JMEC Newsletter
Spring, 2008

In This Issue
Welcome New Sponsors!
It's not too Late to Sponsor JMEC
It's Not Just a Parasol - It's a Marketing Concept: A JMEC Success Story
Join us at The Pink Cow
Sponsor News

Welcome New Sponsors!
JMEC has evolved into the program that it is today with the support of our very generous sponsors. These companies, organizations and individuals have truly made a difference to not only the program itself, but also to all those involved with JMEC. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors, and to welcome our new, incoming JMEC 15 sponsors to-date:
Banyu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Bobby Valentine
Brita Japan
Fiat Group Automobiles Masashi Kamimura
Outdoor Japan
Parasol Media (a division of SKW East Asia)
The Pink Cow
Starwood Hotels
Tokyo Sinfonia
Windsor Park Golf and Country Club
For a full list of JMEC 14 sponsors, please visit the sponsors section of our website.
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It's Not Too Late to Sponsor JMEC 15
The deadline for JMEC 15 sponsorship is still a month away, so please consider making a cash or product donation to support this worthwhile cause. Benefits depend on the level of sponsorship, but generally include:

• Exposure to over 15,000 foreigners and Japanese through various networking organizations, chambers of commerce and JMEC events
• Media exposure to over 80,000 foreigners and Japanese through such outlets as Metropolis magazine
• Presence in JMEC marketing efforts including logo placement on the JMEC website, JMEC brochures, JMEC's quarterly email newsletter and on sponsor boards at JMEC events

In addition, some levels of sponsorship also provide an opportunity for employees to receive business training through JMEC at little or no cost. Click here to learn more about the levels of sponsorship and how to become a JMEC sponsor.
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It's Not Just a Parasol - It's a Marketing Concept: A JMEC Success Story
So what happens to those business plans after the winners have been announced, the prizes awarded and the champagne drunk? In the case of SKW East Asia, a JMEC 13 client, the answer is put it into motion as soon as possible! And that is just what they did. By January, 2008, just six months after receiving their JMEC plan, SKW had formed a new division called Parasolmedia.

The plan outlined a market entry strategy for SKW to import German-made parasols, such as the kind used at outdoor eateries and beach venues. Although the parasols could be purchased outright, the conceptual idea was to rent the products for a minimal fee to space owners, who agreed to sell the parasol canvases as advertising space. The first two employees were none other than JMEC team members who had been hired to implement the very plan they wrote.

French Chamber of Commerce and Industry
in Japan


German Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
in Japan


Italian Chamber of
Commerce in Japan


Netherlands
Chamber of Commerce
in Japan


Swedish Chamber of
Commerce in Japan

While still in the very early stages of implementation, Parasolmedia has made great strides. The first quarter of the year was mostly devoted to developing its marketing materials, and by March it was ready to unveil its parasol products at an introductory event. This event and another in Nagano with its first partner, ski resort Hakuba, have resulted in several leads thus far. SKW East Asia aims to be one of the first companies to bring Custom Media to Japan, by following the theme of "Outdoor Communications." Please click here to read the full case study. If you would like to learn how you can make use of this effective, new marketing tool, visit Parasolmedia's website at www.parasolmedia.jp.
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Join Us at the Pink Cow
On Wednesday, June 11th at 7:00pm JMEC will take part in an informal small business seminar and networking event at The Pink Cow. These free, monthly events are designed to bring together people starting their own businesses. JMEC and Parasol Media (see article above) will make a joint presentation, followed by networking. We hope you will be able to join us! For more information about the Pink Cow, one of JMEC's newest sponsors, please visit www.thepinkcow.com or see our Sponsor News section below.
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Sponsor News
The following are announcements from various JMEC-sponsoring companies and individuals. Please visit the sponsors' websites for more information. If you are a sponsor and have an announcement you would like included in the next newsletter, please email us.

Please join the Tokyo Sinfonia for its upcoming concerts. To purchase tickets for any of the concerts, email tickets@tokyosinfonia.com or visit www.tokyosinfonia.com for more information.

The FCCJ Dinner Concert - Czech Serenade on May 16th at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (Yurakucho). Table tickets: single ¥7,875, group ¥7,245 each.

Symphonies for Strings Champagne Concert - Mozart on June 13th at the Oji Hall (Ginza). Tickets: single ¥6,000, groups ¥5,500each; 4-concert subscription ¥20,000.

Russian Summer Champagne Concert on July 18th at the Great Hall of the Russian Embassy (Azabudai). Patron tickets: single ¥8,000, groups ¥7,000 each.

Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) will hold the following upcoming events:

Minato-ku Citizen's University - "Japan Reform and Reaction." The three sessions, each with its own topic, will take place on Wednesdays, May 21st, 28th and June 4th. Admission to each session is ¥500 and is not limited to Minato-ku residents. To register go to www. tuj.ac.jp/kumin, email tujinfo@tuj.ac.jp or call 0120-86-1026.

Continuing Education Program information session will take place on Saturday, May 10th from 10:00 to 12:00 at TUJ Azabu Hall. For details please go to www.tuj.ac.jp/cont-ed.

MBA information session will be held on Saturday, May 24th from 11:30 to 14:00 at TUJ Mita Hall. For details please go to www.tuj.ac.jp/mba.

CCH Japan will host the following events. A discount is available for JMEC members and alumni. For more information about either event, please visit www.cch-japan.jp.

Fundamental Understanding of Transfer Pricing Seminar on Thursday, May 29th.

Japan Labor and Employment Law Seminar - Termination of Employees and the Latest Development of the Law - on Wednesday, June 25th and Wednesday, July 9th.

DaiJob, Inc. will present its Go Global Career Fair for bilinguals on Friday, June 6th from 14:00 to 20:30 at the Tokyo International Forum. The fair is a great opportunity for bilingual candidates to meet some of the world's leading employers such as Dell, Japan, Inc., Thomson- Reuters, Deutsche Bank Group and many more! For more information, visit http://daijob.com/link/go/CFairJmec.

The Tyler Foundation (www.tylershineon.org) will hold its annual fundraiser at the Hilton Hotel from 18:00 on the 26th of September. With a mystery theme, the evening will be full of surprise!! There will also be celebrity chefs in attendance who will dazzle with their culinary skills! Proceeds go to help children with cancer and their families.

The Desautels Faculty of Management of McGill University is pleased to announce that Mr. Michael Gervais has been awarded the JMEC Alumni scholarship for the McGill MBA Japan program. Michael will receive substantial financial support based on his outstanding application and completion of the JMEC Program. Visit www.mcgillmbajapan.com for more information about the program.

The Pink Cow is a restaurant, art bar and funky space located near both Shibuya and Omotesando stations where you can enjoy homemade international dishes, a wide selection of wines and beers, art and music events in a relaxing setting. We are a community responsible business, supporting the arts, music and community charities, and we encourage all of our friends and customers to join us in a bit of fun! Check out our events calendar at www.thepinkcow.com. A great place for b-day or company parties as well!

Petal KK We bring out the best in you - multinational, local, importer, start-up - Helping you make your consumer the core of the business. Aligning your corporate strategy to profitable excellence in Japan and Asia. For more information visit www.petalkk.com.
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Clas G. Bystedt

Trond Varlid

C. Jeffrey Char

Adnan Raza

Mark Ferris

James Weeks