Toegelaten gesloten verpakking: GENT X 03/50 België - Belgique P.B. Gent x 3/1294 P 409556 Belgium-Japan Association Chamber of Commerce 日白協会兼商工会議所 TRADE FLOWS & CULTURAL NEWS Number 88 - September 2010 eDitorial Teamwork and rainbows By Mr Hiroyuki Ochiai, Executive Vice-President of Toyota Motor Europe, BJA Vice-President and Nihonjinkai President So it has fi nally ended, the 2010 FIFA World Cup in pan through the shared experience of cultural and South Africa, even though it was a long way away, it business activities. This idea is really recognised by Mr Hiroyuki Ochiai felt so close because there was no time difference. I the Japanese School in Brussels, that has a song have to admit, I was very excited by the endeavours which says ”Build a rainbow between Belgium and of the Japanese team, and was sorry for fans of the Japan”, a fantastic sentiment to share between our In this issue Belgian team who could not participate. countries. It is a great honour to be the Vice-Chair- man of the BJA at this time, and I very much feel the 2 VIP visit to Les Carrières de la Pierre Bleue Belge As the evaluation of the team in the warm-up weight of this responsibility. In particular, I want to 3 6th BJA Golf Cup and Golf matches was quite low, and as the team was ex- ensure that I am “Building the rainbow”. Initiation pected to lose in the group stage, it was hugely 4 Interview - Mr T. Watanabe uplifting to see the team progress to the knockout Coming back to soccer, I think about Kawashima- 5 YES VII Program 9 Do you want to be a stages. san, the goalkeeper of the Japanese team in South committee member? Africa, who has just joined Lierse S.K. in the Belgian 10 EU-Japan News Big teams with many superstars vanished one Jupiler League. While the goalkeeper is the last line 14 News from the members by one through the tournament, until just two re- of defence against the opponent, he also needs to 17 News for the members 21 Why Japan likes robots mained, Spain and the Netherlands. Both teams provide the right instruction to the team as to what 22 Personalia from Europe, and both had progressed thanks to is happening on the pitch. There is an expectation the strength of the team. that Kawashima-san does his part through “being Soccer leagues in Europe have teams that are made part of a team, and cooperating together” which up of players from across the world. Those players will be challenging as there is some assumption Advertising rates have different backgrounds, languages, cultures, that a Japanese team member cannot communi- customs and ways of thinking, but they are all set- cate so easily. 4 issues (March, June, Sep- tled into one team, and as you can imagine, it’s the tember & December) team that succeeds. So, I would like to demonstrate my sincere wish, 1 page .................... € 3.500 like Kawashima-san, to be “building the rainbow” 1/2 page ................ € 1.600 Each of the players in a match has a role, but it basi- and not to be defeated by that challenge. cally means, defend my goal and score in the other contact: BJA Offi ce goal. There are always 21 other people in play, and avenue Louise 287, box 7 there’s a continuous matching of friend and foe. 1050 Brussels But in the end, we have a common goal, being part of our team and cooperating together, while also [email protected] respecting what the opposition is there to do. But T 02/644 14 05 F 02/644 23 60 this is not just the mantra of the sports team, it’s also what we do in daily life, and our economic wellbeing also depends on this mentality. BJA is an association that works to deepen and strengthen the relations between Belgium and Ja- Resp. editor: A. Kellens - 287, avenue Louise bte 7 - 1050 Brussels - T +32 (0)2 644 13 33 F +32 (0)2 644 23 60 E [email protected] BJA quarterly newsletter / driemaandelijks tijdschrift (maart - juni - september - december) - Afgiftekantoor: Gent x We currently hold your contact details on our Trade Flows & Cultural News Database. We use this information for our own internal purposes only in order to send you this Trade Flows & Cultural Newsletter. If any of your details are incorrect or if you no longer wish to receive this publication, please inform us by e-mail at [email protected] www.bja.be Bj143_TFfall2010_out.indd 1 12/08/10 17:06 bja report VIP Visit to Les Carrières de la Pierre Bleue Belge Les Carrières de la Pierre Bleue Belge 社見学 Thursday 17 June 2010 - Neufvilles The participants gathering for a group photo before the visit. The participants eagerly listen to the explanation giving by Mrs Julie Abra- The site of “Clypot” in Neufvilles, one of their three quarries