Global Chamber® Tokyo Metro Meetup: Japan - US - Spain 2026 Opportunities

Global Chamber® Tokyo Cross Metro Meetup: Globinar Beyond Borders Japan - US - Spain 2026 Opportunities

• Thursday, December 4th at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 12am CET  (Friday December 5th at 8am Tokyo / 10am Sydney)

Join the Global Chamber® Tokyo/Japan Cross Metro Meetup to connect with leaders doing business in Japan, and working with Japanese businesses - in Japan and in other regions.

This month our focus is Japanese business in three regions - Japan, the US and Spain, and we have 5 speaker who will be addressing the latest opportunities for businesses to consider.

There's A LOT to cover, and so this month the conversation will begin the scratch the surface of opportunities in and across the regions. Then watch for more programs that cover more, and deeper.

This event is a great opportunity to network, share ideas, and explore global growth opportunities. Gain valuable insights and make connections to help your business thrive locally and internationally!

Speakers:

Kaoru Nishinakagawa - Global Advisor, Global Chamber Tokyo and Sydney

Kaoru Nishinakagawa is an innovative Consultant/Entrepreneur with 15+ years of international professional experience focused in creating new business, managing strategic partnerships, and generation of value through an understanding clients' strategy, and market needs to apply innovative solutions in and around technology.

Business Design: Orchestrate the creative problem-solving skill, strategy design and international business acumen to analyse market demands, organisations' capabilities, and challenges to help clients market new business models / products / services and achieve long term growth.

Service Design: Strong dedication toward customer centric approach and creative problem solving with the adaptation of design thinking and lean startup methodology that are effectively utilised for customer insight discovery and analysis, ideation and prototyping development, and hypothesis testing and iteration.

Entrepreneurship: Co-Founder of Innovation Dojo which was established to foster cross-cultural entrepreneurship initiatives between Japan and Australia, develop global talents, and enhance economic partnership between Australia and JAPAC region.

Business Development: The proven track record of achieving sales targets by forging strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, conducting comprehensive in-depth market research, and developing and executing marketing strategies.

Project Management: Deliver complex projects in a timely and cost effective manner and enable organisations to achieve the strategic project objectives with strong stakeholder management, efficient time management and creative problem-solving skills. 

Brian Swords -  Business Consultant, Retired Consulate General of Japan

Brian Swords served the Consulate General of Japan for more than 33 years until his retirement on Jan. 31, 2023, making significant contributions to the development of Japan-U.S. economic relations. In the Economic Affairs division, Swords developed long-term cooperative relationships with economic organizations in California, including the Milken Institute, a nonprofit think tank, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, and the World Trade Center Los Angeles, to promote trade and investment between Japan and the U.S.

In addition, Brian established founding relationships with Global Chamber and VerdeExchange. With Global Chamber his leadership in collaboration with the Consulate General of Japan helped create the annual Global Chamber Semiconductor Summit. Through his collaborations, Brian has worked to increase awareness of green technology and expand business opportunities for Japanese companies for 17 years since 2005.

In addition to his work in the Economic Affairs division, Brian contributed greatly to the overall activities of the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles. He was involved in a wide variety of duties and actively supported other divisions, including handling inquiries about Japanese domestic and diplomatic affairs with the Policy and Partnerships division and building relationships with former U.S. military personnel who served at U.S. bases in Japan. Brian retired from the consulate on Jan. 31, 2023, and currently works as a freelance business consultant helping Japanese companies expand their business in the U.S. He also lectures on the Japanese economy as a guest lecturer at the UCLA Anderson School of Business and Saddleback Community College. Through such activities, he continues to work to promote understanding of U.S.-Japan relations among a wide range of generations of Americans. Brian serves on the advisory board of Global Chamber Los Angeles.

In November 2024, the Government of Japan announced two Fall 2024 Decorations for distinguished persons being awarded. First the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays was announced for Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, 75, of Los Angeles, owner of Matsuhisa restaurant group and joint owner of Nobu. And... the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays was announced for Brian Swords, formerly of Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles. Read more.

Adam Claydon-Platt - Head of Commercial, CarterIGNITE (Part of Carter Group)

With over 20 years of business experience in Japan, I founded my first recruitment company in 2005 and have been actively investing in solar and wind energy projects since 2015. Since 2018, I have also supported startups—primarily foreign companies entering the Japanese market—through strategic guidance and market entry support. I remain committed to making a meaningful contribution toward addressing Japan’s most pressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Susanne Walloscheck - Head of Research & Client Service, CarterIGNITE (Part of Carter Group)

Susanne will be a copresenter with Adam.

Yuka Nakasone - Executive Director, Global Chamber®️ Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Malaga

In addition to leading the Global Chamber®️ in Spain as an exceptional connector, Yuka guides companies through the intricate journey of global expansion with heart by blending emerging technologies with cross-cultural insights. A firm believer in the power of knowledge sharing, she serves as a visiting lecturer at universities and professional institutions and mentors young professionals both within and outside the industry.  

Facilitator: 

Doug Bruhnke - Founder and CEO of Global Chamber®.

He's a global entrepreneur, connector, trade advocate, speaker and author dedicated to growing Global Chamber® and helping members reach new markets and gain new clients across metros and borders more successfully.

Doug worked with the Dupont Company and had expatriate assignments in Tokyo and Singapore. He has over 38 years of global trade experience working with clients in nearly every market segment including automotive, aerospace, industrial, healthcare, life sciences and technology. Currently his memberships include Global Chamber®, the Arizona District Export Council, the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and the Thunderbird Global Alumni Network (TGAN) Advisory Council. He's a German-Polish American living in the U.S. who has 5 U.S. patents and an education that includes a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Utah and an EMBA from Michigan State University. 

Connect with Doug here. Hear the Global Chamber® story here.

Read more about the Global Chamber® Tokyo chapter here.

Global Chamber® is a diverse, innovative and positive worldwide platform for CEOs, executives, investors and industry leaders across 195 countries and 605+ metros around the world to find opportunities and effectively empower growth, success and progress. We're the only chamber of commerce operating in hundreds of locations that delivers strategic connections, information and resources to facilitate exporting, importing and investing across regions and borders, while addressing climate change and advancing sustainability. Be global and UNSTOPPABLE! Global Chamber® is a registered trademark of Global Chamber, LLC since 2014.