THE JAPAN SOCIETY
2014
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
TRUSTEE ELECTIONS

Notice of the 2014 Annual General Meetingat the Embassy of Japan, London on Wednesday 18 June

THE JAPAN SOCIETY (THE “COMPANY”)

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Company will be held on 18 June2014 at 6.00pm at the Embassy of Japan, 101-104 Piccadilly, London W1J 7JT. The business of the meetingshall be to record thanks to Sponsors and Benefactors and to consider, and if thought fit, pass the following
resolutions:
1. To receive and adopt the audited annual accounts of the Company for the financial year ended 31
December 2013 and the Trustees’ Report.
2. To reappoint Richard Place Dobson as auditors and to authorise the Board to approve theirremuneration as thought fit.
3. To re-appoint Andrew Cahn as an ordinary member of the board of the Japan Society.
4. To elect Anna Dingley as an ordinary member of the board of the Japan Society.
5. To elect Masahiro Imai as an ordinary member of the board of the Japan Society.
6. To elect Shinichiro Masunaga as an ordinary member of the board of the Japan Society.
7. To re-appoint Akihiro Tsuchiya as an ordinary member of the board of the Japan Society.
8. To elect Jenny White as an ordinary member of the board of the Japan Society.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD___________________________H C POTTER
Chief Executive
Dated: 1 June 2014
Registered office: 13/14 Cornwall Terrace, London NW1 4QP
NOTES
1
2
3

4

5

A summary of the annual accounts is enclosed with this notice. The full accounts may be seen on the Company’s
website or may be requested in hard copy from the registered office.
A list of candidates for election as Ordinary Members of the Board, together with biographical details of thecandidates, are also enclosed.
A member of the Company is entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of his rights to attend, speak andvote at the meeting. A form of proxy is enclosed with this notice. The proxy must be a member of the Company
or, in the case of a corporate member, its authorised representative.
To be effective, the instrument appointing a proxy and any authority under which it is executed (or a certified
copy of such authority) must be deposited at the registered office of the Company not less than 48 hours before
the time for holding the meeting. Completion and return of the form of proxy will not preclude members from
attending and voting in person at the meeting. If you have appointed a proxy and attend the meeting in person,
your proxy appointment will automatically be terminated.
To comply with security policy at the Embassy of Japan, members are asked to notify the Society in advance of
their intention to attend the AGM. Please bring a copy of this Notice, together with some form of photographic ID
with you.

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Appendix
Election of Trustees
The Board of the Company consists of a Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen, up to four appointed Officers (Solicitor,
Treasurer, Librarian and Editor), two ex officio Trustees (one additional Vice-Chairman, the deputy head of
mission at the Japanese Embassy, and one Ordinary Trustee, a member of the Japanese Embassy) and up to
fourteen Ordinary Trustees. The total number of Trustees should be not more than twenty. The number ofOrdinary Trustees should be no fewer than four.
One-third of the Ordinary Trustees is required to retire by rotation each year. Those who have retired byrotation may stand for re-election but no one may serve for longer than six consecutive years as a memberof the Board.
The Board has appointed a nominations committee comprising David Warren (Chairman), David Cairns(Vice-Chairman), Akio Miyajima (ex-officio Trustee) and Heidi Potter (Chief Executive). This committee
reviews the skills that are required on the Board from time to time and the succession policy; and it makes
recommendations to the Board on possible future appointments.
This year it is expected that, as a result of the requirement to retire by rotation and some resignations, there
will be six vacancies for Ordinary Trustees which may be filled at the annual general meeting (the “AGM”).
Andrew Cahn and Akihiro Tsuchiya, Ordinary Trustees who will retire by rotation, have both indicated thatthey are willing to stand for re-election. They are experienced and valuable members of the board, which
warmly recommends their re-appointment.
There are four people standing for election to the Board as Ordinary Trustees. Anna Dingley, Masahiro Imai,
Shinichiro Masunaga and Jenny White; their varied experience and active involvement in developing links
between Japanese and British communities will be of great benefit to the Company. The Board proposes eachcandidate’s election. Biographical details of all six Ordinary Trustee candidates are set out in this Appendix.
There are six candidates for election to fill a possible six Ordinary Trustee vacancies on the Board. Members
are therefore asked at the AGM to cast their votes “For” or “Against” each candidate. Members may also
select the “vote withheld” option if they do not wish to vote for or against any particular candidate, althougha vote withheld in this way is not a “vote” by law and will not be counted in the calculation of the proportionof votes “For” and “Against” a candidate.
We are always looking for new people to be involved with the Company in different capacities, including ascommittee members and as Trustees. We encourage members to let us know at any time during the year ifthey would like to be more involved. Suggestions of names of people to be considered for committees orfor the Board should be made to any member of the nominations committee or indeed any member of theBoard.
Members may vote, as normal, in person at the AGM on 18 June 2014 or by proxy. A proxy form is enclosed
in this booklet for this purpose.

