Kansai Event report
A look back at the Kansai International Meishi Exchange 2026
Last Friday marked the 2026 edition of the Kansai International Meishi Exchange, a networking event bringing together members of many Japanese and foreign chambers of commerce in Osaka. Organized jointly by the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), the British Chamber of Commerce (BCCJ), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCCJ), the German Chamber of Commerce (AHK Japan), the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICCJ), the Kobe Chamber of Commerce (KCCI), the Korean Chamber of Commerce (KCCJ), the Osaka Chamber of Commerce (OCCI), and the French Chamber of Commerce (CCIFJ), this edition brought together nearly 400 professionals from all backgrounds who came to expand their networks, meet new people, and reconnect with old acquaintances.
Among them, the number of members from the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry was particularly significant this year, exceeding 100, marking a turning point in local businesses’ interest in other international actors present in the local economic community. The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry In Japan was the third-largest contributor to the event in terms of the number of participants, demonstrating the strength of its regional presence through its local branches.
Held in the elegant venue of the Waldorf Astoria Osaka, the reception began with an opening address by the city’s mayor, Hideyuki Yokoyama, whose presence demonstrated the growing importance of this event in the regional economic scene and the recognition it now receives from local governments. It is indeed the largest international event held since the end of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.
This year’s event also welcomed many VIPs, adding to the international and cross-industry nature of the occasion:
- Mike Blith, Consul General, United Kingdom
- Paramjit Chadha, Honorary President, Indian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ICCJ)
- Yuka Fujioka, Vice Chairperson, Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)
- Hironori Kondo, Executive Managing Director, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI)
- Nick Larsen, Consul General, United States
- Seiji Omote, Governor and Honorary Board Advisor, Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ)
- Cho Min Il, Chairman, Korean Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Hyogo
- Ondrej Soska, Chairman, Czech-Japan Hub
- Matthew Terpstra, Acting Consul-General, Australian Consulate-General
- Kateryna Yavorska, President, Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Guests enjoyed a refined buffet and cocktails prepared by the hotel staff, fostering connections and discussions among representatives from various industries. The hospitality and digital sectors, especially artificial intelligence, were strongly represented. They stood alongside more traditional industries, such as firms specializing in supporting the establishment of international companies, as well as numerous local institutional organizations.
Among the highlights of the evening was a raffle, with winners receiving numerous prizes, including stays at luxury hotels in the region.
With attendance almost double that of 2025, this year’s event confirms its growing success.. This growth demonstrates the increasing appeal of the Kansai in the aftermath of last year’s World Expo, and the Kansai International Meishi Exchange, of which the CCIFJ was a founding participant alongside the ACCJ and the Kobe Chamber of Commerce, has established itself over the past few years as one of the region’s must-attend networking events.
A special thank you to our co-organizers as well as the CCIFJ guests who attended this year’s event. We look forward to seeing you next year!
