JOIN US IN PORTLAND

Ready for an update on the U.S.-Japan partnership from the ground up? Join our hosts at the Japan-America Society of Oregon and another two dozen Japan-America societies from across the States and Japan, August 21-23, 2024.

As our flagship event, the NAJAS Annual Meeting gathers leadership, staff and board members from many of our 38 Japan-America societies, together with our closest institutional supporters, government leaders, and representatives of business and other sectors. 

Join us for extensive networking and talks on geostrategic, political and international investment issues within the U.S.-Japan relationship, and featured networking opportunities. We'll visit the Portland Japanese Garden and learn about the expanding Japan Institute, and gather for a reception hosted by JASO and the Japanese Consul General. See below for more details.

This annual conference moves across the U.S., hosted by a different Japan-America member society each year, and helps us surface insights from the most diverse Japan-America network anywhere. As a core benefit of NAJAS membership, member societies access a focused day of workshops and peer learning. All attendees are invited to our Thursday evening and Friday programming. Learn about past Annual Meetings.

AGENDA

For Members:  Wednesday & Thursday

Welcome Reception for JAS / JS / AJS Members

Members-Only Conference Programming

For All Attendees & Members: Thursday & Friday

Portland Japanese Garden Tour and Mixer

US-Japan Bilateral Relations & Industry Panels

Member Programs with Invited Speakers

On Wednesday, we invite members to join a welcome reception to greet our counterparts from Japan from America-Japan societies.

The members' Thursday daytime schedule focuses on management challenges, with programming made possible by support from the Japan Foundation New York.

JAS / JS Members-Only Event Information >> 

GENERAL PROGRAMMING: THURSDAY - FRIDAY, AUGUST 22-23

Thursday Evening: Portland Japanese Garden Tour & Reception

The Portland Japanese Garden will host us on Thursday evening, Aug 21, and provide multi-day admission for attendees while in town.  We’ll tour the Garden, learn more about the expanding Japan Institute and the North American Japanese Gardens Association, and enjoy a mixer hosted by Garden CEO Stephen Bloom. 

Declared to be “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan” by former Ambassador Matsunaga, this tranquil 12-acre urban oasis is home to eight separate garden styles, an authentic Japanese Tea House, and a spectacular view of Mt. Hood.

Transportation to and from the host hotel will be provided. 

For more than a decade, Behind the Shoji has been one of Portland Japanese Garden’s most anticipated summer traditions. An annual show and sale of Japanese and Japanese-inspired wares, visitors can peruse and purchase from a variety of curated items that, even with a trip to Japan, might be difficult to come across. Behind the Shoji will be closed to the public to allow NAJAS reception guests a more intimate shopping experience, offered alongside a special 10% discount.

Friday Programming on the Essential U.S.-Japan Relationship 

Friday's programming will focus on geostrategic, political and tech investment matters at the heart of the U.S.-Japan relationship, culminating with remarks from Japanese Ambassador to the United States Shigeo Yamada. In the afternoon we will feature panels from funders and newer partners.

Programming Highlight: The United States & Japan: Securing Needed Workforce for our Emerging Tech Surge

Explore how American and Japanese firms at the leading edge of the semiconductor sector are finding solutions to workforce development, and modeling the U.S-Japan tech and security partnership that promises to re-shape our alliance and support stability and progress across the Indo-Pacific and globally.

The U.S. and Japan have lined up as the strongest and most complementary players across the global supply chain, ready to drive technology and transform the global economy. But workforce development is key to meeting this surge and the labor needs of other emerging technologies and fields. Learn from experts at Intel, Tokyo Electron, JSR Micro, and the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). 

Credit: JASO

Friday Evening: Closing Reception at KEEN Footwear

We will close out the Annual Meeting on Friday, Aug 23 with a reception co-hosted by the Japanese Consul General of Portland & JASO at KEEN Footwear headquarters and downtown flagship store.

Meet other Japan-related Oregon non-profits. And enjoy shopping at KEEN -- the whole store will be 40% off for reception attendees! 

Following the reception, interested attendees are welcome to join an informal karaoke sing-out at Voicebox.

NAJAS wishes to thank our sponsors for the 2024 Annual Meeting:

Corporate Sponsors

Society Solutions Sponsor

ABOUT Registration

Register here!

For JAS / JS Member Societies

Discounted registration is available to all staff and Board Members of Japan-America / Japan Societies as a key benefit of NAJAS membership.

Member Registration includes all conference programming and events aside from informal gatherings: 

• Wednesday evening welcome reception
• Thursday members-only conference programming (breakfast and lunch included)
• Thursday Portland Garden tour and reception hosted by the Portland Japanese Garden 
• Friday conference programming and luncheon 
• Friday evening reception co-hosted by the Japanese Consul General of Portland & JASO at KEEN Footwear headquarters and downtown flagship store

Please view the Members Only event page for the members-only registration code, as well as comprehensive member logistics information, including accommodations and member programming.

For General Attendees

We welcome and encourage other guests to join us for our Thursday garden visit and Friday's programming and reception at the general attendance rate. 

General Attendee Registration includes: 

• Thursday Portland Garden tour and reception hosted by the Portland Japanese Garden 
• Friday conference programming and luncheon
• Friday evening reception co-hosted by the Japanese Consul General of Portland & JASO at KEEN Footwear headquarters and downtown flagship store