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.