Secretary Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., U.S. Secretary of Commerce (center), and Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae, Ambassador of Japan to the United States (right), share a laugh with USJC President Irene Hirano Inouye

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S.-Japan Council (USJC), a nonprofit educational organization striving to strengthen U.S.-Japan relations, held its eighth Annual Conference from November 13 to 14 in Washington, DC. More than 700 leaders from Japan and the United States attended the conference, which was themed “Unity in Diversity: Shaping the Future Together.” Issues they discussed...

Washington, DC – The 2017 U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) Annual Conference, “Unity in Diversity: Shaping the Future Together,” will bring together regional, national and international leaders from government, business, academia and nonprofit sectors to discuss how to we can work together to strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship. This conference will examine current affairs, showcase how global perspectives and diversity empower both countries, and discuss how international businesses and organizations can continue to expand in a changing political environment. The Conference’s featured speakers include (* denotes Keynote Speakers):

• *Wes Bush, Chairman, CEO and President, Northrop Grumman Corporation
• *Nobuchika Mori, Commissioner, Japanese...

WASHINGTON, DC – Six state-elected officials from diverse Asian American backgrounds and regions recently traveled to Japan as part of the 2017 Asian American Leadership Delegation (AALD) program. From September 29 to October 7, the Delegation traveled to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. They exchanged ideas with Japanese political and government leaders, business executives, nonprofit leaders and academics, creating networks that can mutually benefit the U.S.-Japan relationship.

AALD is in its fourth year, and the 2017 Delegation included the following six Delegates. For four of them, this was their first trip to Japan.

• Assemblymember Rob Bonta, California State Assembly
• ...

WASHINGTON, DC – Six Asian American state legislators will travel to Japan as part of the 2017 Asian American Leadership Delegation (AALD) Program. The program will consist of a one-week trip from September 29 to October 7, when the Delegation will travel to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka to meet with Japanese political and government leaders, business executives, nonprofit leaders and academics to exchange ideas as well as create networks that can mutually benefit the U.S.-Japan relationship. AALD is funded by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and implemented by the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC), in collaboration with the National Asian Pacific American...

Tokyo, Japan – The 2017 Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) met with Prime Minister Abe on March 7 to discuss issues pertinent to the U.S.-Japan bilateral relationship.

Prime Minister Abe welcomed the eleven-member delegation and thanked U.S.-Japan Council President Irene Hirano Inouye for demonstrating their continued support for Japan and said, “I am sure that the efforts of Japanese Americans are a major reason that [the Japan-U.S.] alliance has become as robust as it is now.” (For a summary of his speech, click here.) The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for his support of U.S.-Japan relations and of Japanese...

DBEDT and the U.S.-Japan Council convene gathering to spur economic activity and develop opportunities between Hawaii and Japan

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit educational organization, announce the first ever Japan-Hawaii Economic Summit to be held in Kona, Hawaii from May 9 to 11, 2017.

The summit seeks to accelerate regional and international exchange with prefectures in Japan that have interests in and connections with Hawaii.

“Hawaii and Japan have a unique and significant relationship,” said Gov. David Ige. “We continue to...

WASHINGTON, DC – Eleven Japanese American leaders will travel to Japan from March 3 to 11 on the 2017 Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) program, a week-long trip dedicated to building people-to-people connections with Japanese leaders. In its 17th year, JALD provides opportunities for Japanese Americans to establish a meaningful role in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations across all sectors of society.

The delegates will visit Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture, where they will participate in a panel discussion sponsored by the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership and the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC). The delegates will then visit Tokyo, where past delegations have...