign for us”,

the emission regulations, so we could not sell them here”, said Noda. “These bikes have excellent emission standards and they’re accepted throughout Europe, but

“Ninety-five percent are middleincome men with a keen interest in motorcycles”. But, unlike people who buy the US’s most famous bike brand, the

he added. The recovery is still slow, however, and total sales today are just one-third of that in their peak years. Despite Japan being synonymous with brands such as Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki, there is still a significant portion of the bike-buying public that is looking for something more than a mass-produced clone. Many fall for the cliché that is the Harley-Davidson, while others opt for the German engineering of a BMW or the romance of a Ducatti—but Noda says the newest Triumph to arrive on these shores “already has the competition worried”. And so they should be. The Triumph Rocket III is equipped with a massive 2.3l engine—it looks as if the engineers have shoehorned an aircraft engine beneath the fuel tank—and a large, flared exhaust. This beast has the biggest engine displacement of any massproduced motorcycle in the world, and can hurtle from standing to 100kph in an eye-watering 2.8 seconds. “We have actually been selling the bike for six years already, but the Japanese government altered

Japan wanted to be different”. With that hurdle now overcome, all 50 of the bikes that are being imported have been snapped up in pre-orders or through dealers at Triumph’s network of 41 shops across Japan. And the ¥2.5mn price tag has not put off anyone, Noda said. In all, Triumph Motorcycles Japan has imported no fewer than six new lines this year, with a limited edition of the Bonneville— arguably the bike for which the firm is most famous—coming soon as well. The Street Triple is also turning heads on Tokyo’s streets, in part because of the three-cylinder “triple” engine and the fact that Tom Cruise rides one in his latest movie, Edge of Tomorrow, adapted from the Japanese novel All You Need is Kill. “I would say that the average Triumph buyer is between the ages of 48 and 55”, said Noda.

Triumph rider is “a gentleman, very much in the British mould. He’s well-educated, has good manners, and appreciates the workmanship that has gone into a high-quality product. “These are people who are not influenced by other people’s opinions, and they know the difference in quality and performance that is in a Triumph”, Noda added. One sector of the buying public is “return riders”, who had a bike in their youth but gave it up when they got married, and are returning to a two-wheeled form of transport now that they are in their 50s or 60s. Triumph sells 1,600 units a year in Japan, although Noda agreed that there has been a downturn in sales since the increase in the consumption tax rate on 1 April. Still, that is an impressive sales figure for a firm that was officially extinct as recently as 1983.

One sector of the buying public is “return riders”, who had a bike in their youth ... and are returning to a two-wheeled form of transport now that they are in their 50s or 60s.

Originally based in Coventry, the Triumph Cycle Co. Ltd., was set up by German immigrant Siegfried Bettmann in 1886. The firm branched out into motorcycles in 1902, and was turning out 1,000 units a month at a purpose-built plant in 1907. Business boomed throughout the years of World War I and into the 1920s, but the firm was hit hard by the Great Depression. In World War II, production was shifted to the West Midlands and, once the conflict was over, Triumph increasingly looked overseas for markets. When Marlon Brando sat astride a 1950 6T Thunderbird in The Wild One, the bike gained iconic status. In 1959, Triumph controlled 50% of the US market for bikes over 500cc in size, but the firm was unable to keep up with technological advances, primarily in Japanese firms. The firm went into receivership in 1983, but the name was bought by millionaire motorcycle enthusiast John Bloor OBE. Production at the Hinckley factory in Leicestershire was initially very limited before the first new series of bikes in 1991. It ranged from 750cc and 900cc triple cylinder units to 1,200cc four-cylinder bikes. The reborn firm has not looked back since.

bccjacumen.com 25

EXPORT TO JAPAN

SHOWCASING THE BEST OF BRITISH GREAT Week to help UK firms enter Japan market by vanessa holden

uilding on the success of last year, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) will host GREAT Week Japan on 27–31 October. Designed to strengthen the British brand, this UK government promotion of the country aims to create new business opportunities for UK firms. Key to the initiative is a programme of trade missions for UK firms in the retail, luxury, creative, and food and drink industries, as well as consumer-facing activities. Delegates will have the opportunity to meet major buyers, potential partners, specialist media and market experts through showcase events at the British Embassy Tokyo, where over 500 buyers interested in generating new business deals or relationships will attend. These events will give British firms the chance to promote their products and show their expertise in their respective sectors. Organisers UKTI hope to encourage mutually beneficial partnerships between businesses in both countries. Alongside this business-to-business focus, GREAT week also provides a platform for consumer-facing activities such as the Shopping is GREAT Britain campaign in the major shopping spots in Tokyo. A number of fashion and consumer goods brands from the UK are involved, delivering a series of talks in the GREAT Week hub in the Marunouchi Building, Tokyo, every evening of the week. This project also links into UKTI’s ongoing “Food is GREAT: A taste of Britain” campaign. A number of UK food and drink firms with a presence in Japan including BrewDog plc, Malins, Daylesford, Enoteca Co., Ltd., Fortnum & Mason plc, and HUB will be participating in the campaign. World famous Scottish brewery BrewDog plc, adored by beer lovers across the globe, set up shop in its first Japan location in Roppongi

UK Trade & Investment’s exhibition at 2013 GREAT Week Japan showcased traditional British food and drink.

in March, since when it has gone from strength to strength. Malins, the new kid on the block, opened its fish and chip shop in Roppongi in July. It is named after Joseph Malin, who is said to have opened Britain’s first such eatery in London in 1860. Daylesford, which has a 30-year history of farming organically in Gloucestershire, has a shop in Aoyama where a café, bakery and grocery section showcase its trademark products. Wine connoisseurs Enoteca will be sharing their expertise, while iconic British department store Fortnum & Mason will showcase their most sought-after goods. Popular British-style pub chain HUB will also be on hand for the festivities. But work on the Food is GREAT campaign is not only focused on the capital. This month, UKTI market specialists have been busy promoting the best of British food and drink across the country.

