EBC ニュースレター　2026年10月27日

On 19 October, the EBC took part in the European Joint Chamber Networking Party, held at the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo with 17 European Chambers of Commerce. The event brought together business leaders and professionals from Europe and Japan for an evening of networking, new connections and exchanges with colleagues and partners.

The programme featured speeches by Nicolas Bonnardel, General Manager of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan, and Nikolaus Boltze, President of the EBC Board.

For the EBC, such events go beyond networking. They provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the EBC’s advocacy work, engage with members and prospective members, and strengthen relationships across the European business community in Japan. These exchanges also help the EBC better understand the challenges facing companies and reinforce the collective voice of European business.

The event was an excellent example of the value of collaboration among European business organisations in Japan.

On 20 October, the EBC attended the Romania-Japan Innovation Forum 2026 and the reception marking the introduction of the newly established Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Tokyo, hosted by the Embassy of Romania in Japan.

The event brought together representatives from government, parliament and the business community to highlight the importance of Romania-Japan relations and explore opportunities for closer economic cooperation and innovation.

Speakers included the Ambassador of Romania to Japan, Japanese parliamentarian Akihisa Nagashima, Nobu Saito, Bogdan Hossu, the new representative of the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Tokyo, and Katsuya Igarashi of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s International Division. The toast was given by a former Japanese Ambassador to Romania.

The EBC looks forward to working closely with the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Tokyo to strengthen connections between European and Japanese businesses and encourage further dialogue, partnerships and economic cooperation.

Building relationships with national chambers and business organisations is an important part of the EBC’s broader mission to promote a stronger and more coordinated European business presence in Japan.

On 22 October, the EBC, represented by Nikolaus Boltze, Valerie Moschetti and Bjorn Kongstad, met with Pasi Hellman, Finland’s new Ambassador-Designate to Japan, and Suvi Sundquist, Commercial Counsellor & Region Head, Trade Promotion, Northeast Asia.

The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on EU-Japan and Finland-Japan relations, recent trade developments, and their implications for European companies operating in Japan.

The EBC also offered to support Finnish delegations visiting Japan by providing briefings on the Japanese regulatory and business policy environment, including the key challenges and priorities facing European industry in the Japanese market.

The EBC looks forward to maintaining close dialogue with the Embassy of Finland and strengthening cooperation to support European businesses in Japan. Such exchanges help ensure that visiting delegations benefit from the experience and collective expertise of European industry already operating in the market.

On 26 October, the EBC participated in the conference “Combating IP Infringement in the Digital Age – Challenges & Solutions”, held under the EU-Japan Intellectual Property Action initiative.

The conference brought together representatives of European and Japanese authorities, enforcement agencies and industry to address the growing challenges of online counterfeiting, fraudulent advertising and intellectual property protection in the digital economy.

Discussions covered the impact of misleading advertisements on social media, the links between counterfeit goods and organised crime, and the increasing complexity of tracking illicit products across digital supply chains. Particular attention was given to strengthening cooperation between enforcement authorities, online platforms and rights holders.

The programme also explored how artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies can improve the detection of counterfeit goods and support more effective enforcement, alongside the importance of trusted data flows and cross-border cooperation.

For European businesses operating in Japan, effective intellectual property protection and consistent enforcement are essential to safeguarding innovation, maintaining fair competition and protecting consumers.

The EBC welcomes continued EU-Japan cooperation in this area, particularly efforts to strengthen public-private dialogue, improve information-sharing and develop more effective responses to emerging forms of IP infringement.

The EBC, together with the Delegation of the European Union to Japan and other European partners, invites you to the Third Digital Industry & Automotive Summit, bringing together Japanese and European leaders from the automotive, manufacturing and digital industries to explore how AI is being put into practice.

Taking place at Europa House, the EU Delegation in Tokyo, the summit will feature three keynote presentations covering AI in the automotive sector, the future of the factory, and the role of semiconductors in robotics.

Two panel discussions will explore the transformation of the automotive industry, including autonomous driving, and the growing application of AI across industry. Speakers and panellists represent companies including TIER IV, SAP Japan, Infineon Technologies, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation / ARCHION Corporation, and Sakana AI.

The programme will begin at 16:00, followed by a networking reception from 18:30, offering participants an opportunity to exchange views and connect with industry peers.

Event details

• Date: Thursday, 19 November 2026
• Time: 16:00–19:30 (doors open at 15:30)
• Venue: Europa House, Delegation of the European Union to Japan, 4-6-28 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
• Information: View the summit programme
• Registration: To register, please send an email to [email protected].

The summit is supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Japan, AHK Japan, the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation and the EBC, together with EBC and AHK members and partners.

As AI reshapes manufacturing, mobility and industrial value chains, the summit will provide a valuable platform for European and Japanese stakeholders to exchange practical insights, discuss emerging challenges and identify opportunities for technological cooperation.