The Canadian Spring 2017 by CCCJ The Canadian

The Canadian A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF THE CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN JAPAN | SPRING 2017 | VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 02

DIGITAL TECH IN QUEBEC AND JAPAN MAKES FOR WINNING PARTNERSHIPS

Lise Thériault | Creativity & Innovation *QUEBEC DEPUTY PREMIER LISE THÉRIAULT ON THE SIGNING OF A NEW CANADA-JAPAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

The Canadian

CONTENTS

SPRING 2017 VOLUME 17 ISSUE 02

Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan La Chambre de commerce du Canada au Japon The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan is a private sector, not-for-profit business organization that has, since 1979, promoted the development of commerce between Canada and Japan. Chairman Ron Haigh Toyota Motor Corporation ronhaigh@icloud.com Vice-Chairman Neil van Wouw Vanten K.K. neil@vanten.com

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Executive Director Jim Zhang jim.zhang@cccj.or.jp Senior Advisor David Cotter david.cotter@cccj.or.jp Office Manager Jody Pang jody.pang@cccj.or.jp 7F Parkside Sepia 3-13-10 Nishi-Azabu Minato-ku, Tokyo Japan 106-0031

"Quand les murs deviennent des terrains de jeux. (When walls become playgrounds)." A still from a multimedia prototyping project by Montreal digital arts company Moment Factory.

Tel: +81 (0)3 5775-9500 Fax: +81 (0)3 5775-9507 www.cccj.or.jp LinkedIn: cccjapon Facebook: www.facebook.com/cccjapon Twitter: @cccjapon YouTube: cccjapon

Message From Quebec 08

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Editor-in-Chief: Jeff W. Richards [ jeff@gplusmedia.com] Art Director: Niklas Wendt

Cover Story

Quebec Success Stories Quebec Industry Profile

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Chamber Insights 010

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Published by

Chairman’s Perspective

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Member Profile

Real Estate Trends

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Asia Pacific View

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Quebec Creative & Multimedia Directory 020 Membership Committee 024 / Timeline 028 / Calendar 029 Members Directory 030 / Chamber Voices 032 / Coach’s Corner 034

On the cover: Quebec Deputy Premier Lise Thériault led a trade mission to Japan in March, a trip that is the subject of our feature story. Cover photo courtesy of the province of Quebec and Benjamin Parks. The Canadian is the official publication of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ), published quarterly in Tokyo. The views and opinions expressed herein are solely the opinions and views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the CCCJ or GPlusMedia. © 2017 GPlusMedia Inc. All rights reserved.

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Chairman’s Perspective

RON HAIGH

CCCJ CHAIRMAN

BUILDING ON THE WORK OF OTHERS

This year our chamber is celebrating Canada’s sesquicentennial. While perhaps difficult to pronounce or spell, celebration is in order given our country’s quality of life and globally well-respected values — even if our take on the four seasons gets a lackluster reception. As you would expect, the cccj has many events planned for this national milestone. By the time you read this, we will have already presented two events in our Canada 150 Speaker’s Series, including seminars with Quebec’s Deputy Premier Lise Thériault and Air Canada President Ben Smith; created a special new members price and launched our Canada-Japan Investment and Business Guide. We can look forward to an annual general meeting with a new chairman and several new governors on hand; a Canada Day celebration at the Embassy

and our annual Maple Leaf Gala in September. But even in the midst of all the hubbub, it’s still nice to sit down occasionally with a good book that gives us pause to think. Recently, I read The Promise of Canada: 150 Years — People and Ideas That Have Shaped Our Country by Charlotte Gray. The author left England 38 years ago to live in an adopted country, a place she reminds us that ironically has been maintained by the “idea that the country might fall apart” as “one of the few binding national myths.” The Promise of Canada highlights the efforts of a handful of iconic Canadians who “one way or another, through their reflections on being Canadian have become embedded in our subconscious.” One fascinatingly detailed example is Georges-Étienne Cartier’s lifelong mission to protect the interests of French-speaking Canadians. Cartier helped to deliver one of the basic building blocks of Canada’s uniqueness — a federal government in Ottawa to handle matters that affected the whole country and a more local level of government for each province that hopped on the bandwagon — while ensuring that “Quebec would run everything that was essential to the survival of their culture.” From his efforts we inherit a critical strand of dna: a talent for accommodating the Different and the Many and we continue to forge unity and a nation. As Canadians, we feel that a Quebec special feature of The Canadian is very apropos. With its dual histories and cultures contributing to that unique je ne sais quoi of our nation, the province drives the innovative spirit in Canada in significant ways. I welcome the active participation of Quebec on our board of governors and as a leader in the larger, ongoing Canada and Japan bilateral trade context. I hope this example from Gray's book and our focus on la belle province in this issue encourages our members to take the time to support the chamber in singular and heartfelt ways. Each individual effort is work that augments our organization's identity and we never know where the best results come from for the people that follow us later down the same path. It has been my pleasure serving cccj as your chairman.

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MAPLE LEAF GALA TOKYO 2017

The CCCJ is proud to present the 2017 Maple Leaf Gala

SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 TOKYO AMERICAN CLUB BLACK TIE

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chairman’s remarks at the gala •

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For sponsorship and other inquiries, please contact info@CCCJ.or.jp

Message From Quebec

CLAIRE DERONZIER

QUEBEC GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN TOKYO DELEGATE GENERAL

INNOVATIVE PROJECTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT In early March, our office had the pleasure of welcoming Quebec Deputy Premier Lise Thériault to Japan. As Quebec’s minister for small and medium enterprises as well as the minister responsible for the status of women, Thériault came to reconfirm the province's economic and political relationship with Japan. On a political level, Thériault has had the opportunity to meet with Japan’s vice-minister of foreign affairs, Shunsuke Takei, and also met Kyoto Governor Keiji Yamada to announce implementation of a new cooperation agreement between Quebec and Kyoto Prefecture. On March 8, as a part of International Women’s Day, Thériault took the opportunity to interact with Japanese businesswomen including a meeting with Keiko Takegawa, executive director of the Bureau for Gender Equality that is responsible for the status of women in Japan. The aim was to showcase Quebec’s special expertise and leadership on issues of equality as Japan seeks to increase the participation of Japanese women in its labour market. We also had the pleasure last month to welcome ten Quebec companies from the media and entertainment industry that have helped position the province as one of the world’s main development centres — as you will read inside this issue. In the buildup to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Japanese organizers are demonstrating a willingness to reflect their ingenuity, modernity and technological innovations through unique forward-thinking projects. Quebec is ready and available to contribute to this success through the creativity of its companies — both at home and in Japan. But beyond this great international event, we believe that the shared passion for creativity and innovation in Quebec and Japan is fertile ground for establishing winning partnerships well into the future. I hope you enjoy this issue of The Canadian. Inside, you will learn more about Quebec, its industry strengths and discover some of its companies pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of new media and entertainment. The creativity and innovation at work in Quebec and Japan make for truly winning partnerships.