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Biographical Details of the Ordinary Trustee Candidates 2014
SIR ANDREW CAHN

ANNA DINGLEY

Sir Andrew Cahn has spent most of his career in public
service dealing with international economic issues.
He has worked in the Cabinet Office, the Foreign andCommonwealth Office and the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food. He also worked in the European
Commission, as part of the team which helped to create
the European Single Market and as chef de cabinet to Neil
Kinnock when he was reforming the Commission.
Sir Andrew spent five years as Chief Executive Officer of
UK Trade and Investment, the government department
responsible for helping British exporters worldwide andalso for attracting foreign direct investment into thecountry. He sat on the Boards of the Foreign Office andthe Department for Business.
On leaving public service in 2011, he became Vice
President (Public Policy) at Nomura International, joined
the Board of Lloyd’s , became Chairman of the Advisory
Board of Huawei (UK) and non-executive director of
General Dynamics UK.
He has been a Trustee of the Gatsby Charitable Foundation
for fifteen years; is a founding Governor of the Institute forGovernment and sits on the Advisory Boards of Harvey
Nash, the British-American Business Council, the School ofOriental and African Studies, Business for New Europe andAsia House.
Nomura International is a member of the President’s Circleof the Japan Society.

Anna Dingley has enjoyed close links with Japan eversince studying Japanese and Business Studies at the
University of Sheffield in the 90s.

MASAHIRO IMAISHINICHIRO MASUNAGA

Masahiro Imai came to London in 2013 to take up the
position of Managing Executive Officer of ITOCHU
Corporation and Chief Executive of ITOCHU Europe PLC
He was born in Kyoto, Japan’s former capital known for its
rich culture and excellent cuisine. After graduating from
Osaka University of Foreign Studies in 1980 with a degree
in French, Masahiro joined ITOCHU Corporation, one ofJapan’s largest trading companies founded in Osaka in
1858 and now operational in 67 countries.
He spent the early part of his career in the Chemical
Plant Department, including a posting overseas with the
ITOCHU Liaison Office in Algiers. More recently, Masahiro
Imai has served in the International Operations Division
and, immediately prior to his posting in London, was Chief
Operating Officer of the Plan Project, Marine & Aerospace
Division.
He is Vice Chairman of the Nippon Club. ITOCHU Europe
PLC is a member of the Chairman’s Circle of the Japan
Society
Since arriving in the UK, he and his wife Junko have been
taking every opportunity to explore different parts of thecountry getting to know it better than many who have
lived here their whole lives. They have a son in Japan.

Since April 2012, Shinichiro Masunaga has been Managing
Director in London of Dai-ichi Life International (Europe)
Ltd.
After graduating from Keio University with an Economics
degree in 1987, he joined the research department of Daiichi Life Insurance Company Limited. He has worked forthe company in a variety of roles since then, and in 1992
obtained his MBA from The Wharton School, Universityof Pennsylvania. Before being seconded to head up the
London office, he was General Manager of the Corporate
Social Responsibility Department.
Although his wife, two daughters and Shiba dog remain
in Japan at their home in Chiba, Shinichiro has been
making the most of his posting in London. Having playedin rock bands during his school and college years, he isfrequently to be found at concerts, ranging from classicalto heavy metal, at venues around London. He also spends
his free time exploring the UK and London, visiting
historic buildings and enjoying the countryside, as wellas watching his favourite British comedies, such as Monty
Python and Mr Bean. He is always keen to learn more
about all aspects of British history and culture.
Dai-ichi Life International (Europe) Ltd is a Corporate
Benefactor of the Japan Society.

She has lived and worked in Japan for a total of eight
years, initially on the JET programme on the southern
tip of Kagoshima, then at Kyoto Research Park, andsubsequently as manager of the UK Pavilion at the Aichi
Expo in Nagoya in 2005. Anna was based in Tokyo as a
Director for the London Stock Exchange joint venturewith the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and afterwards as an
Executive Director at JPMorgan from 2009-2013. She has
also worked at Docomo Europe and at Bloomberg.
She returned to the UK overland and established Japan
Connect Ltd in 2013. Her main role is as the Japan and
Korea Market Specialist for the inward investment
division of UK Trade and Investment, where she works
closely with the British Embassies to attract and growinvestment into the UK from Japan and Korea.
She is also an advisor to Robert Walters where she leads
UK-Japan careers seminars, and is on the board of the UK
JET Alumni Association.