On 6–12 October, the Hilton Osaka held a British Food Festival. Organised jointly by Hilton Hotels & Resorts and The Boston Consulting Group, the hotel’s three restaurants offered British dishes, ranging from dinner courses to lunch buffets and afternoon tea. An executive head chef from the Waldorf Hilton, London was specially invited to attend the event. Another event was a British Fair at Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores, Inc.’s flagship shop in Umeda, Osaka on 8–14 October. Now in its 47th year, the event this year marks the largest number of British people participating since it began. About 40 people from nearly 30 British businesses showcased their goods and services. There was a strong focus on food and drink, and attendees were able to try offerings from a pie shop and a fish and chip shop. In addition, Scottish shortbread from Walkers Shortbread Ltd. was baked on site by one of the sons of the Walker family, and a tearoom and a sandwich shop offered the best of British culinary delights.

bccjacumen.com 27

BBA IS GREAT 2014

BUSINESS

British Business Awards

Friday 14 Nov. 6:30-10:30pm | Hilton Tokyo, Shinjuku

Celebrate the best of UK-Japan business at the 7th annual British Business Awards Over 200 seats have now been booked! Seats: 짜27,000 Tables: 짜270,000 (10 seats)

BBA recognise excellence in all industries Awards presented by British Ambassador Tim Hitchens

Fin a l c h an c e to b ook !

Black-tie gala dinner with Great British cuisine * Nominate by 5pm on 31 October.

In-kind Sponsors

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Sponsors

The British Chamber of Commerce in Japan

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BBA 2014

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INDUSTRY

Pass the cheese, please UK firms take slice of tough Japan market by julian ryall

he proud noses of our friends across the English Channel have been out of joint ever since it was revealed that the approximately 400 different types of cheese produced in France is a pale shadow of the more than 700 varieties now made in the UK. Moreover, a renaissance in demand for topquality, niche British cheeses means that figure is still growing. While we may not produce the most in terms of volume—the Americans take that particular title, thanks to their vast appetite for processed and mass-produced mozzarella and cheddar— or consume the most per head—the average French person eats a whopping 26.3kg of cheese every year—British cheese-makers are at the top of the craft when it comes to taste, texture and variety. This makes it even more annoying for Brits in Japan to be confronted by a limited range of limp and lifeless processed cheese in an average Japanese supermarket. “I couldn’t claim that we had any experience when we set the company up three years ago. We were just enthusiastic and massive consumers [of cheese]”, said Sean Brophy, managing director of I Love Cheese Co., Ltd. “And I couldn’t get what I wanted here”. After starting on a limited scale, the firm is now importing up to 60kg of top-quality, artisan cheeses from the UK every month, said Stephen

Davies, president. Sourced from specialist makers covering the highlands of Scotland to Cornwall, I Love Cheese is selling to individuals through its website, and increasingly building contacts with restaurants throughout Tokyo to stock British dairy products. “The business grew out of a conversation I had with Stephen about four years ago. We initially talked about opening a specialist shop for British cheese, but when we looked into it more closely, the costs were simply prohibitive”, said 54-year-old Brophy, a freelance technical translator who is originally from Coventry but has been in Japan for 24 years. There followed a fairly steep learning curve on British cheeses, the local market here, and forging relationships with manufacturers in the UK. The pair also had to figure out the complicated process of importing what the Japanese tax authorities consider to be a luxury foodstuff, on which they impose heavy duties. “It has been tricky”, admits 43-year-old Davies, from Bromsgrove in the West Midlands,

The Japanese tax authorities consider [cheese] to be a luxury foodstuff.

who balances the cheese business with his job in a specialist travel agency. “We are taxed under CIF [Cost, Insurance and Freight], which means that the rate is determined by combining what we paid for the cheese plus the freight costs”, said Davies. “And that obviously makes our costs higher and the price for the consumer higher. “What we find puzzling is that the tax authorities do not use the same calculation for other goods that might be considered luxury items”, he said. British beer and wine, for example, are exempt. Equally, cheese that is imported in bulk from some of the largest manufacturers, such as Australia and New Zealand, is also exempt from all taxes if it is to be used in other types of processed food here. “The high taxes obviously mean that there is a limit on how low we can go on our prices, but we are hopeful that something positive might come out of the international trade agreement that is being discussed between Japan and the European Union”, Brophy added. Around 80% of the people who purchase on-line are British expats who would simply not otherwise be able to get their hands on something like a Berkswell Artisan ewes’ milk cheese, coated in its distinctive thick rind, or a Yarg that has been wrapped in the leaves of nettles.

bccjacumen.com 29

INDUSTRY

The remaining 20% are Japanese, said Davies. The business partners are aiming to build up a solid base of expat customers at the same time as sharing their love for British cheese with more Japanese people. In time, they anticipate that the split will be reversed, with perhaps even 90% of their business coming from high-end restaurants across Japan. One method of doing that is by holding regular cheese-tasting events at bars and restaurants around Tokyo. The I Love Cheese roadshow made an appearance at The White Fox restaurant near Oji Station, opened by classically trained British chef Trevor Blyth in 2006. “It has always been quite difficult to get good British cheese because there is one major importer of top-quality European cheeses, but they focus on French and Italian makers, and have a very limited selection of British cheeses”, said Blyth. “And they’re expensive. “The food we serve here is tapas-style, a fusion of French and Japanese cooking, but it also fits very well with British cheeses and wines, and our sales of UK cheese varieties are doing very well now”, he said. “We are even finding that some older Japanese people are stopping in here as they change trains on their way home and having a glass of wine and a selection of cheese”. Arrayed on his counter are just some of the I Love Cheese offerings, including a dark and crumbly Aged Leicestershire Red, a round of the very popular Capricorn Somerset goat’s cheese and a Lincolnshire Poacher. Veins course through the dark orange of a Blue Shropshire, while the Sage Derby is flecked with green. “I really believe there is a great deal of potential demand for these sorts of cheeses here”, Blyth said, adding that new scientific research is helping, as it is debunking some of the myths about cheese being unhealthy. Cheese that is made in a traditional way and only contains natural fat is actually good for the human digestive system, according to studies, although the stabilised fat typically found in processed cheese is a different matter. The Alvis family, owners of Lye Cross Farm in Somerset, have already made substantial inroads into the South Korean market with their hand-made West Country Farmhouse Cheddar, and are looking to build on the contacts they have in Japan. “We have found that one of the difficulties is that the channels to market are very heavily structured”, Tim Harrap, head of collaboration

