2005-12-02: Following up on his earlier popular presentations for the ACCJ in 2004 and 2005 in Kobe, Osaka, and Tokyo, speaker Garr Reynolds took the P&G auditorium by storm featuring all new material on the design and delivery of effective presentations.
Highlighting techniques from some of the world's top business leaders, including Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, Mr. Reynolds showed how to achieve maximum effect with minimum means. Moreover, Mr. Reynolds went into detail about how to design effective, engaging presentations without using a single bullet point.
Mr. Reynolds said, "Presentation is not about decoration, but about the real application of design principles, improving communication, and increasing effectiveness."
Garr Reynolds, presentation guru & Associate Professor of Management at Kansai Gaidai University fields questions from the crowd at P&G.
ACCJ members and guests packed the auditorium at P&G in Kobe to listen to presentation guru Garr Reynolds share his wealth of knowledge with the membership.
2005 P&G Strategies Symposium
2005-11-24: The Relentless Quest to be the Best. With four keynote speakers (listed below) from well-known companies in the Asia-Pacific region, ACCJ members and guests in attendance gained insight as to what strategies large successful corporations rely upon for creating sustainable business growth in a saturated market.
Keynote Speakers:
- Ravi Chaturvedi, President of P&G Far East Inc.
- Norio Matsumura, President of Nissan Prince Osaka Hanbai Co. Ltd.
- Ichiro Ando, Vice President of Strategic Planning DHL Japan Inc.
- Seung-Han Lee, President & CEO of Samsung Tesco Co., Ltd.
Ritz-Carlton: First Class Service And How To Provide It To Your Customers
2005-11-18: With ACCJ members coming from as far away as Hokkaido, a select group of 18 were able to wine and dine from the Presidential Suite in The Ritz-Carlton Osaka accompanied by the soothing sounds from The Ritz-Carlton's own pianist and violinist duet ensemble.
The General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Osaka, Ricco De Blank, said that what sets the Ritz apart from other hotels from a service point of view is simply The Ritz-Carlton's 3 Steps of Service:
- Use the guest's name with a warm and sincere greeting, if and whenever possible
- Anticipate and comply with guests' needs
- Give a fond farewell while using the guest's name
With an average of 600 weddings held in the hotel every year, the hotel is definitely doing something right, making the Osaka hotel the largest revenue producing Ritz hotel of them all.
With a table fit for a king, 18 ACCJ members and guests were treated like royalty at the Ritz-Carlton Osaka's "First Class Service" Event.
Ricco De Blank, General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton Osaka, receives his certificate of appreciation from Kansai Programs Committee Chairman, Douglas Schafer, following his talk on how The Ritz is the best in the business when it comes to service.
Record-breaking Turnout for the 2005 International Meishi Exchange
2005-11-11: More than 300 people attended the meishi exchange hosted by 4 chambers (American, Canadian, French, and Osaka) at the Ritz-Carlton Osaka with 7 consulate generals in attendance and more than 20 sponsors.
For those who missed this year's meishi exchange, do not forget to attend next year as the event gets bigger and bigger every year!
The ACCJ Kansai Chapter would like to extend a special thank you to our GOLD sponsors:
- Air France
- Sunsix Co., Ltd.
- American Airlines
- Hyatt Regency Osaka
- Northwest Airlines
- Pacific Golf Management K.K.
- Osaka International Trade Fair Commission
- The Ritz-Carlton Osaka
- Club Med K.K. Osaka Branch
- Wall Street Associates
- Miyako Hotel Osaka
- Costco Wholesale
- Deniau Strategic Consulting
- Clasquin Japan Co., Ltd.
And also to our SILVER sponsors:
ANA Hotel Osaka, Co., Ltd., Swissotel Nankai Osaka, Hilton Osaka, Procter & Gamble Far East, Inc., Nisshoku Co., Ltd., Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers, and Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd.
Salaryman Life vs. Entrepreneur Life
2005-10-21: Angels, VCs, & Entrepreneurs. Visiting from Tokyo, Allen Miner, former President of Oracle Japan and founder of SunBridge KK, and Carl Kay, Japan expert and author, spoke to an eager crowd at the P&G auditorium on Rokko Island about the past, present, and future of investing in the "land of the rising sun."
Allen Miner and Carl Kay stated that now is probably the best time in 50 years to start a business in Japan based on the strong emphasis placed on IT innovation and the methods used to improve the habitat for entrepreneurialism.
The key point of the evening was Mr. Miner's statement that the most important thing to notice when looking to invest in an entrepreneur is the enthusiasm and trustworthiness of the entrepreneur. This, above all else, will eventually determine whether an investment will prove to be successful or not.