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Chamber Insights

SUPREME CUISINE

BY MARY BETH TAKAO

Photo: Canada Pork International

CELEBRATING CANADA’S QUALITY COOKING CULTURE ‘LET’S GO OUT FOR CANADIAN FOOD TONIGHT!' There are so many wonderful Canadian foods: poutine, back bacon, BeaverTails and many maple treats, but arguably very little is ultimately completely Canadian. In truth, Canada is diverse in every aspect of life and what makes it to the table is no exception. Even in the smallest communities throughout the country you can find an international mix of cuisine: French, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and in Alberta — a Japanese restaurant ranked in the top 40 of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants 2017. So, in the end, its foods are as rich in culture and diversity as its people. In February, more than 1,000 members of the New Supermarket Association of Japan turned out to celebrate “Canada Night” and discover more about the flavour and variety of Canada’s quality cuisine. And that they did! Owing to strong industry partners who donated to the function, some of the featured dishes served at Canada Night included smoked salmon, barley salad, honey roasted pork, teppanyaki beef and wild blueberry desserts along with a variety of Canadian whiskies. “The Supermarket Trade Show provided a perfect platform for the Embassy of Canada in Japan and partners including the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland & Labra-

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dor and Quebec to showcase exceptional Canadian products and connect with potential Japanese buyers,” said Arun Alexander, a commercial minister with the Embassy of Canada to Japan. “Throughout 2017, Canada will be celebrating a major milestone in its history — the 150th anniversary of its founding as a country. This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate Canada and its place in the world, and what better way to further enhance the Canada-Japan relationship and strengthen our trade opportunities than through events like this.” Food security is still a major concern for Japan: a country with one of the lowest food self-sufficiency rates among major economies — at only 39 per cent in 2016. This makes Canada a valuable and natural trading partner. In fact, Japan is Canada’s third largest market for agri-food and seafood products, with exports in 2016 valued at approximately CAD$4.2 billion ($3.9 billion in agri-food and $310 million in seafood). This figure represented 39.5 per cent of Canada’s total exports to Japan in 2016. As Japan’s fifth-largest supplier of imported agri-food and seafood products, Canada held a 5.5 per cent share of Japan’s market for imports of these products. Alberta made up nearly one-third of Canada’s total agri-food exports to Japan, with exports from the province

Chamber Insights Mary Beth Takao is a senior commercial officer with the Japan office of the government of Alberta, focusing on trade and investment for agriculture and agri-food products for the province.

What better way to further enhance the Canada-Japan relationship and strengthen our trade opportunities than through events like this

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New Otani chef's ice sculpture, complete with Canada’s iconic maple leaves. Photo: Mary Beth Takao.

Also highlighted at the Canada 150 celebration, a two-tier cake topped with sculptured couture chocolate from Cococo Chocolatiers of Alberta. Photo: Mary Beth Takao.

valued at more than $1.2 billion in 2016. In the same year, Japan was Alberta’s third largest market for agri-food products, behind the United States and China. In addition to showcasing Canadian cuisine at events throughout Canada’s 150th celebrations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (aafc) along with the Embassy of Canada and the provinces of Newfoundland & Labrador, Quebec and Alberta are also working to show Japanese people how to cook with Canadian products using the popular Japanese social recipe app Cookpad. Cookpad is the largest recipe sharing website in Japan, with about 50 to 60 million monthly users. The Taste of Canada feature on Cookpad uses Canadian ingredients in recipes specifically tailored for Japanese consumers, with the main page featuring Canada’s 150th Celebration and then guiding readers to each provincial and embassy “kitchen” page for more recipes. “This joint initiative is particularly appealing because of its potential to boost interest among Japanese consumers in quality Canadian products as well as providing us with trackable data on which of these products visitors gravitate towards,” commented Katie Meredith, Alberta agriculture and forestry trade relations officer for Japan and Korea. “Cookpad offers long-term valuable insight for the industry and builds awareness of Canadian products with Japanese end-users.” I would like to invite all cccj members to make the most of Canada’s sesquicentennial year — and what better way to do it than to share conversation over a bountiful table of Canada’s quality and delicious food.

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Deputy Premier Lise Thériault, accompanied by Quebec Delegate General and CCCJ Governor Claire Deronzier, met with CCCJ President Ron Haigh and former Japan Ambassador to Canada Sadaaki Numata and thanked the CCCJ for the luncheon and the presence of its members. Photo: Benjamin Parks

Stronger Relationships THE DEPUTY PREMIER’S VISIT TO JAPAN IS ALL ABOUT INNOVATIVE TECH TIE-UPS AS THE KEY TO FUTURE TRADE GROWTH

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Cover Story

MISSION QUEBEC “Japan is an important foothold for Quebec in Asia. After participating in Expo ’70, the world’s fair in Osaka, Quebec opened its very first government office in Asia, the General Delegation in Tokyo, in 1973.” This is how Lise Thériault, Quebec’s deputy premier, described the province’s relationship with Japan at the beginning of her talk hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan on March 8. Quebec has had a presence in Japan for close to 45 years. The two regions have had many political, economic and cultural exchanges, and over time Japan has become the second-largest export market for Quebec in Asia and the sixth in the world. Deputy Premier Thériault, who is also the minister responsible for small and medium enterprises as well as the minister responsible for the status of women, was in Japan from March 5 to 9. A POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MISSION

Considering her duties within the provincial government, Thériault’s visit to Japan was more than just ceremonious. It rightfully included several meetings, discussions and activities focused on political, social, commercial and economic concerns. One of the important goals of the mission was to strengthen the political and corporate relationships between Quebec and Japan through high-level talks. The trip also aimed to stimulate economic relationships and support the initiatives of Quebec businesses by promoting commercial trade — particularly in the organic, or bio food, sector. QUEBEC’S PRIORITIES AND FREE TRADE

The deputy premier met with Japan’s vice-minister for foreign affairs, Shunsuke Takei, and with the governor of Kyoto, Keiji Yamada, to whom she outlined Quebec’s major international priorities, including electric transportation and the fight

against climate change in the interest of promoting further collaboration in these business areas. She reiterated to the viceminister that Japan plays an important role in Quebec’s activities in the AsiaPacific region and that the province supports trade liberalization and the resumption of bilateral negotiations between Canada and Japan. Thériault’s discussion with Governor Yamada was an opportunity to announce the implementation of a cooperation agreement between Quebec and Kyoto Prefecture. In the coming months, this agreement will lead to the launch of a first call for cooperation

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

On International Women’s Day, Thériault held two events to discuss issues around the status of women in Japan and share Quebec’s expertise in this area. To mark the occasion, Deputy Premier Thériault and Quebec’s delegate general in Tokyo, Claire Deronzier, had breakfast with about ten Japanese women primarily from the fields of business in large corporations. They discussed their different perspectives and concerns as well as best practices for the participation of women in the job market and in decision-making bodies.

Quebec is an enthusiastic supporter of bilateral trade liberalization and the resumption of economic partnership negotiations between the two countries

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projects in a variety of fields, such as forest protection and management, climate change, research, as well as economic, cultural and academic relationships. Another significant event in the Quebec-Kyoto collaboration is a partnership agreement between McGill University in Montreal and Kyoto University, signed on March 7. This inter-university partnership aims to create a joint doctoral program in medicine, an initiative that holds promise for both health research and the international reputations of Japan and Quebec.

