The ACCJ Journal

Chinese noodles first gained popularity in Japan in 1859, when centuries of isolation ended and the port of Yokohama opened for international trade. At the same time, a nationwide ban on eating meat was lifted, bringing to the table new flavors. Yokohama, a short jaunt south from Tokyo, prides itself on serving some of the country’s best ramen, and has two museums to celebrate the cheap, delicious, and filling meal.

The death of a close friend at college prompted Tohoku native Hiroaki Miyajima to pursue a career in advertising in the United States. Having returned to his hometown of Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture, in 2011, he is now part of a local business collective whose mission is to secure the town’s future prosperity. The Ukogi collective, established by Miyajima and several other Kojokan graduates, channels the spirit of Yozan in a bid to grapple with the issues facing Yonezawa and many of Japan’s rural areas.

With the Year of the Tiger well underway, here are Jesper Koll's annual list of Japan Surprises. These are not baseline scenarios or probability-ranked results of quantitative models but, rather, some of the things that Jesper says keep him up at night thanks to that nagging suspicion that some events could change everything. And yes, there is plenty of room for positive surprises from Japan in 2022.

For most of the past two years, we’ve been writing about overcoming the challenges of the pandemic. While the threat of Covid-19 continues, and will likely remain with us for a long time, we’ve adapted and are learning how to function and flourish in a changed world. This includes adjusting how we work. To explore this new reality, we’ve put together four features that focus on various aspects of work and the expectations now shaping the path to success. Plus, there's lots more in the spring 2022 issue of The ACCJ Journal.

Can women overcome obstacles to fill Japan’s tech gap?

I would like to pause and reflect on the journey we’ve been on and look ahead with positive energy. Over the past several months, talking to leaders of companies large and small, I have found that they are fairly optmistic about the prospects for this year. They are hopeful about moving forward and getting on with business. Of course, there are challenges—supply chains, travel—but there is a feeling that these can be overcome as the ongoing pandemic evolves into a new normal.

Written by Laura Younger | Read by C Bryan Jones

The Newport Ltd. president and 27-year ACCJ member shares his business experience in Japan.

We asked Newport Ltd. President and 27-year ACCJ member Kevin McAuliffe a series of questions about his business experience in Japan.

What path led you to your current role in Japan? What challenges is your company or industry facing? What inspires you? What issues are important to you and how can you make a difference through your work? What is unique about your business? How do you define success in Japan? What advice do you have for someone new to the market?

Written and read by C Bryan Jones

Can women overcome obstacles to fill Japan’s tech gap?

The Japanese government calls it a “digital cliff”—a projected shortfall of 450,000 engineers, programmers, and other tech workers needed by 2030 to undertake the country’s digital transformation. Harnessing the largely untapped potential of Japanese women—who are drastically underrepresented in science, engineering, and computer programming jobs and college degrees—could help narrow that gap.

Written by Malcolm Foster | Read by C Bryan Jones

Injecting diversity into corporate Japan through outside directors.

Over the past decade, Japan has gone from less than one percent of directors at Japanese companies being female to about 10 percent at many of the larger organizations. How Japanese companies might be encouraged to overcome their apparent reluctance to welcome women into their boardrooms was the topic of a November 15, 2021, ACCJ virtual event, entitled Injecting Diversity through Outside Directors.

Written by Julian Ryall | Read by C Bryan Jones

Key takeaways shared over three days of focus on workplace equality.

The 7th Annual ACCJ Kansai Diversity & Inclusion Summit took place over the course of three days—October 4, 13, and 21—in a new series format that delivered a blend of inspiration and practical information sharing. With a focus on diversity-and-inclusion (D&I) initiatives, as well as equality in the workplace, the series featured keynote and plenary speakers, a fireside chat, training sessions, and remote networking.

Written by John Amari | Read by C Bryan Jones

After nearly three decades, we’ll miss an important member of our team.

One of the strengths of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) is the dedication and commitment of our office staff. Their dedication provides the continuity that allows the ACCJ to continue to provide member-focused services and have the ability to adapt to member needs over time. This is especially true in the case of Naoko Kitada, who retired from her position as accounting manager on October 31, after more than 28 years. She joined the ACCJ on October 1, 1993, as assistant accountant.

Written by Laura Younger | Read by C Bryan Jones