Round 2: Dai Takarazuka Golf Course
2005-10-13: Sixteen participants took to the course at Dai Takarazuka for the coveted Philanthropy Cup. With the defending tournament winner, Barry Louie, not participating, the cup was up for grabs to the hungry members and guests of the ACCJ Kansai Chapter and Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) of the U.S. Consulate General.
For the trophy presentation, all headed for the comfy confines of the clubhouse and eagerly waited in anticipation. After the scorecards were checked and re-checked, a darkhouse, Yasushi Hosomi of Okamoto Works Co., Ltd., came out on top with a net score of 73.8.
Can Yasushi retain the crown in 2006?
Yasushi Hosomi, Managing Director, Okamoto Works Co., Ltd., receives the trophy from the Vice President of the ACCJ Kansai Chapter, Norman Solberg.
Kobe Airport Preview Tour
2005-10-12: Forty ACCJ and Kobe Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) members and guests were able to go where no man has gone before - the new Kobe Airport, scheduled to take off on February 16, 2006. Built on a man-made island off the coast of another man-made island, Port Island in Kobe, the airport's not-yet-finished terminal building and control tower were just some of the areas visited by members and guests.
Outfitted with an artificial lagoon and a terraced waterfront park, the Kobe Airport will handle domestic flights from ANA, JAL, and SKY. With roughly 30 roundtrip flights a day to Sapporo, Sendai, Niigata, Tokyo, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Okinawa, anticipation is high that the airport will be frequented by many in the Hyogo prefecture and surrounding areas.
Participants from the ACCJ & KCCI at the Kobe Airport.
Members & guests get a preview of the terminal building during the Kobe Airport tour.
State of the Chapter Address
2005-09-30: With the new American Consulate General, Daniel Russel, in attendance, the keynote speaker for the evening, Kansai Vice President, Norman Solberg, spoke to the Kansai members in his “State of the Chapter Address” at the Century Club Osaka.
Focusing on membership trends in the Chapter over the recent past, Mr. Solberg gave a synopsis of the Chapter’s recent activities and highlighted areas for improvement for a more successful Chapter.
Following the conclusion of the Chapter address, members and guests enjoyed the seasoned meats and delectable delights prepared by the Century Club Osaka chefs. The event concluded with the exchange of information and business cards.
Circus Juggernaut - Cirque du Soleil
2005-09-22: Aerial acrobats, quirky clowns and a live band enchanting the audience in an event transcending traditional circus acts are all part of the "Alegria 2" experience - Cirque du Soleil's production currently on tour in Japan.
With 14 productions currently touring the world, such as "Varekai," "Quidam," and "Saltimbanco," the Cirque du Soleil juggernaut employs a remarkable 3,000 individuals, composed of 40 nationalities and 25 languages. It not only makes for an exciting show, but also poses serious production challenges from time to time. Marketing Manager of Cirque du Soleil's Alegria 2 production, Montse More, told all to ACCJ members and guests in Kansai.
Arriving in Japan in 1992, Cirque du Soleil has entertained more than 5 million fans. Building upon the popularity of its "La Nouba" production at Walt Disney World and Resort in Orlando, Florida, Cirque du Soleil will soon become a permanent fixture inside Tokyo Disneyland in 2008.
Montse More (far left), Marketing Manager of Cirque du Soleil's Alegria 2 production currently touring Japan, fields questions from ACCJ members and guests following her presentation on September 22.
"The Story of a True Kobekko"
2005-06-30: For the second International Business Networking Program (IBNP) of the year held once again at the exclusive Kobe Club, the ACCJ Kansai Chapter and the Kobe Chamber of Commerce of Industry (KCCI) welcomed Fritz Leonhardt, past president of the Kobe Club and current chairman of Marist Brothers International School in Kobe. Having been born and raised in Kobe, Mr. Leonhardt shed some light and gave historical information on how Kobe went from "just a city" to the vibrant cosmopolitan place that it is today.
ACCJ Kansai member, Fritz Leonhardt, addresses fellow members of the ACCJ Kansai and KCCI at the Kobe Club on June 30.
Understanding Human Motivation: Implications for Work and Play
2005-06-23: What is "motivation"? How about, "a recurrent concern for a goal state, based on a natural incentive that energizes, orients, and selects behavior..."
Faculty and Consultant of the State Farm Insurance Company California Leadership Academy, Mike Thompson incorporated interactive games with a charismatic monologue to reveal the secrets of motivation to ACCJ Kansai members and guests at the U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe.
