 Ken Kobayashi 20th Chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
People, Corporations, and Local Communities Displaying New Creativity The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) is a network of comprehensive local economic organizations made up of the representatives of some 1.23 million member businesses nationwide, embracing everything from large and medium-sized corporations down to small firms and sole proprietors. Our goal is to encourage the full flowering of individual inspiration by helping member companies, their employees, and each community ceaselessly foster bold innovation, making the most of their own unique characteristics. By "innovation," we refer not only to science and technology but also to ideas that can improve business and society as a whole, including new approaches to corporate evolution and administrative reform. This is what we mean by "daring innovation." Our aspirations are as follows: ■ For each business, animated by a dynamic attitude and a spirit of inquiry, to fully harness its own unique strengths. ■ For the employees of each business, working with energy and enthusiasm, to fulfill their maximum potential. ■ For each business and each employee to become a light shining brightly within the community. The JCCI, in concert with the 515 local CCIs nationwide, is committed to supporting daring innovation. About Chambers of Commerce and Industry The first Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan was established in March 1878 in Tokyo. Chambers were later set up in other cities, and in 1892 fifteen chambers gathered together to form the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry. This organization was changed to the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) in 1922. Today, nearly all of Japan's major cities have a chamber of commerce. The 515 Chambers of Commerce form a large-scale nationwide organization boasting 1.23 million members as of April 2022. Chambers in Japan are designated as corporations with special status. They are created and operated under a special government law called the Chambers of Commerce and Industry Act. Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry have the following characteristics: ■ Regional, with one chamber for each city. ■ Composed of large and small companies in every industry. ■ Public, non-profit, and non-political. ■ International, having the same structure as chambers in other countries. The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the central organization to which all local chambers of commerce belong. As an opinion leader in economic circles, JCCI represents the local chambers by presenting their suggestions to the government and other bodies, and helping implement them. JCCI also plays an important role in the dissemination of information concerning government policies and programs, and the promotion of nationwide projects. |