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NAJAS/KKC Business Speaker Series 

NAJAS and the Keizai Koho Center (KKC) have teamed up for a number of years to offer the NAJAS/KKC Business Speaker Series through member Japan-America Societies. Funded by the Keidanren, KKC's parent organization, this series combines a senior executive from a Japanese corporation, a recognized Japan expert, and a local or subject matter expert in a public presentation hosted by a JAS. In their presentations, the senior executives have described the business climate and the impact of their companies' investment in the United States. Often regulations, public policy objectives or other concerns are aired in the course of these discussions.  The Japan experts have addressed trade and economic issues of interest to JAS members, including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). Local/subject-matter experts might take up industrial incentive or environmental policies.   

The NAJAS/KKC Business Speaker Series enables Japan-America Societies to present unique business-related content to their corporate members and the public. To date, 53 events have taken place, listed below. Please click on the "title" link below for details on each event.

Japan-America Society of  Greater Austin

Date: Friday, March 29, 2024
Title: Meet TEL
Company: Ron McCune, Tokyo Electron
Japan expert: Kiyoshi Tanigawa, Keidanren USA

Japan-America Society of Colorado

Date: Monday, March 25, 2024
Title: JASC Business Speaker Luncheon
Company: Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies
Japan expert:  Emma Chanlett-Avery, Asia Society Policy Institute and NAJAS Board of Directors 

Japan-America Society of Houston

Date: Monday, March 20, 2023
Title: KEIZAI CONVERSATIONS featuring Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)
Company: Takajiro “Tak” Ishikawa, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)
Japan expert: Kiyoshi Tanigawa, Keidanren USA

Japan America Society of Chicago

Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2023
Title: Astellas: Working to Advance Innovative Science into Proven Value for Patients & “Restoring Japan’s Leadership in Innovation”
Company: Mark Reisenauer, President, Astellas Pharma US
Japan expert: Richard Katz, Publisher, Japan Economy Watch and Senior Fellow, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs

Japan-America Society of Indiana

Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Title: Japan Update 2022
Company: Fumiaki Hayata, Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc
Japan expert: The Honorable Hiroshi Tajima, Consul-General of Japan in Chicago

Japan Society of Northern California

Date: Thursday, March 31, 2022
Title: The Transformation of Entertainment: Now Everybody Can “Cook”
Company: Joseph Tou, Sony Corporation of America
Japan expert: Teppei Tsutsui, GFR Fund

Japan America Society of Chicago

Date: Thursday, March 31, 2022
Title: 2022 Update on Japan: From Business to the Economy
Company: Nigel Blakeway, OMRON Management Center of America, Inc.
Japan expert: Edward J. Lincoln, Columbia University

Japan-America Society of Central Ohio

Date: Friday, March 25, 2022
Title: Japan in Ohio Business Update: Celebrating 45 Years of Honda in Ohio
Company: Rick Shostek, American Honda
Japan expert: Deborah Scherer, One Columbus

Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth

Date: Friday, February 25, 2022
Title: Investing in North Texas and the United States: Japan’s Dynamic Financial Sector
Company: Hiro Hyakutome, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Japan expert: Dr. Ulrike Schaede, University of California, San Diego

The Japan-America Society of Georgia

Date: Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Title: US-Japan Business Strategies: A Japanese Company’s Approach to the U.S./Global Market
Company: Yoji Saito, Mitsubishi Electric
Japan expert: Remy Magnier-Watanabe, Tsukuba University

The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania

Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Title: JASP 2020 Virtual Annual Dinner
Company: Joe Pozza, Hitachi Rail STS
Japan expert: Kanji Yamanouchi, Consulate General of Japan in New York

The Japan-America Society of Washington DC

Date: June 9, 2020 
Title: The US Oil and Gas Market Challenge facing Japanese Business: COVID-19 X Factor
Company: Hiroyuki "Bob" Takai, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas
Japan expert: Samantha Gross, Brookings Institution

Japan-America Society of Indiana

Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Title: NAJAS/KKC Business Speaker Series
Company: Masahiko Nittono, NTT Corporation
Japan expert: Tobias Harris, Teneo

The Japan-America Societyof Alabama

Date: Friday, November 15, 2019
Title: Why Alabama?: Discussing Japanese Investment and Future Growth
Company: Mark Brazeal, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA
Japan expert: Hollie Pegg, Alabama Department of Commerce

Japan-America Society of the State of Washington

Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Title: Taking off with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Company: Takaoki Niwa, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Americas)
Japan expert: Kent Jones, Port of Moses Lake Commissioner

Japan Society of Boston

Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Title: The Changing Landscape: Mergers, Acquisitions, and the Future of US/Japan Trade
Company: Jason Stevens, Mitsubishi International Corporation
Japan expert: Ira Shapiro, ASG's East Asia & Pacific Practice