Top quality artisan cheeses from the UK are increasingly available in Tokyo bars, restaurants and shops.

for the firm, told BCCJ ACUMEN. “They have been in place for so many years that the distribution networks are pretty rigid and difficult to break out from”. Harrap took part in a three-day trade mission to Japan with Dacian Ciolo, European commissioner for agriculture and rural development. The aim was to promote Lye Cross Farm’s organic cheeses and its Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) cheese, a label that indicates a foodstuff that originates in a specific town or region, which has characteristics linked to that place and is produced in a defined geographical area. Lye Cross Farm’s production

A new generation of cheeselovers [in Japan] might be favouring imports from the UK.

facilities are a mere 10km from the village of Cheddar. “I went on a similar trade mission to China a few years ago and it proved successful”, Harrap said. “We are now doing a lot of business with our PDO cheese in South Korea and we would like to develop other markets, such as Japan. “I’m hoping this trip helps to build our credibility in the market, builds the profile of Lye Cross Farm, and that we can take things forward from there”, he explained. While cheese has traditionally been considered a French speciality among Japanese consumers, Blyth believes a new generation of cheese-lovers here might be favouring imports from the UK. “Until now, a lot of Japanese didn’t even realise that Britain makes cheese—and that it can be so good”, he said. www.ilovecheese.jp

bccjacumen.com 31

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BCCJ EVENT

TOURISM BODIES TIE UP AHEAD OF TOKYO 2020

• UK skills in infrastructure and creativity of use • Closing gap between reality and perception of country key • Leadership role of BCCJ as the voice of both nations

VisitBritain and JNTO sign pact by kathryn wortley photos by visitbritain/kiyoshi sakasai

ith an increase of 6% in visits and 13% in visitor spend, the last financial year was “quite simply the best year in the history

As 2014 marks 50 years since the last Olympic and Paralympic Games were held in Tokyo, Japan is looking back on lessons learned, as well as to the Games ahead.

of British tourism”, according to Christopher Rodrigues CBE. But, the chairman of VisitBritain admits this outcome was only to be expected. The country had “the dream ticket”: improvement to the UK product; the ability to sell the UK brand through the GREAT Britain campaign; a succession of royal events; and, most important, the leverage of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. “For a nation that spent £9bn on the Games, it is encouraging that the promise of tourism has turned into the results of tourism”, Rodrigues said at a British Chamber of Commerce in Japan event on 26 September. “Our [annual] visitor numbers are up 5mn from before the Games, and we estimate that there is at least an additional £1bn a year coming in from the direct impact of the Games”. After such success, and with work well underway for Tokyo 2020, it is not surprising that Japan is looking in London’s direction. Now, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between VisitBritain and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the UK is set to impart that experience and knowledge.

Rodrigues congratulated Tokyo on a successful 1964 Games, but said the country needs to “beat its personal best” to harness the digital age. With the explosion of social media sites and rapid development of software over the past few years, it is clear that Tokyo 2020 will take place under very different conditions than those of London 2012, which some say were the first digital Games. Rodrigues believes that Japan is ready for the challenge; indeed, its technological abilities may help the country to address any English language communication issues, for example through the use of translation software on smartphones. He urged Japan to make the opening ceremony its own by celebrating the “wonderful things in Japan”, and said the UK might be of help in bringing its highly regarded creativity to the table. The UK’s knowledge in building stadia and support infrastructure, as well as in providing specialist services, will also be of use, but most important will be its direct experience of delivering London 2012. According to Rodrigues, Japan needs to consider the voice of the customer by understanding the gap between the reality of Japan

34 bccj acumen, october 2014

Christopher Rodrigues, chairman of VisitBritain, promotes the GREAT Britain campaign.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ryoichi Matsuyama, president of JNTO expressed his delight at what cooperation could bring, saying Tokyo 2020 is “an opportunity to transform Japan into a more tourismorientated country”. The MoU builds on increasing ties between the British and Japanese governments. In October 2013, the British Council and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology signed an MoU on education, and in May, the

governments signed a joint statement on Olympic and Paralympic cooperation. Rodrigues said any British expertise would be passed on “willingly, warmly and with humility”, but was keen to quash the idea that Japan needs help with the mega tournaments. “We’re not outsourcing Britain, we’re supporting Japan”, he told BCCJ ACUMEN. “Japanese people have very high standards. “This country knows how to do things exceptionally well. It is in the heart of the people”.

As 2014 marks 50 years since the last Olympic and Paralympic Games were held in Tokyo, Japan is looking back on lessons learned, as well as to the Games ahead.

BCCJ EVENT

and people’s perceptions of it—and how to narrow that gap. He believes the BCCJ has an essential role to play by taking the voice of Japan to Britain, and bringing the voice of Britain to Japan. David Bickle, president of the BCCJ agrees. “We don’t just want to make a positive contribution; we want to take a leadership role here in bringing the various parties together and ensuring people make an excellent contribution”, he said. Despite VisitBritain’s success, Rodrigues warned the Games are not smooth sailing for tourism. They are a marathon that requires planning and preparation, as well as a national effort to showcase the country and engage the entire population, he explained. The host nation also has to transmit a clear message regarding what the Games mean. For the UK, London 2012 was a way to address social issues, such as diversity and inclusion.

Ryoichi Matsuyama, president of JNTO, welcomed the agreement.

[The Games] are a marathon that requires planning and preparation ... the host nation also has to transmit a clear message regarding what the Games mean.

