The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan journal.accj.or.jp | ¥800
PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Sharing Information Doorknocks Work Jay Ponazecki | Page 7 Samuel Kidder | Page 54 Journal October 2014 Vol. 51, Issue 10
Rick Perry: Japan is America’s most important ally — Page 12
SAMURAI & COWBOYS
Global Ambition Marathon Man BUSINESS INDEX Tech firms target US Nagoya consular officer Media, Communications for growth has lofty goals & Market Intelligence — — — Page 22 Page 30 Page 36
Inside Vol. 51, Issue 10
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7—President | Upcoming Events 16—Press | US–Japan News 18—Charity | Ball Beneficiaries New Ways To Share Information • Casino Complex Plans Worthy Causes Jay Ponazecki Major Investment This year’s event will help women, • US Company Consults children, and the homeless 9—Editor | Leaders on Fukushima Leaks Barbara Hancock and Pride of Place • Domestic Leader Building Kevin Naylor Brandi Goode Defense Arm • Mobile Alliance Sees Bright Future 22—Tech | Market Entry 12—Cover Story | Governor • Nanosheets Could Help What Do eBay, WhatsApp and Samurai and Cowboys Burn Victims Amazon Have To Fear? Rick Perry: Japan is America's • Nations Fare Well Japanese online services seek most important ally in Economic Poll success abroad Brandi Goode • NFL Coach Signed Richard Jolley by Kyoto University 25—Advocacy | Growth Strategy September Cover: • Virtuoso Air Guitarist Photos from last Claims 2014 World Title Labor Mobility Shows month's cover by Signs of Movement Keyshots.com. John Amari
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 3
October 2014
32
22
30 27—Contest | Entrepreneurs 41—Books | Review Rising to the Challenge Imaginary Siren First Japan entrant in Radio broadcaster convicted Creative Business Cup of treason Patricia Bader-Johnston Vicki L. Beyer
29—Embassy | Visit 42—Cool Japan | Music Pritzker To Push for Deeper Ties First Sound from the Future Andrew Wylegala Hatsune Miku weaves her magic for US audiences 30—Interview | Chubu Roland Kelts Marathon Man Nagoya consular officer 47—ACCJ Event | Kansai has lofty ambitions Walk for Women Adam Miller Maiko Mochizuki
32—Diversity | Women 49—ACCJ Events | Accidental Heroine Past and Planned Pet hotel entrepreneur saves hundreds of animals 51—Coach | Sales Elizabeth Handover How To Be Likeable and Trustworthy When Selling 35—Diversity | Young Dr. Greg Story Professionals Social Media and the Job Search 52—Advocacy | Roundup 16 John Ghanotakis, Amir Khan, The Third Pillar and Timothy Trahan • Diet Doorknock • Integrated Resorts Task Force 36—Business Index | Media, • Tokyo 2020 Olympics Task Force Communications & Market Intelligence 54—Executive Director | Advocacy Doorknocks Work 37—Marketing | Digital Samuel Kidder Double-edged Sword Jared Campion
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 5 Welcome to Japan Three ways of Living Eight lives in Tokyo
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BANGALORE BANGKOK BEIJING CHENGDU GUANGZHOU HANGZHOU HONG KONG JAKARTA MANILA MUMBAI PUNE SEOUL SHANGHAI TOKYO President | Upcoming Events
NEW WAYS TO SHARE INFORMATION AND OCTOBER EVENTS IN KANSAI AND CHUBU
Jay Ponazecki [email protected]
ith the support of the Communications Advisory Counseling Center, the Osaka Gender Equality Foundation, the Council, co-chaired by ACCJ Governors Jonathan Sakai City Family Support Center and the Sanno Children’s Center. Kushner and William Swinton, the ACCJ is very The ACCJ Board of Governors will hold its next meeting at focused on adopting new ways to capture the the Kobe Portopia Hotel on October 17, so that Board members content of our 500-plus events each year and on can participate in the Walk-A-Thon the next day. After the Wusing more digital tools in our programming. meeting, there will be a panel discussion with the Union of Last month we launched—for the first time in ACCJ Kansai Governments followed by a welcome reception for the history—live streaming of an ACCJ speaker event. We will be new Consul General for Osaka/Kobe, Allen Greenberg, with expanding these efforts and always welcome your feedback and the Japan America Societies of Osaka and Kobe and the Japan recommendations. Last month we also launched a new member America Women of Kansai. I hope many of you will join us at the idea/suggestion box ([email protected]) to make it easier for you panel discussion, the reception and the Walk-A-Thon. I am very to email us your terrific ideas as you think of them. much looking forward to spending time with ACCJ members and guests and their families in Kansai later this month. 2014 ACCJ Kansai Charity Walk-A-Thon If you would like to register to attend, become a Walk-A-Thon Building on the experience of our Chubu Chapter, which sponsor or become a sponsor of one or more working women launched the ACCJ’s first charity walkathon in 1991, our and their families so that they can attend the Walk-A-Thon free of Kansai Chapter has been gathering members, families, friends charge, please email the Kansai ACCJ Office at [email protected]. and supporters for a fun day outdoors since 2006—alternating Thank you in advance for supporting this important annual event. annually between Kobe and Osaka. Last year 2,000 people gathered in Osaka. This year we return to Kobe (see page 47). 2014 Chubu Workplace Diversity Symposium Registration for the 2014 Charity Walk for Working Mothers On October 23, the Chubu Women in Business Committee is starts at 10 a.m. on October 18, at the Canadian Academy on holding a half-day symposium on “Diversity in the Workplace: Rokko Island. In addition to the Walk-A-Thon, there will be live Broadening Cultural Understanding and Empowering Women.” It entertainment, international food booths, a charity raffle with great will focus on strategies to increase global potential for companies prizes and a children’s play area. The participation fee is ¥1,000 for in Japan by strengthening cultural awareness and promoting adults and ¥500 for children, but please consider donating more. diversity in the workplace. For more information regarding the Food and drink tickets will be sold separately on site. Please also program, how to register and sponsorship opportunities, please consider supporting working women and their families living email the Chubu ACCJ Office at [email protected]. under difficult circumstances by making a donation that will allow The Chubu Chapter has developed strong working relationships us to invite them to the Walk-A-Thon free of charge. with various Japanese government entities and business Supporting working women and helping raise the awareness associations in the Chubu region. Thanks to Steve Burson’s of issues impacting women in the workplace have been ongoing strong leadership, this year the Chubu Chapter has been able to themes of the Kansai Walk-A-Thon. This year’s event is sponsored leverage these relationships in putting together this symposium and supported by more than 50 companies—including many ACCJ with enthusiastic support from the local community. The fact member companies—that actively promote diversity. The Kansai that Aichi Prefecture’s Deputy Governor Akiko Yoshimoto will Chapter is proud over the years to have donated ¥36,306,000 to be one of the featured speakers is good evidence of this support. 18 NPOs that support working women. The beneficiaries of the Dean Foster, an internationally renowned intercultural training 2013 Kansai Walk-A-Thon were: the Work and Child Raising specialist, will be another featured speaker. •
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 7
Editor | Leaders
His appearance should be of promoting women, a move that PRIDE OF particular interest to members with will surely be championed by many. an eye on the 2016 presidential The government also announced vote, as Perry is rumored to be the the opening in Tokyo next year of a PLACE current frontrunner for the Grand United Nations Women’s office, which Old Party. Texas–Japan ties are on should spark even further initiatives the rise, particularly in the sector to bring more women (back) into that fuels the state’s economy: the workforce. oil and gas. On October 1–5, I also received a kind email from the Greater Houston Partnership’s Misato Oi, who was featured in the July delegation is visiting Japan to Journal article "Holding Our Future promote business interests in this, in Their Hands." Oi participated in a among other, fields of growth. speaking circuit this summer, in part Brandi Goode And for a balanced approach, if thanks to aid from ACCJ President [email protected] you’d like to hear from a Democratic Jay Ponazecki. We published one of her state leader, the ACCJ will host inspirational haiku in the July issue, Governor of Virginia Terry and she was kind enough to share a McAuliffe on October 15. new poem following her experience ne of the most lauded this summer. See the full version Japanese virtues is modesty, Good timing in my editor’s article online, on the as Governor of Texas Rick It has been a busy time for the ACCJ Journal website. Perry observed during his Japanese government, with Prime Orecent visit to Tokyo. Having Minister Shinzo Abe’s September New faces spent half of my formative years in cabinet reshuffle having made We introduce some new writers the lone-star state, I had to chuckle headlines. It was aptly timed around in this October issue, as well as a when he admitted that trait is one the World Assembly for Women in new Tech column. I am constantly not generally shared by Texans Tokyo (September 12–14), at which reading articles about innovative and Japanese. In his interview with Abe’s wife, Akie, was a keynote companies, individuals, and products the ACCJ Journal, Perry went on to speaker. The proportion of females that are emerging in Japan and the proudly describe—just as a beaming in Abe’s advisory circle is now United States, giving us plenty to father or satisfied entrepreneur nearly 30%—the goal Abe has set share in the monthly space. would—Texas’s economic for women in leadership by 2020. TheACCJ Journal is perpetually on achievements under his tenure as As soon as this Diet session, the lookout for professional writers the state's longest-serving governor, we may see a bill presented to to season its pages. If you or someone and what this means for those of us the legislature that would require you know is interested, drop me a in Japan (see page 12). companies to set targets for line anytime. • PRESIDENT
Jay Ponazecki Morrison & Foerster, Ito & Mitomi
CHAIRMAN
Christopher J. LaFleur McLarty Associates uniquebydesign.jp 2013 Company of the Year TREASURER
Jack E. Bird Zeirishi Hojin PricewaterhouseCoopers
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Job Number 4UA442 Headline Haneda to San Francisco-friendly Publication iNTOUCH OCT 2014 English Event Language Trim 210 x 297mm Vertical/Portrait [email protected] Client United Horizontal/Landscape Art Director DC Bleed 3mm 16858 Royal Crest CMYK RGB B&W SPOT (PMS) Houston Texas 77058 Copywriter UA Safety/Live 5mm 281-480-3660 Traffic MC Ad Style SMILE - SFO Full Page A4 bleed 8/28/2014 Job Number 4UA442 Headline Haneda to San Francisco-friendly Publication iNTOUCH OCT 2014 English Event Language Trim 210 x 297mm Vertical/Portrait [email protected] Client United Horizontal/Landscape Art Director DC Bleed 3mm 16858 Royal Crest CMYK RGB B&W SPOT (PMS) Houston Texas 77058 Copywriter UA Safety/Live 5mm 281-480-3660 Traffic MC Ad Style SMILE - SFO Full Page A4 bleed 8/28/2014 Cover Story | Governor
SAMURAI & COWBOYS Rick Perry: Japan is America's most important ally
By Brandi Goode
nlike his 19th-century growth. Media have come to refer predecessor with a shared to the phenomenon as the “Texas surname, the governor of miracle,” a term that does not sit Texas extolled the Japanese well with Perry. Uhospitality received on his “I don’t like to call it a miracle. first visit. Miracles are things you can’t “It’s another time, another Perry, explain; this you can, and it’s pretty and any American who visits Japan simple,” he said. can feel he is among friends,” said Perry went on to outline his four Governor Rick Perry, referring steps to economic progress. to Commodore Matthew Perry’s incursions into Japan in the 1850s. 1. Keep the tax burden light Making friends across the Pacific enough to encourage growth. seems a priority for Perry, who There should be just enough has been rumored as a potential income to allow government This is great for Texas, but can the presidential candidate in the next to fulfill people’s expectations, model be replicated in Japan? election. The governor added Japan such as maintaining roads and According to Perry, it can be to his itinerary after receiving an education standards. copied anywhere. “The hard part invitation to the World Economic 2. Establish a regulatory policy is finding men and women to Forum in Tianjin, China, saying it that’s fair and predictable. This implement these changes in policy,” was important “to come and sit down is crucial, he said, to attracting he said, perhaps hinting at his own while we’re in the neighborhood.” investment, as companies will ability to reform the US economy if Like the current US government spend money and hire staff in a elected president. leaders, Perry is keenly aware of place where they know the rules A key part of this four-step maintaining diplomatic relations are not going to change in the formula is lowering corporate tax, with Japan and China, and was quick middle of the game. Companies an issue at the forefront of debates to skirt political questions during an 3. Maintain a legal system that in Japan. Just this April, Toyota interview with the ACCJ Journal. doesn’t allow for oversuing. will spend Motor Corp. announced its decision Instead, his speech to a sold- Perry said Texas has enacted the money and to move its headquarters to Plano, out crowd at an ACCJ event on most sweeping tort reform in Texas, after 50 years in California. September 8 focused on trade— the nation, which discourages hire staff The lower cost of living and tax specifically the Trans-Pacific frivolous lawsuits. Perhaps this in a place structure were primary factors in Partnership (TPP) agreement— is not Japan’s greatest concern, the decision. energy, and the shared values that however. where they Perry is well aware of the fortify the US-Japan alliance, which 4. Improve policies regarding public know the tenets of Abenomics, which he he called America’s most important. schools, which should be held supports wholeheartedly. He accountable for educational rules are endorses a reduced corporate tax, The Texas miracle standards. This translates into a not going to because, “It just works. People He also did a fair share of boasting skilled workforce. Perry said a will argue against it forever, but about his achievements and the key reason for eBay and other change in the reality is that businesses Texas economy, which, in contrast companies’ decisions to relocate the middle will risk their capital and hire to a majority of US states in the past to Texas hinged on the availability people if government makes this few years, has posted remarkable of skilled labor in the state. of the game. commitment [to lower taxes].