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AKIHIRO TSUCHIYAJENNY WHITE

Akihiro Tsuchiya has spent his life between the UK,
Portugal and Japan, while still keeping strong roots in his
homeland. With an international career in media and web
technology, he is presently the Founder and Managing
Director of Streamhub, an internet TV venture providing
information services to companies such as NHK.
After gaining a BSc in Microbiology from Imperial College,
London, Aki moved to Tokyo where he launched MTV
Japan and started his career as a channel controller. He
later worked as a media sector research analyst at Nomura
Research Institute, before returning to the UK where hegained an MSc in Media and Communication Regulationfrom the London School of Economics.
Prior to launching Streamhub, Aki was Director of
Business Development at Joost, a global internet TV
platform founded by the creators of Skype. In this role he
was involved in developing the European, Chinese andJapanese markets.
Akihiro Tsuchiya has been a member and a committed
supporter of the Japan Society since he was a student, witha particular interest in the promotion of cultural products,
educational exchange, and the support of entrepreneurial
opportunities for the furtherance of strong UK-Japan
relations. Streamhub (Five Cool Consulting Ltd) is a
Corporate Donor of the Japan Society.

Jenny White first went to Japan in 1989, to take up a
post as Assistant Director and Arts Manager at the British
Council. In this role over the subsequent ten years, shedeveloped art projects and links with independent artists,
creative partners and cultural organisations in both the
UK and Japan. She also produced the arts and creative
economy programme for two major festivals, UK90 andthe year-long UK98 .
Following postings in Thailand and London, as Head of Arts
Development , Jenny was appointed Director of the British
Council in Cuba in 2006. In this role she hosted in 2009 thefirst tour of the Royal Ballet to Cuba as well as producing
the UK’s contribution to the Latin American Film Festival
and the Havana Art Biennial. She is currently serving as
Environment Project Manager, with a responsibility todevelop sustainable cultural relations, implementing an
Environmental Management System and designing aneLearning programme for 7,000 staff globally.
In 2013 Jenny took up the challenge of promoting andmanaging art and cultural events and communications
and social media for the volunteer-run Japan400, whichmarked the anniversary of the first formal encounters in
1613. While celebrating the historical relationship, Jenny’s
focus was the development of a framework for ongoing
cultural exchange and exploration of the intersection
between Japanese and British cultures.

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please detach here and return to the Japan Society

THE JAPAN SOCIETY

PROXY FORM for the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2014
I/We, being a member of The Japan Society, hereby appoint the Chairman of the meeting (see note 3) /........................................................................................................ as my/our proxy to vote for me/us at the Annual General
Meeting of The Japan Society to be held on Wednesday, 18 June 2014 and at every adjournment thereof.
Name (please print).......................................................................................................................

Category of membership

Individual

FamilyCorporate

Name of corporate
member (if applicable).......................................................................................................................

Signature.......................................................................................................................

Dated....................................................................................................................... 2014
Instructions to Proxy

Please indicate with an “X” in the boxes below how you wish the proxy to vote. The Proxy will vote orwithhold their vote, at his or her discretion, on (a) any resolution listed below if no instruction is given
regarding that resolution and (b) on any other business transacted at the meeting.
For

1

Receiving the Accounts and the Trustees’ Report2

Re-appointment of the Auditors

3

Re-appointment of Andrew Cahn as Ordinary Trustee

4Election of Anna Dingley as Ordinary Trustee

5Election of Masahiro Imai as Ordinary Trustee

6Election of Shinichi Masunaga as Ordinary Trustee

7

Re-appointment of Akihiro Tsuchiya as Ordinary Trustee

8Election of Jenny White as Ordinary Trustee

AgainstVote
withheld1 A member of The Japan Society is entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of his or her rights toattend, speak and vote at a general meeting of The Japan Society.
2 Appointment of a proxy does not preclude you from attending the meeting and voting in person. If you
have appointed a proxy and attend the meeting in person, your proxy appointment will automaticallybe terminated.
3 If you wish, you may delete the words “the Chairman of the meeting” and insert the name of a proxy of
your choice. The proxy must be a member of the Japan Society or, in the case of a member which is a
corporation, its authorised representative. Please initial any alteration. A proxy must attend the meeting
to represent you.
4 The completed and signed proxy form (and, if relevant, the power of attorney or other authority underwhich it is signed, or a certified copy of that power or authority) must be received at 13/14 Cornwall
Terrace, London NW1 4QP or info@japansociety.org.uk not less than 48 hours before the meeting or the
adjourned meeting or, in the case of a poll, not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for taking
the poll.
5 To direct your proxy how to vote on the resolutions mark the appropriate box with an ‘X’. If no voting
indication is given, your proxy will vote or withhold their vote at his or her discretion. Your proxy will
vote (or withhold a vote) as he or she thinks fit in relation to any other matter which is put before themeeting.
6 The vote withheld option is provided to enable you to instruct the proxy not to vote on any particularresolution. However, it should be noted that a vote withheld in this way is not a “vote” by law and will not
be counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes “For” and “Against” a resolution.
7. Any power of attorney or any other authority under which this proxy form is signed (or a duly certified
copy of such power of authority) must be included with the proxy form.
8. If you submit more than one valid proxy appointment, the appointment received last before the latest
time for the receipt of proxies will take precedence.

The Japan Society, 13/14 Cornwall Terrace, London NW1 4QP

please detach here and return to the Japan Society

Notes