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Rodrigues said the partners of JNTO need to work together to avoid a decline in visitors before the Games—London experienced a dip in business trade worth 40% of its tourism income—and urged the industry not to hike their prices during the Games lest they be criticised by the world’s press. After the Games, tourism organisations will be in the enviable position of inviting an audience of 4–5bn worldwide to come and see firsthand what the broadcasters had shown them. As tourism is the fifth-largest industry in the UK, accounting for 9% of total GDP, the UK government is all too aware of its importance. Rodrigues hopes that the MoU will be just the start of a long and productive collaboration that will enable both countries to enjoy an increased flow of tourists, which currently stands at an annual figure of about 230,000.

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36 bccj acumen, october 2014

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INDUSTRY

EXPERIENCES, NOT ATTRACTIONS

• Economic realities spawn move to expand inbound tourism • Flexibility crucial to success in attracting overseas tourists

Tapping into Japan’s potential as a global destination

• Experiences increasingly seen winning out over attractions

by ashley harvey visitbritain

t 10am the doors swung open. Over the next four days, on 25–28 September, the best part of 157,000 people made their way to Tokyo’s Big

Paralympic Games. In fact, Japanese standards of service are among the highest in the world. However, the Japanese tourism

Sight exhibition space. And why was this? Tourism. Specifically, to attend the Tourism Expo Japan. Hosted by the Japan Association of Travel Agents, the annual event caters for business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets. There were exhibitors in attendance from all over the world. Even smaller countries, typically not known as tourist destinations, such as the Republic of Yemen and State of Palestine, were in on the action with exhibitor stands. Were these nations optimistic about their attractiveness to holidaymakers? Probably. But, the tourism industry is inherently optimistic. After all, it is an industry built to satisfy “dreams of far off places”. Parking dreams for the moment, let’s talk numbers. In 2011, international tourism receipts—the travel component of balance of payments—was £636bn. In the UK, domestic and international tourism accounted for 9% of gross domestic product. In 2013, some 221,000 Japanese visited the UK, each spending an average of £1,000. Work done by Oxford Economics, a respected leader in global forecasting and quantitative analysis, estimates that for every £54,000 of tourism

market is still heavily geared to a domestic audience; one that is fairly homogenous with similar requirements and tastes. The international tourism market is, by definition, diverse. It has infinite tastes and requirements. Omotenashi “by the book” will not work. Flexibility in both service and process is the key to success in international tourism. Finally, tourists do not travel 12 hours by plane between the UK and Japan to see a tourism product such as The Shard in London or Tokyo Skytree. They travel these distances to experience the country. While high quality attractions such as these are important, they need to be part of a broader experience. Locally, firms such as Walk Japan Ltd. and Vesperience Ltd. in the UK are selling the experience over the product. As the international traveller becomes increasingly more sophisticated, businesses selling experiences that last are likely to be the most successful. To achieve its 20mn target, the Japanese government will need to show clearly the breadth and depth of experience that this wonderful country has to offer the international tourist.

The VisitBritain stand at Tokyo’s Big Sight on 25-28 September attracted much interest. Photo: visitbritain/kiyoshi sakasai

spend, one new full-time position in the UK is created. Thus, last financial year, Japanese visitors created well over 4,000 jobs across the country. Therefore, the economic value of tourism should not be underestimated. This is something that governments of all countries are coming to clearly understand. In the past, Japan’s government has been perhaps a little slow in recognising the value of inbound tourism. However, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has set a target for the country of annually welcoming 20mn visitors by 2020. In 2013, the number of inbound visitors reached a record high of 10mn, meaning the goal of doubling the number in six years is extraordinarily aggressive. Speaking of the government’s

work in relation to Tokyo 2020, VisitBritain Chairman Christopher Rodrigues CBE said that if Japan is to achieve that visitor target by 2020 then, “the Olympics will be easy by comparison” (see page 34). Many non-Japanese who have lived in the country for some time understand the huge potential Japan has as a tourist destination: the sheer diversity of scenery from Okinawa Prefecture in the south to Hokkaido Prefecture in the north; as well as the many matsuri (festivals), both local and national, large and small. The kindness that the Japanese show to lost-looking tourists is the stuff of expat legend. Omotenashi (the art of Japanese hospitality) was an important factor in Tokyo being awarded the 2020 Olympic and

bccjacumen.com 37

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• Attended by over 200 brightly dressed supporters • Money to support facility dogs and arts programme • Work underway for charity’s 2015 event calendar

Event raises ¥26mn for sick children by cassie easter photos by antony tran

hine On! Kids, a non-profit organisation supporting children with cancer and other serious illnesses in Japan, held its 9th annual fundraiser on 27 September at the Tokyo American Club. Over 200 supporters, in brightly coloured shirts, sarongs and summer frocks were dressed to attract attention—and, thus, funds—for programmes the charity will need over the next year. Contributions on the night amounted to ¥26mn, which will fund the work of two fulltime, specially trained facility dogs Yogi and Bailey—who provide love and companionship to patients at Shizuoka Children’s Hospital and Kanagawa Children’s Medical Center. Also receiving funds is the Beads of Courage® programme, which provides art as a means of support and strength to children coping with serious illness. Speakers at the luau-themed event included Kim Forsythe, president of Shine On! Kids, as well as patients and families who will benefit from the programmes. Entertainment included games and dancing, as well as performances from singer/songwriters Donna Burke, Natalie Ferris and Aimee Blackschleger, family musical group Hulabootie/Pa’i Kukui, and the Tokyo International Children’s Choir. Supporters of the charity can look forward to an exciting range of events in 2015, including running event Paracup in April, Executive Fight Night in May, and a 10th anniversary extravaganza fundraiser in September.

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1 Kim Forsythe, president of Shine On! Kids 2 Leon van Houwelingen of Custom Media K.K., Aki Nitta of Unigroup Relocation Japan and Paul Dupuis of Randstad Japan K.K.