Japan-America Society of Oregon

Date: Thursday, April 25, 2019
Title: NAJAS/Keizai Koho Center Business Speaker Series
Company: Yoichi Mineo, Marubeni America Corporation
Japan expert: Glen Fukushima, Center for American Progress

Japan-America Society of Houston

Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Title: NAJAS/Keizai Koho Center Business Speaker Series
Company: Yasu Fukuda, Tokio Marine North America, Inc.
Japan expert: Yasuhiro Uozumi, Keidanren USA

Japan-America Society of North Carolina & Japan-America Association of South Carolina

Date: Friday, March 1, 2019
Title: Asahi Kasei - Growth in the Americas and Assessing President Trump's Impact on U.S.-Japan Relations and American Trade Policy
Company:

Daichi Arima, Asahi Kasei America, Inc.

John Moyer, Asahi Kasei Plastics North America Inc. 

Japan expert: Ira Shapiro, ASG's East Asia & Pacific Practice

Japan-America Society of Hawaii

Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Title: Kezai Koho Business Speaker Series
Company: Koji Nagashima, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance 
Japan expert: Steve K. Sombrero, Cushman & Wakefield/Chaney Brooks 

Japan America Society of Colorado

Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Title: 2018 JASC Spring Luncheon: Energy, Natural Resources, & U.S.- Japan - Colorado Relations
Company: Hiroyuki Takai, Sumitomo Corporation Global Research Co., Ltd
Japan expert: Jacob Schlesinger, Wall Street Journal

Japan-America Society of Oregon

Date: Thursday, March 29, 2018
Title: Umami on a Global Scale: The Expansion of Ajinomoto
Company: Haruo Kurata, Ajinomoto USA
Japan expert: Dr. Mark Metzler, University of Washington

Japan-America Society of Tennessee, Inc.

Date: Friday, March 9, 2018
Title: JAST Annual Meeting & Reception
Company: Kenichiro Ito, DENSO International America
Japan expert: Chris Karbowiak, Bridgestone Americas

Japan-America Society of Washington DC

Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Title: Japan in 2018: A Year at the Look Ahead
Company: Shinichi Hori, Mitsui & Co.
Japan expert: Jonathan Elkind, Columbia University

Japan-America Society of North Carolina

Date: Friday, September 22, 2017
Title: JASNC Business Speaker Series
Company: Minoru Yoshinaga, Toray America
Japan expert: Brian Woodall, Georgia Institute of Technology

Japan America Society of Minnesota

Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Title: Business Speaker Series
Company: Ray Nishimoto, Sumitomo Chemical
Japan expert: Sheila Smith, Council on Foreign Relations

Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth

Date: Friday, July 7, 2017
Title: Japan Summit 2017
Company: Osamu Nagata, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Japan expert: Amb. J. Thomas Schieffer, Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan

Japan Society of Northern California

Date: Thursday, June 1, 2017
Title: How Will Autonomous Vehicles Change the Way We Move? Perspectives from Japan and the US
Company: Yasuyuki Kohaya, Toyota Research Institute
Japan expert: Stephen Zoepf, Stanford University

Japan-America Society of Chicago

Date: Thursday, May 25, 2017
Title: Japanese Products in American Homes: TOTO's Corporate Strategy in the U.S.
Company:

Kazuo Sako, TOTO Americas Holdings & TOTO USA, Inc.

Japan experts:

Tobias Harris, Teneo Intelligence

Josina Morita, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner

Japan-America Society of Oregon

Date: Thursday, May 11, 2017
Title: Growing Together from Shared Roots: Inside the Merger of The Standard and Meiji Yasuda
Company: Minoru Wakabayashi, StanCorp Financial Group 
Japan expert: Dr. Ulrike Schaede, UC San Diego

Heart of America Japan-America Society

Date: Monday, February 27, 2017
Title: Heart of America Japan-America Society Speakers' Event
Company: Kunio Watanabe, Nomura Holdings, Inc.
Japan expert: Dr. William Farrell, Naval War College

The Japan-America Society of Georgia

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2016
Title: 2016 Bonenkai Holiday Celebration Gala
Company: Minoru Yoshinaga, Toray Industries (America), Inc.
Japan expert: Dr. Brian Woodall, Georgia Institute of technology

Japan/America Society of Kentucky

Date: Monday, October 17, 2016
Title: Japan Meets Kentucky Bourbon
Company: Takashi Niinami, Beam Suntory Inc.
Japan expert: TBD

Japan-America Society of Greater Philadelphia

Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Title: Japan and the Changing Asian Order
Company: Takashi Hatchoji, Hitachi, Ltd.
Japan expert: Jacob Schlesinger, The Wall Street Journal

The Japan America Society of Alabama

Date: Thursday, April 28, 2016
Title: Japanese Company Regional-to-Global Strategy and Position in the Local Marketplace
Company: Sugio Suzuki, Protective Life
Japan expert: Dan Cintron, U.S. Department of State

Japan-America Society of Chicago, Inc.

Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Title: Trains, Planes and Automobiles Business Luncheon
Company: Koki Konishi, Toyota Motor Corporation
Japan expert:

Hiroyuki Idei, Nippon Sharyo

David Yamada, Nippon Sharyo USA, Inc.

Grant Crampton, The Boeing Company

Japan-America Society of Hawaii

Date: Monday, March 14, 2016
Title: TOTO's Innovative Solutions to Basic Human Needs: Ultimate Artisanship in Washroom Fixtures
Company: Kazuo Sako, TOTO U.S.A., Inc.
Japan expert: Kiyoaki Aburaki, Keizai Koho Center

Japan America Society of Colorado

Date: Thursday, February 11, 2016
Title: Going Global: A New Era in Japanese Business Strategy & Growth
Company: Kazuhiro Gomi, NTT America, Ltd
Japan expert: Rust Deming, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

Japan America Society of Minnesota

Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Title: Japan Still Matters
Company: Minoru Yoshinaga , Toray Industries (America), Inc.
Japan expert: Ira Shapiro, Ira Shapiro Global Strategies, LLC

Japan-America Society of Chicago, Inc.

Date: Friday, September 11, 2015
Title: The Business Climate in Asia and Japan-U.S. Relations
Company: Chris Wilkens, Global Subsidiary Banking, MUFG 
Japan expert: William R. Farrell, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, U.S. Naval War College

Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Title: US-Japan Relationship at a Defining Moment
Company: Ichiro Ishii, Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.
Japan expert: Ira Shapiro, Ira Shapiro Global Strategies, LLC

Japan America Society of the State of Washington

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Title: Annual Meeting and Dinner 2015
Company: Hideki Kunugi, All Nippon Airways
Japan expert: Tom Norwalk

Japan-America Society of Hawaii

Date: Thursday, March 19, 2015
Title: Hawaii as an Innovation Test-Bed JUMPSmart Maui Case
Company: Takashi Hatchoji, Hitachi America, Ltd.
Japan expert: Jeanne Skog, Maui Economic Development Board

Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth

Date: Friday, February 13, 2015
Title: JAPAN UPDATE Symposium - Going Global: A New Era in Japanese Business Strategy and Growth
Company: Osamu Nagata, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Japan expert: Matthew P. Goodman, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Heart of America Japan-America Society

Date: Saturday, January 31, 2015
Title: Business Speakers Event: Japan & the U.S.
Company: Takashi Hatchoji, Hitachi America, Ltd.
Japan expert: William R. Farrell, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, U.S. Naval War College

Japan America Society of Colorado

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2014
Title: 2014 Corporate Spring Luncheon "Innovation Excellence"
Company: Takashi Hatchoji, Hitachi America, Ltd.
Japan expert: Ira Shapiro, Ira Shapiro Global Strategies, LLC

Japan America Society of St. Louis

Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Title: Japan's Global Stragegies in 21st Century
Company: Takashi Hatchoji, Hitachi America, Ltd.
Japan expert: William R. Farrell, Naval War College

Japan-America Society of Indiana

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2014
Title: Japan Update 2014
Company: Shigeru Hayakawa, Toyota Motor Corporation
Japan expert: Marc Knapper, Department of State

Japan Society of Boston

Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Title: Japan Business Forum: JAPAN UPDATE
Company: Hideya Takaishi, BTMU Capital Corp
Japan expert: James Schoff, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

The Japan-America Society of Houston

Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Title: Keizai Conversations: Global Corporate Strategies and The Economics of Trade
Company: Masaaki Osumi, Toshiba America, Inc.
Japan expert: Ira Shapiro, Ira Shapiro Global Strategies, LLC

Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania

Date: Thursday, May 23, 2013
Title: U.S.-Japan Now: Economic and Global Corporate Strategies
Company: Takashi Hatchoji, Hitachi America, Ltd.
Japan expert: Matthew Goodman, Center for Strategic and International Studies

The Japan-America Society of Georgia

Date: Thursday, April 11, 2013
Title: U.S.-Japan Now: Economic Outlook & Global Corporate Strategies
Company: Shigeru Hayakawa, Toyota Motor Corporation
Japan expert: Nicholas Szechenyi, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Japan America Society of Michigan and SW Ontario

Date: Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Title: Business Luncheon
Company: Osamu Nagata, Toyota Motor Corporation
Japan expert: Matthew Goodman, Center for Strategic and International Studies


NAJAS and our members are deeply grateful to the Keidanren, the Keizai Koho Center and the participating Japanese companies for their interest in this program and their contribution to an informed, lively discussion of the important economic ties between the United States and Japan.




National Association of Japan-America Societies, Inc.

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Washington, DC 20036

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