Power: Having an influence or making an impact on others
Thompson had all attendees partake in an exercise ranking and comparing their personalities and jobs based on the above social motives. The results did not always show an ideal match between job and personality! In order to make one's job and personality complementary, Thompson offered techniques for making a job enjoyable rather than actual "work."
Faculty and Consultant of the State Farm Insurance Company California Leadership Academy, Mike Thompson (far left), demonstrates how playing such a simple game like "ring toss" can exhibit what our motives are.
Project Management: From Evolution to RACI Charts
2005-06-08: Two of P&G's finest in project management, Asia Regional Engineering Manager, Ronnie Nolasco and Asia Cost Engineering Leader and Asia Capital Systems Manager, Sam Habos, teamed up to give a breakdown of the good and bad ways to administer project management to ACCJ members and guests.
Nolasco said that the standard to measure the effectiveness of a company's project management practices is commonly known as the "Big 4," consisting of:
Cost
Schedule
Quality
Safety
Habos focused his talk on the evolution of project management, beginning with the traditional era (1960-1985), followed by the renaissance era (1985-1993), and the modern era (1993-present). Using detailed visuals, he also explained the importance of RACI charts when assigning specific responsibilities to people and divisions. For those new to project management lexicon, RACI means:
Who is Responsible for the project?
Who will Approve the project?
Who do we need to Consult on the project?
Who needs to be Informed of the project?
In conclusion, Mr. Nolasco referred to the "Big 4" when asked about Japan's overall rating as a country. Mr. Nolasco gave high marks to Japan for safety (top-notch) and quality (second-to-none) but gave low marks for cost (expensive) and schedule (lack of flexibility).
(left) Sam Habos, P&G's Asia Cost Engineering Leader and Asia Capital Systems Manager, talks about emerging trends in project management.
(right) P&G's Asia Regional Engineering Manager, Ronnie Nolasco, explains how P&G measures up relative to other competitors and industry leaders, as surveyed using the "Big 4" standard.
ACCJ - Kyoto Chamber Meishi Exchange
2005-06-03: The departure of two of Kansai's finest, Consul General Alexander Almasov and Political & Economic Affairs Consul Patrick Chow, was the focal point of the first ever ACCJ-Kyoto Chamber meishi exchange held at Kyoto Research Park. After opening remarks from Kyoto Chamber of Commerce Chairman Junichi Murata and ACCJ Kansai Chapter Vice President Norman Solberg, Consul General Alexander Almasov gave his keynote speech entitled, "25 Years and More...Trends in Japan's Business, Culture, and Economy," to an audience of over 90 attendees. Alexander Almasov's speech provided insights into how far Japan and America have come in recent years and where they seem to be heading into the future. After a presentation of memorial gifts to Alexander Almasov and Patrick Chow, courtesy of the Kyoto Chamber marking their dedicated service to the region, a special performance by John McAteer from the Kongo School of Noh added cultural ambience as he performed an English version of the traditional Japanese stage play. With the delightful door prizes kindly donated by Costco Wholesale, Kirin Brewery, Hyatt Regency Osaka Hotel, Kyoto Takaragaike Prince Hotel, Procter & Gamble Far East, Inc., and Mercury Software, everyone enjoyed an evening marked by a blending of cultures from America and Kyoto.
ACCJ Family Day 2005
2005-05-21: On a crystal clear spring day in Kobe, the ACCJ Kansai Chapter members, family members, and guests enjoyed an intense battle between Vissel Kobe and Omiya Ardija for the J-League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup. The teams defended their goals to the last, holding the score 0 to 0, until a call within the penalty area late in the game--after some dispute--resulted in Omiya Ardija pulling ahead with a penalty kick.
After such a disappointing loss, a number of Vissel Kobe soccer players, including former Cameroon national team player, Patrick Mbomba, took the opportunity to get over it by joining the post-game party. A fun round of autographing and picture-taking with ACCJ members and guests ensued. Also, Ryoichi and Setsuko Mikitani, parents of Vissel Kobe and Rakuten Eagles (baseball) owner Hiroshi Mikitani, attended the party and said a few words on behalf of their son, Hiroshi Mikitani.
Perfect weather for the 2005 ACCJ Family Day at Kobe Wing Stadium unfortunately did not result in a perfect outcome as Vissel Kobe lost to Omiya Ardija 1-0 in a last-minute penalty-kick misfortune.
At the post-game party, ACCJ family members and guests meet and get autographs from one of the Vissel Kobe soccer players (far left).
Ryoichi and Setsuko Mikitani (center) along with ACCJ Kansai Chapter staff (left to right) Mieko Suzuki, Shigetaka Yoshitomi, and Justin Hanus.