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Coming full circle: championing globalisation then and now by michael shearer obe

s British consul-general, my job is to promote UK interests in western Japan, covering 29 prefectures, from Toyama and Aichi in the western part of Honshu island to the islands of Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa in the south. This work includes encouraging western Japan investment in the UK, and increasing the number of British firms successfully doing business in the area. I champion UK values, culture, arts and education, as well as engage with the local science and innovation community to promote prosperity and growth for both our countries. I follow local social and political developments that might have an impact on UK interests. I also support about 4,500 British nationals living in western Japan, and many of the 170,000 British tourists who come to Japan each year. It was this job that brought me to the Kansai region. But I had known I would return here at some point, after my incredibly exciting experiences as a 20-year-old student at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka. In those days I had strolled around the futuristic neon sights of Dotonburi in Osaka; hiked up Mount Rokko in Hyogo Prefecture; and enjoyed atmospheric Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geisha district. And 23 years on, in my role as British consul-general, I find that these places remain

Now in its 27th year, the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme has welcomed over 55,000 people from 62 countries to deliver grassroots international exchange between Japan and other nations. Fourth in our series, this column features former JETs, both in the UK and Japan, who keep the idea of fostering mutual understanding firmly at heart.

just as exciting. It is a privilege to be representing the UK in a city, region and country for which I have huge affection. Kansai International Airport didn’t exist when I landed in Osaka in 1991. Now, I am working with UK firms to see if British expertise can help with the airport’s planned privatisation. I worked in Hilton Osaka’s café as a waiter in 1991; in October I will be launching their first British food fair. Ippudo, a popular ramen eatery I enjoyed as a foreign student, launched their first restaurant in London, and I recently met their chief executive in Hakata to go over those plans. There is no doubt that my previous experience in Kansai is helping me to further relationships and business opportunities for the UK today. But, I also owe a lot to the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme and what I learnt as a coordinator for international relations in Kochi Prefecture. I was accepted onto the programme after graduating from the University of Leeds with a BA Honours degree in Japanese and Chinese.

I lived for two years in a rural community that had more vending machines and flashing yellow traffic lights than non-Japanese residents. My objective was to help “internationalise” Sakawacho through initially meeting residents. Actually it was more nomunikeshon (communication through drinking) than dialogue. My activities focused on grass-roots internationalisation, ranging from translation work and developing links between Sawaka-cho and my hometown, to implementing events to foster international exchange, as well as promoting the benefits of internationalisation. I also provided a different perspective on the work of the town, including urban development and PR. Working in Japanese local government also gave me a valuable insight into aspects of Japanese politics, including the use of ringi (decision-making via circular letters), the proposing of budgets, and the execution of project management initiatives. I was fortunate enough to meet people from many firms,

to understand a little more of Japanese management practices, and to learn the basics of presenting and negotiating in Japanese. The Great Hanshin Earthquake occurred during my time on the JET Programme. My role of checking on other JET participants helped shape my early crisis management experiences. But even so, I never thought that, two decades later, I would be leading teams in and around Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture as the senior UK representative on the ground following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. In 2011, I had overall responsibility for the evacuation of British nationals affected by the triple disaster, and for ensuring Brits remaining in the area were aware of changes to travel advice and other forms of support. Today, in order to help UK nationals be prepared for a crisis, the consulate-general and embassy report crisis preparedness activities at www.gov.uk/world/ japan and any changes to travel advice at www.gov.uk/foreigntravel-advice/japan. The economy of the total 29 prefectures within my remit is roughly equivalent to the UK in terms of GDP. There are extensive business and collaboration opportunities between western Japan and the UK for both British and Japanese firms.

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HELP

CREATING A MORE SUPPORTIVE SOCIETY Personal steps to reduce the stigma of mental illness

he World Health Organization (WHO) has marked 10 October as World Mental Health Day to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world. Sadly, despite our advances in science and technology, mental illness remains greatly misunderstood and feared. It is often perceived as something that happens to others, yet one in four

experiences. With the right kind of help, most people do recover and lead healthy, productive and satisfying lives. Families and loved ones play a key role in support and

that supports recovery and social inclusion, and reduces discrimination: • Learn and share the facts about mental health and illness

people will experience a mental health problem during their lifetime. WHO estimates that, in 2020, clinical depression will be the leading cause of disability worldwide, suggesting most of us will at some point come into contact with a mental illness, either directly or indirectly. Only a quarter of those who experience a mental illness reach out for support; one of the most significant barriers is the fear of being judged negatively. For many, the shame they feel they will bring upon themselves and their family is too great. This leaves a number of people trying to manage the problem on their own, either suffering in silence, or masking the pain with drugs or alcohol. Mental illness is one of the biggest health problems facing our society, yet it rarely receives the resources it requires or the respect it deserves. Below are some of the more common questions TELL has been asked about mental health.

recovery. Workplaces are filled with people who have experienced mental illnesses. Most people who experience serious mental illnesses want to work but face barriers to finding and keeping meaningful employment.

• Get to know people with personal experiences of mental illness • Speak up when friends, family, colleagues, or the media display false beliefs and negative stereotypes • Continue offering the same support to people, even when they are physically or mentally unwell • Don’t label or judge people with a mental illness; treat them with respect and dignity, as you would anyone else • Talk openly of your own experience of mental illness. The more hidden mental illness remains, the more people continue to believe that it needs to be concealed. World Mental Health Day is designed to raise awareness internationally, but you can help every day—not just on this specific day. You can help by supporting those around you, and helping to change the attitude towards those suffering an illness like any other, and one that, with the right attention, can be cured, like any other. TELL Lifeline is open 9am– 11pm every day, and can be reached on 03 5774 0992. You need to talk? We’re here to listen.

Only a quarter of those who experience a mental illness reach out for support; one of the most significant barriers is the fear of being judged negatively.

