News

The BCCJ Members’ Club has been reimagined, and we warmly invite you to join. All members are eligible to take part.

The BCCJ is pleased to welcome Bird & Bird to our growing list of organisations and professionals. Bird & Bird is an international law firm with over 1,700 lawyers and legal practitioners across a worldwide network of 34 offices in 24 countries. They offer full-service legal support, underpinned by a strong focus on technology and innovation. Bird & Bird specialisms include advice on commercial, corporate, EU and competition, intellectual property, dispute resolution, employment, finance and real estate matters.

The University of Manchester East Asia Centre is extending scholarships of up to 15% to BCCJ members for the July 2026 intake of the Manchester Global MBA. Designed for experienced professionals across industries, the programme combines academic rigour with real-world relevance. Delivered through a blended learning format, the Manchester Global MBA allows you to continue working full-time while advancing your leadership capability and global perspective.

The BCCJ warmly welcomes Kyoto International School (KIS) to our network. KIS is a non-profit, accredited international school in Kyoto, Japan, with a proud history of serving the community since 1957. Today, KIS is known for its inclusive, diverse environment, close community, and highly personalised approach to learning, helping every student grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

The British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ) is delighted to welcome SMASH International Group to our community. SMASH International Group was established in 2023 as a specialist firm dedicated to addressing these challenges. Under their motto 'Bringing Trust and Confidence to Global Society,' our certified public accountants—with extensive international business experience and professional expertise in the UK—support both British and Japanese companies in conducting business with confidence through reliable financial reporting and robust business frameworks.

For Francis Fung, in retrospect, it is clear that two very distinct paths were set for the close of 2025. One within the BCCJ and one without. Referred by BCCJ member Helen Iwata, who had taken advantage of our Member Gets Member scheme, in a span of months Francis joined the Chamber and quickly became an active participant within the community. On 7th November, he attended his first British Business Awards and also walked away with his business, KiFor, winning Entrepreneur of the Year. If it were not for the referral, Francis may have walked into a very different 2026. BCCJ Communications Lead, Josh Welch, sat down with both Helen and Francis to interview them in regard to the past year, myth-bust ideas about the Chamber, and dived into learn how exactly this referral came to fruition.

As the BCCJ’s reach continues to expand across territories, we welcome the University of Manchester East Asia Centre as a valued addition to our community. The university was established in Hong Kong in 1992 as the first overseas campus of the University of Manchester. As the only Russell Group university with a centre in East Asia, the Centre offers blended learning, part-time Master’s degrees for professional, corporate managerial executives and entrepreneurs based in East Asia.

The BCCJ welcomes RouteX to our ever-growing community. RouteX Inc. is a Tokyo-based global innovation consultancy specialising in international startup ecosystems and cross-border business development. Since its founding in 2018, the company has supported more than 100 partnerships between Japanese corporations, international startups, government agencies, and research institutions.

With a strong track record in Japan, Europe, and Asia, RouteX helps organisations accelerate innovation by providing strategic insights, market entry support, ecosystem mapping, and partnership development.

The BCCJ is pleased to welcome AutoWear to our community. With strong and enduring ties between the UK, Europe, and Japan at the core of their business, AutoWear’s approach reflects the cross-border collaboration and shared expertise that the Chamber exists to foster. We look forward to their active engagement with fellow members and to the perspectives they will bring to our network.

The BCCJ is honoured to spotlight the work of its members and the projects to which they commit their time, care and expertise. Most recently, BCCJ members Klein Dytham architecture, in partnership with fellow member Wild Tame, have produced a powerful short film documenting reconstruction efforts in support of the Noto Peninsula following its devastation.

Quantinuum, a global leader in quantum computing, has been commended for 'exceptionally effective digital and technological innovation in Japan within the past 12 months' at the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan’s annual gala in early November.

Men’s mental health and work-life balance were the focus of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan’s inaugural event in mid-November to mark International Men’s Day, a global annual observance designed to highlight men’s positive contributions and address the issues they face.