12 | ACCJ JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2014 “The TPP is one of the defining opportunities of this generation.”
annual trade. “Measured by their combined economic potential, you’re not going to find two allied nations as essential to one another as the United States and Japan, in the progress we can make and the good influence we can have,” he added. “This is a test of leadership.”
Partners in energy As commerce was Perry's primary motive—at least that which was stated—for visiting Japan, energy trade was a key theme. With the “All it takes is the courage With this he highlighted how shutdown of nearly all of the nation’s of the leaders to replicate what the greatest periods of economic 42 nuclear reactors, Perry said Japan happened in Japan in the 1980s, growth in the United States, “could and probably will be a major and I am quite confident it can including under the administrations purchaser” of Texas’s liquefied natural happen again.” of John F. Kennedy and Ronald gas (LNG), which he called Tokyo’s Much of Perry’s talk reaffirmed Reagan, coincided with the times “new fuel of choice.” his belief in a limited federal of greatest economic freedom. The state has been ramping up its government, a topic that is Businesses in Japan are certainly production of shale gas and is keen also pertinent in Japan as new hoping his message rings true with to set up purchasing agreements responsibilities are shifted to leaders here. with other economies. In fact, many regional governments under the Japanese concerns have become Abe administration. Vote yes for TPP involved in shale-gas production in “There are always governments Japan and the United States, as the Texas, in anticipation of new policies that act as if they can overtax, two biggest economies participating under debate. overregulate, and just generally in the TPP, have a “singular Japan currently relies on outside interfere in business and responsibility,” Perry said, to sources for 90 percent of its energy, employment, without inviting bad advance negotiations. and thus any potential long-time consequences,” he said. Calling the agreement “one of supplier must be “secure, stable, and “Whether it’s Europe, Asia, the the defining opportunities of this friendly,” to guarantee cheap and Americas, or anywhere else, the generation,” Perry stressed that both abundant energy. same broad principles are going nations must stay focused on all they Energy security is a global concern, to hold true. The more a nation stand to gain if the pact is approved, Perry emphasized. “For years in respects labor and capital, the more and that secondary interests should America, we’ve talked and talked it will prosper over time. The more not be allowed to interfere with the about the goal of energy security. secure a country is in the rule larger goal of freer trade. Just about the last thing this or any of law—with equally clear limits He pointed out how our two country needs is to depend on foreign on the power of the state—the economies account for nearly one- governments that use energy as a better off its people will be in so third of global domestic product, strategic lever, manipulating supplies many ways.” and share some $300 billion in to suit their own designs,” he said.
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 13 http://goremit.shinseibank.com Cover Story | Governor
Shared values meeting the spirit of the samurai,” Japan and the United States—even which Perry calls “a formidable [The United States and Japan] Texas—share common values. consideration.” “ On the state level, both sides are On the national level, Perry are joined by conviction conservative. Texan and Japanese emphasized our nations’ shared businesses are compatible in beliefs in democracy and the rule in an alliance of values.” many ways, and commerce is as of law. Geopolitics and economic strong as ever between US and interest are but some of the things Japanese companies. After the that unite us, he said, but above all opportunities for Texas businesses ACCJ event and interview, Perry “we are joined by conviction in an in Japan, in the defense sector in met with JR Group to discuss alliance of values.” addition to energy. Lockheed Martin plans for a high-speed rail line And this, he said, if we continue Aeronautics Co. has its headquarters between Houston and Dallas. to manage it well, will bolster the in Fort Worth, Texas, after all. So far, the commercial partnership security architecture of the Asia- Governor Perry concluded by has gone well. Pacific region. praising Japan’s achievements and One media outlet described the While Perry declined to admit current direction of reform. interaction of Japanese and Texas ambitions for the presidency, he was “A strong Japan is good for America interests as “the spirit of the cowboy not shy about his goal of increasing and this region.” •
If Texas were a country (as it once was)
JAPAN TEXAS
GDP $4.90 trillion $1.14 trillion
Population 127 million 26 million
836 per 98.1 per Population Density square mile square mile
152,411 268,581 Land mass square miles square miles
Global economic rank 3rd 12th*
Highest point 12,389 feet 8,750 feet
Political representation Liberal of ruling party Democratic Party Republican Party
Upper house Upper house (House of (Senate)
Councillors) 2 of 2 115 of 242
Lower house Lower house (House of (House of Representatives) Representatives) 295 of 480 24 of 36
*According to US Bureau of Economic Analysis and World Bank figures
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 15 Press | US–Japan News
Casino Complex Plans Major Investment
The head of MGM Resorts potential sites for the planned International has said the company complex in various cities. plans to invest about ¥1 trillion In Tokyo, he has targeted the to build a first-class resort in current site of the Tsukiji fish market, Japan when and if the law permits which is set to be relocated next year. (PokerNews.com, September 9). He also visited Osaka and spoke to James Murren, MGM CEO, said, Governor Ichiro Matsui about the “We believe that the [Japanese] company’s aspirations to develop market could be the second largest an integrated resort complex that in the world,” next to Macao. incorporates aspects of Japanese Murren has been to Japan six culture, and which utilizes the latest MGM is betting big on Japan. times so far this year, to assess technology for high energy efficiency.
US Company Consults on Domestic Leader Fukushima Toxic Leaks Building Defense Arm
The Japanese government is consulting with a Utah company to help Fujitsu Ltd. has announced its acquisition of a US defense address radioactive leaks at Fukushima (Deseret News, August 22). technology company (The Japan Times, August 26). Cross Marine Projects is one of several global companies consulted GlobeRanger Corp., based in Texas, makes a radio for a solution to the roughly 72,000 gallons of radioactive water frequency identification system for managing information on that daily leaks into the Pacific Ocean from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi various weapons. Fujitsu is looking to enter the US national Nuclear Power Plant. security market, following the loosening of regulations Cross has proposed injecting hydrogels into cracks in the soil on Japan’s export of weapons and related technologies in that would harden to form a barrier wall. The technology is one April. In fiscal 2013, Fujitsu conducted about ¥40 million in the company has used for several years. President Jim Cross said transactions with the Japanese Ministry of Defense. it would be more durable than the ice barrier the government and The electronics maker has reportedly also set its sights Tokyo Electric Power Co. have been testing in recent months. Plus, he on the global defense industry beyond US and Japanese claims his technology would cost only a fraction of the $450 million borders. In the UK and Australia, it currently conducts estimated for the ice wall. defense-related operations through subsidiaries.
Mobile Alliance Sees Bright Future
A US-based phone carrier has been Collaboration between the provider taking a page from Japan’s book and its Japanese parent has given both to expand its product offerings, businesses access to new suppliers and according to a company official more negotiating power, according to (PC Magazine, August 27). Sprint’s head of product development. Sprint, which was acquired by Now the US company is looking at parent company SoftBank in 2013, not only SoftBank’s relationships is working to bring more Japanese with phone makers, such as Sharp items to US consumers. In mid- and NEC, but also the possibility of August, Sprint began offering Sharp offering its customers other devices, Co.’s Aquos Crystal phone to its US such as phone cases and security customers through a joint process cameras, which are sold through with SoftBank. SoftBank in Japan. The Sharp Aquos Crystal phone launched in the United States in August.
16 | ACCJ JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2014 Press | US–Japan News
Nanosheets Nations Fare Well in Economic Poll
Could Help A recently released economic survey has Japan beat Hong Kong and the Netherlands ranked the United States third and Japan this year to move up two spots, while the Burn Victims sixth in terms of economic competitiveness United States leapfrogged Finland and (BBC website, September 2). Germany to achieve third place. TheGlobal Competitiveness Report Switzerland took first place in the poll, Researchers from Japan and 2014–2015, published by the Geneva-based followed by Singapore. There are a dozen the Massachusetts Institute of World Economic Forum, lists the same 10 factors in the assessment, including Technology (MIT) have made great countries in the top 10 spots for the third institutions, infrastructure, health and strides in the use of nanosheets for consecutive year, although their rankings are education, market size, and macroeconomic treating burns (The Malay Mail slightly different. environment. Online, August 17). Addressing the 248th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, Japanese scientists presented a novel way—using biodegradable NFL Coach Signed by Kyoto University nanosheets—of protecting burn victims from bacterial infections. A former National Football League (NFL) player Tests have shown the sheets has signed on as the new linebacker coach at Kyoto block common bacteria for three University (The Japan Times, September 1). days before renewed application Adam Seward says he has wanted to live in Japan is needed. This reduces the since his days at the University of Nevada. He previously frequency with which wounds coached football in the country while working to would require dressing. earn his Masters of Business Administration. Seward The MIT team introduced played in the NFL for five seasons from 2005, and had biodegradable nanosheets that previously worked at NFL representative offices in allow controlled delivery of topical Mexico and China. drugs. This would make possible The university’s team, the Gangsters, was prominent in the targeted treatment of one area the Japanese college football scene in the 1980s and early of the body, while preventing the ’90s, winning six Koshien Bowl national championships. exposure of vital organs to drugs. However, the team has not done well in recent years. Researchers in both countries Kyoto University’s head coach Daisuke Nishimura are now planning large-scale said, “If he remains with us, we want him to be our Seward played five seasons with the NFL. animal and safety tests. defensive coordinator next year.”
Virtuoso Air Guitarist Claims 2014 World Title
A Japanese woman has beaten the competition held in Finland. former world air-guitar champion, She is also the Japanese national who hails from the United States, champion. in the 19th Air Guitar World Nagura was chosen after a third- Championships (Deutsche Welle, round “air-off” with second-place August 30). winner Matt “Airistotle” Burns, Nanami Nagura, whose stage who is the 2014 US champ. The name is Seven Seas, took the two finalists had only one chance to crown from last year’s winner, hear the song “Sweatmaster” before Eric “Mean” Melin, at the tight beginning their performances. Nanami Nagura receives a handmade electric guitar as her prize.
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 17 Charity | Ball Beneficiaries
WORTHY CAUSES This year’s event will help women, children, and the homeless
By Barbara Hancock and Kevin Naylor
he American Chamber of Commerce in Japan's Charity Ball funds most of the Tokyo chapter's Tphilanthropic activities, and is an outstanding way for members to give back to the community in which we live. The Chubu and Kansai chapters have charity walkathons that fund charities in their local communities. Annual charitable giving by the chamber goes back to the 1995 Kobe Earthquake, at which time it raised about ¥35 million. It was then that the Community Service Advisory Council (CSAC) was established as a continuing chamber effort. Every year, with recommendations from the chamber leadership, CSAC and time and funds that we can all take The JKSK organizes JKSK NPO (Empowering Women the Charity Ball Committee select great pride in constantly raising volunteer trips Empowering Society) to organic cotton a group of charities to support, the bar for our charitable efforts. The JKSK has its roots in an farms in Fukushima. which are considered our “primary Following are the charities selected organization formed in 1887, when charities.” as recipients of donations from this a group of top political and business Over the past few years, efforts year’s Charity Ball. leaders in Japan gathered to form have been focused on the recovery the Joshi-Kyoiku-Shoreikai (Society of, and rebuilding in, Tohoku. With Community Service Fund of Promoting Women’s Education our selection this year you will see The Community Service Fund and Leadership). The organization that we are still looking to support is an ACCJ board-run fund helped open a women’s school in the recovery through the JKSK and with the mission to administer Tokyo, which today has become the Taylor Anderson Memorial members’ contributions in support the Tokyo Jogakkan Schools for Fund. At the same time, the chamber of deserving community service Women. remains committed to supporting projects. The fund is also used for With a group of friends, Mitsu local charities, which also have high- emergency requests that come in Kimata, founding president of The priority needs that must be met. throughout the year. Beneficiary Body Shop in Japan, decided to We would like to take this projects include various activities revive the spirit of the original JKSK opportunity to again thank our of the American business family so that women would be better ACCJ member companies for their and youth communities, as well prepared to take on leadership ongoing, generous support of the as selected Japanese social welfare roles in every area of Japanese worthy causes, in spite of these organizations. The purpose of the society. She formed the current challenging economic times. It is grants is to assist in the community JKSK and launched its operations in due to these annual donations of service goals of the recipients. January 2002.
