JBCE–EBC–OECD Joint Event on Responsible Business Conduct

19/03/2026

JBCE, together with the European Business Council in Japan (EBC) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), co-hosted the joint hybrid event “Bridging Stakeholders and Business to Advance a Meaningful Dialogue: Japan–EU Cooperation for Responsible Business Conduct in Global Supply Chains” on 25 February 2026 at Europa House in Tokyo.The event brought together around 80 participants from business, government, international organisations and experts both in person and online.

 

The event opened with remarks by Takahiro Hanada, Deputy Assistant Minister, Economic Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Christophe Besse, Minister Counsellor for Trade, Economic Affairs and Green Transition at the Delegation of the European Union to Japan, who highlighted the importance of Japan–EU cooperation in promoting responsible business conduct and sustainable global value chains.

 

The event introduced practical approaches to strengthening stakeholder engagement in line with international standards such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Particular attention was given to the challenges companies face when implementing meaningful stakeholder engagement, especially in complex markets in which many Japanese and European companies operate.

 

Representing JBCE, Axel Leuchter, Chair of the Corporate Sustainability Committee, and Yukako Kinoshita, Vice-Chair of the Committee, participated in the event. The session was moderated by Vanessa Zimmerman, Global Corporate Sustainability Specialist and Pillar Two CEO, who facilitated an engaging and constructive dialogue among participants.

 

Participants exchanged views on practical challenges such as empowering workers to raise concerns, identifying legitimate rightsholder representatives, and balancing transparency with legal and reputational risks. The discussion also highlighted the importance of stakeholder mapping, early engagement, and continued dialogue to strengthen human rights due diligence and responsible business practices. The event concluded with participants reaffirming that Japanese and European companies share common values and a strong commitment to responsible business conduct. They also emphasized that sustained and structured Japan–EU dialogue remains essential to advancing these shared objectives.

 

For more details, please download the Executive Summary from here.