Zen and the art of Presentation
2005-04-21: What is the world of Zen? In a follow-up on his popular seminars at ACCJ on effective presenting, Garr Reynolds referred to the world of Zen as a world of simplicity--a world where people who make presentations would do well to take a few notes. Simplicity is good, for example. Unfortunately, what is "normal" tends to be overly complex.
Reynolds' preparation tips include:
1. Reduce text on your slides to a minimum
2. Do not read the text word for word off the slide
3. Avoid using Microsoft templates
4. Avoid using PowerPoint Clip Art
For an effective delivery, Reynolds demonstrated that the presenter needs to move away from the podium to really connect with the audience (which he did). Also, design your presentation so that the room lights can stay on. This allows people to focus more on the presenter as well as helps to avoid inducing sleep.
Garr Reynolds, Associate Professor of Management at Kansai Gaidai University, stepping away from the podium at Ritz-Carlton Osaka to make a point.
How to Create a High Performance Organization the P&G Way
2005-04-15: Hide Aida, Director of Human Resources North East Asia at Procter & Gamble, defines a high performance organization as a "deliberate leadership effort to build strategic capabilities to deliver sustainable leadership results and employee fulfillment." Stressing "Purpose, Values and Principles" ("PVP"), Aida said that top management needs to create high positive energy to make employees shine. Mr. Aida also stressed that wellness plays a major factor in an employee's overall performance and that a company should value it.
Hide Aida, Director, Human Resources North East Asia, Procter & Gamble, states that humility is a critical quality of the HPO model.
Hitting the Links at the Dai Takarazuka Golf Course
2005-04-13: A familiar face to many, Barry Louie of Interglobal Japan Co., Ltd. (former Operations Manager of the ACCJ Kansai Chapter) was crowned the spring 2005 winnner of the ACCJ-ATO Philanthropy Cup with a score of 69 on a typical St. Andrews-like day at the Dai Takarazuka Golf Course on April 13. Barry fought off a strong field of 15, but will he be able to retain the crown in the Fall, or will he fall?
Barry Louie, Japan Operations Manager, Interglobal Japan Co., Ltd., is seen here hoisting his trophy with the Vice President of the ACCJ Kansai Chapter, Norman Solberg.
First International Business Networking Program
2005-03-24: Held at the exclusive Kobe Club over a delicious meal prepared by Kobe Club chefs, the ACCJ Kansai Chapter in conjunction with the Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry kicked off the first International Business Networking Program (IBNP) of 2005 on March 24. Yoshio Araki of Mitsuiboshi Boeki Limited, a medium-sized trading company in Kobe, delivered the keynote with a compelling speech on "Why Japanese small and medium trading companies are resistant to economic recession."
Those in attendance at the IBNP enjoy the delectable food prepared by the chefs at the Kobe Club while sourcing out new business contacts.
The Ying-Yang Cycle of Bubbles & Balance Sheet Recessions
2005-03-18: "Paying down debt," these three words frequented Chief Economist of Nomura Research Institute Richard C. Koo's presentation on why Japan is experiencing widespread deflation. It was an enlightening evening for the more than 110 ACCJ members and guests at the Ritz-Carlton in Osaka on March 18.
Mr. Koo went on to explain how the corporate sector in Japan is paying down debt rather than maximizing profits even with record-low interest rates. They can do it thanks to healthy cash flows. Paying down debt in conjunction with the continued savings of the household sector, which remains in the banks unused, has a direct effect on the deflationary economy. Mr. Koo said that to counter deflation the government needs to borrow and spend the excess household sector savings in the private sector.
Chief Economist of Nomura Research Institute Richard C. Koo
How to Establish Your Own One Yen Company
2005-02-08: Whether it's setting up a basic business, subsidiary, branch office, or representative office, ACCJ Kansai members and guests learned how at the OCCI Building on February 8.
Kazutora Nakaya of Nakaya International Business & Legal Advising and Sadao Kanezaki of Ameba Co., Ltd., Subaru Accounting Office led the audience through the tax and legal issues that are associated with each type of business. Mr. Nakaya also spoke about the proposed new commercial law to be passed by the Diet in 2006 in relation to Limited Liability Companies (LLC) and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP), while Mr. Kanezaki talked about the "105% service company" concept as an advantageous way to start your own business.
Sadao Kanezaki, Representative Partner of Ameba Co., Ltd. Subaru Accounting Office, outlines the various tax structures in Japan and how each one affects a person who is trying to start an independent company.
