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 ..read more

Rob Claar, CEO and founder of healthcare investment, development, and commercialization platform HekaBio joins us to discuss how overseas healthcare companies can gain regulatory approval in Japan and put their innovations in the hands of Japanese doctors and patients ..read more

Ahead of the Juneteenth holiday, we sit down with LaTonya Whitaker, executive director of The Legacy Foundation Japan, to talk about plans for the foundation’s Seeds of Hope gala at Tokyo American Club.  As an entrepreneur, the Mississippi native is well known to many in our community for Soul Food House, the comfortable and delicious oasis of authentic Southern food in Azabu-juban. But her work extends far beyond those flavors. In this interview, LaTonya shares her experiences learning about the history of June 19, the inspiration for the gala (now in its second year), and how the busine ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

US-led platform to provide healthcare traceability and stability in Japan. As a super-aging society with a population of more than 100 million, Japan has the potential to become a destination for healthcare innovation. Its citizens have easy and equal access to quality healthcare services, with pharmaceuticals and medical devices playing important roles in improving quality of life. But there are technological obstacles to overcome. The US medical device industry is leading the effort to develop a data platform in Japan which will enable traceability in healthcare. Written by Mark Kawai | Read ..read more

A surprising view of Tohoku with Alex Kerr and John Gauntner. On November 4, 2021, an evening of culture, flavors, and learning took place at Kojima Sohonten Co., Ltd., Japan’s 13th-oldest sake brewery, established in 1597. Located in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture, Kojima Sohonten is best known for its award-winning Toko sake. When you’re inside the brewery, the dedication and craftsmanship of more than 400 years of brewing seem to infuse the darkened wood of the huge barrels. On this day, however, amid the ongoing travel restrictions, it was innovation—along with multiple cameras—that helped ..read more

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 more