Thériault commended the strength of these women. “Through our discussions, I learned more about the challenges they face in society, challenges which resemble our own in many respects,” she said, also suggesting that this type of meeting should be an annual event. The deputy premier next met with Keiko Takegawa, director general of the Gender Equality Bureau. This meeting was an opportunity for Thériault to highlight Quebec’s adoption of the act respecting the governance of stateowned enterprises, which provides for gender parity on all boards of directors,

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Cover Story an objective achieved in 2011. She also cited the example of the development of a network of child care centres, which led to an increase in the number of women in Quebec’s job market — the kind the Abe government is currently seeking to achieve in Japan. AN IMPORTANT, INTELLIGENT AND ELECTRIFYING RELATIONSHIP

Quebec businesses particularly appreciate the Japanese business environment, which is based on excellence, loyalty and respect for the rules. While trade between Quebec and Japan has long been dominated by business-oriented activities, technological activities now occupy an increasingly larger place. The last few years have seen joint ventures and partnerships established with big companies like Hydro-Quebec, Sony Corporation, cae and Japan Airlines. Quebec considers research and innovation development to be an important sector for the future, and Japan is a priority country in this regard — particularly in the ict, energy, life sciences and intelligent communities sectors. It's for this reason that the deputy premier focused on Quebec expertise in sectors of excellence such as transportation electrification, information technology and research in artificial intelligence in her March 8 talk before the members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in

Japan, titled “Quebec-Japan: An Intelligent and Electrifying Relationship!” SUPPORTING THE BIOFOOD SECTOR

Thériault is also the minister responsible for small and medium enterprises, regulatory streamlining and regional economic development, so it was very important that she attend the Foodex 2017 exhibition in Tokyo. She took the time to visit the booths of exhibitors from Quebec to meet their representatives and Japanese business partners. At a reception organized by Quebec’s General Delegation in Tokyo, Thériault emphasized the great importance the Quebec government places on the Japanese market and its business partners, as Japan now represents the second largest biofood export market for Quebec, right after the United States. She pointed out that: “Quebec exports to Japan have been growing for several years. They increased more than 16 per cent in 2015 and 2016. Moreover, in 2016, Quebec exported nearly CAD $483 million in biofood products to Japan, which represents close to half of all Quebec exports to the country.” The biofood sector accounts for over 40 per cent of Quebec’s exports to Japan. This year’s Foodex exhibition had booths from 19 businesses from 10 different regions of Quebec, including maple syrup and maple product producers, as well as producers of cranberries and blueberries, duck and natural and organic

THE MISSION IN PHOTOS

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Cover Story products. The participation of the Quebec businesses was organized by Agri-Food Export Group Quebec-Canada. ENCOURAGING COMMERCIAL TRADE

Japan is a major export market for Quebec, but the province also imports a significant amount of products from Japan. In 2015, $2.2 billion in goods from Japan cleared customs in Quebec, which represents an increase of 9.2 per cent over 2014 and 14.7 per cent of all Canadian imports from the country. In that same year, Japan was the second-biggest supplier to Quebec in Asia and eighth in the world. In terms of investments, there are over 50 Japanese subsidiaries in Quebec, creating some 6,000 jobs. Companies like CyberConnect2, Bridgestone, Olympus ndt, Medicago (a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical company Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma) and Kabuchan International have all announced significant investments in Quebec in the last few years. In this context, Deputy Premier Thériault’s message to political representatives, investors and Japanese business people is clear: the signing of a Canada-Japan free trade agreement would further strengthen Quebec-Japan trade relations.

While trade between Quebec and Japan has long been dominated by corporate activities, technological tieups now occupy an increasingly larger place

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This Page: "Quebec-Japan: An Intelligent and Electrifying Relationship" was the topic of Deputy Premier Lise Thériault's lecture at the CCCJ business luncheon at the Roppongi Hills Club on March 8. Photo: Benjamin Parks

Opposite Page: Close to 20 Quebec companies participated in Foodex Japan 2017, the biggest food trade fair in the Asia Pacific region. Deputy Premier Lise Thériault talks with with Claude Trottier, president of the Quebec producers of duck and foie gras, Canards du Lac Brome (Lake Brome Ducks), with the delegate general of Quebec, Claire Deronzier, assistant deputy minister of international relations, Michel Lafleur and the commercial attaché of Quebec, Akira Kitagawa. Photo: Benjamin Parks

Continued on the next page

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Cover Story

THE MISSION IN PHOTOS The mission was marked by the March 7 signing of a partnership agreement between McGill and Kyoto universities with a view to creating a joint doctoral program in medicine. This project holds much promise for both health research and the international reputation of Quebec’s expertise in the field. Photo: MRIF

On March 8, International Women’s Day, the deputy premier and Quebec’s delegate general in Tokyo met with about 10 Japanese businesswomen to discuss their concerns as well as best practices for the status of women. The promotion of the role of women in society and in the economy in Japan is a priority for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government Photo: MRIF

Quebec and Japan have an excellent political and economic relationship. A meeting with Shunsuke Takei, Japan’s vice-minister for foreign affairs, allowed Deputy Premier Lise Thériault to highlight that Japan plays an important role in Quebec’s activities in the Asia Pacific region and to explore new business opportunities. Another highlight of the mission (this photo) was the announcement with the governor of Kyoto Prefecture, Keiji Yamada, of the implementation of a cooperation agreement between Quebec and Kyoto Prefecture. Photo: MRIF

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Cover Story

MISSION QUEBEC

AN INTELLIGENT AND ELECTRIFYING RELATIONSHIP A natural port of entry to North America, Quebec’s participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement (nafta) affords it privileged access to a market of 460 million consumers. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (ceta) between Canada and the European Union, of which Quebec was an initiator and that was ratified by the European Parliament, confirms the province’s position as a hub of transatlantic commerce. Quebec’s primary waterway — the St. Lawrence River — offers the shortest route between the west of Europe and the centre of North America. These advantages are complemented by access to clean and renewable energy at reasonable prices, primarily produced from large-scale hydro power (with operating costs that are among the lowest in North America), an advantageous tax system, investment incentives and geographic proximity to — and economic integration with — the United States. Quebec is also home to impressive transportation infrastructure, industrial port zones and efficient logistical hubs. These are set to expand as the very first maritime strategy in the history of Quebec is implemented.

Quebec has a complete value chain in this field that includes lithium extraction, the manufacturing of high-capacity batteries and the materials that compose them, motorization, light materials and electric charging stations — making it a complete electric ecosystem. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Thanks to a large research community, Montreal is becoming a global hub for artificial intelligence. Since last fall, an incubator has been created for artificial intelligence companies — Element AI — and Google has announced that it is bringing its Google Brain division dedicated to research on deep learning to the city. Microsoft has followed suit, acquiring the Quebec artificial intelligence start-up, Maluuba. Several research organizations are also involved in the field of big data. The Institute for Data Valorization (ivado) brings together 900 scientists working in the centres, institutes and research chairs involved in big data that have been established as part of Campus Montreal. ivado bridges the expertise of its scientists in data valorization with the needs of businesses — from multinational corporations to start-ups.

ELECTROMOBILITY

Quebec is rich in green, diversified and abundant energy resources that contribute to the decarbonization of the global economy. In the transportation sector, the province draws on legislative best practices to improve its electric vehicle offerings. It also collaborates with other states and international organizations to introduce innovative public policies. It is through these partnerships that Quebec seeks to anticipate, understand and create the business opportunities offered by the convergence of electric, interconnected and intelligent transportation.

CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES

Quebec is well situated to take advantage of the great potential of big data. With its cool climate, geographic location safe from disasters along with abundant and affordable energy sources, the region is an ideal place to host massive amounts of data. Its electricity grid, the largest in North America, is also one of the most reliable and independent in the world. The Quebec of today is a vast landscape and a dynamic economy that is open to the world, rich in natural resources and boasts remarkable human potential.

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Success Stories

THREE STARS

QUEBEC’S TOP CREATORS REIMAGINE THE WORLD The digital age has revolutionized business strategy across the world by accelerating the frequency with which companies must reinvent themselves. Whether it’s in digital art or virtual reality, several pioneering Quebec companies — such as Moment Factory, Dufour and C2 Montréal — currently stand at the forefront of the industry.

LAX PROJECT PHOTO MOMENT FACTORY

Moment Factory “We augment reality — for real!” - Éric Fournier Moment Factory is a multimedia entertainment studio specializing in the conception and production of immersive environments that combine video, lighting, architec-

ture, sound and special effects to create remarkable visitor experiences. Since its inception in 2001, Moment Factory has been pushing the boundaries of excellence in

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digital and emerging art forms and created more than 350 shows and destinations across the world for major entertainment clients such as Cirque du Soleil, Sony and Microsoft, to iconic landmarks including the Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona and the LAX International Airport in Los Angeles. What are three achievements you are most proud of? • LAX for its landmark guest experiences in a next-generation airport terminal. • Sagrada Familia because it is an ode to life and Gaudi’s art and vision. • The Oakley flagship store that turns a shop into a destination. How does your company stand out? “What makes our work so innovative is that our creatives Éric Fournier have all the skills going onto traditional screens

like cinema, video games and mobile devices… but we apply this talent only to create unforgettable experiences in public spaces. We augment reality — for real!” —Éric Fournier, partner and executive producer Why is your company interested in Japan? “Japan has a global reputation for celebrating creativity as Dominic Audet well as technical excellence. These values are shared by our designers. With offices in Tokyo, we look forward to new opportunities to collaborate and create the next generations of entertainment and place-making.” —Dominic Audet, co-founder and chief innovation officer

www.momentfactory.com

Success Stories

THREE STARS

PHOTO JIMMY HAMELIN

C2 Montréal “It is a convening of disruptors, innovators, business executives and the next generation of influencers.” - Chloe Langevin C2 Montréal is a three-day immersive event that will transform the way we do business. Referred to as the “Davos of Creativity,” C2 Montréal brings together commerce and inspiration to explore trends, opportunities, disruptions and major shifts on the horizon. This event is an incubator for business innovators, social game changers, visionaries and forward-thinkers from around the world who want to explore the relationship between commerce and creativity, and its potential to redefine business. It offers a collaborative environment specifically designed to provoke collisions and spark new ideas.

How does your company stand out? C2 is unique because it brings Chloe Langevin together creativity and commerce to solve today’s most pressing challenge, shifts mindsets and transforms the way we do business. It is a convening of disruptors, innovators, business executives and the next generation of influencers. Why is your company interested in Japan? We are interested in Japan because we find it to be a natural home for C2 in Asia. The contrasts between tradition and modernity, craftsmanship and technology, the younger and the older generation all make for rich collisions of ideas that are at the heart of creativity. —Chloe Langevin, VP of partnerships

www.c2montreal.com

What are three achievements you are most proud of? • Champions! is a large-scale, mix-media show we created for the International Olympic Committee 100th anniversary in Lausanne, Switzerland. • “Kynegraf” is a semi-permanent multimedia installation that merges kinetic movement with water fountains, light, ambiophonic sound effects and video. • The Wall of Sound performance from 300 artists perched on an 18-metre high, five-floor, semi-transparent video wall celebrating music as a universal language.

How does your company stand out? Above all, our team of creators appeal to the emotions. With Olivier Dufour bold scenography and refined aesthetics, our shows combine the best of the performing and visual arts with advanced technologies to bring emotion into our lives. We move freely among many different art forms, drawing inspiration from architecture, photography, dance, theatre, circus and classical or electronic music. Why is your company interested in Japan? Japan is an inexhaustible source of inspiration in terms of culture, sophistication, tradition and craftsmanship. We consider our Japanese development as a respectful learning process, with a profound interest in mixing influences, visions and cultures to build something totally new and audacious with clients and partners. —Olivier Dufour, CEO and senior designer

http://dufour.tv

Dufour “We go beyond appearances; we build bridges to imaginary destinations. We are architects of emotions.” - Olivier Dufour

CHAMIONS! PHOTO ELIAS DJEMIL

What are three achievements you are most proud of? • To have successfully reinvented the international business conference and prove its lasting value. C2 Montréal will host its sixth edition in May 2017. • Kyu Collective: Thanks to its expansion beyond Canada, C2 has joined the ranks of Hakudo-owned Kyu Collective. • Movin’ On by Michelin: C2 has partnered with Michelin to reinvent the world-renowned

Michelin Challenge Bibendum through creativity.

Dufour is a creator and producer of multiplatform entertainment content. The company, founded 17 years ago, is internationally renowned for its highly creative and distinctive live events, multimedia scenography and immersive experiences melding storytelling with art and technology. “We are storytellers. The raw material that we work with is not visible, it’s found on the hidden side of that which at first glance appears to be futile and useless. We go beyond appearances; we build bridges to imaginary destinations. We are architects of emotions.”

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Industry Profile

BRAVE NEW WORLD

Digital Art in Quebec

CREATIVITY AND INDUSTRY ARE LEADING THE WAY

EUROPE IN NORTH AMERICA

True to its French and English roots — and with a definite nod to the American way — Quebec culture has an unidentifiable je ne sais quoi (quality that cannot be described or named easily) that makes it both unique and universal. This distinctly inter-

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national background has contributed to a comprehensive and competitive edge in digital creation, research and production. It’s an environment that today fosters and nurtures the talented people working in Quebec's video game, animation, visual effects and virtual augmented reality industries WORLD CLASS VR HUB

Digital art is now a major economic driver for Quebec, generating thousands of high-quality jobs, leading it to be known as a hub for visual effects expertise. It is now one of the world’s biggest producers of virtual reality (vr) content with top clients from around the world like Universal Studios, the Clinton Foundation, Oculus and Facebook. This digital boom has resulted in the creation of a rich variety of global and interactive events that have grown to make Montréal the digital arts capital of North America. Some of these include: • Montréal en lumière (www.montrealenlumiere.com) • Effects MTL (www.effectsmtl2016.com) • Montréal Digital Spring (www.printempsnumerique.info) • Mutek Festival (www.mutek.org) • Chromatic (www.chromatic.ca)

PHOTO © JEAN-FRANÇOIS HAMELIN — FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE JAZZ DE MONTRÉAL, PLACE DES FESTIVALS

What do these great names have in common? Microsoft, Toyota, Cirque du Soleil, the Super Bowl, lax, Sony, Disney, Madonna, the nba, Dubai’s City Walk development, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Justin Timberlake, Barcelona’s Basilica and Sagrada Família (Expiatory Church of the Holy Family), the White House, Samsung and Jurassic World? They have all recently used Quebec’s expertise in digital art and virtual reality. Quebec artists and creative talents have become known for their powerful and original creations, the quality of their productions and their audacity. The entertainment and culture industry in the province accounts for 4.1 per cent of its gross domestic product and the equivalent of 4.5 per cent of all jobs. Today, a new generation of Quebecers has decided to make the digital arts their playground and are dazzling spectators at some of the biggest events on the planet.