18 | ACCJ JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2014 Charity | Ball Beneficiaries
Smiling Hospital Japan hires entertainers to support children spending long periods at the hospital.
The ACCJ has supported work to keep these poor men and women “It was Smiling Hospital Japan that the JKSK has been doing in the alive until they could get back on According to Smiling Hospital Tohoku region to promote the active their feet.” Readers can watch a found that Japan’s mission, “Happiness helps involvement in various workshops heartwarming video on the project two onigiri healing.” The organization’s mission and projects of women in the area. and an interview with Fukuda on the is to lift the spirits of children in The group organized a Women’s ACCJ website. [per day] the hospital, especially those who Leadership Network to address The fund also supports the contained are very weak with low immunity immediate and long-term needs in Sanyukai Homeless Center, which levels, and those obliged to stay long several locations. In the near future, provides mental and physical enough periods. It does this by engaging the JKSK will bring a group of care for those in need, medical calories to professional artists to provide female Asian leaders to Fukushima care by volunteer doctors, as well entertainment. to organize workshops. The goal is as food, clothing, and shelter for keep these Smiling Hospital Japan was to share expertise and experience the homeless. poor men established in February 2012 and in handling crises, so that disasters The ACCJ Mike Makino Fund became a registered nonprofit in such at that which occurred in was named after the ACCJ’s dear and women December of that year. It started Tohoku can be better dealt with and friend and long-time contributor alive until visitations the same year, and the understood. www.jksk.jp to CSAC, Shojiro (Mike) Makino. concept has been well received by Makino identified and vetted many they could the children affected, their families, Mike Makino Fund of the charities the chamber has get back on and hospital staff. The ACCJ Mike Makino Fund for supported over the years and helped The ACCJ’s donation will help to the Homeless is maintained by the to establish the original ACCJ Fund their feet.” fund a year’s worth of regular visits ACCJ, for charities that focus on for the Homeless. He passed away so the children have something helping the homeless and hungry suddenly on October 10, 2009, at the to look forward to and can even in Japan. Through the fund, the age of 80. In naming this fund in his participate in the programs that are chamber has financially supported honor, Makino’s legacy lives on. presented. www.smilinghpj.org the “onigiri project,” in which volunteers distribute rice balls to feed hundreds of homeless people in Tokyo areas such as Ueno, Yoyogi, and Shinjuku parks. As in the past, this year the Mike Makino Fund will support the Tokyo Union Church and the Franciscan Chapel Center, both of which sponsor and support the onigiri project. As Paul Fukuda of the Tokyo Union Church’s Mission for Our Homeless Neighbors project recently noted, “It was found that two onigiri [per day] contained enough calories The Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund organizes fundraisers to support families in the Ishinomaki area.
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• International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the PYP, MYP and IBDP programs for students in preschool through high school. • Diverse student body with 32 nationalities represented. • Graduates pursue their dreams and contribute to their communities at universities and colleges around the world, and in professions that represent all walks of life.
Authorized by the IBO / Fully Accredited by WASC and CIS* * Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Council of International Schools Charity | Ball Beneficiaries
Although she was lost in the tsunami after helping to guide all her students to safety, Taylor’s inspiration and generous spirit lives on.
Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund Her parents, Andy and Jean, Taylor Anderson was teaching believe she would have wanted them English in the coastal city of to carry on her dream and passion. Ishinomaki when the earthquake They set about helping the children and tsunami struck on March 11, of Ishinomaki by creating reading 2011. The 24-year-old American corners in schools, inviting students to woman had long wanted to become the United States, and implementing a bridge between the United States other projects. Alumni of her high and Japan, a country that had school, St. Catherine’s in Virginia, were intrigued her since childhood. Her instrumental in raising initial funding. dream was realized by becoming an To continue implementing these assistant language teacher under the projects, the Taylor Anderson Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Memorial Fund was established Programme. by her parents and supporters She taught at kindergartens and in Japan in December 2013. elementary and junior high schools, In collaboration with nonprofit and was loved by her Japanese and other organizations engaging students because of her enthusiasm, in Tohoku recovery efforts, the dedication, and kindness. Although primary mission of the fund she was lost in the tsunami after is to help students, schools, helping to guide all her students and families in the Ishinomaki to safety, Taylor’s inspiration and area recover from the disaster. generous spirit lives on. www.taylorandersonmemorialfund.org Children enjoy outdoor activities at the YMCA camp.
About 40 children attend the camp each summer. YMCA Challenged mainstream society, by holding Children’s Project friendship camps, and to provide (YMCA/ACCJ Ohisama Camp) experience and training for The YMCA Challenged Children current and future volunteers Project began in 1987 in cooperation and professionals. with the National Council of YMCAs of Japan and the Tokyo YMCA. The funds raised by the ACCJ Charity Ball are used to support the The project’s goals are to: YMCA/ACCJ Ohisama Camp, a 1 support through camps, the Tokyo YMCA Center program held in development of challenged late summer. At the camp, an expected children in order that they might 40 children with conditions such develop self-confidence and as Asperger's Syndrome, Attention skills for independent living and Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, learning, and to support facilities information processing disorders, for the challenged; and and other learning/developmental 2 support and promote integration disorders can enjoy the outdoors and of challenged children into participate in group activities. •
Barbara Hancock Kevin Naylor is a is vice president of sales director at Media Sense K.K., en world Japan K.K. and chair of the and is vice chair of ACCJ Charity Ball the ACCJ Charity Committee. Ball Committee.
Photos in last month's "History of Giving" article were provided by Keyshots.com.
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 21 Tech | Market Entry
WHAT DO EBAY, WHATSAPP, AND AMAZON HAVE TO FEAR? Japanese online services seek success abroad
By Richard Jolley
ompetition in the US It may have taken a while, the world. We believe that we can personal tech and compared with much of the rest of help create a better, more efficient e-commerce markets could the world, but Japan is officially in society where it’s easy for everyone soon be heating up. While love with smartphone technology. to buy or sell items they no longer C firms such as Facebook, eMarketeer predicts there are about need. Entering the US market is the Amazon, and eBay still dominate 76.5 million smartphone users first step to achieving that goal.” the domestic market, some new, in 2014, accounting for some 70 Japanese faces are set to make an percent of mobile phone owners—a On Line appearance. level of penetration similar to that of Mercari is not the only app The fields of personal tech and the US market. developer with its eye on foreign e-commerce are continually growing It is fair to say the rise of markets. Line, the app-based in Japan. The country is currently ecommerce and the take-up of these messaging service, is also reportedly fourth in the top five for business- new handsets are driving a boom for preparing to launch in the States to-consumer (B2C) ecommerce online retailers and app developers. after winning over consumers in sales, according to the eMarketeer Of the two, app developers are the Japan and other parts of the world. online marketing platform. B2C most forthright about their plans to The company reportedly has some sales in Japan were estimated at export their success to the rest of the 175 million active monthly users; $140.35 billion for 2013, just behind world, particularly the United States. compare this to WhatsApp, a the UK with $141.35 billion— leading global messaging platform, and way ahead of Germany with Smart shopping which has around 465 million $53 billion. Take Mercari, which has created a In the case of personal tech, thriving business around its re-sale specifically apps, Japan is a high- shopping app for people to buy and growth market. According to sell their items on smartphones. research by the IHS and App Annie, The company has announced its the app market is seeing a 4.4-fold US launch, and Ryo Ishizuka, year-on-year expansion. co-founder of Mercari and president Whereas last year, Americans of US operations, is confident that spent about one-third more on apps the firm can bring something new from Google Play and Apple’s App to the US market. Store than the Japanese, by this year, “We are the only consumer-to- Japan’s 127 million people were consumer re-sale shopping app, outspending America’s population selling a variety of items and focusing of 310 million by some 10 percent. on the mobile platform, right now. A main reason for this is the rise in Though Craigslist and eBay are popularity of smartphone gaming. great services, they were founded In the past year, Japanese spending during the desktop computing era. on gaming apps spiked 400 percent, Our app is specifically designed for outpacing spending on all other smartphones—it’s portable, fast, and The Mercari app apps by a factor of 15. The rest of the fun,” Ishizuka said. was specifically world spends only twice as much on “We want to be a global company designed for games as other apps. and introduce our app all over smartphones.
22 | ACCJ JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2014 Tech | Market Entry
active monthly users (according The deal, which Rakuten says will to figures from BNP Paribas). But enhance its own offering, has quickly Line is hoping to narrow the gap followed another US acquisition in through penetration of new markets, the shape of e-commerce app Slice. especially the United States. While Ebates pays its members As reported in The Wall Street cash every time they shop online, Journal, Takeshi Idezawa, Line’s Slice consolidates users’ purchase chief operating officer, has said history. It tracks shipments and that countries such as the United allows consumers to instantaneously States are priorities for the retrieve their buying history. company’s growth. It is easy to see where both At its core, Line is a mobile companies can extend Rakuten’s messaging app with lots of great Brazil and reporting 10 million Line has used international presence, and features. There are things you would registered users in Mexico. With Cony the bunny consumers won’t have to wait and Brown the expect, such as free voice and video the expanding Hispanic community long for further deals, since senior bear as key calls, photo sharing, and messaging. in the United States, there’s reason merchandising tools. executives have talked about finding But add to that the 10,000-plus to believe Line will have already additional missing pieces for the emoticons and stickers—a key established a following there by the online company. revenue driver for the service—that time of its official launch. Even at Considering the recent moves of users have downloaded in record this early stage, the company has these three companies—Mercari, numbers. Most people in Japan are debuted advertising campaigns on Line, and Rakuten—Japan seems familiar with two of Line’s main Hispanic networks Telemundo and set to challenge the dominance of characters—Brown, the laid-back Univision, in what seems to be a many of the US enterprises that bear, and Cony the bunny—if not clear statement of intent. first seized upon the Internet’s because of the app, then due to the possibilities. Entering a new era company’s keen merchandising Appetite for expansion of mobile Internet, Japan hopes using them. It is hoped that US Thus, it appears that Japanese app to bring a different perspective consumers develop the same level of developers have a well-defined to the marketplace—one that US affection for these characters as have vision of where the future lies. But consumers will appreciate. “I think the Japanese. it would be amiss not to mention Japanese users are some of the most Time will tell if people in the Tokyo’s online retailers, specifically advanced when it comes to mobile,” United States take to Line and its Rakuten. This vendor has given said Mercari’s Ishizuka, adding that, offerings but, so far, the signs are a strong indication of its plans “This makes the Japanese mobile Richard Jolley is positive. Line is attracting consumers for expansion, not least with the an IT and business space very competitive, and I believe in Central and South America, $1 billion acquisition of Ebates, writer living and that we can offer our experience to having successfully launched in a US-based cash-back site. working in Tokyo. the rest of the world.” •
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ENGAGEMENT AND INFLUENCE IN JAPAN’S PUBLIC POLICY Interview with Jakob Edberg, managing director, GR Japan K.K.
