A small group of Canadians, and fifty years of minutes.
In the mid-1970s, a small group of Canadians recognized a need to develop a more organized presence and greater visibility for Canadian business in Japan, and formed the Canadian Businessman’s Association, known today as the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan.
Private sector, not-for-profit, founded 1975
Representing some 46 business sectors, the CCCJ is a member-driven, member-focused organization and is the longest serving Canadian Chamber in Asia.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan is a private sector, not-for-profit business organization founded in 1975 to promote the development of commerce between Canada and Japan.
With over 400 member representatives, the CCCJ represents a broad cross-section of businesspersons and entrepreneurs from Canada, Japan and other countries.
Membership is comprised of Canadian companies and individuals with ties to Japan and Japanese companies and individuals with ties to Canada.
The second-largest Canadian chamber of commerce outside of Canada, and the longest serving Canadian Chamber in Asia.
cccj.or.jp/aboutSeven things the CCCJ says it does
The mandate as their About page prints it, in its own order and its own words.
- Promotes the development of commerce between Canada and Japan;
- Promotes measures to benefit and protect the interests in Japan of companies and citizens of Canada;
- Represents various opinions of the business community of Canada and Japan regarding trade, commerce, finance, industry and related matters;
- Collects and disseminates among its members statistical data and other information concerning commerce or other undertakings of interest to them;
- Associates and cooperates with other organizations sharing mutual interests;
- Promotes facilities for social networking among members and holds periodic functions of a social nature to promote friendship among Canadians and others in Japan; and
- Does any and all other things incidental or related to the above objectives.
How the mandate is carried out
Their four headings for the work, with their description of each.
Maintaining close ties with other foreign and domestic chambers of commerce in Japan and other Canadian chambers/business associations in Asia to broaden and deepen our information network.
Key historical events, 1975 to 2015
Key historical events, as the chamber publishes them. Their list is carried in their order with their wording, and it stops where theirs stops; the years between are not filled in.
- 1975
CCCJ established as Canadian Businessman’s Association.
- 1976
First Canadian Maple Leaf Ball.
- 1981
Name officially changes to Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ).
- 1985
CCCJ begins to focus on business activities, establishes its first news publication, The Chamber News, and hires a manager and staff members.
- 1990
Membership and number of events increase dramatically; The Canadian magazine is launched.
- 1992
The Canadian produced entirely in-house for the first time.
- 1993
The CCCJ Bulletin monthly newsletter launched.
- 1994
Doing Business in Japan published; Small Business and Professional member category introduced.
- 1995
Connections membership directory published for the first time.
- 1996
Trade Policy Paper released.
- 1997
CCCJ-Kansai opens; website launched.
- 1999
Canada-Asia Card launched; revised Trade Policy Paper released.
- 2000
25th anniversary of the CCCJ.
- 2001
First Canada-Japan Business Awards; first CCCJ Cup Golf Tournament.
- 2003
New bi-monthly newspaper is introduced, replacing the quarterly magazine and monthly newsletter; CCCJ wins to act as official service provider of the Japan-Canada Working Holiday Program.
- 2004
Maple Leaf Ball returns to the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Chinzan-so after a nine year absence.
- 2005
CCCJ celebrates 30th anniversary and for the first time brings band in from Canada for the Maple Leaf Ball; over 2,600 guests attend CCCJ events; CCCJ office moves to Aoyama.
- 2007
CCCJ advocates Canada-Japan FTA as its guiding principle.
- 2010
CCCJ releases a Trade Policy paper, Capitalizing on Natural Synergies, Towards an EPA Agreement Between Japan & Canada.
- 2011
Creates the strategic advisory group, the CCCJ Honorary Board of Advisors, providing connectivity of influential Japanese business and government leaders with ties to, and an active interest in Canada.
- 2012
Active in advocacy activities including roundtables with Keidanren committee on Canada as well as presenting to both Canadian and Japanese governments on opportunities and challenges to bilateral liberalized trade.
- 2013
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the CCCJ and Keidanren, holds the 2013 Canada-Japan Trade Symposium in Toronto.
- 2014
CCCJ hosts major business events, the Public Private Partnerships Symposium, the Canada-Japan EPA Roundtable, and the Canadian Energy Round-up, all in partnership with the Embassy of Canada to Japan.
- 2015
Re-release of The Canadian and CCCJ becomes the first Chamber in Asia with a digital magazine app. CCCJ celebrates the 40th anniversary of its partnership with Air Canada.
They never imagined that their association would grow into the second-largest Canadian chamber of commerce outside of Canada, with a thriving and active membership of over 400 members. Over the years, the chamber has evolved into a strong and capable organization that plays a vital role in promoting trade and commerce between Canada and Japan.
Presidents of the CCCJ, past to present
Presidents of the CCCJ, past to present, exactly as their About page lists them. Presidential terms begin at the CCCJ Annual General Meeting in June. The earliest names are printed without terms on their page and are printed without terms here.
The Board of Governors and the Honorary Board of Advisors are on the committees page.
What the chamber publishes
A quarterly magazine since 1990, an annual directory since 1995, and a guide for companies arriving in Japan.
Canadian companies with ties to Japan, and Japanese companies with ties to Canada.
Membership is comprised of Canadian companies and individuals with ties to Japan and Japanese companies and individuals with ties to Canada.