Industry Profile

Another example is the Urban Digital Laboratory (lnu), a public tech facility unlike any in the world. The lnu firmly establishes Montreal as one of the world's leading cities for digital creators and establishes the Quartier des spectacles as one of the top locations in North America for the incubation and discovery of creative practices in public spaces. TALENT AND CREATIVITY

But how does Quebec — with its relatively small population — manage to be so competitive in these new industries? First, it relies on a well-educated and experienced pool of young, creative and multilingual talent. At the same time, it attracts gifted artists and technicians from all over the world, especially international students coming for its world-renowned higher education system. Finally, Quebec’s immigration policies are progressive and inclusive enough to so support these talented individuals who choose to remain in the province and contribute to its economic development.

In Memoriam

NO. 1 CITY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Montreal — a diverse, cutting-edge creative city with a unique and lively culture as well as a resolutely global outlook — has just been crowned as the Best University City in the World and the favourite city for international students, according to the Quacquarelli Symonds Institute (qs) “Best Student Cities 2017,” beating out Paris (No. 2) and London (No. 3) to land the top spot. Montreal is also recognized as the “smartest city in the world” according to qs, due to the rapid development of its artificial intelligence industry. INDUSTRY ALWAYS READY TO ROLL

Today, Quebec has become the destination for many involved in the creation of digital art. It comprises a complete, diversified ecosystem of companies (big and small) that can handle all aspects of production — from r&d to production and adaptation to complete design for various media platforms such as cinema, animation, video games, visual arts, architecture and the performing arts. Montreal also plays host to blockbuster and award-winning indie movie and television production.

Enrique Velez It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of cccj member Enrique Velez. Enrique died in a snowboarding accident at Nozawa Onsen in Nagano Prefecture on March 20, 2017. To have a conversation with Enrique was to feel energized, stimulated, encouraged and supported. Such a kind heart and creative mind will be dearly missed. Our prayers go out to his wife and daughter. —The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan

Montreal is one of the world's leading cities for digital creators

”

The Canadian / 019

Quebec Multimedia & Creative Industry

DIRECTORY Float4

Stéphane D'astous / General Director sdastous@float4.com 1001 Lenoir St. #C-214, Montreal Que., Canada H4C 2Z6 +1 (855) 454-2095 www.float4.com

Daily Tous les Jours

Melissa Mongiat / Co-Founder melissa@dailytlj.com 5445 De Gaspé, Montreal, Que., Canada H2T 3B2 www.dailytouslesjours.com

Montréal en Histoires

Jean Bérubé / Development Director jberube@montrealenhistoires.com +1 (514) 666-1861 420 McGill, # 401, Montreal, Que., Canada H2Y 2G1 www.montrealenhistoires.com

Audiokinetic

Stéphane-Enric Beaulieu / Country Manager Japan sbeaulieu@audiokinetic.com www.audiokinetic.com

Moment Factory

Dufour

Olivier Dufour / CEO & Senior Designer odufour@dufour.tv 715 Saint-Vallier St. East, Quebec City, Que. G1K 3P9 +1 (800) 550-1206 www.dufour.tv

Lucion Media

Amélie Richard / CEO amelie@eltorostudio.com +1 (514) 806-2145 204-420 Beaubien Ouest, Montreal Que., Canada H2V 4S6 www.eltorostudio.com

Serge Laforest / President serge@audioz.com 800 Square-Victoria St., Montreal, Que., Canada H4Z 1A1 +1 (514) 393-352 www.audioz.com

Iglofest

Triotech

Lx Sim

020 / The Canadian

Pascal Pelletier / President pp@fig55.com +1 (514) 586-0467 880 Roy St. East, Montreal, Que., Canada H2L 1E6 www.fig55.com

El Toro

Gabi Salabi / Vice-President Global Sales & Business Development g.salabi@trio-tech.com +1 (514) 354-8999 6995 Jeanne-Mance St. Montreal, Que., H3N 1W5 www.trio-tech.com

Alessandro Del Mistro / Vice-President adelmistro@lxsim.com +1 (450) 919-1714 1400 Boul. De L’innovation #201, Bromont Que., Canada J2L 0J8 www.lxsim.com

Les Productions Figure 55

Marc-Andre Baril / Asia Business Development Director tokyo@momentfactory.com +81 3 6890 8557 6F Tobu Building 6-28-9 Jingumae Shibuya-ku Tokyo 150-0001, Japan www.momentfactory.com

Audio Z

Bernard Duguay / CEO b.duguay@lucionmedia.ca +1 (514) 495-3211 6630 Hutchison St. #400, Montreal Que., Canada H2V 4E1 www.lucionmedia.ca

C2 Montréal

Chloe Langevin / VP Partnerships clangevin@c2.biz +1 (514) 380-8755 460, Sainte-Catherine Ouest, Suite 805 Montreal, Que., Canada H3B 1A7 www.c2montreal.com

Ludovic Langlois-Therien / Director Of Business Development ludovic@piknicelectronik.com +1 (514) 907-0726 5455 De Gaspé, Bureau 470, Montreal, Que., Canada H2T 3B3 www.piknicelectronik.com/montreal/en/ www.igloofest.ca/en/

Pixmob

Connect&Go

Anthony Palermo / CEO ap@connectngo.com +1 (514) 294-7542 6600 Hutchison, Montreal, Que., Canada H2V 4E1 www.connectngo.com

Robyn Collette / Global Sales Manager rc@pixmob.com +1 (438) 822-1521 103 De Louvain West, Montreal Que., Canada H2N 1A3 www.pixmob.com

日本 IN カナダ

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投資ビジネスガイド

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LANDMASS (square kilometers)

9,984,670

航空宇宙&交通

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カナダはこの 10 年間 (2006~2015

よると、カナダはビジネスを行うのに

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高学歴の労働人口カナダの労働人口は OECD諸国中最も教育水準が高く、およそ半数が高校卒業後の高学歴を有しています。出所: 経済開発協力機構 (OECD)

(NAFTA) 圏ならびに欧州連合への優ます。これは、GDP合計 37兆米ドル、世界の物品サービス生産のほぼ半分

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カナダは世界で最も多文化な国のひとつで、世界水準の大学やユニバーサルヘルスケア（皆保険）

安定した金融制度世界銀行は 8 年連続でカナダの金融制度は世界で最も健全であると発表しています。出所: 世界経済フォーラム

Tokyo Olympic Games and Paralympic Games 2020 The economic ripple effect of the decision to hold the 2020 Olympic Games is estimated at ¥ 3 trillion, and job creation at approx. 150,000 jobs nationwide.

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い暮らし指標」では、全般的な居住条件および生活の質について、カナダは G 7 諸国中トップです。

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ranked in the world. Japan’s GDP is around ¥ 500 trillion.

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出所: 世界経済フォーラム

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投資し、働き、住む場所として素晴らしい国

World-class in research funding and number of researchers Research funding as a percentage of GDP is ranked 1st in the world. Japan also ranks 1st in the world by numbers of patents registered.

