New Beginnings - an update from Japan  View this email in your browser (https://mailchi.mp/ae9729bd0a3d/jnto-marchnews?e=b85c705c88) The Japan Meetings and Events Newsletter is sent to you by the London office of the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO). ** New beginnings ------------------------------------------------------------ Here in Japan, we are entering peak cherry blossom season, an annual milestone renowned worldwide as images of these beautiful blooms are shared across the globe. A symbolic flower of spring, cherry blossoms signify a time of renewal, and with a short life span, when they bloom it’s a moment to be captured and remembered. This year, their moment in time feels particularly poignant as we look forward to a brighter future following the pandemic. Just last week, the state of emergency was lifted in Tokyo and three neighbouring prefectures, and although travel restrictions remain in place, this is a positive step forward for the country. This also follows the news that while overseas spectators won’t be able to attend the Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo this year, the event will go ahead. We’re privileged to have the opportunity to host such a significant event under such challenging circumstances. The Olympics will provide an opportunity to showcase Japan as a meetings and events destination to a global audience and build confidence with associations and PCOs for when travel restrictions are lifted. Until then, wishing you all a positive, happy and healthy start to spring. We look forward to welcoming you back to Japan soon. 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) T: +44 20 7398 5670 Destination focus: Sendai This year, Sendai celebrates its strength and resilience, marking 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. Since then, the city has swiftly bounced back by harnessing community development in the spirit of ‘bosai’ - the Japanese concept of reducing the risk of disaster. The World Bosai Forum assembles every two years in Sendai, bringing together industry leaders, academia, government and citizens to discuss and implement ways of furthering work in this area to share globally and mitigate the risk of natural disasters, one of several initiatives born out of adversity. While we ride out the COVID-19 storm, their work is something we can all learn from. Sendai’s reputation for innovation doesn’t end there. Renowned for its strengths in material science and medicine, the city will soon be home to the Super Lightsource for Industrial Technology. Opening in 2023, this initiative will seek to further innovation in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Read more about Sendai and the opportunities on offer for your association, event or congress here. (https://gainingedge.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f5dc143c616633ee8f11a0583&id=f35a7e11b8&e=b85c705c88) The 30th International MICE Expo Japan goes digital A highlight in the industry calendar, this year would have been the 30th year of IME, so we weren’t going to allow the pandemic to put a stop to celebrations. Instead, the program, inclusive of more than 600 business exchange sessions, was delivered as a virtual event (https://gainingedge.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f5dc143c616633ee8f11a0583&id=5e23421932&e=b85c705c88) (https://gainingedge.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f5dc143c616633ee8f11a0583&id=86a67e8bff&e=b85c705c88) from 24-26 February to 34 overseas buyers. Thanks to all partners, CVBs, hotels and meeting organisers who joined us for this year’s event, which provided reassurance that our industry and incentive travel in the Asia Pacific region is still thriving. Japan hosts 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Japan was the first country outside Europe to host the UN Climate Congress, and this year, the event returned to Kyoto after half a century. From 7-12 March, leaders in the field from across the globe met to discuss and agree commitments on crime prevention and criminal justice for the next five years. Review outputs from this important meeting and the signed declaration here. (https://gainingedge.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f5dc143c616633ee8f11a0583&id=aeb7cff45a&e=b85c705c88) Convention bid announcements The Chiba Convention Bureau has kicked off 2021 with the announcement of several prestigious international bid wins, a coup for the city and for Japan during these times of uncertainty. The 9th International Discussion Meeting on Relaxations on Complex Systems (https://gainingedge.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f5dc143c616633ee8f11a0583&id=8ce16551e7&e=b85c705c88) will take place outside Europe for the first time, while the Joint Conference of ProMAC and IPMA World Congress 2022, 45th Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan, and the 33rd International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR2023) will all be hosted in Chiba between now and 2023. Read more about each congress and Chiba as a conference and meeting destination here. (https://gainingedge.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f5dc143c616633ee8f11a0583&id=e3dc8f3ea2&e=b85c705c88) Furthermore, in the third collective campaign to invite the International Academy of Pathology congress to Fukuoka, the Japanese Division, in collaboration with JNTO and Fukuoka Convention and Visitors Bureau secured the opportunity to host the association’s 2026 international congress. The bid, led by Dr Osamu Matsubara over a four-year period, stood out for its emphasis on lobbying activities as well as publicity opportunities for IAP and its members. Read more about the bid here (https://gainingedge.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f5dc143c616633ee8f11a0583&id=dc9d162386&e=b85c705c88) . http://us19.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=f5dc143c616633ee8f11a0583&id=bdc48cd388&e=b85c705c88 Help us build our community by forwarding on to colleagues who would enjoy this content. 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