EBC Newsletter – April 3, 2024

EBC Newsletter – April 3, 2024

 

From the EBC

Dear friends of the EBC,

Our EBC Committees are groups where companies can, among other things, monitor the Japanese market, share best practices, discuss the impact of public policy on business, and engage with Japanese authorities when regulatory issues hinder the smooth operation of the market.

The HR Committee meets monthly (next meeting on 11 April at 09:30 at the EBC office). It is made up of HR representatives from various EBC companies. If you are a member of one of the European National Chambers in Japan that are members of EBC and are interested in learning more about HR challenges and regulations, this committee is for you! To join and enrich the discussions, please express your interest by sending an email to [email protected]. Your participation is vital, especially in light of the current labour shortage in Japan and the Japanese government’s proactive efforts to increase salaries. These pressing issues provide ample material for meaningful discussion within the Committee.

The EBC’s Energy Committee is also active in all things energy-related. Thanks to the breadth of its members’ activities, the committee is able to cover everything from renewables to infrastructure, with nuclear and demand-response in between. If your company is involved in the energy sector in Japan, we encourage you to come to the next energy meeting (8 May from 13:30). To find out more and to register, please contact [email protected].

On 19 April from 15:00, the Auto Components & Aftermarkets Committee is offering the opportunity to hear from and speak directly to DeepDrive. There will be an online presentation by the start-up and you will be able to hear directly from co-founder Stefan Ender about DeepDrive’s electric propulsion system and how they are approaching the market. To sign up please use the link.

The 20th North-America – Europe Golf Challenge in Japan 2024, will be played on Friday 4 October at the same venue as in previous years, the Atsugi Kokusai C.C. in Kanagawa Prefecture. This is an event jointly organized by EBC, ACCJ and CCCJ and run by a task-force appointed by the organizations, with expected participancy of 140 players from the organizing chambers.
It has been organized for more than 20 years and has always been a great success as it is a unique opportunity to network with businessmen from various nationalities.
Registration for the event is open on April 3rd.

To conclude this newsletter, here is some information to support the procurement of culinary ingredients for the official participants of EXPO 2025: The Osaka Prefectural Government has created Osaka-mon, a database that consolidates necessary information for procurement, such as the characteristics of culinary ingredients produced in Osaka, contact information for suppliers, and the status of compliance with the “Code of Sustainable Procurement” established by the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.
Osaka-mon database website:
In Japanese
In English
If you have any questions about Osaka-mon ingredients, please do not hesitate to contact Osaka Prefecture (in Japanese).
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<Contact Information>
Osaka Prefecture, Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Department
Osaka Product Promotion Group, Brand Strategy Promotion Division
23F Sakishima Cosmo Tower, Osaka Prefectural Government
1-14-16 Nanko-Kita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka
Zip: 559-8555
Phone | 06-6210-9605 fax | 06-6210-9604
Email | [email protected]
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The EBC team is looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Valerie Moschetti
EBC Chief Operating Officer

What’s in the Media

  • Japan on Monday began requiring companies by law to meet the needs of customers with disabilities, including providing mobility aids for wheelchair users and assisting in communication for those with hearing impairments. The law requiring private companies to “reasonably accommodate” people with disabilities broadens the scope of central and local government directives that already advise companies to assist the disabled where possible. (Japan Today)
  • Japanese automobile and storage battery manufacturers will start a project to share manufacturing and usage data related to electric vehicle storage batteries as early as spring. As storage batteries are becoming increasingly important for economic security, the manufacturers aim to use the data to respond to environmental regulations being developed in Europe and the United States, increase the reliability of their products, and expand related services. (The Japan News)
  • The Japanese government Friday decided to add four industries to the list of sectors covered by its program to grant medium- to long-term resident status to foreign workers with so-called specified skills. The addition of the four sectors—automobile transportation, railways, forestry and lumber—will bring the total number of industries covered by the program to 16. (The Japan News)

Upcoming EBC Committee Meetings

Date Committee Time / Location
Apr 5 (Fri) Railways Hybrid
1600~
Apr 11 (Thu) Human Resources Hybrid
0930~
Apr 18 (Thu) Medical Equipment & Diagnostics Off-site
1430~
May 8 (Wed) Energy Hybrid
1330~
May 14 (Tue) Sustainability & Social Responsibility Hybrid
0900~
May 17 (Fri) Railways Hybrid
1600~
May 23 (Thu) Human Resources Hybrid
0930~
May 23 (Thu) Medical Equipment & Diagnostics Off-site
1430~

If you are interested in joining a committee meeting, please contact the EBC to confirm the time and meeting place.

Stakeholders of the EBC:

European Business Council JAPAN
Toranomon Hills Business Tower 15F, 1-17-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6415
105-6415 東京都港区虎ノ門1-17-1 虎ノ門ヒルズビジネスタワー15階
www.ebc-jp.com/