Custom Media
akob Edberg co-founded "Overall the How does the Cabinet reshuffle Abe is also likely to try to continue GR Japan K.K. in 2010 figure into planning? beyond the end of his term as and has helped guide the reforms The overhaul of the Abe Cabinet LDP president, which ends next company to become Japan’s presented indicates the government’s priorities September. That is one reason he J leading dedicated government in the year ahead. The stability of hobbled his strongest challenger for relations and public affairs this year are the previous cabinet—the longest the party leadership, Shigeru Ishiba, consultancy. appealing, serving in Japan’s post-war history— with a cabinet post. “GR Japan was born of the was welcome, but some LDP [Liberal conviction that government and there Democratic Party] members felt What is most significant about the relations approaches used is a sense excluded. So Abe has had to balance proposed regulatory reforms? elsewhere in the world, coupled appeasing them, while choosing the Overall the reforms presented this with policy expertise and the right that the advisers he wants, and boosting his year are appealing, and there is a team of people, would be very leadership public approval. sense that the leadership supports effective in Japan. Many businesses His choices for the new cabinet change. In particular, the drive to let precious opportunities to engage supports reflect this. He prioritized continuity, streamline and lower corporate go to waste because of a lack of change." with the new key appointments taxation is critical given that the familiarity with Japan’s decision- being Yuko Obuchi and Yasuhisa current tax system is full of special making processes. One of GR Shiozaki to head METI [the Ministry measures for special interests. Japan’s goals is to solve that problem of Economy, Trade and Industry] by helping clients put together and and the Ministry of Health, Labour In which industries do you foresee implement workable plans with and Welfare, respectively. But he the most change? clear goals, targets and timelines,” also reached out to centrist factions Japan’s energy policy is a highlight. Edberg said. by appointing Sadakazu Tanigaki as The country’s energy future hinges on In September 2014, the GR Japan secretary-general. factoring in nuclear reactor restarts team presented a policy paper in and the use of other energy sources Singapore on the policy landscape such as LNG [liquefied natural gas] under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. and coal. It also ties in with electricity Edberg asserts Abenomics is market reform, another vital subject changing the playing field in Japan. up for discussion. For more information on these The medical sector has also been issues, please see this month’s insert. identified as an engine of growth, a source of homegrown innovation, ACCJ Journal: Why did you launch and a beacon for international this policy briefing now? investment. The sector is undergoing Edberg: This is an important major regulatory reforms, despite the moment in Japanese policy-making. tension between fiscal constraints The new Abe Cabinet started a Diet and the need to reward innovation. session at the end of September There are a host of other bills awaiting in which many structural reforms scrutiny during the upcoming are up for debate. We think this session. Which are enacted and presents a real opportunity for which run out of time is a question of foreign firms, whether they political maneuvering. are operating here already, or The outcome depends on considering Japan for the first time. conversations yet to take place. • Advocacy | Growth Strategy
LABOR MOBILITY SHOWS SIGNS OF MOVEMENT
By John Amari
t the height of summer, which includes a goal to increase the reentering the labor force to do so as the government of Japan number of executive-level women a regular worker, and to receive any announced its intention to 30 percent by 2020—but Japan’s necessary training,’” Hirschfeld said. to create an advisory growth strategy will also get a much- The proposed contracts scheme, Acommittee to consider needed shot in the arm. he said, should be extended proposals to increase labor mobility Inequality in the labor market, to foreign workers, such as in the country. and subsequent low productivity, international students graduating Many of the government’s ideas has been a problem here since the in Japan who wish to stay and are similar to those advanced in an 1970s. Since then, the country has contribute to the economy. ACCJ Viewpoint, “Add Flexibility to had a largely two-tiered labor market As reported in the Nikkei on the Labor Contract Law to Address divided into regular (seishain) August 24, the government’s Burgeoning Social Inequality While and non-regular (hiseikishain) planned advisory committee— Spurring Economic Growth,” employees, Norton said. which will be jointly administered published in March. The proposals Regular workers are relatively by the Ministry of Justice and also reflect those made in the secure in their positions and, the Ministry of Health, Labour chamber’s 2010 white paper. typically, join a company as graduate and Welfare—will consider all Two people with key roles in recruits. Non-regular employees, aspects of labor mobility policy, drafting the viewpoint—Barry 70 percent of whom are women, including possible changes to labor Hirschfeld, vice chair, Growth are usually hired on a contract or contract laws. Strategy Task Force (GSTF) and temporary basis, and often include One likely proposal for the Women in Business Committee, and returnees to the workforce, such advisory committee’s consideration, Bryan Norton, chair, Globalization as mothers back from full-time the Nikkei reported, is a scheme and Labor Diversity Committee— childrearing. under a judge’s authority where welcomed the government’s Non-regular workers comprise severance pay of about one to announcement. almost 40 percent of the workforce two years of an employee’s salary For Hirschfeld and Norton, any in Japan, but receive much lower is awarded in cases for which an proposed labor mobility reforms— salaries compared with their regular employee’s termination has been including an additional, flexible counterparts (¥1.7 million and ¥4.7 deemed “invalid” and when the contract for workers returning to million, respectively). parties involved agree to have a employment after a break—should Companies, furthermore, are judge rule on the matter. promote the role of women in the loath to invest in staff who are not Although the details are pending, workforce, thereby contributing to considered full-fledged members of this policy change would be a first one of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s the workforce, which results in low in Japan—a country where the flagship goals. productivity. only recourse a judge currently “If Japan is really going to Like Norton, Hirschfeld believes has in such cases is to reinstate bring more women back into the a supplementary employee contract the employee to the company, a workforce,” Norton said, “then scheme is needed that allows situation that is often less than the government needs to promote women returning to work and those satisfactory. an employee contract that will changing jobs mid-career back into The advisory committee’s bring them back in as full-fledged John Amari is a the workforce as regular employees. recommendations will be presented employees.” consultant, writer, “The idea is, we create a contract to the Diet in 2016. Hirschfeld and and researcher who If that happens, Norton added, has worked for a mechanism that, in law, turns out Norton, meanwhile, are optimistic not only will the Abe administration United Nations to be a signpost that says: ‘This is the government is on the right path be more likely to achieve its aim— agency. a formal way for someone who is to ensuring labor mobility. •
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 25 anzccjdir-ins-v2.indd 10 9/9/14 9:51 AM Contest | Entrepreneurs
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE First Japan entrant in Creative Business Cup
By Patricia Bader-Johnston
or the first time this year, recognize winners and role Lina Sakai- the Groundbreakers Award, a Japanese business will be models who will inspire others. Watanabe will and the Venture Generation speak at an represented at the Creative Last year, two 22-year-old women Award. The winner of the Cup ACCJ event on Business Cup, a contest from Croatia won with Teddy October 3. will be announced as part of F rewarding innovative ideas. The Guardian, a plush toy embedded The Entrepreneur Awards Japan Lina Sakai-Watanabe will pitch with sensors to monitor the vital ceremony to be held early in 2015. her company, Fermenstation, to a signs of young children in hospitals. This year’s ceremony was hosted at global audience of entrepreneurs After winning the contest the the residence of U.S. Ambassador and venture capitalists at this year’s Croatian team was able to pre-sell to Japan Caroline Kennedy. Cup, to be held in November, in 38,000 Teddies! Applications are being accepted Copenhagen. Daniel Rosen of TokyoDex will through November 10, and all Sakai-Watanabe was a finalist also participate in the 2014 Cup as applicants will need to pitch their in the awards presented this the nominee of nonprofit 5ive- products to the selection board. year through the Entrepreneur Planets ISH. TokyoDex is an artist Finalists from the pitching phase will Mentoring Initiative (EMI), collective equipped to assemble a be automatically entered into the a suite of programs supported customized consortium of talent for EMI applications process, and will by the American Chamber of any creative project. need to present a detailed business Commerce in Japan. Her company The selection process for next plan in December. The winner of was selected by a special EMI year’s Creative Business Cup the first Creative Business Cup committee decision as the “most representative from Japan kicked Japan Award in January 2015 will creative business” entered, and was off in September, supported by be assigned a mentor to help them thus chosen to participate in the 5ive-Planets and the committee prepare for next year’s international 2014 Cup. responsible for the EMI and Creative Business Cup, which will Fermenstation helps rural The Entrepreneur Awards Japan, again be hosted in Copenhagen. communities in the Tohoku region as well as Keio Media Design. Patricia Bader- while creating distinctive Japanese Beginning in 2015, the Creative Johnston is the Who is eligible? rice-based products. Business Cup will be introduced founding chair of ✓ Japanese nationals residing, The Creative Business Cup strives into the existing EMI suite of EMI/TEAJ, and studying, or doing business advisor to the to promote and strengthen the awards granted each year, which Tokyo Business in Japan business skills of entrepreneurs in includes the US Embassy’s Award, Development ✓ Permanent Residents of Japan the creative industries, as well as the ACCJ Director’s Award, Center. (of any nationality) residing, studying, or doing business in Japan Got a winning idea? Olympics? Ideas supporting the Tokyo ✓ Individuals only (no teams) 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games are ✓ No age restrictions If you could embed circuits directly into any encouraged. material, or on any surface—in any shape or The sky is the limit for submissions. Innovative ideas across multiple size—what would you design? Winners will receive support from 2015 creative industries will be accepted. Wearable electronics, paper telephones, Creative Business Cup sponsor eSurface These could pertain to fashion, the or cardboard tablet computers are just Technologies Ltd. to bring their ideas arts, film, consumer products, food, some of the possibilities. Can you imagine to market. advertising, or anime, to name a few. new kinds of wearable baby monitors, or A working business plan is required better ways of tracking participants at the www.esurface.com | www.esurface.co.jp for all submissions. •
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 27
Embassy | Visit
PRITZKER TO PUSH FOR DEEPER TIES Trade mission will focus on energy and healthcare
By Andrew Wylegala
Secretary Pritzker with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in India. Pritzker and Kerry at an interview during the U.S.–India Strategic Dialogue in July.
n October 19, U.S. the secretary will meet with US matter what crisis or opportunity Department of Commerce and Japanese companies, as well may emerge, our expanded presence Secretary Penny Pritzker as senior Japanese government here will remain a cornerstone of will arrive in Tokyo with 20 officials. our foreign and economic policy.” OUS companies on a trade As Secretary Pritzker stated, Secretary Pritzker will highlight mission to Japan and South Korea. “[Our] presence throughout the that expanding our shared The secretary’s visit will be the first Asia-Pacific region is longstanding. prosperity is a pillar of President US Cabinet-led trade mission to During the early days of the Obama Andrew Wylegala Barack Obama’s Asia rebalance. Japan in over a decade. administration, the president made is the minister “This effort means deepening our counselor for Focusing on the mutually a deliberate decision to deepen US trade and investment ties with commercial affairs important energy and healthcare engagement with the Asia-Pacific at the Embassy of existing partners—such as [those sectors, and enhanced trade region. We have made a long-term the United States participating in the] Trans-Pacific between the United States and Asia, commitment to the region, and no Tokyo. Partnership,” Pritzker said.
CS-J and ACCJ Hone Social Media Skills
Thirty-six of our colleagues from Ethan Schwalbe (pictured), the Commercial Service and the associate director for external U.S. Department of State gathered affairs at the American Chamber at the Embassy of the United States of Commerce in Japan, worked in Tokyo’s American Center Japan alongside US Foreign Service for two-and-a-half days of exercises staff representing about a dozen and discussions. The workshop was markets. In line with the ACCJ's aimed at improving participants’ mission, he brought the valuable capacity to communicate effectively private sector viewpoint to bear in the digital sphere. in discussions. • Ethan Schwalbe, ACCJ associate director for external affairs
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 29 Interview | Chubu
MARATHON MAN Nagoya consular officer has lofty ambitions for coming years
By Adam Miller
tephen G. Kovacsics first time in the hot seat, having served educational institutions. He said came to Japan in 1992, as consular officer in Nigeria and that while some of these exchanges when he studied for a single Kyrgyzstan, and political/economic are aimed at high school students, term at Temple University’s officer in Belarus and Russia. the majority are arranged with STokyo campus. Since then, In an interview with the university students in mind. When he has also lived in rural Hiroshima ACCJ Journal, before delving into asked how he sells the idea of Prefecture for three years, working the various tasks his new role studying in the United States, he in the Japan Exchange and Teaching entails, he made it very clear that replied with a knowing smile. Programme. Kovacsics jokes that his “main priority is taking care “It doesn’t usually take a lot of everyone he knows who has visited of American citizens.” This is a convincing. Interest in studying in Japan almost always returns: “I don’t demanding task in and of itself, the US is quite high. Students have know many people who come to but he explained that there is an logistical and other concerns, and I Japan just once. We always seem to added responsibility placed on his help them through those,” he said. find a reason to come back.” shoulders: “I’m also here to promote The United States clearly has a Thankfully for Kovacsics, he US business, culture, and education.” very strong presence in Japan, and has been posted for the next three This he does in a number of is a nation that is viewed positively years in Nagoya, where he will be ways, from creating and solidifying by the majority of the population. working as the principal officer of international business ties, to Adam Miller has been Even so, Kovacsics is still extremely the American Consulate, Nagoya. encouraging exchange programs living and writing in determined to broaden the scope of But this is by no means his first between Japanese and American Japan since 2008. the people the consulate reaches.
