Coming of Age
This is EURObiZ Japan’s twentieth issue, so you might say we have reached the Japanese age of maturity. Nevertheless, we have an interview with an expert on toys – albeit those enjoyed by grown-ups. Analyst Morinosuke Kawaguchi gives some intriguing insights into Japan’s otaku culture.
There’s a bit of a technology theme to much of this magazine. Geoff Botting learns how EU companies with high-tech products have found opportunities in post-quake Japan. while Rob Goss investigates cloud computing.
Testing, inspection and certification company TÜV Rheinland is profiled in our regular Investing in Japan column. As president Michael Jungnitsch explains, the company is helping meet the huge demand for radiation testing – a demand that is unlikely (tragically) to lessen for many years to come.
Visiting the JMEC Awards ceremony in June for our event report, I was struck by the ecstatic reactions of the winning team that made it very clear how much effort they had invested in the programme. It was great too to see lots of friendly faces from the various chambers of commerce.
And please take a look at our Q&A interview with Yasuchika Hasegawa of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai). You’ll find that as well as being one of Japan’s best-known businessmen, he’s an outspoken and clear-thinking advocate of change.
Lastly, the best thing about being twenty in Japan is that you are old enough to drink. We have a special feature on luxury European glassware and alcohol imports. And perhaps you won’t be surprised that the topic of beer is touched on when we visit the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce? Cheers.