In this edition, our lead story, in the spirit of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, touches on new ideas in service of a more inclusive community. View this email in your browser (https://mailchi.mp/jnto/uk_enews02_convention?e=3c4bb2f3e7) https://www.japanmeetings.org/ This Japan Meetings & Events Newsletter is sent to you by the London office of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) ** Welcome to NEW IDEAS START HERE Issue 2/2021 ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Colleagues, In this edition of news for conferences and business events organisers, our lead story, in the spirit of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, touches on new ideas in service of a more inclusive global community. In the accompanying article by JNTO, read how two Japanese pioneers leveraged on technology, pushed boundaries and catalyzed change. We are excited to share the latest news from Japan in Issue 2: * Fukuoka joined the Hybrid City Alliance (http://www.meetingmediagroup.com/article/fukuoka-the-first-japanese-city-to-...) , a global network of convention cities. Besides Fukuoka, other Japanese cities are showcasing their hybrid event capabilities, with this year being the first time UIA holds its Asia Pacific Round Table in a hybrid format in Tokyo. * Thanks to Japan’s world-leading expertise in robotics and the collective efforts of the bid team, Yokohama will welcome IEEE ICRA delegates in 2024. * We are overjoyed that Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tokyo-osaka-and-kyoto-named-1-2-and...) are ranked Top 3 Best Big Cities in the world in Condé Nast Traveler 2021 Reader's Choice Awards. Japan was also chosen as the third best country (https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/best-countries-in-the-world) in the world. * UNESCO registered two new World Heritage (https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h01075/) sites in Japan, bringing the country’s total to 25. * Emissions from aviation are one of the major contributors to climate change, and as such the industry has a big role to play. All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) have joined forces on their sustainability campaign (https://www.businesstravelnewseurope.com/Air-Travel/ANA-and-JAL-join-forces-...) and produced a joint report “Toward Virtually Zero CO2 Emissions from Air Transport in 2050”. ▸ Continue Reading (https://mailchi.mp/jnto/uk_enews02_convention?e=3c4bb2f3e7#Editorial) As always, you can find the latest information (https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/) about travelling to Japan under Covid-19 restrictions in this e-news. We look forward to welcoming you back. I assure you Japan will be totally worth the wait. Yours sincerely, Eleanor Wyllie | Convention Manager Japan Convention Bureau Japan National Tourism Organization 3rd Floor, 32 Queensway, London, United Kingdom E: eleanor_wyllie@jnto.go.jp (mailto:eleanor_wyllie@jnto.go.jp?subject=JNTO%20e-news) ; mice_uk@jnto.go.jp (mailto:mice_uk@jnto.go.jp?subject=JNTO%20e-news) T: +44 20 7398 5670 Japan. Meetings & Events (https://www.japanmeetings.org/) http://www.japanmeetings.org/ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL92y26hheciKIWrB6CRsExlqgxtOaKvPz ** New Ideas Start Here ------------------------------------------------------------ https://www.japan.travel/tokyo-and-beyond-2020/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/10... ©Lori Ono - Members of Tokyo Startline, a running group for amputees ** Japanese Prosthetics in an Inclusive World ------------------------------------------------------------ With Tokyo as the first city ever to host the Paralympic Games for the second time, Japan is determined to leverage the opportunity to forge inclusive societies. In Japan, two dedicated pioneers in the field of athletic prosthetics pushed boundaries and catalyzed change, making the once-impossible a reality today. Read their story here (https://www.japan.travel/tokyo-and-beyond-2020/en/trip-ideas/athletic-prosth...) . ** The Paralympics and New Horizons ------------------------------------------------------------ When the world’s parathletes competed at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, they won the hearts of fans and spectators through their courage and determination. Japanese para-long jumper Sayaka Murakami sees the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games as a window of opportunity to create a positive legacy (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/10/24/paralympics/summer-paralympic...) for disabled people in Japan and around the world. ▸ Continue Reading (https://mailchi.mp/jnto/uk_enews02_convention?e=3c4bb2f3e7#NewIdeas) ** New Settings, New Inspiration ------------------------------------------------------------ https://www.japanmeetings.org/assets/images/plan-your-event/venue-search/47_... ©JNTO - Marine World Uminonakamichi ** Unique Venue Marine World Uminonakamichi, Fukuoka ------------------------------------------------------------ What will your delegates say about being face-to-face with thousands of aquatic species? The beautiful shell-shaped Marine World Uminonakamichi (https://www.japanmeetings.org/plan-your-event/search/venue-detail.html?id=10...) , home to some 20,000 marine creatures from 400 species, showcases the aquatic life of the Tsushima Warm Current. This aquarium venue has recreated the unique ocean habitat of each region. ▸ Continue Reading (https://mailchi.mp/jnto/uk_enews02_convention?e=3c4bb2f3e7#UniqueVenue) ** Coming to Japan ------------------------------------------------------------ yokohama skyline ©canvaimages - Evening cityscape of Yokohama, Japan ** 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation – ICRA from May 13^th – 17^th , 2024 at PACIFICO Yokohama ------------------------------------------------------------ Since the 1970s, Japan has been at the forefront of robotics technology. Seven out of the 10 world leading industrial robotics companies are housed here. Japan has the highest density of robot workers in the world and remains the testing ground for new applications of robotics. ▸ Continue Reading (https://mailchi.mp/jnto/uk_enews02_convention?e=3c4bb2f3e7#ComingtoJapan) ** Meetings and Conventions in Osaka ------------------------------------------------------------ osaka castle ©JNTO - Osaka Castle Osaka drew the world’s focus when it hosted the G20 Osaka Summit 2019, and will once again command the global spotlight as the upcoming host of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/) . ▸ Continue Reading (https://mailchi.mp/jnto/uk_enews02_convention?e=3c4bb2f3e7#Conventions) ** JNTO, Your Business Events Partner ------------------------------------------------------------ https://mailchi.mp/jnto/uk_enews02_convention?e=3c4bb2f3e7#JNTO https://mailchi.mp/jnto/uk_enews02_convention?e=3c4bb2f3e7#JNTO Please discuss with our London Office (mailto:mice_uk@jnto.go.jp?subject=Support%20for%20Business%20Events%20Organisers%20(enews)) how we can help you bring your business event group/s to Japan. ** Getting to Know Japan, Your Business Events Destination ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Your Safety is Our Priority ------------------------------------------------------------ As the world continues to face the challenges of Covid-19, travellers can get the latest information (https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/) on the situation in Japan. Organisers who have an upcoming business event in Japan may like to share this 1’27” video “Unleash Your Wanderlust in Japan (https://www.japan.travel/en/practical-coronavirus-information/) ” with your delegates and participants as Japan takes steps to welcome you back soon. Your safety is our priority and we want you all to explore and discover Japan with peace of mind. . https://youtu.be/RU9o9mNUyMQ ** New Products and Services ------------------------------------------------------------ https://mice.nagasaki-visit.or.jp/facilities ©JNTO - Dejima Messe Nagasaki https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ngsjphi-hilton-nagasaki/ ©Hilton Hotels & Resort -The walls of the Executive Lounge in Nagasaki’s traditional blue and white pattern We are pleased to introduce Dejima Messe Nagasaki and the nearby Hilton Nagasaki, both ready to host business events organisers and their groups as soon as their doors open for business this November. ▸ Continue Reading (https://mailchi.mp/jnto/uk_enews02_convention?e=3c4bb2f3e7#Newproduct) ** Latest News ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Condé Nast Traveler 2021 Reader's Choice Awards ------------------------------------------------------------ ©Byjeng - Shinjuku crosswalk, Tokyo Condé Nast Traveler readers provided a snapshot about the places they most want to travel to in the 2021 Reader’s Choice Awards (https://www.cntraveler.com/inspiration/readers-choice-awards) , the longest running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. On the list of the ‘Best Big Cities in the World’, the Top 3 are in Japan (https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/2014-10-20top-25-cities-in-the-world-read...) – Tokyo in first place, followed by Osaka and Kyoto. In the Top 20 Countries in the World (https://www.cntraveler.com/story/top-countries-in-the-world) category, Japan sits proudly at 3^rd position. ** Two New UNESCO Heritage Sites for Japan ------------------------------------------------------------ Japan now has a total of 25 World Heritage Sites (https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/jp) , of which 5 are natural heritage sites. The new additions are the Jomon Prehistoric sites in Northern Japan (cultural heritage) and the subtropical islands of Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima and Iriomote, and the Yanbaru Region (natural heritage). https://whc.unesco.org/en/documents/165860 © MOEJ - Mangrove Forest, Nakama River, Iriomote Is. ** “Toward Virtually Zero CO2 Emissions from Air Transport in 2050” Report ------------------------------------------------------------ In their joint study (https://www.businesstravelnewseurope.com/Air-Travel/ANA-and-JAL-join-forces-...) , ANA and JAL advocated that airlines need to accelerate the technological development, production and utilisation of sustainable fuels through collaboration with other industries. These Japanese carriers are also urging other companies to target at least 10 per cent SAF (sustainable aviation fuels) use by 2030. Commercial aviation is responsible for about 2-3% of global carbon emissions (https://www.iata.org/en/programs/environment/climate-change/) according to the International Air Transport Association – IATA. https://www.japanmeetings.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/japan-convention-bureau/ https://www.facebook.com/japanmeetings/ https://twitter.com/letsmeetinjapan https://www.instagram.com/letsmeetinjapan/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAF3bpYrvw_3RIkZ3OUnMNA ============================================================ Copyright © 2021 Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), All rights reserved. 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