11:30 - 12:15 PM Marriott Host Hotel Lobby
Lunch & Badge Pickup for Toyota Tour Attendees

Pickup for boxed lunches and conference badges. 

12:15 - 1 PM Marriott Host Hotel Lobby
Depart Lexington Marriott and Travel to Toyota Plant 

Participants need to arrive to the Marriott by 12:15pm to board transportation to the Toyota Plant in Georgetown.

TOYOTA TOUR

Q&A with Toyota executives to follow. Transportation provided back to host hotel. Estimated return to hotel at 3:50pm.

SPECIAL EVENT: FILM SCREENING

Open to ALL Conference Participants

 8:00 - 9:00 PM Black Box Theater (1F)

Mini Japan Film Fest Part 1: 
Director/Producer Yuriko Gamo Romer’s Baseball Behind Barbed Wire

Tickets included with conference attendance. Check-in at the Black Box Theater box office.

Q&A with Yuriko Gamo Romer to  follow.

Learn about Baseball Behind Barbed Wire >

This event is open to the public with tickets on sale now. Additional tickets may be purchased here.

  9:00 - 10:00 PM Encore (1F)

Film viewers are invited to sample a Fukushima sake and domestically brewed sake from our Japan-America society regions by members of the Sake Brewers Association of North America.

ThursDAY, AugUST 21
MEMBERS ONLY DAYTIME PROGRAMMING

Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center

141 E. Main St., Lexington, KY 40507
1 block from Marriott & Residence Inn

Closed Programming: For registered JAS / JS Staff & Board Members & by invitation only

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7:30 AM Lowenthal & Embry (3F) 

Continental Breakfast

Mix & mingle over a light breakfast of coffee, tea & pastries. Explore our Society Solutions Providers.

8:30 - 8:55 AM Lowenthal & Embry (3F) 

Welcome Remarks

Remarks from:

Andrew Wylegala, President, NAJAS 
David Carpenter, President, JAS Kentucky
Rene DeBerdt, Chair, Board of Directors, JAS Kentucky 
Bianca Sanchez-Alvarez, Manager of Development & Member Services, NAJAS

 9:00 - 10:00 AM  Encore (1F), Embry (3F), The Studio (3F)

Workshops Round 1

Three concurrent sessions with peers and experts on topics selected by member societies. Select sessions will be recorded. A separate schedule will be provided in advance and at the conference to Members.

10:00 - 10:15 AM

Networking Break

Network and visit Society Solutions Providers. Receive stamps to enter the prize drawing.

10:15 - 11:15 AM Encore (1F), Embry (3F), The Studio (3F)

Workshops Round 2 

Three more concurrent sessions.

11:15 - 11:30 AM

Networking Break

Network and visit Society Solutions Providers. Receive stamps to enter the prize drawing. 

12:00 - 1:45 PM  Encore (1F)

Working Lunch with Special Guests  

Buffet lunch catered by Red State BBQ.

Yuko Kaifu, President, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles
Dr. Samuel Kidder, Author, Our First Glimpse of Japan, Trustee AFIHJ
R/ADM James Kelly (USN, Ret.), Vice President, CIE-US
Steve Pollock, Executive Director, Japan Society of Northern California

Emcee: Andrew Wylegala, President, NAJAS

1:45  - 2:45 PM Encore (1F), Embry (3F)

Workshops Round 3

Three more concurrent sessions.

1:45  - 3:45 PM The Studio (3F) 

Japan Foundation Drop-in Session

Japan Foundation Drop-in Session through 3:45 PM.

2:45 - 3:45 PM Lowenthal (3F)

NAJAS Board Meeting (Invitation Only)

Japan Foundation Drop-in Session (continued) - The Studio (3F)

3:45 - 4:00 PM 
Networking Break with a Beat

Network and visit Society Solutions Providers. Receive stamps to enter the prize drawing. Bentenya providing the beat! 

4:00 - 5:00 PM Black Box Theatre (1F)

Japan Foundation Grant Programs Presentation

Masaki Yoshikawa, Associate Program Officer, Global Partnerships, The Japan Foundation, New York 
Additional Japan Foundation Representatives

5:00 - 5:15 PM  Black Box Theatre (1F)

Thursday Concluding Remarks

Announcements for Friday & the first prize drawing.

7:00 - 9:30 PM Black Box Theatre (1F) 

Mini Japan Film Fest Pt. 2:
Director Marc Mariott’s Tokyo Cowboy (2024)

Tickets included with conference attendance. Check-in at the Black Box Theater box office.

Q&A with Marc Marriott led by Dr. David Janes to follow.

Learn about Tokyo Cowboy >

This event is open to the public with tickets on sale now. Additional tickets may be purchased here.

9:45 - 10:45 AM Black Box Theatre (1F) 

PANEL: What is the Trade & Investment Panorama and What Does it Mean for US-Japan?

Unpack the unfolding tariff arrangements with top practitioners from government. 

Moderator: Emma Chanlett-Avery
Vice Chair
NAJAS

Wendy Cutler
Senior Vice President
Asia Society Policy Institute

Ambassador Kurt Tong
Chair
NAJAS

11:15 - 12:15 PM Black Box Theatre (1F) 

PANEL: Japan’s Inbound Tourism Boom & Meaning for Cultural Connection

Minako Zoza, Japanet Tourism, Japanet Holdings Co., Ltd.
Yuya Asano, Director of Sales, Imperial Hotel
R/ADM James Kelly (USN, Ret.), Vice President, CIE-US

Moderator: David Carpenter, President, Japan/America Society of Kentucky 

2:30 - 3:30 PM

Continuing Panels

Concurrent Sessions

Encore (1F)
Diamonds are Forever: The Timeless Binational Pastime – Education, Entertainment & Exchange

Yuriko Gamo Romer, Producer/Director, Flying Carp Productions
Amy Hever, Executive Director, Players Trust (MLBPA)

Moderator: Ryan Shaffer, President, Japan-America Society of Washington D.C.

Lowenthal (3F)
The Power of Public and Citizen Diplomacy

Yuko Kaifu, President, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles
Margo Davis, Board Representative, JapanWNY
Dr. Ricki Garrett, President & CEO, Sister Cities International
Mary Zunick, Cultural Affairs Manager, Visit Hot Springs -- Hot Springs-Hanamaki Sister City Program, Hot Springs, AR & Honorary Consul of Japan for Arkansas

Moderator: Margot Carrington, U.S. Foreign Service (ret.), Board Member, NAJAS and Asheville Sister Cities

Bentenya Break

Special Remarks by

Ambassador Shigeo Yamada 

Ambassador of Japan to the United States 

7:30 - 10:00 PM Black Box Theatre (1F) 

JASK Gala & Conference Closing Reception

Co-hosted by NAJAS, with special remarks by Ambassador Yamada. With introduction to the special remarks by Japanet Holdings Co., Ltd.