OBM was honoured to be invited to the ‘Japanese Businesses and the UK's Future Economy’ event which was co-hosted by the Embassy of Japan in the UK and the British-Japanese Parliamentary Group, on 29th October.

In this article we summarise the areas of collaboration between Japan and the UK and the similarities in their respective industrial strategies.

Oceanbridge Management (OBM) is pleased to announce that it will partner with the London Tech Show to facilitate UK-Japan trade.  The London Tech Show forms the largest cluster of tech events in the UK (Data Centre World, Cloud Expo Europe, Cyber Security, Devops Live, Big Data & AI World, Smart IoT and Blockchain World). 

For the first time, the Rugby World Cup comes to Asia.  This year it is being held in Japan.  The pool stage matches are currently being played across the country in 12 host cities, from Sapporo to Oita.

RAMS RFC will host a business breakfast on the 9th October and we will share our views on connection between Rugby and business.

Our MD Masako Eguchi-Bacon will give a talk at the OUI (Oxford University Innovation) seminar " Oxford University's Intellectual Property strategy and spinouts from the University - Ecosystem in Thames Valley - " in Osaka on the 10th October. 

Masako will talk about the fast-growing Thames Valley region, where OUI is based, and the regional partnership between Thames Valley and Kansai. 

Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and O-BIC (Osaka Business and Investment Centre) will host the Global Innovation Forum 2019 on the 10th and 11th October.  Masako Eguchi-Bacon, MD of OBM, also the Japan Desk representative of Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC), has supported the selection process.  Out of over 60 applicants across the world, two technology start-ups from the Thames Valley region, ZapGo and Helix Technologies, were selected.

In the UK, there is strong interest in Japan.  Japanese culture and business are often featured on radio and TV.

On the 3rd April, our MD Masako Eguchi-Bacon was interviewed by the BBC radio programme, “BBC Scotland Kaye Adams Show”, and talked about Japanese corporate culture.

The programme explained that Japan has made its Working Style Reform legislation effective on the 1st April.  It is beyond belief for people in the UK and Europe that a very long-hour working week has been normal in Japan for decades.  “Karoshi – death by overwork” has only recently been recognised as a serious social issue and the government had to impose legislation to prevent it.

The EU-Japan EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) became effective on the 1st February.  

Our Managing Director Masako Eguchi-Bacon was interviewed by the BBC to share her view and expertise, and the interview was broadcast on the “BBC Business Matters” programme on the 1st February 2019.

Under the EU-Japan EPA, about 30% of global GDP has become a free trade zone.  This agreement will certainly strengthen the tie between the EU and Japan and encourage both trade and investment.  Another important fact is that common rules including intellectual property and data distribution were established under this agreement, which will influence global standards and regulations.

This year in the UK, there has been uncertainty in the business environment due to the Brexit, however, our clients’ businesses remain strong despite such challenges.  

Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and Masako Eguchi-Bacon, our MD as well as the Japan Desk of TVCC, hosted the Japan Roundtable on the 30th November.  We shared tips in developing business with Japanese companies and discussed further opportunities in line with a series of international events Japan will host: -2019 Rugby World Cup, 2020 Tokyo Olympics and World Expo 2025 (Osaka, Kansai).

OBM signed a strategic partnership with CloserStill Media Ltd, who hosts “SMART IOT”, one of the largest IOT exhibitions in the UK.

SMART IOT 2019 will be held on the 12th and 13th March 2019 at ExCel London and both companies will support sponsors and exhibitors from, but not limited to, Japan and the UK. 

From the end of September through early October, I was in Japan to support collaboration between our clients OKAYA & CO., LTD (Japanese) and Crowd Charge Ltd. (UK).

This was the second opportunity where both companies exhibited together in Japan and there were some reasons why the second exhibition went so well.

Here I introduce the three most important aspects.

We were very honoured to be invited to the world’s first Zero Emission Vehicle Summit in Birmingham on the 11th September.

We were very honoured to be invited to the world’s first Zero Emission Vehicle Summit in Birmingham on the 11th September.

On the 3rd May, the International Technology Conference was held, hosted by Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce.  Every year, the conference features the latest technology trends, business models, challenges and solutions in the UK. 

On the 3rd May, the International Technology Conference was held, hosted by Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce.  Every year, the conference features the latest technology trends, business models, challenges and solutions in the UK. 

From the 15th to the 19th January 2018, a trade mission from the Thames Valley visited Japan.  It was the second trade mission from Thames Valley since Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) and Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) signed an MoU in 2014. 

Over the last 8 months, we (OBM) have supported both Chambers including strategic planning, identifying focus sectors, recruiting UK companies, arranging B2B meetings (prior to our visit) and managing the schedule during our stay in Osaka.