Attracting foreign companies • Designation of National Strategic Special Zones • Easing requirements of highly skilled foreign professionals

米国に対しては 27.7% のコスト優位

低い法人税率

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Travel & Growth A FORMER CCCJ DIRECTOR, QUENTIN O’MAHONY IS WHEELS DOWN WITH CANADIAN COMPANY CAE AND ITS JOINT VENTURE WITH JAPAN AIRLINES Though he’s Canadian, it pleases Quentin O’Mahony to say that he was born in Ireland —Kilkenny City to be precise, home to the famous cream ale. He was also a world traveler even as a child. His family emigrated to Terrace, British Columbia when he was 5-years-old and by his college years he had lived in Abbotsford, B.C.; St. John’s, Newfoundland; Victoria and North Vancouver, B.C. He also lived in Montreal for two years when he attended McGill — but he still considers Abbotsford home. How long have you been working in Japan and what brought you here? QO: This is actually my second tour in Japan. Originally, as a student of a graduate program at Capilano University, I came to Tokyo as an

022 / The Canadian

intern that turned into a great eight years of life and work experience. It was then that I was introduced to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan. I become a member and eventually a director — that was when Patricia Bader-Johnston was at the helm — and met a number of people instrumental in my career growth. One of them was Phillip O’Neil, the director of McGill mba Japan. This time around — and six years later — I arrived back in Japan in 2015 to launch cae’s flight simulator and pilot training joint venture with Japan Airlines at Haneda Airport. What’s your role with CAE and how long have you been with them? QO: I am the general manager of the Japan Airlines joint venture.

Member Profile

QUENTIN O'MAHONY

BY JEFF W. RICHARDS

The chamber provides information on JapanCanada news and access to key Canadian decision makers when they visit

ator, arbitrator and sometimes referee on such matters. This healthy tension is quite normal in international joint ventures and it is an area that I have some ability.

I'm charged with bringing cost efficiencies and global best practices to Japan Airlines previous flight simulator training operation and to prepare for the eventual full support of Japan Airlines pilot training operation. This role also includes me overseeing cae’s Seoul training centre. I joined cae in Montreal in 2010 after completing the McGill mba. I did the first year in Tokyo as a part-time student and then transferred to Montreal to complete the second year as a full-time student. One of the strong attractions to that program was the opportunity to bridge my work in Japan to an established position in Canada. It worked out really well when a McGill professor introduced me to cae upon graduation. cae hired me in Montreal to represent them overseas. First in Malaysia, then Singapore and now Japan.

How does the CCCJ support your work or your company's objectives? QO: The chamber provides information on Japan-Canada news and access to key Canadian decision makers when they visit. As my focus is on growing the business in northeast Asia, I don't always have the chance to stay on top of what's happening in Canada that impacts Japan. The weekly e-news, quarterly magazine and events help me keep connected. The last cccj gala provided an opportunity for us to combine our company's annual customer appreciation evening. We reserved a couple of tables and clients from Japan and Korea joined us for a wonderful night. Just recently, a senior member of a growing Korean lcc (low cost carrier) showed me a photo he has on his phone from the event — he still remembers it fondly.

What do you find most challenging about your current position? QO: Managing the expectations of both cae and Japan Airlines about what the partnership is supposed to deliver and how it's supposed to deliver it. While both parents want to see the growth and expansion of training services to other airlines in northeast Asia, there are differences about how fast it should be and what order growth should take. I essentially serve as a medi-

Do you have a favorite CCCJ event? QO: I always enjoy the cccj bonenkai. When living in Japan the first time around, the bonenkai was a highlight of the business year. Now, here with cae, I use that and other cccj networking events to help expose my staff to a more global environment. That's where our joint venture is going and the cccj helps me underline that message with my team.

”

What do you find most rewarding about it? QO: In addition to the cultural challenges of the two JV companies, I really enjoy the global aspect of my role that an international looking cae allows me to realize daily. cae is one of Canada’s most international companies. More than 90 per cent of our business is conducted outside Canada in over 35 countries. Recently, I was working with my colleagues in Kuala Lumpur, São Paulo and Santiago to bring a customer from Central America to train in Tokyo. Talk about culture differences! This is where I really feel in my element.

What do you like to do when you're not working? QO: I love to run! I have always been physically active but when I reached Asia with cae, I started to run marathons. Running helps me work out stress and organize my thoughts. I think a lot on those long runs. Most recently I completed my first Tokyo Marathon. I also have a strong social conscience, so I ran as a charity runner for the unhcr. Balancing a busy work schedule and my family with two young boys was challenging, but a wholly rewarding experience. Tell us one thing people would be surprised to know about you… QO: I do live a bit of a double life in Japan. Perhaps only a few of your readers will know of my hobby refereeing soccer. I started back in my junior high school days and I eventually went to a fairly high level before I left Canada in 2001, refereeing the A-league in Vancouver. This the pre-cursor to the MLS and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. When I came to Japan I transferred my license to referee here — eventually reaching the J-league reserve level. Very challenging considering the language and style of play compared to Canada. My farewell match when I left Japan in 2009 was the annual Waseda-Keio grudge match at the old national stadium in Jingumae. When I returned two years ago I was soon asked to start refereeing again. While my J-league days are well behind me, most fall and winter weekends I traverse Kanto to referee in the internally focused Tokyo Metropolis League. It's not uncommon on my free days out with my family around Tokyo to bump into someone who greets me as, “Ref!” What's your favorite Japanese phrase? QO: まあ、いいか。 (Ma, iika… “Ah, OK...”) Hearing this at work, I believe my Japanese colleagues are telling me that they may not fully understand what I'm proposing but they trust me enough to go along with it. It's a sign that I'm making progress bridging the cultures of cae and Japan Airlines.

The Canadian / 023

Membership Committee

NEW INITIATIVES

Noriko Ishida is chair of the CCCJ membership committee committee.

BY NORIKO ISHIDA

With every member-driven organization, the work of its membership committee is critical to growth. The cccj group tasked with increasing this number is new — having only met once — but with the help of the team at the chamber office, it’s off to a good start. Two major initiatives for the year are already well under way. As many of you may have seen, the cccj is offering a special 15 per cent Canada 150 anniversary discount for all new memberships: all prospects need to do is go to the cccj website and sign up. Further — and maybe more importantly for the long-term growth of the

chamber — we’re working to engage more young professionals (read: future executives) with our organization. Together with with other chambers of commerce, we’re offering a series of networking events to inspire young people to get more involved. What better way to improve the chamber and its work than by harnessing the energy, enthusiasm and ideas of those more likely to volunteer for committees and events. We want to explore new ways to increase value for our members. At the beginning of March, the cccj sent out surveys to current and former members

CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN JAPAN CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DU CANADA AU JAPON

asking how it could offer them more benefits. If you haven’t filled it out yet, please take the time to do so. It will truly help us to help you. Finally, we’re responding to your suggestions to develop members’ discount packages. Some of our corporate partners have already stepped up to offer special discounts for cccj members. If you (or your company) would like to get more involved — with ideas about how to recruit new members or improving the value of memberships — please contact us at: info@cccj.or.jp.