Is mental illness a real physical illness? Yes. Mental illness is a real health problem, and many types have effective treatments. When someone breaks their leg, we wouldn’t expect them to just “get over it”. Nor would we blame them if they needed a cast, or fail to help them while they recovered. Yet, sadly it is not always the case when someone has a mental health problem. What causes mental illness and can people recover? Mental illnesses are the result of a combination of genetics, biology, environment and life

Do only adults get mental illnesses like depression? Many mental illnesses first surface when a person is young, and may appear different in children. Mental illnesses and the associated stigma impact the way young people learn and build skills. This can lead to challenges in the future, and sadly many are not receiving the help they need. If we want to reduce the impact of mental illness on our communities, we need to learn the facts. Changing attitudes and behaviours takes time, and this is an area in which we can all play a role in making a difference. You can help create a society, where mental health problems are not hidden in shame and secrecy, by ensuring your friend or relative is not afraid to speak out about their problems, or left wondering where they can turn for help. We all have a role in creating a mentally healthy community

bccjacumen.com 43

ARTS 1

UNTIL 24 NOVEMBER Genius and Ambition: The Royal Academy of Arts, London 1768–1918 About 90 items showing 150 years of history of The Royal Academy of Arts, London, including oil paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and books are on display at this special exhibition. PHOTO: JOHN HAMMOND ©ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, LONDON ARTWORK BY HENRY RAEBURN, BOY AND RABBIT

10am–6pm (closed Mondays [except 3, 24 November] and 4, 25 November) Adults: ¥500 » www.city.nerima.tokyo.jp/ manabu/bunka/museum/ tenrankai/shakespeare2014.html 03-3577-1821 ◉ Free tickets We are giving away five pairs of tickets to this event. 3

24–25 OCTOBER Tokyo Fuji Art Museum 492-1 Yanomachi Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 10am–5pm (closed Mondays [except 3, 24 November] and 4 November) Adults: ¥1,300 » www.tokyo-np.co.jp/event/royalacademy/index.html 042-691-4511 ◉ Free tickets We are giving away five pairs of tickets to this event. 2

UNTIL 30 NOVEMBER Looking at Shakespeare A celebration of the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s birth, Looking at Shakespeare showcases about 80 winning items from the Designer Bookbinders International Bookbinding Competition 2013. PHOTO: SUSSIE AHLBURG ©DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS ARTWORK BY HANNAH BROWN (UK)

Nerima Art Museum 1-36-16 Nukui, Nerima-ku, Tokyo

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UK EVENTS IN JAPAN COMPILED BY KANA SHIMOYOSHI

UK Guitar Pop Anthem/Tokyo C86 This special event will feature three music acts. The Monochrome Set, an English new wave band, will perform songs from their album Super Plastic City. Pat Fish, best known for his work as a member of the UK band The Jazz Butcher, will give his debut solo performance in Japan. British songwriter Peter Astor will also be playing in Japan for the first time.

24 October Zher the Zoo Yoyogi (live house) Yoyogi Park Building B1F 1-30-1 Yoyogi Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 25 October Club 251 Shimokitazawa SY Building B1F 5-29-15 Daizawa Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 7pm (doors open 6pm) Adults: from ¥6,300 » www2.odn.ne.jp/vinyl-japan/ live_event.html 03-3365-0910

◉ To apply for free tickets, please send an email with your name, address and telephone number by 31 October to: coordinator@custom-media.com. Winners will be picked at random.

1–24 NOVEMBER

Singin’ in the Rain Acclaimed British dancer Adam Cooper plays the lead role in this famous musical. Set in the 1920s, Singin’ in the Rain tells the love story of hero Don Lockwood, who one day has a chance encounter with a fledging actress. The musical will be performed in English with Japanese subtitles. Photo: Manuel Harlan of the London cast

Tokyu Theatre Orb Shibuya Hikarie 11F 2-21-1 Shibuya Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Various show times Adults: from ¥9,000 » http://singinintherain.jp/en/ 03-3477-5858 5

4 NOVEMBER Japan’s Living Kogei (Craft) Traditions At this special lecture, Professor Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere, founding director of the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, will explore Japan’s rich and varied kogei (craft) tradition. Also taking part will be urushi (lacquerware) artist Kazumi Murose, vice-chairperson of the Japan Art Crafts Association. The lecture will be given in English and there will be no Japanese interpretation.

Iwasaki Koyata Memorial Hall, International House of Japan 5-11-16 Roppongi Minato-ku, Tokyo 7pm Free (reservations required) » www.i-house.or.jp/eng/ programs/activities/japan_ihj/ 03-3470-3211 6

15 NOVEMBER Soka International Harp Festival 2014—Main Concert Internationally renowned harpist Ieuan Jones, from mid-Wales, will perform at this special annual concert. He has performed in more than 25 countries, and given appearances with some of the world’s leading orchestras. He will also be playing various collaborations with Japanese musicians. Photo of harpist Ieuan Jones

Soka City Bunka Kaikan 1-1-5 Matsue Soka-shi, Saitama Prefecture 6:30pm (doors open 6pm) Adults: ¥1,000 » http://soka-bunka.jp/ harpfestival/program.html 048-931-9325 ◉ Free tickets We are giving away 10 pairs of tickets to this performance.

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community

1 | BCCJ EVENT Attending “The Challenge for News” on 11 September at the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo were (from left): David Bickle, BCCJ president; guest speakers from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism Nic Newman, visiting research fellow, and Dr David Levy, director; as well as Graham Davis, BCCJ executive committee member.

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2 | BCCJ EVENT Represented at “Ahead of the Game—making global sporting events work for your business” at the Conrad Tokyo on 26 September were VisitBritain, the Japan National Tourism Organization, The British Embassy Tokyo and the BCCJ (see page 34).

4 | EDUCATION Masaaki Akaike, parliamentary vice-minister of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, gave an opening address at a British Council conference on international English language assessments at Meiji Kinenkan in Tokyo on 29-30 September.

Photo: VisitBritain/Kiyoshi Sakasai

Photo: British Council/Kenichi Aikawa

3 | SOCIAL Fergus Stewart, head of Japan at Intercontinental Hotels Group (left) presents Iain Ferguson, president and chief operating officer of Lloyds Japan Inc., with the individual prize at a BCCJ golf event in Chiba Prefecture on 13 September.

