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2021: Time to Transform, Adapt and be Resilient
With each new year comes change. That’s what I wrote to begin my interview last January with Google Japan President Peter Fitzgerald, the incoming president of the...
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The State of the Chamber
Each October, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) holds its Ordinary General Meeting—an opportunity to bring all members together for a review of the past year and to kick off our annual election...
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People Business
The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) and its advocacy programs have had a higher-than-usual public profile these past few months, owing to the significant ...
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Essential to Business
When I’m asked by prospective members whether now is the right time to join the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), there’s an easy answer. ...
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Trade Stakes Beyond Tariffs
In discussions about trade agreements, the focus has traditionally been on tariffs—import duties and other restrictions placed by one country on the imported goods of another. ...
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Digital for All
Last month, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) launched the New Digital Agenda Task Force. Why should you care? Because, despite the name, ...
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My New Normal
In addition to representing the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) as president, I also run Google Japan G.K. Words—and their ability to link and unlock content and...
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Build a Positive, Local Legacy
Instead of the red light, green light transition we might hope for coming out of the state of emergency, we face a potentially very protracted period of caution. And while this go-slow period...
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Come Together
Less than three months ago, we gathered at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo to celebrate the start of a new year and look ahead to the promise of 2020. Since then, developments that we could not have foreseen have brought...
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PARTNER & INNOVATE
With each new year comes change, and 2020 brings a new leader to the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). Google Japan President Peter Fitzgerald, a 20-year veteran of the tech industry whose career includes stops in Seattle and London, has...
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Closing Words
The late Skip Prosser, Wake Forest University’s basketball coach from 2001 to 2007, had some great words to live by. My favorite: “The one...
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Wrapping Up a Year of Success
As president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), I am proud of the remarkable and important work being done by the ACCJ on behalf of its members throughout Japan on a...
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Engaged Advocacy and Leadership
At the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), strengthening the trade and economic partnership between the United States and Japan is a key...
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A Stronger, More Open ACCJ
I am excited to enthusiastically usher in fall with a number of events that will focus attention on Japan. This includes Asia’s first Rugby World Cup, which will kick...
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A Passion for Our Members
I embarked on the role of president at a pivotal time for the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). The chamber had just begun a three-year plan to modernize and...
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Seat at the Table
The relationship that the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) has with the US government—including the Embassy of the United States in Tokyo, and consulates in Japan—is a...
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Great Together
A recent editorial on US President Donald Trump’s vision to “Make America Great Again” crystallized for me how critical US businesses are as a component of Japan’s economy, and how...
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Report from Washington
The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) found a receptive audience when our delegation arrived in Washington, DC, on April 1 for this year’s DC Doorknock, and I was extraordinarily...
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Find Your ACCJ Passion!
The ability of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) to attract and retain the highest-quality, most-engaged, enthusiastic members is the lifeblood of the...
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Strong Advocate
On January 31, Peter Jennings, president of Dow Chemical Japan and Korea, took over from Sachin Shah as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ)....
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Strategic Clarity
With the start of each year comes assessment of our direction and progress to clarify them against our most current view of our objectives and situation. This was a primary item for the January meeting of the newly...
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The Time to Shape US-Japan Trade Is Now
The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) has been the voice of US business here for 70 years. Today, we are the leading foreign business organization, representing almost 3,500 members who drive billions of...
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Critical Juncture
December provides an opportunity to reflect on the year that is almost behind us, and to slow down and prepare for the one ahead. While the United States and Japan continue to strengthen their bilateral relationship in...
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Foundations for Relevant and Strong Advocacy
Seventy years ago, at a time when Japan and the world were rebuilding in the wake of World War II, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) was founded with 49 companies, five of which are still members today. Amid those challenging times,...
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Productive Voices
At the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), advocacy is a key part of our mission. General Douglas MacArthur welcomed the ACCJ’s founding in 1948 with this in mind, telling founding president Dennis McEvoy he hoped “to avail himself of...
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Future Forward
Welcome back after the summer. I hope you are feeling refreshed and ready for the many exciting things in store through the remainder of 2018. As I mentioned in my column last month, this is a significant year for the American Chamber of Commerce...
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70 Years of Success
This is a special month for the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) as August 24 marks the 70th anniversary of our founding. Since 1948, the ACCJ has pursued its mission to promote the interests of US companies and members, advance...