To welcome Stephen Kovacsics to his promote American business ACCJ-Chubu new post, the American Chamber of interests in Chubu, the heart Welcomes Commerce in Japan's Chubu chapter of Japanese manufacturing. held a breakfast on August 27 at He also expressed excitement New Consul the Hilton Nagoya. At the event, about U.S. Ambassador to Japan Kovacsics said he had been focusing Caroline Kennedy’s visit to the By Jonathan Hobbs on getting acquainted with local area, which will be her first. political leaders, and had already Kovacsics arrived in Nagoya met with officials from four regions this summer to assume his new in Aichi Prefecture. post after studying Japanese During his tenure, the consulate for a year at the Department of will provide more diverse services, State’s Foreign Service Institute such as notarization, a service that in Yokohama. He has served in was previously unavailable in Nagoya. the Foreign Service since 2003, Kovacsics is excited to be and speaks Japanese, Russian, working with the ACCJ to Hungarian, Arabic, and French.
30 | ACCJ JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2014 Interview | Chubu
“ I’ve run 16 full marathons, and, despite my growing belly, I plan to run the Osaka, Kyoto, and Shizuoka marathons in the coming months.”
One of the major ways in which (ACCJ) to rub shoulders with some “I’ve run 16 full marathons, and, the consulate targets a wide of the most influential people in despite my growing belly, I plan to demographic is through its Guest Central Japan. run the Osaka, Kyoto, and Shizuoka Speaker Program. Kovacsics was Kovacsics was keen to point out marathons in the coming months,” noticeably proud of the project as that, although forming connections he said. he explained the details. In short, between ACCJ members and The wall in his office is decorated prominent entrepreneurs, business prominent Japanese figures is not with marathon medals from the people, public figures, and creative really the consulate’s job, creating an four corners of the globe, but he thinkers from the United States come environment that fosters such ties is said his personal best time was clocked to Japan to talk about their expertise, very important. in his hometown, Philadelphia. experiences, opinions, and ideas. It is evident that Kovacsics takes Fittingly, the medal hangs beneath a Planned on the upcoming roster are his work extremely seriously, but it is picture of Rocky Balboa triumphantly topics from Japan/USA/India trade equally clear that he enjoys his role. punching the air as he overlooks the to “promoting and encouraging This dichotomy of seriousness Philly skyline from atop its art museum’s women in leadership positions.” and enjoyment is mirrored steps. Kovacsics may also face uphill Programs such as these, as well in his pastimes, which struggles during his time here, but much as other functions organized by the range from playing the like his fictional counterpart, he has consulate, allow members of the drums in a rock band to the determination to achieve his goals, Chubu chapter of the American having a healthy appetite no matter how big they may seem. • Chamber of Commerce in Japan for running. http://nagoya.usconsulate.gov
Stephen Kovacsics speaks at an ACCJ breakfast meeting on August 27.
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 31 ACCIDENTAL HEROINE Pet hotel entrepreneur saves hundreds of animals post-disaster
By Elizabeth Handover
Isabella Gallaon-Aoki rescued dogs, ducks, rabbits, and even a pig from Fukushima.
hree years ago, in the days providing a place to house animals Call of duty following the Fukushima for longer periods of time, until they Then the 2011 Great East Japan nuclear disaster, a phone could be adopted. Earthquake and tsunami hit. call from a woman in Isabella also saw a market need for Gallaon-Aoki’s first response T distress catapulted Isabella a pet boarding facility. Many existing to the disaster was to set off for Gallaon-Aoki into an unforeseen pet hotels, despite being expensive, Sendai and then go up to Iwate, to selfless and courageous rescue of only offered accommodation in help animals in need. But when she hundreds of abandoned animals. small confined cages, and the care got there, she found no animals to Gallaon-Aoki, who is part was unsatisfactory. Every time she rescue. All had been swept away, British and part Italian, originally travelled, she took her pets all the together with their human owners. came to Tokyo to learn Japanese. way down to Kobe, where they Soon she started hearing reports She met her husband here, and could have more space. about the situation in Fukushima. after several years moved with him She felt that other pet owners, On March 21, a call came in from to Niigata, his native home. when given the opportunity, would a woman whose dog had been After having two children, naturally prefer to leave their pets left behind when the family was she became interested in animal in a spacious, pleasant environment evacuated from Okuma. No one welfare, joined a local animal help with fresh air and opportunities group and got trained in animal for exercise. This was exactly what rescue techniques. The animal Gallaon-Aoki and her husband were group focused on saving as many in an excellent position to offer; they abandoned animals as possible could provide an enjoyable holiday from the local welfare center, by for pets so their owners could getting them adopted or at least enjoy their own trips with a clear finding temporary foster homes. conscience. After adopting a rescued dog of Gallaon-Aoki was also motivated her own, Gallaon-Aoki personally to try her hand at an entrepreneurial observed how many animals were venture, by establishing a profitable put down as the welfare center pet hotel business. This, in turn, deadline hit before new homes could help fund an animal rescue could be found. She became shelter. Animal Garden Niigata was convinced that an animal shelter thus started. All went well at first, Like their owners, pets can enjoy a was the answer, as this would be business increased steadily, and the relaxing holiday, more efficient and sustainable. Animal Friends Japan shelter was set at Animal Garden It could save many more lives by up shortly thereafter. Niigata.
32 | ACCJ JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2014 Diversity | Women
Through dire necessity, she has honed her entrepreneurial skills, using creativity and resilience to keep the shelter going for over three years.
had been allowed to take pets, and a staggering 700 animals altogether, evacuees had been told that they including cats, dogs, ducks, would be back in their homes within chickens, rabbits, and even a pig. two to three days. This was far beyond anything that In reality, the family had been Gallaon-Aoki had expected. shipped out immediately to She reached out to the Nagasaki. The woman was crying community for funding, and with desperation as she described many people kindly supported the how her dog had been left chained shelter with donations, which made up with no food or water. She the huge project possible for the begged Gallaon-Aoki to go to her time being. house and rescue him. Gallaon-Aoki’s initial plan With no thought for her own had been to take in the animals safety or the consequences of the temporarily and care for them actions she was about to take, until their owners could reclaim Gallaon-Aoki immediately agreed to them. She hoped to find homes do whatever she could. for unclaimed animals in due She realized that it would be hard course. But as time went by, she to access the exclusion zone. But, was faced with growing difficulties. having lived in Japan for many years, Many pet owners never returned she gambled that barriers would to claim their animals, and very Many loving pets are still in need of homes. be manned by police only during few people were willing to take daytime hours. What she hadn’t in a pet that they feared had been reckoned on were the impassible irradiated. Furthermore, month by is gradually bringing her pet hotel mountain roads, which had been month, donations were drying up. back to commercial success. With damaged or cut off by massive Thus, a project intended as a short- an increasing number of people rock falls. term solution became a long-term going abroad for vacations, she That first trip took many hours logistical and financial burden. is confident that more and more and involved inching along Yet, Gallaon-Aoki has stayed true clients will employ her services. perilously narrow roads with no to her courage and convictions. There are many beautiful pets guardrails. This turned out to Through dire necessity, she has still waiting for homes at the be more life-threatening than honed her entrepreneurial skills, shelter. For more information entering a radiation fallout zone. using creativity and resilience to Elizabeth Handover on pets for adoption, visit At nightfall, she successfully snuck keep the shelter going for over is co-chair of the www.animalfriendsjapan.org. in through a checkpoint, found the three years and to care for her huge ACCJ Women in To learn about the countryside Business Committee woman’s dog, and took it back to extended “family” still in residence. and president of accommodation at Isabella Niigata with her. The accidental heroine is putting Intrapersona K.K., Gallaon-Aoki’s Animal In the weeks that followed, the her entrepreneurial skills to good Lumina Learning Garden boarding facility, go to calls for pet rescues came flooding use in rebuilding her business. Asia Partner. www.animalgardenjapan.com, in, and she kept returning to Times are changing, the economy is elizabethhandover@ or email Gallaon-Aoki directly at Fukushima. She ended up rescuing finally growing, and Gallaon-Aoki luminalearning.com [email protected]. •
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 33 Share your Story, enhance your brand
nglish novelist and travel writer “To lose a passport was the least Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway Bruce Chatwin (1940–89) can of one’s worries: to lose a notebook figure among the creative icons who be credited with giving the was a catastrophe,” Chatwin mused. wouldn’t be caught in a café or crosswalk Moleskine brand its seemingly A small French bookbinder ceased without their little black books. Eobscure name in the late 20th century. production of the notebooks in the Today, Moleskine is a brand built The handy, pocket-sized notebooks, mid-1980s, and the present-day on creativity and mobility, and now called carnets moleskines in their Moleskine brand was born in Milan companies in Japan can become a part native France, were his accessory of in 1997, bringing back to life the of that legacy. choice when recording the details legacy of great artists and thinkers, of a scene while travelling, accounts who used the brand’s predecessor that would later be fodder for his notebooks to capture their words, prizewinning novels. images and ideas.
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Custom Media has been chosen as the in 92 countries and 24,000 points B2B partner of customised Moleskine of sale, Moleskine is an aspirational notebooks, which can be ordered global brand. and designed in Japan. Instead of the Large-size (13cm x 21cm) customised standard mix of edible omiyage this notebooks are available at nearly 40% off holiday season, why not give a gift that Japan retail prices, with a minimum is more than a commodity—an object order of 300. Have a notebook made for: that finds its way into bags, desks, hearts and minds? • Special events, such as contact Megumi okazaki: Classic, sleek and innovative, product launches a customised notebook can enhance • Training and development tools [email protected] your brand identity and make events • Corporate and holiday gifts 03-4540-7730 memorable. With a growing presence • Loyalty and incentive programmes
MoleskinAd.indd 3 8/5/14 9:57 AM Share your Story, enhance your brand Diversity | Young Professionals nglish novelist and travel writer “To lose a passport was the least Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway Bruce Chatwin (1940–89) can of one’s worries: to lose a notebook figure among the creative icons who be credited with giving the was a catastrophe,” Chatwin mused. wouldn’t be caught in a café or crosswalk Moleskine brand its seemingly A small French bookbinder ceased without their little black books. Eobscure name in the late 20th century. production of the notebooks in the Today, Moleskine is a brand built SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE JOB SEARCH The handy, pocket-sized notebooks, mid-1980s, and the present-day on creativity and mobility, and now called carnets moleskines in their Moleskine brand was born in Milan companies in Japan can become a part LinkedIn is an important tool in the networking toolbox native France, were his accessory of in 1997, bringing back to life the of that legacy. choice when recording the details legacy of great artists and thinkers, of a scene while travelling, accounts who used the brand’s predecessor By John Ghanotakis, Amir Khan, and Timothy Trahan that would later be fodder for his notebooks to capture their words, prizewinning novels. images and ideas.