5 | CULTURE British Ambassador to Japan Tim Hitchens CMG LVO welcomed guests to a British Council event, inspired by popular UK drama Downton Abbey, at HUB Ichigaya in Tokyo on 6 September. Photo: British Council/Kenichi Aikawa

community

6 | ANNIVERSARY Attending a special event at the British School in Tokyo to mark its 25th anniversary on 19 September were British Ambassador to Japan Tim Hitchens CMG LVO and pupils. 7 | FOOD AND DRINK Members of the Japan–British Society enjoyed a guided tour and wine tasting at Manns Winery in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture on 26 September.

8 | EXCHANGE Guest speakers and organisers of Japan400 Plymouth: “Doing Business with Japan”, part of a series of events to promote business and cultural exchange, officially launched the programme at the Royal Western Yacht Club of England, Plymouth on 26 September (see page 9).

10 | FESTIVAL Visitors to Japan Matsuri in Trafalgar Square, London, on 27 September, enjoyed performances of traditional arts, music and dancing.

9 | BALLET British choreographer Matthew Bourne OBE’s rendition of Swan Lake was performed at Tokyu Theatre Orb on 6-21 September. Photo: Hidemi Seto

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HEALTH

GUIDE TO DENGUE FEVER

• Infection largely confined to tropical regions of the world • Tokyo cases likely to be result of mosquito biting infected traveller • Most effective prevention is to minimise the risk of being bitten

Steps to help avoid the mosquito-borne bug by dr thomas lomax

ver recent weeks, the rising number of cases of dengue fever contracted in Tokyo has been widely reported in the media. This news has

reported cases of dengue fever probably represent a single strain from one infected individual. At present, there isn’t any cure for the fever. In both mild and

understandably caused many more people than usual with unexplained high temperatures to come to my surgery for examination. At this time of year, there are probably very few Tokyo residents who haven’t picked up at least one mosquito bite within the previous fortnight, so concern is understandable. Worldwide, dengue is a common infection. The World Health Organization estimates that 50–100mn cases occur yearly, but these are largely confined to tropical regions where mosquitoes are a year-round presence. Cases in temperate countries are regularly detected in travellers returning from the tropics, while there is the occasional occurrence of local outbreaks—presumably the result of an infected traveller being bitten by a mosquito, which then infects people in a normally dengue-free area. The mosquito most commonly responsible for transmission (Aedes aegypti) typically lives for a month, and has a preference for urban areas where it has access to both standing water and a large human population. It is, therefore, easy to see how outbreaks occur in large international cities. In 2010, 63 cases were reported in Key West, Florida, and in

severe cases, rest and treatment of the symptoms are advised, but there are currently no drugs or vaccines with which to treat the virus or block infection. Given that dengue cannot be treated, and isn’t always diagnosed in infected people, the most effective way of controlling outbreaks is to target the mosquitoes that carry the virus. To this end, Tokyo park ponds linked to the infections have been drained. Similarly, taking steps to avoid leaving standing water around your residence will deny mosquitoes the breeding grounds that their larvae need. It’s also a good idea to minimise your risk of being bitten by covering up with long sleeves and using insect repellent, as preventing bites breaks the cycle of infection between human and mosquito. Historically, reducing the number of mosquitoes has been the most effective way of limiting the infections that they carry. During the Middle Ages, malaria was endemic in the UK, but was eradicated before the parasite that caused it had been identified. This wasn’t a result of medical treatment but, rather, because of such changes in land use as the draining of marshes.

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Preventing bites breaks the cycle of infection between human and mosquito. 2008–9, over 500 cases occurred in a similar local outbreak in Cairns, Australia. Both these areas normally are regarded as dengue free. In this context, the current Tokyo outbreak is not so surprising, and fits the pattern of outbreaks driven by increasing international travel, urbanisation and climate change. In many people, dengue is a mild infection and a number of the infections lead to symptoms so mild that infected individuals don’t seek medical care. Other sufferers get a high fever, generalised muscle aches, headaches and, sometimes but not always, a widespread measles-like rash that typically comes on 3–10 days after

the ailing individual has been bitten by an infected mosquito. But severe cases do also occur. At the extreme end of the condition’s spectrum, the virus can suppress the body’s production of platelets, which are essential for normal blood clotting. This can lead to haemorrhagic shock, a lifethreatening fall in blood pressure due to uncontrolled bleeding, which is sometimes fatal. There are five different subtypes of the dengue virus. More serious infections are usually caused by serial infections, when a person who is infected with one strain of dengue is then infected by another. This scenario is unlikely to play out in Tokyo, where the

IF YOU ASK ME

GET READY, ON YOUR MARKS … PR and English language initiatives needed for ambitious Tokyo 2020 goals by ian de stains obe

t has been argued that the 1964 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games were the point at which Japan truly began its post-war rehabilitation

Japan is notoriously bad at its own PR. Perhaps it is a cultural thing; here it’s not exactly done to blow your own trumpet. So be it. But the country also has been

will make his city number one in the world for tourism. I wonder if he realises the enormity of the task he faces; indeed, I wonder if he understands the task itself?

recognised for what it is. The first thing that needs to be approached is the desperately low level of English language capability across the entire hospitality industry.

and, certainly, the city of Tokyo has much to be proud of as a result of the efforts then. Now it has spanking-new hotels (some of them already renovated, with others to follow suit), an elevated expressway system and the still impressive—even futuristic-looking—Yoyogi National Stadium in Harajuku. The country at large benefitted, too, with the iconic Shinkansen quickly established internationally as a sign of the country’s thrusting development. Who in the world has not seen the sleek bullet train streaking past a magnificent Mount Fuji? There is, understandably, a huge sense of excitement and expectation about Japan’s hosting of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The hope is that this will be a renaissance, a chance for the country to regain its self-confidence and haul itself out of the doldrums that have beset it since the economic downturn— which saw Japan slip from the world’s second- to third-largest economy—and the triple disaster of March 2011. So, Tokyo 2020 is an opportunity certainly, but there is also a fear that this is a PR soufflé on which the oven door is about to be thrown open.

