Message of the President

Dear Members and Friends of the SJCC

Springtime, along with late autumn is one of the most pleasant times in Japan. It is not only the bloom of the cherry blossoms, but the emerge of nature in general which is fascinating. The word which springs to our minds is Hanami, the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers.

In the year where we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Friendship Treaty between Switzerland and Japan, the Swiss-Japanese Chamber of Commerce is very pleased to organize a Hanami event scheduled to take place on May 3 in the Eulachpark of Winterthur. 58 Japanese cherry blossom trees were planted there last year in commemoration of this. Let us all hope that they will be in full bloom fort he first time when we will be meeting there.

Two major events organized by the SJCC along with other sponsors dedicated to the 150th mark have already taken place, namely the Shinnenkai new year gathering (with focus on Japonisme in impressionist paintings)  as well as an economic Symposium to discuss and cement our economic ties. Both were attended by Mr. R.  Maeda, Ambassador of Japan in Switzerland and a great turnout of our members and friends.

Mark June 10, 2014 in your agenda. That will be the day for our Annual General Meeting to take place from 11:00 am – 14:00 pm at the Zunfthaus zur Meisen, in Zurich. Once again our special anniversary will be in the centre of the meeting with a keynote speech by Mr. Heinz Karrer, President of economiesuisse.

We are looking forward to seeing you again on this occasion.

Sincerely

Henry Wegmann
President