Over 100 representatives of the Japanese shipping community attended a reception in Tokyo on March 27 to celebrate the opening of North P&I club’s new branch office Japan. Located in Tokyo’s central Kyobashi commercial district, the new office complements the A-rated 170 million GT club’s existing Asia-Pacific branches in Hong Kong and Singapore. Nobutaka Mukae, president of Kumiai Senpaku – one of Japan’s leading independent shipowners, was a guest speaker at the reception, which took place at the Imperial Hotel in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. He formally welcomed North to Japan and wished the club every success for the future. Other Japanese members attending included IMECS, Kambara Kisen, Northstar, NYK, Sandigan, Synergy and Unitra Maritime.