ost young professionals It’s not uncommon to look someone A candidate’s At one point, I was flown to belonging to the up after meeting them at an event, another location in Asia at the American Chamber and even send an invite to connect LinkedIn expense of the hiring company, to of Commerce in Japan right away. A candidate’s LinkedIn profile meet a line manager I had contacted M(ACCJ) utilize social profile becomes a live marketing tool via a LinkedIn invitation expressing media in some way. Based on to help land a job or at least capture becomes interest in his department’s activities informal feedback to the Young the interest of a potential employer. a live and the company’s business in Asia. Professionals Group Subcommittee, As Cliff Rosenberg, managing I did not even have to provide a LinkedIn tends to be the most director of LinkedIn Australia, New marketing resume, as he just downloaded my common online social media tool Zealand, and Southeast Asia, said at tool to help LinkedIn profile. for professional activities, especially an ACCJ event last year, “You are in Not all interactions on LinkedIn when looking for work. essence your own chief marketing land a job produce the same positive results, and When I first came to Japan in the officer, and you drive your online or at least that is one of the things that has not mid 1990s, e-mail and the Internet professional brand to get to where capture the changed about the hit-or-miss nature custom for custom were just emerging as mainstream you want to be.” of networking in person or online, tools for work. As a young The number of Japan-based user interest of regardless of the tools being used. professional, your opportunities profiles (Japanese nationals and A well-rounded job search includes Custom Media has been chosen as the in 92 countries and 24,000 points were more limited for learning about non-Japanese residing in Japan) a potential a number of different components, B2B partner of customised Moleskine of sale, Moleskine is an aspirational a company or job opportunities. now numbers over 1 million, with employer. and social media is now often an notebooks, which can be ordered global brand. Besides reading international a majority of those users being important element in achieving and designed in Japan. Instead of the Large-size (13cm x 21cm) customised publications, working with recruiters, employees at foreign firms. success. Nowadays, when you want to standard mix of edible omiyage this notebooks are available at nearly 40% off and attending job fairs, you could go The last few job offers I have know more about a person, instead of holiday season, why not give a gift that Japan retail prices, with a minimum to one of the many weekly or monthly received came through LinkedIn. In saying, “Why don’t you Google him,” is more than a commodity—an object order of 300. Have a notebook made for: networking events. Or, you could use all cases, I was in touch with recruiters we may soon be using phrases such as that finds its way into bags, desks, the ACCJ Membership Directory and or even had direct communication “I LinkedIn you.” • hearts and minds? • Special events, such as other similar publications to reach with the line managers of companies contact Megumi okazaki: Classic, sleek and innovative, product launches out to members at their place of work. where I wanted to work. In some a customised notebook can enhance • Training and development tools [email protected] The Japan Times and other cases, I did not get to meet the first your brand identity and make events • Corporate and holiday gifts publications had weekly job listings contact person face-to-face until 03-4540-7730 memorable. With a growing presence • Loyalty and incentive programmes that sometimes covered two full much later in the interview process. pages and included a number of For one job, I didn’t meet the person business jobs for entry level and until I had already signed the Cliff Rosenberg, experienced candidates. A few employment contract! managing director of LinkedIn Australia, employment websites were launched When looking for contacts online, New Zealand, and around that time as well. These were I was able to begin corresponding Southeast Asia, all helpful tools, but none of them with the company via LinkedIn speaks at an ACCJ offered a platform for networking. introduction requests from my event last year. Job seekers use LinkedIn to apply existing network. I also had success directly for jobs advertised, or to by viewing the profiles and conduct searches within the site to contacting the members of see who is working at a company certain LinkedIn groups to and what types of roles are available. which I belonged.
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 35
MoleskinAd.indd 3 8/5/14 9:57 AM Business Index | October 2014
MEDIA, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKET INTELLIGENCE
Business Index—a monthly printed and digital industry company listing— can help you create a targeted ad campaign, identify potential clients, and much more!
journal.accj.or.jp/businessindex
Foreign companies in Japan In our digital world, video We are creative, global, often don’t know where has become the key tool experienced, and passionate. to start with Japanese for marketing, recruiting, We are … unique by design. media. Our job is to networking, and thought Digital and print publishing help businesses find and leadership. BIJ.TV connects and design; business video manage opportunities. companies to a vast online production; market entry and —Dan Underwood, managing director network through professional expansion, communications— and topical videos. that’s our soul. —Joseph Gummer, —Robert Heldt, president client services executive
Ashton Consulting Business in Japan TV (BIJ.TV) Custom Media KK Ashton is Japan’s leading independent BIJ.TV provides an interesting Custom Media is an award-winning communications agency, providing and entertaining view into the full-service design house, as well as first-class counsel and implementation world of Business in Japan. media-production and marketing- worldwide since 2000. All videos are bilingual, featuring services agency. We employ a multi- Staffed by bilingual professionals, Japanese or English subtitles, talented and globally diverse team of we have a strong track record in PR, and are free to watch on our skilled and experienced professionals. IR, crisis management, M&A, media website and YouTube channel. Celebrating our sixth year, Custom training, and internal communications. With videos ranging from Media has grown to four busy Our flexible scale and terms of corporate leader interviews to departments—publishing, video, engagement allow us to complete event coverage, there truly is market entry and expansion, and one-off projects and long-term something for everyone. communications—producing quality retainers. English–Japanese bilingual projects.
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36 | ACCJ JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2014 Marketing | Digital
DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
By Jared Campion
s I write this, many of viral video to get publicity—which my Facebook friends are brings us back to the ice bucket pouring icy water over challenge. their heads. This online Several brands have “baptized” Acampaign for ALS (Lou their products in ice, including Gehrig's Disease) research was Samsung, with its waterproof started by mistake, went viral, and smartphone. The company brought in over $100 million in one challenged Apple’s iPhone to the month. This is one of the widest- same dare; nice dig. This leveraged reaching social media phenomena the popularity of the challenge in a to date, as it touched people across way that showed Samsung’s sense the world. In Japan, people from of humor. members of the general public to However, leveraging buzz from celebrities and company directors a charity also could be frowned on, The Oreo Super business is leading to weakened accepted the challenge. which leads to my second point. Bowl campaign social media content. won Cannes Lions Chances are that your company As the famous marketer David and CLIO awards is not a charity, and people are not 2. Viral campaigns on social in 2013. Ogilvy said, “You cannot bore going to pour buckets of icy water media always draw some degree people into buying.” Creating over their heads and send you of negative backlash. interesting social media content money. Still, the ice bucket challenge is not a simple task for large shows us two things: A friend of mine who directs companies. Last year we saw Oreo Japanese TV shows once told me post a picture with the caption “you 1. Japanese are just as likely as that a new TV program had been can still dunk in the dark” minutes others to share interesting content canceled after it received fewer than after the lights unexpectedly through social media. 10 complaints about a character went out at the Super Bowl game, littering in an episode. The show was which caused great publicity buzz. Recently there have been some then seen as risky, and the producers The campaign was assembled on good examples of viral marketing would have preferred no feedback to the spot, and all leaders had to sign in Japan. One campaign by Suntory negative comments. off on the idea right away. Plus, the had high school girls running Companies in Japan want to timing had to be executed perfectly. around pulling ninja moves, and avoid a damaging “social media In social media marketing, many viewers did not realize it was firestorm” at all costs. However, I what holds the message is not the an advertisement—until the last few think part of social media marketing billboard’s screws and bolts, but seconds. I am interested in seeing is understanding that you cannot the people. You cannot pay them how well the video promoted the please everyone. to spread your message; they have Jared Campion company’s drinks. Suntory disabled Around the world, marketing to want to share it. So it had better does direct commenting on the video, so it is teams and company directors marketing be something new. The greatest hard to gauge people’s reactions. closely monitor the effects of their consulting for challenge lies in making content Making a video go viral is no activities. They should be especially startup companies, worth sharing. small task. While it’s best to connect concerned if theirs is a leading and is senior For creative, nimble organizations, digital marketing the benefit of the product with the brand in the industry, as they have social media offers the chance to headhunter at video content, if possible, sometimes much to lose. But it seems that in Robert Leonard gain a huge number of customers, it is easier to leverage an already Japan, the conservative nature of Consulting. without a huge budget. •
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 37 Business Index | October 2014
MEDIA, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKET INTELLIGENCE
Business Index—a monthly printed and digital industry company listing— can help you create a targeted ad campaign, identify potential clients, and much more!
journal.accj.or.jp/businessindex
Our approach to the business We specialize in corporate As a team of international is simple: we’re about the communications, financial copywriters and graphic work, the work, the work. communications, and public designers, Modis began with We believe creativity is an affairs, with the ability to a simple philosophy: offering economic multiplier and integrate all three areas to the most effective, engaging brings disproportionate value fully comprehend our client’s way of taking your message to our clients. entire business and complete to your audience. —Aya Miyashita, stakeholder base. —Cal Lyall, director director of corporate communications —Jonathan Kushner, managing partner Japan and representative director
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38 | ACCJ JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2014 BlueBulb_Full-JOURNAL_final_R.pdf 1 9/18/14 2:10 PM
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CR Ad ACUMEN Magazine 1.indd 1 6/28/2013 5:33:21 PM Books | Review
IMAGINARY SIREN Wartime tale of radio broadcaster convicted of treason
By Vicki L. Beyer
woman known as Tokyo Toguri denied it, but ultimately Rose was a famous radio capitulated to being called Tokyo propagandist during World Rose for a number of reasons. War II, or so the story goes. This led to a roller coaster of A However, according to investigations, innuendos and, Frederick P. Close, Tokyo Rose never ultimately, a trial in the United States existed. The woman convicted of for treason. Toguri was prosecuted treason for being Tokyo Rose was based on alleged broadcasts Iva Toguri (1916–2006), a Japanese- attributed to Tokyo Rose and American caught in Japan when convicted based on purchased and war was declared. Close’s book, perjured testimony. It is a sordid tale. Tokyo Rose/An American Patriot: A Toguri served seven years in a Dual Biography, traces Toguri’s life federal prison, and when she was and makes a number of startling released on good behavior, the disclosures and bold suppositions Immigration and Naturalization about Tokyo Rose. Service commenced deportation Born in California in 1916 as proceedings against her. Although the child of Japanese immigrants, she successfully fought deportation, Toguri grew up an extroverted Toguri dared not leave the tomboy. If she hadn’t been born a United States again, lest she find girl, her father would have brought herself unable to return. In 1976, her into his mercantile business. Tokyo, where two POW broadcasters she was pardoned by then-President Instead, she found herself traveling selected her to introduce musical Gerald R. Ford. to Japan in late 1941 in her mother’s numbers for one of their programs. Close styles his work a “dual stead to care for a maternal aunt On air Toguri called herself biography” and attempts to draw who was seriously ill. Through Orphan Annie. There is no evidence parallels between Toguri’s life and various administrative glitches, she that she ever used the name Tokyo that of Tokyo Rose. Alas, it is difficult traveled without a passport and, Rose. In fact, there is no evidence to compare the life of a real person following the Japanese attack on that anyone ever broadcast under to the life of a fictitious one, and the Pearl Harbor, found herself unable that name, yet countless American dual biography device doesn’t quite to obtain one, or to receive any other sailors and soldiers recalled the work. But that in no way diminishes form of assistance from the U.S. taunts and seductive comments of the value of Toguri’s story, or the Embassy Tokyo. her broadcasts. demonstration that Tokyo Rose Thus Toguri was trapped in Japan, The US military so believed in never really existed, except as an viewed with distrust by her own Tokyo Rose that they arranged amalgamated racial stereotype government, her Japanese relations, to drop over Tokyo a package fostered in collective imaginations in and the kempeitai (Military Police addressed to her containing a the fervor of wartime hatred. Corps). To survive, she worked a selection of albums and a requested In the end it is the story of how an variety of jobs that allowed her to play list. At the end of the war, the innocent but inept individual could leverage her English language skills. press and the US military wanted Vicki L. Beyer is a find herself convicted of treason on Eventually, Toguri was recruited to to identify Tokyo Rose, and became vice president of behalf of the imaginary siren. It tells work at the military-operated Radio convinced that Toguri was she. the ACCJ. us a lot about attitudes of the time. •
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 41 Cool Japan | Music
FIRST SOUND FROM THE FUTURE Hatsune Miku weaves her magic for US audiences this fall
By Roland Kelts
ot all trends sweeping the a cheery, slippery copy when you can get domestic market in Japan strike gold the hard-won original in New York, London, with overseas audiences. The exceptions or Los Angeles? are headliners such as Pokemon, Hello Kitty, I was wrong about a lot of it. AfterGodzilla became Nand the manga series One Piece, with its a global sensation, several Japanese pop icons filled record-breaking 345-million print run worldwide. the screens and streets of Western cities. Most Japanese pop culture phenomena are for the Sushi went from weird to cool. Obscure Japanese home crowd only. Sports manga, such as Slam Dunk, rock icons such as The Yellow Magic Orchestra rarely find a mass audience in the United States. became cult classics, and the band’s chief composer, Even trendy fashions, like last decade’s yamamba Ryuichi Sakamoto, moved to New York. Animator girls with their towering platform soles and bronzed Hayao Miyazaki’s confections became DVD standbys faces, fail to charm most foreign tastemakers. for American parents, and Miyazaki won an Academy In the ’80s, when I was a teenager set free Award in 2003. Animated rock bands became cutting in Tokyo streets by my Japanese mother, I was edge via Britain’s Gorillaz. American monster and entranced by quirky Japanese idol groups, fantastical sci-fi moviessuch as The Matrix, Cloverfield, Pacific haircuts, and animated television graphics. Still, Rim, and this summer’s blockbuster Godzilla nodded I didn’t think any of it would register with my homages to their land of origin. peers in America. It was altogether too light, too Parts of the colorful Japan I encountered as a teen cute, too whimsical and self-conscious: a brightly had arrived on the global stage. But which parts? twisted mimicry of Western tropes. Why opt for And how would they stick?