in the Soignies ham, Managing Director of Les Carrières de la Pierre Bleue Belge. region of Belgium. Thanks to the generous support by Mrs During the guided visit, the members Julie Abraham, Managing Director of Les were impressed on one hand by the im- Carrières de la Pierre Bleue Belge, the mensity of the site, and on the other Belgium-Japan Association & Chamber hand by all the processes that unveil the of Commerce took pleasure in inviting history of the earth - ending up with top its company members to a private visit notch quality products with various fin- of the production site quarry of Clypot ishes and uses. in Neufvilles, one of the most important quarries for Petit Granit-Belgian Blue The visit adjourned with a very nice cock- Stone. tail with participants continuing to ex- change comments on this exclusive ex- At the site, Mrs Abraham together with perience and some others listened to the A huge block of blue stone being sawed. Mr Olivier Scaillet, PR Manager, kindly practical advice how to make their own greeted the participants upon arrival with blue stone at home even more beautiful. refreshments and gave a thorough but personal presentation of the company, which is among the leaders in quarrying, sawing and crafting blue stone in Europe. 2 Bj143_TFfall2010_out.indd 2 12/08/10 17:06 bja report The 6th BJA Golf Cup and Golf Initiation 第6回ＢＪＡゴルフコンペとゴルフイニシエーション Saturday 3 July 2010 - Golf Château de la Bawette The site of “Clypot” in Neufvilles, one of their three quarries in the Soignies Participants for Golf Initiation concentrating in taking a long shot. Some of the participants wishing this cool Lexus RX450h to be among the (left) Mr Yoshikazu Matsumoto, Managing Director of Cast Inc, receiving region of Belgium. many splendid prizes. the winning prizes from Mr Eric Van Hoof of Ernst & Young and Mr Arie Vos of Acerta Consult. On Saturday 3 July, the Cultural Com- mittee of the Belgium-Japan Associ- ation & Chamber of Commerce took pleasure in inviting members and partners to the 6th BJA Golf Cup and all participants with a tasty lunch packet, provided Golf Initiation held at the Golf Châ- them with refreshments during and after the game, teau de la Bawette. and delivered a number of fantastic prizes for both Golf Cup and Golf Initiation group. The team competi- Over 25 golfers took a challenge to tion so called ‘EU vs Japan’ Cup was headed by H.E. play on the hilly but beautiful course Ambassador Yokota of the Japanese Embassy of Bel- of Bawette with the thrilling sound of gium, for the Japan team and Mr Robert Lievemont thunder in the background. For the for the EU team. Out of 6 consecutive years of The BJA Golf Initiation, another 20 members Cup, the Japan team won for the 6th time victory and HE Ambassador Jun Yokota of Em- and partners gathered for a fun and H.E. Yokota received the winning replica. bassy of Japan to Belgium receives the winning team trophy for his Japan sometime frustrating experience to team from Mrs Anja Oto-Kellens, Executive Director of BJA. take a proper hit on small golf balls. Thanks wholeheartedly to the generous sponsorships and the enthusiastic participation by the members Under the great support by the BJA member com- and partners, the BJA could successfully realize this panies mentioned here below, the BJA welcomed sporting event so exceptional and so unforgettable. The pictures are by courtesy of Mrs Françoise Demeter of E. & H. De Beukelaer. 3 Bj143_TFfall2010_out.indd 3 12/08/10 17:06 interview A Japanese View of Belgium - Ted (Tomoyuki) Watanabe, President Eval Europe By Mr Kris Sierens, Managing Partner BeforeTheHype and Editorial Committee Member After an early career in Japan, Mr Wata- nabe came to Germany for seven years, followed by three years in the United States. When he arrived in Belgium in June 2009, he discovered a very inter- nationally oriented country and one with an extraordinary degree of global- ization. He also noted that Belgians are more independent while Japanese put more emphasis on the group and soci- ety. He quickly discovered that the key to successfully working together is to always try to listen and to find the right solution together. The staff is therefore mixed. There are six Japanese employ- ees working together with 100 Belgians. Mr Watanabe has a background as a chemical engineer. Before he came here, he was the head of the Eval R&D Department at Kurashiki. Being the president means that research is done by other people. However, he can’t resist the chance to pass through the R&D laboratory whenever possible to discuss ongoing projects with the Once a researcher, always a researcher.