X-Pat Files

Expert Entreprenurialism: How to Start a Business with Terrie Lloyd
American Chamber of Commerce in Japan Event

Some people failed to listen to mom and get real jobs. Instead they created something new, and became their own boss. If you have ever considered the idea of becoming an entrepreneur, or currently run your own business but want to take it up a notch, then we have a presentation that you will not want to miss.

Terrie Lloyd is a Australian/Kiwi entrepreneur who started his first company in Japan 27 years ago after he arrived on a working holiday visa. Since then, he has established 18 companies, had 6 successful earn-outs, and currently operates 6 companies. Terrie is exceptional among business people in Japan for his commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in both the foreign and Japanese communities, and both through his seminars and mentoring has helped and inspired hundreds of people learn how to structure and run a business through its initial startup stages and beyond. This seminar is a mini version of his full, daylong seminar that covers topics such as:

* Which is better, a Godo Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Joto Seigen Kaisha (JSKK), Kokai Kabushiki Kaisha (KKK)?
* How much money do I need to capitalize my company?
* What does a typical business plan look like?
* How does a small business recruit a strong salesperson?
* How do I prepare for a tax audit?
* And much more...

I have been to two of his seminars, and I jumped at the chance to have Terrie back again to talk to us here in Nagoya. If you are interested in entrepreneurship, this presentation is a must see.
DATE: Saturday, July 2, 6 to 8 p.m.
VENUE: Forrest Room, Oak Lawn Marketing
NHK Nagoya Broadcasting Center Bldg. 16F, 1-13-3 Higashi Sakura, Higashi-ku, Nagoya (3 minutes walk via Oasis 21 from Sakae Station off the Higashiyama or Meijo Subway Lines)
MAP:
COST: ACCJ Members: 1,500 yen, guests/nonmembers: 3,000 yen DEADLINE: June 30th

Registration

Noriko Kato, Operations Manager - Chubu ACCJ
Tel: +81 52 229-1525
Fax: +81 52 222-8272
Email:

Are you looking for a fun start to the summer vacation and a chance for your children to get together with other English-speaking children? Then the NIS Summer Program is for your family! There are four, 1-week sessions starting on June 20, June 27, July 25 and August 1, and students can take part in just one or all four sessions! Each session costs 30,000 yen. The first two sessions are intended for students who are currently NOT enrolled in Japanese schools, while sessions 3 & 4 are open to all English-speaking* students in Nagoya. The program is intended for children in Kindergarten through grade 6 (ages 5-12), and are taught by NIS teachers and staff. The program is designed to incorporate a full day of sessions that offer a wide range of activities with a focus on the “Five C’s”: Creative, Cultural, Cognitive, Collaborative, Cultural and Cardiovascular. [Note: This is NOT intended to be an academic, English-learning program.] All activities will take place at NIS. Bus service is NOT available. Lunch is available for an additional cost. For more information, please contact NIS at: summerprogram@nis.ac.jp or visit http://summerprogram.nisjapan.info/

*All four sessions are limited to children who are dual-national/bi-cultural children, "returnee" Japanese students, current NIS students, and other students who already have basic, conversational English skills.

Japan has largely calmed down in recent weeks, and life is getting back to normal. Some problems still remain, and there is concern about brown outs going into the summer months in Tokyo, but companies are planning around it. They have adopted “super cool biz” as 2011’s dress code in response. One example: employees of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Ministry of Environment can wear jeans, solid color T-shirts, and Hawaiian shirts to work, as opposed to the standard Japanese business uniform of a black suit and tie. Other companies are adjusting their work schedules to earlier or later in the day, and even weekends to avoid periods of peak power usage. All of Tokyo has come together in an effort to cut overall power usage by 15% in areas serviced by the Tokyo Electric Power Company. Another positive point; Tokyo, and Japan in general has begun embracing green power and eco-friendly practices like never before. I think I speak for a lot of us here in Japan when I say that we all hope that “super cool biz” and the green revolution will continue long after the power problems are solved.

The news is not all good though, recent reports from Japan's nuclear emergency taskforce have indicated that the levels of radiation emitted from the reactor may be as much as double those initially reported. The new figures bring the total amount of radiation emitted up to 1/6 of the amount emitted at Chernobyl from 1/10. Inside the 50 mile/30 kilometer evacuation zone the level of radiation represents a serious threat to human health, but outside, the levels are significantly lower, and while no level radiation is good, background levels in Tokyo are actually lower than many places in the United States, and the water is completely safe to drink. Follow this link to see levels of radiation at various cities and airports in Japan (PDF File). Food as well is safe. Crops being produced in certain areas near the reactors have unacceptable levels of radiation, and the government has banned the sale of crops from those areas. For example, bans on raw tea leaves harvested in Ibaraki and parts of Kanagawa, Chiba and Tochigi prefectures. Food scares like this are a problem in Tokyo, and Tokyoites have begun eating more food produced in far flung corners of Japan, or even from overseas in response. If you are worried about the produce you are consuming we have prepared a cheat sheet that details each prefecture's location, kanji name, and an English description so you can tell where your food is coming from. You can view this PDF file by following this link.

Stores and convenience stores in the month after the disaster were often bare of basic essentials, including beer! Now, it is rare to see shortages of any kind in Tokyo, as the transportation system has adjusted, and goods are able to get to market. As mentioned before, the offerings may have changed, but food is readily available. Up north, in Tohoku, there are still logistical challenges being faced by people in the hardest hit areas, but you would not know it from looking at the rest of Japan. If you were not aware of the fact that 3 months ago there was a terrible disaster in Japan, you would not guess it from a casual stroll around Tokyo, Nagoya, or Osaka.

Life in Japan is looking more and more normal; a new normal perhaps, but normal! Here are a collection of links about the situation in Japan as it stands now. Take a look at the various embassy’s travel advisories!

- Japan map of Japan Radiation Maximum by Prefecture
- Post-quake life in Tokyo
- US Department of State Travel Alert May 16, 2011
- UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Alert May 30, 2011
- Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Travel Alert June 2, 2011
- Foreign Affairs and Trade Canada Travel Alert May 25, 2011

If you are interested in hearing more about the ongoing clean up and reconstruction efforts, I recomend you check out this facebook group. Foreign Volunteers Japan. You can find information, volunteer opportunities, and get a better grasp of what is still happening up in Tohoku.

Foreign Volunteers Japan

Nameless Media and Productions Theatre presents The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) this June 24th, 25th & 26th at the Nagoya Youth Exchange Plaza.

Nameless films is a Nagoya based production company that produced an an award winning documentary 'Behind Forgotten Eyes' and the recent hit comedy web series 'English Teachers', and I am pretty excited to see what happens when they bring this hit play that covers ALL 37 of Shakespeare's plays- in 90 minutes. 'The Complete Works' is a fast paced, hilarious 3 person parody, though a good natured one, of the classic Shakespeare plays; now doesn’t that sound like fun?
Dates

Location Map
Facebook Event Page

Friday June 24th (7:30pm)
Saturday June 25th (2pm and 7pm)
Sunday June 26th (2pm and 6pm)

Ticket Price
General 2,000 yen
Student 1,500 yen