42 | ACCJ JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2014 Cool Japan | Music
Virtual celebrity (obsessed fans) via its website and a Enter Hatsune Miku, Japan’s virtual Facebook page with nearly 16 million pop star. Her name translates roughly “likes,” said Miku may be the "We don’t care if it’s real. as “the first sound from the future.” network’s most popular character. We just care if it feels real." Like Hello Kitty, she is a blank slate— “I think one of the reasons an animated pop star whose songs she’s so popular is because otaku are created by her fans, written for can collaborate openly with the cat or a girl, English or Japanese. her via a software program called character without commercial It is liberating to realize that such PiaPro. She dances, gyrates, and concerns,” he says. “Plus, they can questions are beside the point. Kitty croons via computer, and her only be both artist and audience, creators is very much what you want her to defining characteristics are visual and consumers.” be, like a haiku poem, or a Zen koan and statistical. She is a diminutive Consider Facebook and Twitter: (a paradoxical question that forces five-foot-two-inches tall and weighs All the content is user-generated, meditation and reflection). all of 96 pounds (44 kilograms). and the creative team can relax at “To me, it seems hard to frame She has very long, blue pigtails their desks and enjoy the stream. [Miku] as simply a user-generated and wears a big necktie with a very “Other Vocaloids (avatars) are content platform,” argued Rebecca short skirt. She is a drawing in the popular, just not as popular as Suter, a professor of Japanese imagination. When she performs Miku,” said Ian Condry, a professor Studies at the University of Sydney. live, she is a hologram swaying and at the Massachusetts Institute of “Miku has a name and a gender, prancing before a backing band of Technology who is a specialist much closer to an anime character, live musicians. in Japanese popular culture and something artificial but personified “She doesn’t exist,” said her teaches a section on Miku. “[She] enough to become an object of creator, Hiroyuki Itoh, of Sapporo- was the first to cross the threshold emotional investment. What is based Crypton Media. “Never has.” of quality voicings, the first to be interesting is that Miku’s appeal That may be technically true, but presented as a character with a look.” goes well beyond the relatively niche she’s about to appear before a sea audience of Japanese [and non- of American fans in Los Angeles Putting the pop in popular Japanese] otaku.” and New York via a project called The US shows in October will be For Suter, Miku’s trans-cultural Miku Expo. expensive and labor intensive, with draw is rooted in the character’s The shows are slated for October: a team of over 20 technicians from tabula-rasa (blank slate), enabling two in Los Angeles, at the Nokia Japan manning computers backstage fans and users worldwide to see (and Theatre L.A. LIVE in the newly to make the hologram look alive. hear) in her whatever they want. revamped downtown district, But will the experience be magical? “It reminds me of Haruki and two in New York, at The The answer, from fans in the Murakami’s literature in the way Hammerstein Ballroom. United States, seems a resounding she appeals to different audiences Miku was the opening act for yes. Tickets for all four shows for different reasons. For a Japanese Lady Gaga’s North American tour in were selling briskly at the time of customer, Miku can be read within May. Crypton’s Kanae Muraki said writing, according to the show’s familiar frameworks of idol culture the exposure helped drive interest US promoter. and the attraction to manga and in this month’s expo. “We want Overseas fans of Japanese pop anime characters, which she it to be more than just a concert. culture are well-acquainted with resembles; for a foreign customer, Through exhibitions and workshops, the naked artifice. “We don’t care she has the exotic charm of ‘Cool we want to introduce works created if it’s real,” one Miku fan told me at Japan,’ and can be the object of by many contributors, to make the this summer’s Anime Expo in Los techno-orientalist fascination.” event one where the audience will be Angeles. “We just care if it feels real.” Miku’s version of Cool Japan able to participate in the entire act Hatsune Miku’s global success hits LA and NYC this month. We’ll of creation.” mirrors that of Hello Kitty, who soon see if she can strike chords in It’s hard to argue against the just turned 40 years old. Recent American audiences as well as she success of a pop star who has no articles asked if Kitty was really a can sing to them. • hang-ups. Miku, by virtue of being virtual, won’t have drug addictions, spousal fights, or pneumonia on Roland Kelts is a Japanese-American have appeared in The New Yorker, tour. She will be what you want her writer, editor, and lecturer who divides his Time, Psychology Today, Playboy, and to be: cute, pig-tailed, live, and alive. time between Tokyo and New York. He The Wall Street Journal. Kelts authors a is the author of the acclaimed bestseller monthly column for The Japan Times, Naomitsu Kodaka, cofounder Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture and is also a frequent contributor to and CFO of TokyoOtakuMode Inc., Has Invaded the US and the forthcoming CNN and NPR. Find him online at: which provides platforms for otaku novel Access. His fiction and nonfiction http://japanamerica.blogspot.com
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 43 Japan View | Mitsui Fudosan
VISION FOR TOKYO Mitsui Fudosan driving Central Tokyo revitalization
Custom Media
he artists’ impressions “Nihonbashi is and always has office, and residential facilities, while show gleaming tower been the company’s base and, as a further investment has gone into blocks rising above the company, we began to feel concern the Mitsui Memorial Museum, the Tokyo cityscape, cleverly around 20 years ago when the name Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall, a new Toho T designed atriums thronged and brand value of this area began Cinemas complex, and a renovated with shoppers, diners and visitors, to decline,” explained Toshihiro Fukutoku Shrine, which has taken and open spaces that enhance the Mochizuki, leader of Mitsui care of residents’ spiritual needs for greenery that already dots the Fudosan’s office leasing department. more than 1,000 years. heart of the metropolis. “We have a very close relationship The redevelopment has swiftly had And while they may only be with this neighborhood, the a positive impact, Mochizuki said. images of the final structures, companies that are here, and the “There has been a significant Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. is people who live and work around increase in the number of visitors committed to bringing these us,” he said. “To us, it was imperative to Nihonbashi, with the urban buildings to life in the few short that we help to rebuild the value of shopping mall concept of the Coredo years before the eyes of the world Nihonbashi.” buildings proving particularly are on Tokyo as the host of the In recent years, the company popular with young people,” he said. 2020 Summer Olympic and has undertaken a series of major Mitsui Fudosan has also been the Paralympic Games. redevelopment projects in an area driving force behind the acclaimed Mitsui Fudosan, the largest that was the real heart of the city in Tokyo Midtown project, which real estate developer in Japan and centuries gone by, a center of trade, opened in 2007 and brings together a core company of the Mitsui culture, finance, and commerce. business, retail, meeting, and hotel Group, has ambitious plans to On the east side of Chuo-dori, functions with residential services, redesign the skyline of Tokyo and Mitsui Fudosan has already finished green spaces, and cultural attractions offer vast new amounts of cutting- the Coredo project, a series of retail, such as the Suntory Museum of Art. edge office space, but still holds a deep obligation to the district that has been its home for more than 300 years. The Shin-Hibiya Project in front of Hibiya Park Japan View | Mitsui Fudosan
The ultimate aim is to bring foreign companies that have shifted their regional headquarters to other cities in the Asia-Pacific region back to Tokyo.
Five new flagship projects “These buildings will all also The shop and government to win them back,” With the 2020 deadline fast benefit from the most up-to-date restaurant zone in he said. “The current Japanese the atrium of the approaching, the developer is defenses against natural disasters, government is being very positive Shin-Hibiya Project building on the knowledge earned with the latest seismic damping and aggressive in that ambition, and in previous schemes for no fewer equipment installed and a fully we are optimistic it will happen, than five new flagship projects. operational business continuity plan given the planned changes in the For each of these, the priority is in place,” said Mochizuki. “Our first taxation system and the broader offering top-quality office space in priority will always be to protect recovery of the Japanese economy. the most sought-after parts of the the well-being of our tenants, and “We believe there will be a lot city, while simultaneously ensuring the disaster-prevention measures more foreign companies based in tenants are able to apply diverse will include back-up electricity Tokyo in five years’ time,” he added. styles of working. generators and supplies of water. We Mitsui Fudosan’s four other Already well under way is the will also carry out regular training flagship developments include first of the developments, the drills to ensure that staff and tenants the Nihonbashi 2-Chome Project, Shin-Hibiya Project, alongside are prepared for any eventuality.” which is closer to the company’s the landmark Imperial Hotel and Mochizuki added that the ultimate home turf and is being carried out opposite Hibiya Park. aim is to bring foreign companies in conjunction with department “The building is scheduled to that have shifted their regional store giant Takashimaya. Scheduled be completed in late 2017 or early headquarters to other cities in the to open in the spring of 2018, it will 2018, and the aim is not simply to Asia-Pacific region back to Tokyo. be followed the next year around construct an office block, but to add “We are committed to providing the Muromachi 3-Chome Project, value to the area,” Mochizuki said. a large number of high-quality a complete redevelopment of the As well as retail outlets and buildings because we want to attract company’s existing headquarters restaurants, the added value in the those multinationals back,” he said. buildings in Nihonbashi. Shin-Hibiya project—as in the other “In the last decade or so, too Around the same time, the four major developments—may many companies have moved their Otemachi 1-Chome development include the incorporation of five- regional operations to Singapore or will open alongside the inner moat star hotels, theaters, rooftop bars, Hong Kong, but now we have the of the Imperial Palace and with high-end dining locations, and even support of the Tokyo Metropolitan expansive views across the largest facilities for an international school. Government and the national green space in the city. The final development will be the Yaesu 2-Chome Project, on the east side of Tokyo Station, although this scheme is likely to still be under way around the time the Olympic Games roll into town. “We want to dramatically change the landscape of downtown Tokyo by around 2020,” said Mochizuki.
Park view from “We have the experience and skills the terrace of the to do that, and we have set our Shin-Hibiya Project sights on that deadline.” •
ACCJ Event | Kansai
n October 18, the 9th ACCJ third Saturday in October. It is WALK FOR WOMEN Kansai Walk-A-Thon will sponsored and supported by more take place at the Canadian than 50 multinational Japan- Kansai Walk-A-Thon Academy on Rokko Island, based companies that are actively O in Kobe. promoting diversity, such as P&G, The event was established to raise Eli Lilly, Bayer, and Hilton. money for organizations serving the The Kansai Walk-A-Thon is Translated and edited from original text needs of working women. not simply a walking event. It by Maiko Mochizuki Encouraged by the women- offers beneficial programs for friendly Abenomics agenda, ACCJ working women and mothers, live Kansai leaders believe that providing entertainment, international food women with more opportunities booths, a raffle with great prizes, in the workplace can contribute to a kids’ play area, and much more. broader economic development in It is both educational and fun for Japan. This is especially true as most the whole family. The event is open Japanese women face a glass ceiling to the public, and more than 2,000 that prevents them from pursuing people attend every year, making it Date: Saturday, October 18, 2014 careers or returning to work after a top fundraiser for ACCJ Kansai. Time: 10:30am to 4:00pm having children. The Kansai Walk- Since the inaugural event, the Venue: Canadian Academy (Rokko Island, Kobe) A-Thon aims to help women break ACCJ Kansai Walk-A-Thon has Adults: ¥1,000 | Students: ¥500 through this glass ceiling. donated a total of ¥36,306,000 to The walkathon was started in 18 nonprofit organizations that www.facebook.com/ACCJKansaiWalkathon 2006, and is held annually on the support working women. •
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 47 Publicity | Parties
INNOVATIVE EVENT VENUE Residential atmosphere and culinary entertainment await
Residence Basil features a lively show kitchen.
