EURO MERICAN TAILOR-MADE STYLE Bespoke men’s and ladies’ fashion suits from $450 trousers from $150 Other superfine quality Prices in US dollars blazers from $300 shirts from $69 suits from (excluding shipping); tuxedos from $650 (minimum of four shirts) $650 to $3,900 delivery in three weeks overcoats from $750 CONTENTS VOL. 57, ISSUE 3 COVER PHOTO Tokyo 2020 presents chance for work style reform – Page 16 THIS PAGE The Summer Olympics bring excitement and challenges – Page 42 5 EDITOR’S DESK 11 ACCJ EVENTS 16 HR 42 PARTNER CONTENT Business of an Outbreak Future of Reporting Office Hurdles Security Games and Sustainability C Bryan Jones Can Games kickstart Japan prepares for cyber Megan Casson teleworking in Japan? threats against Tokyo 2020 6 ACCJ EVENT Malcolm Foster nikkei asian review Ring in the Mouse 13 MENTORS ACCJ members and guests Portal for Interns 28 DEFENSE 47 J-MEDIA celebrate a new year ACCJ member companies Military Might Diet Dailies grow budding talent C Bryan Jones Japan’s expanding needs open Agency alliance aims C Bryan Jones market to US defense business to control tech giants ACCJ EVENTS US–Japan trade deal 8 John Amari Community support, tax prepa ration, 14 CHUBU boost for agriculture committee merge, energy trends, Cabinet may take control YPF Mentorship 32 ENTREPRENEUR sustainable business, celebrating a Series 2020 of tax system new year, and mingling with the Irish. Inspiring Women Saga, Shizuoka rail Megan Casson US-raised entrepreneur plans remain stalled nurtures work–life balance translation of news John Amari from Keizaikai 38 EDUCATION Textbook Response How are educators dealing with the new coronavirus? DISCLAIMER C Bryan Jones Custom Media and the ACCJ will not accept liability for any damages caused by the contents of The ACCJ Journal, including, but not limited to, any omissions, errors, facts or false statements. Opinions or advice expressed in the The ACCJ Journal are not necessarily those of the ACCJ or Custom Media. Publisher Advertising Sales Manager PRESIDENT Simon Farrell Garreth Stevens Peter Fitzgerald [email protected] Google Japan G.K. Account Managers President James Greer CHAIRMAN Robert Heldt HwaJin Lee Christopher J. LaFleur McLarty Associates Editor-in-Chief Business Development Christopher Bryan Jones Jody Pang TREASURER Kotaro Toda Art Director Ryann Thomas Edvard Vondra Ximena Criales PwC Tax Japan Head of Project Management Senior Graphic Designer VICE PRESIDENTS Megumi Okazaki Michael Pfeffer Yoko Furuyama (Kansai) Procter & Gamble Japan K.K. Project Coordinator Amy Jackson Graphic Designer Kana Numata Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Charlotte Boisdequin Toshiya Haraguchi Marie G. Kissel Abbott Staff Writers Ray Proper (Chubu) H&R Consultants K.K. Media Coordinator Alec Jordan Jenifer Simms Rogers Asurion Japan Holdings G.K. Misa Yashiro Megan Casson Eric W. Sedlak K&L Gates Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise Yoshitaka Sugihara Netflix K.K. Web Developers Brian Susantio GOVERNORS Devin Surya Putra Eriko Asai GE Japan Inc. Jose Murinello Andrew J. Conrad Aflac James C. Feliciano AbbVie Douglas L. Hymas The Bank of New York Mellon Tad Johnson Pratt & Whitney Aftermarket Japan KK To advertise or subscribe: Saori Kanno REVLON K.K. [email protected] Mari Matthews Google Japan G.K. Arthur M. Mitchell White & Case LLP Editorial: Nancy L. Ngou EY Advisory and Consulting Co., Ltd. [email protected] Frank Randolph Packard Triple A Partners Japan Co. Ltd. William J. Swinton Temple University, Japan Campus Simone Thomsen (Kansai) Eli Lilly Japan, K.K. Megumi Tsukamoto Caterpillar Japan, LLC Michel Weenick (Chubu) Hilton Resorts Marketing Corporation (DBA Grand Vacations) PRESIDENTS EMERITI Debbie Howard (2004–2005) Charles D. Lake II (2006–2007) Allan D. Smith (2008) Thomas W. Whitson (2009–2010) Michael J. Alfant (2011–2012) Christopher J. LaFleur (2016–2017) Publishers of The ACCJ Journal for the American Chamber of Commerce CHAIRMAN EMERITUS in Japan, Custom Media is an award-winning bilingual, digital integrated Kumi Sato Cosmo PR marketing, content creation, and strategic communications agency in Tokyo. Our focus is on print and digital publications, marketing solutions, SPECIAL ADVISOR social media, branding, websites, apps, and videos in three areas: Harry A. Hill Oak Lawn Marketing, Inc. strategy, creation, and digital. ACCJ EXECUTIVE STAFF Laura Younger Executive Director www.custom-media.com Daiwa Azabudai Bldg. 6F 2-3-3 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0041 Tel: 03-4540-7730 Information as of February 27, 2020 © 2020 Custom Media K.K. The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan Masonic 39 MT Bldg. 10F, 2-4-5 Azabudai Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 106-0041 Tel: 03-3433-5381 n Fax: 03-3433-8454 www.accj.or.jp The ACCJ is an independent membership organization not affiliated with any government The ACCJ Journal is printed on paper certified by the or other chamber of commerce. The ACCJ is a member of the Asia-Pacific Council of US Forest Stewardship Council with vegetable oil ink American Chambers and values its relationships with Japanese, American and other certified by the Japan Printing Ink Makers Association. nations’ business organizations. 