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Tax Matters
Advocacy is a key part of the mission of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). Through our network of committees, we work proactively to improve the environment for US companies in Japan, from industry-specific concerns to broader issues...
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Report from Washington
Each year, leaders from the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) travel to Washington for the DC Doorknock, one of our most important annual events and a key way in which the chamber works to ensure that the voices of ACCJ members doing...
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The Membership Value Project
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Clear Vision
In our past three issues, American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) President Sachin N. Shah has shared his vision for the chamber. The Board of Governors has been hard at work on developing this vision into an action plan and, on March 13, the...
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Charting a Path Forward
In my last column, I wrote about the enduring importance of our mission amid new growth drivers in the Japanese economy and an evolving US–Japan partnership. In February, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) Board of Governors approved...
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An Enduring Mission in Changing Times
Thank you for electing me president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). It is a pleasure and honor to represent the US business community in Japan. I plan to use this column to provide updates from myself and the Board of Governors...
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Changing of the Guard
January 1 marks a change in leadership for the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan...
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An Honor to Serve
As my second term as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) comes to an end, I want to offer a brief review of what we—working together—have been able to accomplish these past two years. This period has been both exciting...
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Our Aerospace Partnership: A Unique Legacy
Since coming to Japan a year-and-a-half ago, I have been deeply impressed by the scope and depth of the partnership between the aerospace industries of Japan and the United States. And I have been impressed, too, by the many ways in which the...
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Welcome to the Refreshed Journal
As we return to our desks after summer vacation, it’s time to gear up for 2017’s exciting homestretch heading into the fall. Work calendars become increasingly busy, and there are seemingly more activities to choose from at the American Chamber...
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The Fight for Cures
There is likely no one among us who has not been touched by Alzheimer’s disease—whether you have experienced it firsthand or only heard about it. Alzheimer’s patients and their loved ones are in a daily fight, and Eli Lilly Japan is proud to...
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Education in Kansai
The Kansai chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ)—along with the ACCJ as a whole—is growing. This can be measured in multiple ways, such as adding AstraZeneca and the InterContinental Hotel Group as corporate sustaining...
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ACCJ in a New Chapter of US–Japan Relations
The fact that the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) has reached its highest number of members in Chamber history is a reflection of the positive climate for global business in Japan. It is thanks to the leaders in business and government...
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Work Style Reform Is Good for Your Health
One important action a company can take to improve the health of its employees is to change its work-style culture. This is a complex endeavor—requiring cooperation and changes within management, staff, and even government policy—but it is...
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US–Japan Economic Partnership
Although the administration of US President Donald Trump has only been in office for a matter of months, we have seen several encouraging developments from the standpoint of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). The February meeting...
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Tokyo 2020: A Metaphor for Change
It has been more than three years since Tokyo won the right to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and there are about three years left before that momentous event. Halfway through the preparations, now is a good time to take stock: What is...
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The Road Ahead
I am honored to serve once again this year as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). Building on our major accomplishments of last year, I look forward to working with both new and incumbent members of the Board of Governors,...
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Looking Back and Moving Ahead
In the January 2016 issue of The Journal, I shared my roadmap for strengthening the Chamber in regards to member service, advocacy, and networking opportunities. As we look back on the year, I’d like to take this opportunity to share the progress...
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Perfect for Pittsburgh
We hope that when you read this, the Diet deliberations on Japan’s ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement are well underway, with a clear path forward to passage. A few weeks ago, I visited my native Pittsburgh where I...
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ACCJ Advocacy
Advocacy has always been one of the most critical functions of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). In years past, when Japan’s markets were not as open, the ACCJ played a critical role in identifying barriers and advocating for their...
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Advocacy for SMEs
The opportunity to advocate for solutions that foster a healthy business climate in Japan is one of the most important benefits of ACCJ membership. In recent years, ACCJ White Papers, Viewpoints, and Doorknocks have had a clear impact on regulation...
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ACCJ DC Doorknock
At the end of April, the ACCJ carried out one of our key annual events: the DC Doorknock (DCDK). Always an important event for the ACCJ, the DCDK in previous years has focused largely on strengthening relationships with officials in the...
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Vision for a 21st Century Global Financial System
It is an honor to again serve on the Board of Governors after time away. This year, ACCJ President Christopher LaFleur has asked me to chair the ...
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