Since 2015, the EU-Japan Centre organised over 100 Japan Market Access workshops to assist EU SMEs that are looking to expand into the Japanese market.
These workshops are held in cooperation with local EU support organisations, including members of the Enterprise Europe Network, clusters, chambers of commerce, and regional development agencies. By working with trusted partners, the Centre ensures that the content of each workshop meets the specific interests of local companies and organisations.
In one or two hours, each session provides practical information on how EU companies can approach the Japanese market. Depending on local needs, workshops may focus on Japanese business culture or specific industrial sectors:
- Food and agri-food
- Biotechnology and medical devices
- ICT, IoT, and digitalisation
- Textiles and fashion
A typical workshop includes an overview of market opportunities, relevant regulations, entry requirements, and strategic considerations. Cultural topics may include how to conduct effective meetings with Japanese partners, how to navigate the negotiation process, and other important elements of Japanese business etiquette and communication.
The EU-Japan Centre covers all costs related to expert speakers.
If your organisation is interested to organise a workshop to support your local businesses, please contact Mr. Antonin Gilkain: workshops@eu-japan.eu
“We were very satisfied with the workshop. It was well-organized, informative, and offered valuable practical insights. The cooperation with the EU-Japan Centre was smooth and professional. The preparatory sessions were especially beneficial in ensuring a well-executed digital webinar.
We especially appreciated the in-depth cultural insights, fair answers which are essential for effectively entering the Japanese market. The section on regulatory requirements was also very informative.”
By Cristina Lindberg Ghimpu, Export support for SMEs at Västerbotten Chamber of Commerce (Sweden)
Published: December 2025
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Joint venture established in 1987 by the European Commission (DG GROW) and the Japanese Government (METI) for promoting all forms of industrial, trade and investment cooperation between the EU and Japan.
