JAPANESE AMERICAN NETWORK INITIATIVE

The purpose of the DC-area JA-Net is to:

• Create opportunities for Japanese American and Japanese business executives to expand professional contacts and build networks within the same profession;
• Provide learning opportunities for Japanese Americans and Japanese in the business sector to enhance professional skills;
• Provide access to key business, political and community leaders;
• Develop long-term connections between Japanese Americans and Japanese in the business sector locally and nationally to build ties and strengthen U.S.-Japan relations.

Background

In early 2000, Japanese American business leaders in Southern California met to discuss the creation of a Japanese American business networking program with Japanese business people and executives. In conjunction with the Japan Business Association of Southern California (JBA) and the Consul General in Los Angeles, a pilot program was initiated in the Los Angeles area.  In fall 2004, the Southern California Japanese American-Japanese Business Network began to meet on a monthly basis.

In November 2005, this initiative was expanded to the greater Washington, DC area through a partnership with the Japan Commerce Association of Washington, DC (JCAW). As a result, a partner organization called the JA-Net (Japanese American Network, formerly known as the Japanese American Network of Greater Washington) was formed.

Since its inception, JA-Net and JCAW have co-sponsored numerous activities and events, including lectures by politicians, business leaders and scholars, round table discussions, and social events.

In Los Angeles, activities organized by the Japanese Business Association of Southern California and the Japanese American Business Network have included:

• A lecture dinner at the official residence of the Japanese Consul General of LA, featuring Iris Yamashita, the screen writer of the Academy Award-nominated film, Letters from Iwo Jima, and was moderated by KTLA News Anchor Frank Buckley.
• A lecture by Senator Daniel Inouye about the state of U.S.-Japan relations, held at the City Club in downtown Los Angeles.
• A meeting with Mr. Kunio Kojima, Vice Chair and President of the Japanese business organization, Keizai Doyukai. Mr. Kojima gave Japanese American business leaders an assessment of the state of the Japanese economy and participants discussed ways to promote business between Japan and Japanese Americans.
• A speech by Glen S. Fukushima, USJC Board member and Senior Vice President Airbus SAS and President and Chief Executive Officer, Airbus Japan K.K., who shared his observations of U.S.-Japan relations under the new Obama Administration at a dinner hosted by LA Consul General Junichi Ihara. 

In Washington, DC, joint JA-Net - JCAW activities have included:

• A seminar, “Freedom Denied, Lessons Learned from the Japanese American Internment Experience,” with Franklin Odo, Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American program.
• A talk by Jim Zumwalt, Director of Japan Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, entitled ”An Introspective View of U.S.-Japan Relations: Government to Government, Industry to Industry and People to People.”
• A lecture by Dr. Mitch Maki, Dean of the College of Health and Human Services of California State University (Dominguez Hills) entitled, “The Japanese American Political Experience: Past, Present and Future.” Dr. Maki discussed the Japanese American community’s growing role in American politics.
• Embassy dinners at the Ambassador’s residence.

Currently, the Japanese American-Japanese Business Network in Los Angeles is chaired by Stan Koyanagi, Vice President, KB Home; the Japanese American Network is co-chaired by John Tobe, Senior Advisor at the Embassy of Japan, and Craig Uchida, President of Justice and Security Strategies (JSS). The USJC offices in Washington and Los Angeles provide guidance and support for Network activities.