4 THE ACCJ JOURNAL n MARCH 2020 EDITOR’S DESK BUSINESS OF AN OUTBREAK HIT THE BREAKS FAMILY MATTERS With the situation changing rapidly, I paused While the business and economic impact to see what would happen over the few days is real and significant, we should not over- remaining before print. And a lot has. The look the effect covid-19 may have on our Dow has fluctuated while finishing with personal lives. Speaking of London, my son Christopher Bryan Jones losses for five straight sessions, shedding is there now for a six-week study abroad [email protected] more than 2,000 points. program. He is scheduled to return on Global supply chains have been disrupted March 27, but I can't predict what changes We’ve been looking forward to 2020 for a and manufacturing facilities closed in China, to his plans the outbreak might cause. long time. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and causing companies such as Apple Inc. to This morning, a friend from the Paralympic Games were certain to herald adjust their revenue guidance for the next United States sent me a message saying an eruption of good fortune in business quarter and look for alternate sources of that his planned business trip to Tokyo parts and locations for production. has been canceled because his company and excitement in general. But there has On the afternoon of February 26, the has banned all travel to Japan. I suspect been an outbreak of something else instead: Japanese government asked organizers of such policies will become more common coronavirus. So far, the year is not turning large sports and cultural events to cancel and lead to an eco nomic slowdown. out as planned. them for the next two weeks. Almost One thing is certain: the situation will immediately, we received notifications that change tomorrow. But, for now, we have Covid-19, the illness caused by the new concerts, exhibitions, and other events— worked to find out how the early stages coronavirus, has rapidly spread throughout some scheduled to start just hours after the are impacting business and education. China and much of world. The impact on government request—had been called off. You’ll find my story about study abroad business has been sudden and strong. As I A cloud of uncertainty has also settled over concerns starting on page 38. sat down to write this column, reports were Tokyo 2020. The negative impact on Japan’s Here’s wishing you safe and healthy days coming in that the Dow Jones Industrial economy would be immense should the ahead—for family and business. n Average had plummeted 1,031 points on Games be canceled or moved to another city. A flagship publication of the American concerns over covid-19. That’s a 3.1-percent London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey took Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), drop—one of the largest single-day losses to Twitter on February 20 to say that the host The ACCJ Journal is a business magazine ever and the worst since February 2018. of the 2012 Games is ready to step in again. with a 57-year history. ACCJ EVENT Ring in the Mouse ACCJ members and guests celebrate a new year By C Bryan Jones s we enter the year of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and “I firmly believe the time is now for Japan. This is a once- Paralympic Games, the American Chamber of in-a-generation opportunity for Japan to show the world what A Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) took a moment at the makes it great, and to showcase a new wave of innovation for annual shinnenkai on January 29 to look back at a busy Year the coming decade.” of the Boar and welcome the mouse, which will guide us Fitzgerald said he has no doubt this will be a year of impact. through upcoming opportunities. “Together with Japan—and across the ACCJ’s three chapters— In 2019, the ACCJ continued fruitful discussions with US and the global business community has a tremendous opportunity to Japanese lawmakers through the DC and Diet Doorknocks— contribute its capabilities and innovate for the future. allowing the ACCJ to play an important role in the development “For more than 70 years, the tremendous efforts of ACCJ and signing of the first phase of the US–Japan trade agreement— members alongside key Japanese partners have contributed and the chamber remained a sought-after voice on US business to growth in Japan,” he said. in Japan and the region. “Critical to our ability to do this are the many Japanese stakeholders with whom we have developed strong CELEBRATING BUSINESS partnerships over the years.