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CCCJ Benefits of Membership New and useful business contacts Exposure and promotion Local knowledge expertise Opportunities to participate Weekly Canadian newsletter What You Will Receive When You Join the CCCJ Entry to all events at member rates and exclusive invites to VIP functions Access to joint events sponsored by fellow chambers Special business and government briefings Listing in the annual Membership Directory Subscription to the The Canadian, CCCJ’s magazine & digital app Periodic bulletins on key issues facing business in Japan Contact Us

024 / The Canadian

Email: members@cccj.or.jp Tel: +81 (0)3 5775-9500 7F Parkside Sepia, 3-13-10 Nishi-Azabu Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0031 Japan

www.cccj.or.jp

Real Estate Trends

TENANTS MARKET

James Fink is the senior managing director of Colliers International and Halifax Asset Management in Japan. Got a question? james.fink@colliers.co.jp

BY JAMES FINK

Office Space AN OLYMPIC SURPLUS IN TOKYO DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN DARK DAYS AHEAD While expectations remain high for a strengthened Japanese economy through the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, there are clear challenges ahead. The market for Tokyo office space bottomed out in mid-2012 and has since enjoyed a stable recovery in terms of declining vacancy. Rents, however, have not risen to the level of the last peak just prior to the bankruptcy filing of prestigious Wall Street firm Lehman Brothers Holdings that helped precipitate the global financial crisis of 2008 — or the “Lehman Shock,” as it is known in Japan. Several reasons contributed to the oversupply that was exacerbated by factors including the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the U.S., the global dot-com collapse and the fizzle of what was expected to be a major financial deregulation in Japan. Fortunately, the Japanese and world economies enjoyed an extended period of recovery and growth from 2002 to 2007, allowing Tokyo to digest much of this oversupply. The 2012-era excesses were created from too much supply coming online in the wake of the financial crisis and the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters here in Japan. During this period, however, many older buildings were demolished, offsetting some of this new rental space and preventing an even deeper crisis. For the 2018 to 2020 period, the rentals available are projected to be even greater than the 2003-era oversupply while the macroeconomic and general office market conditions will be quite different. The peak year currently appears to be that of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. There a number of reasons the next high-supply period should be different in character. There is much new construction located in very central areas,

predominantly in the central three wards (Chiyoda, Chuo and Minato). These new buildings are on average larger in terms of both individual floor size and total office rental space. Over 12,747,000 square metres (or 137,200,000 square feet) of large building capacity has been developed since 2000, with the quality of office stock in the city higher than ever. As tenants move in or relocate to the 2018-2020 supply, there will be significant vacancies created in already existing buildings and the demolition of older office stock will accelerate. Added to that, another major trade zone is beginning to spread out from Shinagawa station toward Tokyo and Shibuya stations (to the detriment of Shinjuku). There are currently three larger CBD competitors emerging in Tokyo: Marunouchi (including Otemachi and Hibiya), Akasaka (including Roppongi and Toranomon) and Nihonbashi (including Yaesu and Kyobashi). This will continue to reduce the rental premium that any of them can seek from prospective tenants. There are other practical challenges for developers, as well. The number of office workers in Tokyo is not expected to increase meaningfully over an extended period of time. A related issue, however, is that these same tenants, rather than relocating, are moving towards maximum space utilization — including “free address” systems that reduce the number of desks per employees, and in turn help them reduce lease area and costs. External catalysts, such as a strong global economic recovery or recession, may moderate or amplify the likely impact of this new supply. In the event that any other unpredictable domestic stimuli occur — such as another catastrophic earthquake or other natural phenomenon — it would also place additional pressure on the office market.

The Canadian / 025

Asia Pacific View

INNOVATION POLICY

BY JOSEPH CARON

Economic Inspiration INDEXING JAPAN AND CANADA’S HIGH-TECH INVENTIVENESS Japan is one of the world’s most innovative countries. The Bloomberg Innovation Index, a good place to view comparators among countries, places Japan in seventh place. Its strengths are known to many: it has among the highest r&d-to-gdp ratios in the world at 3.6 per cent (only Israel and Korea spend more, while Canada’s ratio is less than half of that), its industrial leaders include a significant number of high-tech companies, its advanced manufacturing skills are world famous and it holds the No. 3 spot for total number of patents — just below economic heavyweights China and the U.S.A. Its productivity, however, falls well below the top 20, as does the number of post-grads it has in academia and the manufacturing sectors — what Bloomberg calls “tertiary efficiency.” Canada, on the other hand, is in 19th place on Bloomberg’s index of innovating nations, just managing to squeeze into the top 20. The country’s performance in productivity, high-tech density and researcher concentration is strong, though, demonstrating higher education’s role in high-tech inventiveness. Innovation markers vary tremendously from country to country and reflect their respective history of economic development, structure of their economies and the attention that public policy accords to promoting innovation as an engine of growth. Korea, just about the world’s No. 1 innovator according to most ranking systems, is measured by Bloomberg to be 39th in terms of productivity. The U.S., 8th on the Bloomberg list, is 26th in terms of manufacturing value added. There is also the wild card of consumer preference and its variability over time: Facebook and Amazon (services) are today’s Sony and National (products),

026 / The Canadian

although Toyota keeps driving on. Governments have very important roles to play in fostering innovation as an important subset of economic policy. This is especially important when the world faces periods of uncertainty like we are today: the constantly evolving challenges and opportunities generated by digital technologies, as well as the consequential “bumps in the road” — such as the new U.S. administration’s uncertain commitment to long-established liberal rules of international trade and investment and the uncertain future of the European Union. In acknowledgement of these

Governments have very important roles to play in fostering innovation

”

changes (and not coincidentally), both the Japanese and Canadian governments continue to sharpen their respective national innovation agendas. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in his annual government policy address in January, spoke of a “new era in innovation,” primarily through investment in r&d and reforms in regulation and education to provide the skills for the ever-renewing economy. His government’s focus is on applied research: in pharmaceuticals and treatment technologies, in driverless cars, in hydrogen as a source of heat and electricity. This

ongoing adjustment of innovation policies elaborates Japan’s 2016 Science & Technology Basic Plan, which identified energy, health and longevity, and “next generation infrastructure” as its top three priorities. What Abe does not address in his speech — and indeed in the policy framework — also informs our understanding of Japan’s innovation priorities. For example, there is only modest support for the development of strategic international networks for joint research. Nor has there been great progress in encouraging foreign firms to come to Japan and invest in r&d. There are modestly liberalized visa policies to encourage foreign experts to come to Japan to work in its industrial and academic milieux — an extremely effective approach to fostering innovation — but the results to date have been unexceptional. Japan’s success in innovation builds on a foundation of highly successful companies with managerial and technical know-how that are world class, and the government’s role is to promote these strengths. Canada’s perspective on innovation is different. It starts with people. Canadians are proud of the country they’ve built, but they know that the future depends on a constant upgrade of its skillsets to meet the demands of ever-advancing technologies. The country also needs to keep attracting even more people to its shores through immigration. This approach is evident in recent policy decisions as well as in the spending priorities announced in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2017 budget. The keystone is Canada’s Global Skills Strategy, launched last year, with the objective of making it easier for high-growth Canadian companies to attract the specialized talent necessary to innovate. The program helps facilitate the entry of knowledgeable professionals to Canadian firms and