loath to embrace others who might be willing to trumpet the nation’s advantages on its behalf. International PR consultancies have regularly met with fierce resistance. Several years ago, when Japan began a somewhat futile attempt to attract more foreign tourism, officials delighted in their slogan “Yokoso Japan”, apparently oblivious to the fact that, if you

Tokyo is a truly amazing city. It is clean. It is safe. It is efficient. But try getting around if you have zero Japanese language ability, and you will quickly come up against significant barriers. The situation is worse still if you happen to be in a wheelchair. Try drawing cash from a bank machine. Try taking a taxi to even the best-known spots; not only do the drivers often not

Other languages would also be welcome, of course, but we have to be realistic: getting beyond “this is a pen” in English alone will be a real challenge. The Japanese government will have to accept an increased number of teachers and trainers, and will need to recognise the significant number of non-Japanese already on the ground here who have superior Japanese-language skills compared with the English-language ability of their Japanese counterparts. The ability of these non-Japanese is an area that is largely ignored because it does not sit comfortably with the wareware-nihonjin-wa set who, by and large, believe that anyone not brought up on a diet of rice and miso soup couldn’t possibly understand anything Japanese. It is a blind arrogance that has already cost Japan dearly; it would not have been surpassed economically by China had it been quicker to secure Englishlanguage skills and, thus, its ability to think globally. It is something the country must confront. In South Korea, Taiwan, mainland China—not to mention Singapore and Hong Kong—one finds English commonly spoken. There was a time when Japan aspired to that. It is time to aspire again.

The hope is that [the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020] will be a renaissance. didn’t speak Japanese, the phrase was meaningless. I recall attending one meeting of an advisory committee and pointing that out. I compared the slogan to those of other countries—“Incredible ###”; “### Truly Asia” and “Amazing ###”. Everyone in the room knew immediately which country each slogan promotes, but there was a complete failure to understand that Japan’s slogan simply could not compete. Deaf ears. “You don’t understand: we Japanese …”. Ahead of the 2020 Games, Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe has made the brave boast that he

know where you want to go, but, if you hail a taxi on the street, they sometimes don’t know where they are. True, people are generally helpful and polite, but when something like the Games comes to town, there has to be a totally different game plan. The number of overseas visitors to Japan reportedly reached 10mn in 2013. Tokyo 2020 will see that number rise significantly, and Masuzoe is on record as saying he’d like to see the number rise to 18mn by 2024. Attracting more tourists is truly a genuine opportunity if it is

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BOOK REVIEW BY IAN DE STAINS OBE BCCJ ACUMEN has one copy of this book to give away. To apply, please send an email by 31 October to: editor@custom-media.com. The winner will be picked at random.

An Encyclopaedia of Myself Jonathan Meades Fourth Estate £18.99

A time and place unpeeled Life through the eyes of an extraordinary British writer

Full disclosure: in the late 1960s, Jonathan Meades and I were contemporaries at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. From the very earliest, there were whispered questions about how on earth Meades had managed to pass the very demanding audition that admitted just 32 students out of

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the hundreds who had applied. Amusing and clearly intelligent, he nevertheless seemed to lack even the basic skills required. In no time at all, we decided, he was not destined to be a performer. He’d no doubt end up in a somewhat less theatrical role (managing a chamber of commerce, perhaps?).

How wrong we were. Very soon after leaving the drama school, Meades began to make a name for himself as a writer—a very successful restaurant critic for The Times—but also taking on another passion: architecture and architects. It was this fascination that led him into making highly idiosyncratic television programmes, the style of which is referred to as “psychedelic” by at least one UK critic. There were unusual camera angles, jump-cut edits, unexpected wipes and pieces to camera. As in his writing, Meades breaks all the rules. Here, he writes on regeneration in the Blair Age: “Blusky Thoughts, Endeavour Drivers, Round-ovalings, Crisis Tablet Alerts, Groningen Protocols, Nielsmartings, Creative Hubcaps ... Think outside the elephant. Push the box. The envelope in the room”. What (just) saves all of this (and his writing in general) from pretension is the fact that, while Meades takes his subjects— about which he is obviously well informed—very seriously, he rarely takes himself so. Nowhere is this more evident than in the volume under review. It is not, strictly speaking, an autobiography; that would be far too conventional an approach for Meades to take. Instead it is—as with any encyclopaedia—an attempt to explore, examine and explain; in this case, the phenomenon that is Jonathan Meades. So, we have chapters on his early education, his early obsession with sex, and the

subjects that came to dominate his later years: those which propelled his television career, in particular. It is a memoir and, for anyone who grew up in provincial England during the 1950s, it is pungently evocative: “Period product inventory. Hairy cardboard boxes; hairy Izal toilet paper; Weston’s Wagon Wheels; Nestlé’s segmental chocolate bars with white mint filling and green wrappers … Trex; Robinson’s Lemon Barley Water; Kia-Ora (which meant good health—it was everyone’s single word of Maori) ...”. He takes the same approach when describing the various personalities that made up his clearly out-of-the ordinary family: “[Uncle] Norman ate the rind of hard cheeses, grew vegetables and flew with test pilots, beyond the speed of sound, rollercoasting above the numberless greens and greys, buffs and blues, corkscrewing through the empyrean, his empyrean”. At times, Meades is exhausting to read; rarely have I had to refer so often to a dictionary: his vocabulary is astonishing. But there is also a sense of danger and vitality about his writing that is exhilarating. It is tempting to try and describe the book in “Meadesian” terms—none other will really quite do—but when it comes down to it, the only way to come to terms with it is to read it. The critic A.A. Gill, writing in The Sunday Times sums it up best: “Jonathan Meades is the Jonathan Meades of his generation”.

Fly in British style Fly with us from Tokyo to London Heathrow Terminal 5. :LWK WKUHH GDLO\ ÃºLJKWV \RX FDQ WUDYHO ZLWK XV DQG RXU SDUWQHUV IURP FLWLHV LQ -DSDQ WR FLWLHV LQ WKH 8. DQG (XURSH DQG H[SHULHQFH WKH ZRUOG FODVV VHUYLFH that the British are famous for. 'LVFRYHU PRUH DW ba.com