rand Hyatt Tokyo has presents a distinctive dining an oversized mirror, a make-up revamped its second-floor experience, not to mention an array dresser, and ample space for the event space to unveil a of imaginative event possibilities. bride to prepare for one of the most new venue concept: The Residence Anise emanates memorable times of her life. The G Residence. It is the first comfort, has state-of-the-art Salon can also be used as a green major renovation since the hotel lighting, and features two large room to accommodate VIPs who are opened its doors 11 years ago. screens. The result is a sophisticated waiting to present at conferences, The enhancement reflects the yet intimate setting. events, and parties. • Grand Hyatt Tokyo’s pursuit The renovation extends to of excellence, as a leading the foyer, a space that has been hotel that is ever ready to offer reinvented. It now is a stylish novel products and services. gathering place called The Gallery, The second-floor event space designed to enable guests to tokyo.grand.hyatt.com has been transformed into an spend quality time there, relaxing innovative venue, offering an together during an event or a party. artistic residential atmosphere and The foyer has been designed with entertaining culinary experiences a residential focus, to make guests to be enjoyed in a versatile and feel they are at a friend’s home. comfortable setting. The sofas, bookshelves, hat racks, Two event venues are now and charming artistic décor serve available to guests, Residence to enhance the ambience. Basil and Residence Anise. In In addition, debuting with the Residence Basil, a lively show upgrade are six private spaces, kitchen with bronze accents and together called The Salon. An area spotlights turns the room into a with rooms such as these had been functional space offering culinary requested by guests, for use by entertainment. The atmosphere brides and their attendees on their stimulates all five senses and wedding day. The rooms feature The Gallery encourages guests to relax in a home-like environment. ACCJ Events | Past And Planned
1 3 ACCJ Kansai leaders Rie Nakamura, met with the newly president of Yume arrived Jason Hyland no Machi Souzou (center), deputy Iinkai Co., speaks at chief of mission, an ACCJ luncheon U.S. Embassy titled, ”Not a Tokyo; U.S. Consul Salaryman: General Osaka-Kobe A Japanese Allen Greenberg Entrepreneur Shares (third from right); Her Experiences,” and Helen Hwang held on September 9 (second from at EGG JAPAN. right), principal commercial officer, 4 U.S. Consulate Ruth Jarman Shiraishi General Osaka-Kobe, receives a certificate at the Rihga Royal of appreciation Hotel on August 29. from Ray Proper, Participants shared Independent Business views on current Committee-Chubu developments in the chair, after “Starting 1 Kansai region and up and Successfully updated the officials Navigating Your on the ACCJ Kansai Business in Japan,” chapter’s vision, an event held on goals, and activities. September 4 at the Coat of Arms Pub 2 and Restaurant in Larry Dressler, Nagoya. organizational and leadership 5 development The Living in Chubu consultant, speaks at Committee hosted the interactive ACCJ a networking event workshop, ”Leading on August 22 at the in the Fire: How to Meitetsu Department Bring Greater Calm, Store Beer Garden. Clarity, and Courage Attending were to High-Stakes (from left): Bruce 2 3 Situations,” held McCaughan, Living on September 1 at in Chubu Committee the Tokyo American chair; Anthony Club. Gilmore, Business Programs Committee vice chair; Deryk Langlais, Mobility Manufacturing Committee chair; and Steve Brown.
Upcoming EVENTS Please visit www.accj.or.jp for a complete list of upcoming ACCJ events or check our weekly e-newsletter, The ACCJ Insider.
October 6 Designing a Career within a Japanese 4 5 Multinational Corporation
October 17 ACCJ - JASO Joint Welcome Reception for U.S. Consul General Allen S. Greenberg (Kansai Event) facebook.com/The.ACCJ youtube.com/user/AmChamJapan
October 23 twitter.com/AmChamJapan linkedin.com/company/american-chamber-of-commerce-in-japan Using Business Information in Japan
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 49 TOKYO AMBASSADOR DENTAL OFFICE Formerly known as Akasaka Hills Dental Office Esthetic and Reconstructive Dentistry
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AkasakaDental_Ad.indd 1 9/22/14 11:10 AM Coach | Sales
HOW TO BE LIKEABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY WHEN SELLING The first six seconds decides everything
By Dr. Greg Story
t has always been astonishing to me forearm with the other hand). The latter how hopeless some salespeople are is the classic insincere politician special. in this country. Some Japanese have become overly Over the past 20 years, I have been Westernized, in that they apply a bone- I through thousands of job interviews crushing grip. Teach your Japanese team with salespeople. My company teaches how to shake hands properly. Overly selling techniques, so we see a broad weak or strong grips impinge on building gamut of salespeople coming through that all-important first impression. the door. We also buy services and You only have a maximum of six products, and thus are on the receiving seconds to get that first impression end of the (lack of a) sales process by correct, so every second counts. salespeople. When you first see the client, make On-the-job training is the main eye contact. Don’t burn a hole in the pedagogical system in Japan for training person’s head, but hold eye contact at the the new salesperson. This works well if start for around six seconds and smile. your boss has a clue and knows about This conveys consideration, reliability, selling. But often, what you get is hand- and confidence—all attributes we seek in me-down techniques that are ineffective. business partners. Combine this with a These techniques are then poorly greeting and the usual pleasantries. executed in the hands of the newbies. The next step is crucial. We segue As consumers, we like to buy, but few into establishing rapport through initial of us want to be sold anything. We like light conversation. Japan has some fairly to do business with people we like unremarkable fallbacks in this regard, and trust. We will occasionally do business with people usually remarks about the weather or the distance we don’t like and very, very rarely with people we don’t travelled to get to a meeting. trust—but neither is our preference. The million-dollar Also, be careful about commenting on a prominent question is, “What makes you likeable and trustworthy?” feature of the surroundings. I was in a brand-new office Building rapport in the first meeting with a prospective the other day that has a really impressive moss wall in client is critical for establishing likeability or trust. When the lobby. My hosts have likely heard obvious comments you think about it, this is the same as in a job interview. about the moss wall from every visitor who has preceded In both cases we enter an unfamiliar environment and me. Boring! greet strangers who are brimming over with doubt and Teach your salespeople to say something unexpected, skepticism. If a salesperson cannot handle a job interview intelligent, and memorable. In the previous situation, try, and build rapport straight away, it is unlikely they are “Have you found that team motivation has lifted since doing much better out in the field. you moved to this impressive new office?”; or, “Have you So, what needs to be done? First, pay attention to found your brand equity with your clients has improved posture. Standing up straight communicates confidence. since moving here?” This gets the focus off you as the Also, bowing from a half leaning posture, especially salesperson and on to the client and their business. while still on the move, makes a person look weak and The very first seconds of meeting someone are vital unconvincing. Walk in standing straight and tall, stop, and to building the business relationship. Simple errors in Dr. Greg Story is then bow or shake hands, depending on the circumstances. president of Dale posture, greetings and conversation can be our undoing. If there is a handshake involved, drop the dead fish Carnegie Training Let’s get the basics right to make sure that we totally own (weak) grasp and the double-hander (gripping the Japan. that first impression.•
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 51 Advocacy | Roundup
THE THIRD PILLAR
This regular column is devoted to brief advocacy updates from various committees. As one of the three pillars of the ACCJ—along with information and networking— advocacy consistently features prominently in the work of the chamber.
Diet Doorknock bureaucrats to draft detailed implementing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited legislation within one year. The ACCJ Singapore and toured both integrated Preparations are now underway for this Integrated Resorts Task Force would resorts there, commenting on the positive year’s Diet Doorknock on October 28-30. like to help the inter-agency group with benefits for Japan. As in years past, organizers are targeting information on global best practices to 100 to 150 Diet members for discussions, facilitate what will certainly be an intense and expect to meet with 40 to 60 of drafting process. them for half-hour sessions, including Tokyo 2020 Olympics Task Force Our task force has held several meetings photographs. to discuss our recent viewpoint and achieve Marking one year since Tokyo’s On the agenda this year are: Trans- a consensus. More than 40 members selection as host of the 2020 Olympic Pacific Partnership negotiations, labor participated in our first working meeting, and Paralympic Games, the ACCJ has mobility (see page 25), and innovation plus about 10 members have contributed joined forces with nine other foreign and entrepreneurship. A planning meeting to drafting portions of the viewpoint. chambers of commerce in Japan to will be held for confirmed participants on After the viewpoint is approved, we establish the Tokyo 2020 Olympics October 22. intend to meet with key Diet members and Paralympics Foreign Chambers and the inter-agency group to discuss our Leadership Committee. recommendations and to offer them our The Committee unites our chambers Integrated Resorts Task Force help going forward. in support of the preparations for Tokyo The Diet is expected to pass legislation In the Diet session that ended in June, 2020, to share relevant information, best allowing integrated resorts during the next the integrated resort bill was introduced practices, and business and volunteer session starting in the fall. This first-stage in the lower house cabinet committee, opportunities for members. Contact legislation will be quite preliminary, but and discussion was extended into the next Jonathan Kushner, committee chair, for it will direct a new inter-agency group of session. Immediately after the last session, more information. •
Viewpoints recently released on the ACCJ website:
Healthcare Committee Internet Economy Task Force “Promote Oral Care to Prevent Periodontal Disease “Implementing Japan’s New Cybersecurity Strategy” and Dental Caries”
52 | ACCJ JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2014 THE ACCJ THANKS ITS CORPORATE SUSTAINING MEMBER COMPANIES Their extensive participation provides a cornerstone in the chamber’s efforts to promote a better business climate in Japan.
Aflac en world Japan Morrison & Foerster, Ito & Mitomi
AIG Companies in Japan EY Japan MSD K.K.
AINEO Networks Federal Express Corporation Nanzan Gakuen (Nanzan School Corporation) Amazon Japan K.K. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Tokyo Nu Skin Japan Co., Ltd. Amway Japan G.K. GE Japan Corporation Oak Lawn Marketing, Inc. Baxter Limited GILT GROUPE K.K. Procter & Gamble Japan K.K. Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd. Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd. Prudential Financial, Inc. Becton Dickinson Japan Heidrick & Struggles Japan Godo Kaisha PwC Japan Bingham, Sakai, Mimura, Aizawa Hilton Worldwide Randstad K.K. Bloomberg L.P. IBM Japan, Ltd. RE/MAX Japan Boeing Japan K.K. IMS Japan Robert Walters Japan K.K. Caterpillar Johnson & Johnson Saatchi & Saatchi Fallon Tokyo Chevron International Gas Inc. Family of Companies Japan Branch Squire Patton Boggs KPMG Citigroup State Street McKinsey & Company, Inc. Japan Coca-Cola (Japan) Co., Ltd. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd. Colliers International Thomson Reuters Markets K.K. MetLife Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Toll Express Japan Co., Ltd. Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. Delta Air Lines, Inc. Toys”R”Us, Japan Mondelēz Japan Deutsche Bank Group The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. Monex Group, Inc. Dow Chemical Japan Ltd. White & Case LLP Morgan Stanley Japan Holdings Eli Lilly Japan K.K. Co., Ltd. Zimmer K.K.
OCTOBER 2014 • ACCJ JOURNAL | 53 Executive Director | Advocacy
measure, it seems we have a lot more Meeting revitalization. This year, we will DOORKNOCKS to talk about with Diet members be requesting to meet again with than we did eight years ago. with the Yamatani, who now has an expanded If we look more closely, it is ACCJ can portfolio in the cabinet of Prime WORK clear that for some viewpoints our Minister Shinzo Abe. position has prevailed, while for have a very Meeting with the ACCJ not some we have made considerable positive only has boosted the careers of progress but are still seeking Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) improvement (rule-making impact Diet members, but also has worked transparency, for example). There on a Diet well for New Komeito member are others we’re still working on, Akihiro Ohta, who now holds an and are likely to continue doing so. member’s office with the Land, Infrastructure, Samuel Kidder career Transport and Tourism Ministry. Precursor to TPP? Yoichi Masuzoe went on from his A major theme of the ’06 Doorknock progress. chat with us to be elected governor s we prepare for our fall was our push for “the United States of Tokyo, and Sadakazu Tanigaki, at Diet Doorknock, it might and Japan to commit to the vision that time already a former minister be interesting—at least of concluding a bilateral Economic of finance, continues to be a political for me—to see where we Integration Agreement, or EIA.” heavyweight as secretary-general of Awere when I first took the Now that we are down to the details the LDP. executive director position in 2006, in the multilateral Trans-Pacific Current Prime Minister Shinzo and compare that to where we Partnership discussions, it is clear Abe was unable to meet with us are now. that we are way beyond committing in 2006, but we did have a chance In 2006 we were going in to our to a vision and exploring a to sit down with him during our visits with Diet members with 17 framework for addressing issues. Doorknocks in 2009 and 2010. approved viewpoints in hand. This We can also point out that meeting So my point is: the Doorknock year, we have 32 active viewpoints with the ACCJ can have a very works. We make progress on the as of this writing. Past experience positive impact on a Diet member’s issues. We meet the right people. teaches us that this number will career progress. Eight years ago, And we gain valuable insights increase as committees submit new we met with Eriko Yamatani, who and build useful relationships that advocacy positions in the lead-up to then held the position of assistant to we can use to further the ACCJ’s the Doorknock. So, by the simplest the prime minister on educational mission in Japan. •
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Grosvenor_Journal_10.2014_v5.indd 1 9/24/14 10:36 AM