Kazutora Nakaya, Senior Executive Solicitor at Nakaya International Business & Legal Advising, explains how one can go about filing for incorporation under the newly revised Japanese law.
The Senior Market in Japan and What It Means for YOU
Marubeni Corporation hosted a very informative ACCJ Kansai event on the senior market at their headquarters on February 18. Tadataka Satoh, President & CEO of Data Base Communication Co., Ltd., and Daisuke Otobe, Marketing Director of Adult Care products for Procter & Gamble presented.
Tadataka Satoh illuminated the nature of Japan's population structure, with more than 50% of the population over 50 years old today. By contrast, Europe will hit the 50% population mark in 2020, America in 2040, and the world overall in 2100. In another startling forecast, trends indicate that by 2025 there will be as many children born in Japan as 90 year olds living in Japan. Mr. Satoh shared invaluable insight on how the senior market fits into marketing strategy whether it involves telecommunications, sales, apparel, etc. Clearly, neglecting this market is a risky proposition.
Daisuke Otobe focused his presentation on providing care for those in the senior market as well as how he and his associates are planning to market P&G's "Attento" brand with the number of potential users expected to increase in the next few years. Mr. Otobe outlined that in order to be successful with the senior market, one must focus on the needs of the consumer through diversification, wealth of knowledge, and social value. Once these objectives can be met, the value of the brand can be realized and the company's goals can be achieved.
Tadataka Satoh, President & CEO of Data Base Communication Co., Ltd., presented on how the senior market will dominate Japan in the near future and importance of suppliers and providers recognizing this age group.
Daisuke Otobe, Marketing Director of Adult Care products for Procter & Gamble, describing the Attento product.
Increasing Your Personal Efficiency: The Institute for Business Technology (IBT) Founder & President Kerry Gleeson Presents
On January 26, at the Ritz-Carlton Osaka, the ACCJ Kansai Chapter welcomed founder and president of IBT International, Kerry Gleeson. Stopping by Japan to promote his best selling book, "The Personal Efficiency Program: How to Get Organized to Do More Work in Less Time," Kerry Gleeson enlightened those in attendance with an eloquent and enthusiastic presentation. Gleeson addressed the familiar dilemma of advancing technology and increasing workload. Email, for example, has been estimated to add two hours of extra work everyday. He also said the single biggest obstacle to efficiency is changing one's habits.
There are "four D's" for becoming more efficient, said Kerry: 1) Do it now, 2) Designate it, 3) Delegate it, and 4) Delete it.
Kerry Gleeson, president and founder of IBT International, makes his presentation on the global trends in white-collar productivity and what steps are needed to be more efficient.
Ringing in the New Year with the ACCJ Kansai Chapter at the Century Club Osaka
The ACCJ Kansai Chapter hosted its annual Shinnengoreikai (New Year's Bash) with characteristic liveliness on January 21 at the Century Club Osaka. From Tokyo, ACCJ President Debbie Howard and Executive Director Donald B. Westmore joined Kansai Chapter Vice President Norman Solberg to welcome government officials, members and guests with an ebullient New Year's aisatsu. The fun-filled night was capped off by a festive round of raffle drawing, with more than 50 prizes won, and parting gifts for everyone donated by member companies Sunstar, Inc., and Costco Wholesale.
A special thanks to our sponsors for helping to make the ACCJ Kansai Chapter 2005 Shinnengoreikai such an auspicious event:Century Club, Costco Wholesale, Pacific Golf Management, the Foreign Buyers' Club, Hilton Osaka,Hyatt Regency Osaka, New Otani Osaka, Procter & Gamble, Ritz-Carlton Osaka, Shimano Inc., Swissotel Nankai Osaka, Sunstar Inc., and United Airlines.
We'll have plenty more exciting events throughout the year and we look forward to seeing you there!
Hirokazu Ishii of United Airlines (right) presents the grand prize round trip economy class tickets to Hawaii to Noriyuki Gotoh of Osaka YMCA International School, the winner at the ACCJ Kansai Chapter's 2005 Shinnengoreikai held at the Century Club Osaka.
Held at the Century Club Osaka, ACCJ Kansai Chapter Deputy Executive Director Shigetaka Yoshitomi (right) presents a prize donated by Costco Wholesale to winner Paul Blocksom of Blocksom International Inc. at the 2005 Shinnengoreikai.
To kick-off the prize drawing, ACCJ Executive Director Donald B. Westmore (middle) draws a few meishi as ACCJ Kansai Chapter Deputy Executive Director Shigetaka Yoshitomi holds up the prizes donated by Shimano Inc. and ACCJ Kansai Chapter Operations Manager Justin Hanus (right) looks on.
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