The ACCJ Journal American Chamber of Commerce in Japan

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.

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 business community can get involved.

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

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

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

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