RegISTRATIOn OpenING SOON!

November 11, 2025 16:00-19:30 [In-PERSON]

**Venue: Blooming Camp, Grand Green Osaka North WING 3rd Floor (*MAP***)

Fees : ACCJ Member / Non-members TBD

The event will be conducted in English. 本イベントは英語で開催されます。

Sponsorship Opportunities Available. For details, please reach out to kansai@accj.or.jp.

Dress code: Business Casual

NOTE 1: This event is ON THE RECORD. Photos and videos will be taken during the event and displayed on the ACCJ website and social media channels, in The ACCJ Journal, etc.

NOTE 2: Please note that, as with all guest presentations, the content and comments of the speakers reflect their own opinions and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the ACCJ.

NOTE 3: Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, and spots may be filled before the registration deadline. We recommend registering early to secure your place.

NOTE 4: If you cancel after the stated deadline, the full meeting fee will be charged to your account. No substitutions or walk-ins.

NOTE 5: Please note that the ACCJ-Kansai gold card does not apply to this event. Everyone who signs up to attend will be charged the participation fee.

ACCJ Members (RegISTration Opening Soon)

Non-members (RegISTration opening soon)

AGENDA

15:30-
Doors open / 開場

16:00-17:45
Opening
Workshop
CLOSING

18:00-19:30
NETWORKING

Event Overview

Diversity and inclusion (D&I) is a noble cause. We all feel it. We all know it. But good intentions don’t always guarantee good results. In fact, without the right approach, even the most well-meaning D&I initiatives can stall, misfire, or even harm the movement itself.

So how do we get D&I back on track?

In this interactive session, international corporate trainer James Chappell, who has spent nearly two decades observing D&I rollouts across teams, departments, and global companies, takes a refreshingly honest look at what works, what doesn’t, and why. For more than 20 years, his work has focused on helping individuals, teams, and departments develop greater agency—the ability to think, decide, and act independently. Unfortunately, many D&I initiatives unintentionally undermine agency and create unintended challenges for both individuals and organizations.

Through real stories, open dialogue, and practical insights, Chappell will help participants:

· Identify the hidden risks that often derail D&I programs.

· Reconnect with the true core of the movement.

· Learn the simple shifts that make the biggest difference.

Expect to gain clarity on those fuzzy, uncomfortable questions you’ve had about D&I and leave with renewed energy, sharper focus, and actionable tools to get this movement (and all your development initiatives) headed in the right direction.

The workshop will be followed by a networking session so you can get to know fellow attendees.

MEET THe TRAINER

Workshop Trainer

JAMES CHAPPELL

CEO, BEMi Consulting, Inc.

Born in North Carolina in 1976, James Chappell studied psychology and sociology at the University of North Carolina. After graduating in 1999, he moved to Japan and began his career as a manager at an international body-painting company partnered with Universal Studios Japan (USJ), contributing to the park’s opening and working there for eight years. During this time, he managed company operations and later transitioned to providing communications training to Japanese business professionals facing challenges within international business teams. At the same time, he started a small business creating and selling original washi paper lamps, even setting up shops in places like Hankyu Department Store.

Through his work as a communications trainer, Chappell realized that assertiveness is a crucial skill for Japanese business professionals aiming for success on an international stage. After five years of trial and error, he developed a core approach to training that cultivates assertive skills, resulting in the BEMi method—meaning body, emotion, mind, and information—which has proven effective in delivering tangible results in real business situations.

The BEMi method is designed to help Japanese business professionals become more influential and active members in global communication and decision-making processes. By training individuals to focus on physical presence, emotional intelligence, cognitive processes, and information assimilation, the method ensures that their voices are not lost in international discussions. Chappell is dedicated to supporting Japanese businesspeople in achieving greater prominence and influence in the global business arena.

ジェームズ・チャペル

1976年生まれ。アメリカ合衆国ノースカロライナ州出身。ノースカロライナ大学にて心理学と社会学を学ぶ。1999年に卒業後、来日。大阪のユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパンと提携した国際的なボディペイントの会社にて、USJオープニング当初からマネジャーを務める。8年間、会社の運営とマネジメントに携わったのち、国際的なビジネス・チームの中で様々な試練や困難を抱える日本のビジネスパーソンに対するコミュニケーション・トレーニングを行うようになる。同時期に、和紙でオリジナルのランプを自ら製作・販売する小さなビジネスを始め、阪急百貨店などに出店する。コミュニケーションのトレーナーとして働くうちに、国際的に活躍する日本のビジネスパーソンにとっての成功の鍵となるスキルは、アサーティブであるという理解に至る。5 年間の試行錯誤の中で、アサーティブ・スキルを身につけるための中核的なトレーニング方法（BEMi）を開発し、（セッション内だけではなく）実際のビジネスシチュエーションにおいて目にみえる成果を上げている。

このようにして開発されたBEMi（Body, Emotion, Mind, and information）メソッドは、文字通り、身体（Body）感情（Emotion）思考（Mind）情報と理論（information and theory）の順にフォーカスして取り組んでいくトレーニング方法である（情報と理論については、最後に行うことが重要！）。これからの国際社会において、グローバルなコミュニケーションにおける意思決定の中で日本人の意見が見失われないよう、より活発に影響力のあるメンバーとして日本のビジネスパーソンがより一層活躍できるようサポートしたいと願っている。