Asia Pacific View Joseph Caron is the former Ambassador of Canada to Japan, an honorary professor with the Institute of Asian Research at the University of British Columbia and a distinguished fellow with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. www.josephcaroninc.com

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government plans to focus on applied research: in pharmaceuticals and treatment technologies, in driverless cars and in hydrogen as a source of heat and electricity.

research institutions. A new global talent stream program, to be implemented this June, will establish a two-week service standard for processing work visas and permits focused on high-technology skills and experience. These programs build on Canada’s international reputation as an open and welcoming society — a major calling card in today’s fractured world. For its part, the 2017 budget introduces an “Innovation and Skills Plan” centred around well-funded programs for advanced manufacturing, agri-food, clean technology, digital industries, health sciences and clean resources — with special attention on the differing needs of men and women. Another additional program will aim at creating 10,000 co-op

work and learning placements per year. Canada has Silicon Valleys of its own, for example, located in Waterloo (digital), in Vancouver (gaming and entertainment) and in Montreal (medical); but these “clusters” need additional investment. A CAD$950 million (about ¥80 billion) program over the next five years will be available for capital infusion, in particular in the six sectors noted above. Separately, another $125 million (¥10 billion) will go to artificial intelligence. The success of these initiatives, however will depend on developing home-grown — and importing foreign — talent in sufficient numbers to meet the demand of industry, from start-ups to the largest enterprises. Are government efforts sufficient in

Japan and Canada? Both countries’ finance ministers — Taro Aso in Japan and Bill Morneau in Canada — have to work within the constraints of multiple demands on government revenues. And at the moment, both Canada and Japan are facing long-term deficits. Innovation is in the hands of visionary entrepreneurs, enterprising companies and the financial markets within which they operate. The real driver for economies large and small, though, is human talent and ability — and the society with the energy and imagination to develop them. Governments, including those of Canada and Japan, are most effective when they focus on what they do best: reduce barriers and open markets.

The Canadian / 027

Timeline

LOOKING BACK

PAST EVENTS CHAMBER GOINGS ON AND BEYOND

CANADA 150 SPEAKER’S SERIES: QUEBEC & JAPAN SEMINAR — March 8 Influential speaker Lise Thériault, the deputy premier of Quebec, successfully launched the new CCCJ Canada 150 Speaker Series during her visit with a presentation on Quebec’s new international policy and the opportunities it will create for Japanese businesses. She also shared her insights on how Quebec attracted tech giants like Google, Amazon and Microsoft to la belle province. The luncheon attracted over 80 members of the Tokyo business community to the Roppongi Hills Club for a unique chance to network and discuss insightful ideas.

SHINNENKAI 2017 — January 25 About 80 people filled the Brooklyn Suite at the Tokyo American Club as we welcomed Ian Burney, Canada's new ambassador to Japan to help ring in the New Year on Jan. 25. This annual CCCJ event featured many cultural vignettes, including a koto performance, ikebana demonstration and a kagami biraki ceremony to welcome the new Ambassador and ring in the new year.

028 / The Canadian

ASIA LEAGUE ICE HOCKEY — February 4 After the fun of watching some NHL action during the week, the CCCJ went with members and local hockey fans to an Asia League Ice Hockey game at DyDo Drinko Ice Arena in Higashifushimi, Tokyo where the Tohoku Free Blades took on the the Nippon Paper Cranes (featuring Canadian forward Ben Walter, profiled on p.34). The Cranes beat the Free Blades 2-1 and a good time was had by all. Some stayed to watch the Oji Eagles 3-1 win over the Nikko Icebucks.

JOINT CHAMBER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS — March 30 It was a night of informal networking that involved 14 other international chambers of commerce in Japan. Around 165 of Tokyo's best and brightest young professionals under 35 met to exchange ideas, mingle and make valuable new connections over free-flow food and drinks — all while enjoying sweeping nighttime city views from the 36th floor of the Mixx Bar & Lounge at the ANA InterContinental for the joint chamber Young Professionals Night.

Calendar

DATEBOOK

Stephane Beaulieu is chair of the CCCJ events committee.

BY STEPHANE BEAULIEU

EVENTS/

SPRING-SUMMER 2017

The cccj event committee is gearing up for a busy season of events for our members, partners and friends. The program includes new events organized for the first time, as well as a few classics back by popular demand. The annual CCCJ Golf Scramble on May 12 is one of those favourites that have managed to stay on the cccj program for many years. David Anderson, one of our governors, is once again taking the lead on this very popular event. The second edition of the joint chamber sake tasting will take place on May 17. This time, the event will feature approximately 20 Japanese nihonshu breweries and the participation of many foreign chambers. The last tasting evening held in September 2016 attracted almost 200 people and we expect a much larger crowd for this sequel. In other events, the chamber has recently teamed up with Legend Sports Bar and the Tokyo Canadians ice hockey team for Hockey Night in Tokyo. These are regular, casual evenings for members to watch featured nhl games from the previous night (don’t check the score!), drink a few “pops” and discuss the finer points of the frozen game. Plus, a percentage of all proceeds on the night will go to the cccj’s csr fund. This year marks Canada’s 150th anniversary and as part of the celebrations, the cccj will host the Maple Leaf Gala on Sept. 29. This is one of the biggest social events on the Tokyo calendar and this year is no exception — it’s shaping up to be another very exciting event, so save the date! The chamber is also hosting the “Canada 150 Speaker Series” this year, so please check the cccj website regularly for the latest event announcements. Keep an eye out for the annual joint chamber summer event in June (date tbd). Finally, the cccj event committee is in full-on recruitment mode and looking for members to join its ranks! The ideal candidate is looking for a new challenge, keen to meet people, expand their horizons and likes to organize fun and interesting events. If you fit the bill, please contact us at info@cccj.or.jp.

MAY

Sake Tasting In collaboration with 11 other foreign chambers of commerce in Japan, the second edition of the popular sake tasting evening will feature over 15 breweries, including well known brands such as Dassai, Kubota and Hakkaisan and a few micro-breweries, providing a broad spectrum of Japanese sake variety. Date: May 17, 2017 Time: 6:30 p.m. Cost: ¥8,500 members (¥9,500 non-members) Location: Tokyo American Club

MAY

SEPTEMBER

CCCJ Maple Leaf Gala

16th Annual CCCJ Golf Scramble

The CCCJ is once again hosting its annual Maple Leaf Gala. This is the flagship Canada-Japan community event in Tokyo. As always, the CCCJ events committee is preparing a festive evening of prizes, entertainment and, of course, an excellent selection of fine Canadian food and drink.

This annual CCCJ golf tourney is a team event with all squads vying for the CCCJ Rose-Golden Toque! Canadian rules apply with absolutely no slashing or hooking (one-stroke penalty) but high sticking is allowed. A chartered bus stocked with beverages will pick up participants at the Canadian Embassy and the day will finish with an amazing buffet and plenty of great prizes.

Date: Sept. 29, 2017 Time: 6:30 p.m. Table Sponsorship: ¥300,000-¥1,000,000 (1-3 tables of 10). For single tickets contact: info@cccj.or.jp Location: Tokyo American Club

Date: May 12 Time: 9:30 a.m. (Bus: 6:30 a.m.) Cost: ¥22,000 members (¥23,000 non-members) Location: Tsutsujigaoka Country Club

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