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• JAPAN UPDATE Symposium

  • When
    Thursday, February 21, 2019
  •  
    2:30 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Location
    InterContinental Los Angeles Century City at Beverly Hills, 2151 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067

  Register

  

           

  US-Japan Business Trend Outlook for 2019

  Our expert speakers will share their perspectives on Japan, US-Japan business trends, trade and how they see the future of US-Japan relations as we enter a new world of fundamental geopolitical changes, particularly those centered in Asia, and rising nationalism and protectionism around the world. The event will highlight U.S.-Japan connections at the national, state and local levels, including Japanese economic and business ties with Southern California that remind us why a strong U.S.-Japan relationship is important for our collective livelihood here.

  2019年は、こうなる。日米のビジネストレンドに迫る！

  アジアを中心とし、世界規模の地政学的変動が起きつつある中、日米間のビジネストレンド、流通、そして日米関係の将来の見通しについて、各界の専門家からお話を伺います。当シンポジウムでは、連邦政府、州、そして郡レベルでの日米関係に注目し、南カリフォルニアにて事業を行っている企業や各業界がもたらす経済効果を通して、いかに強力な日米関係が両国にとって重要かを考えます。（※シンポジウムは英語で行われます）

  REGISTER ONLINE   |   Download Flyer
  

  Thursday, February 21, 2019
  2:30pm Registration
  3:00pm Conference
  6:00pm Networking Reception

  InterContinental Los Angeles Century City at Beverly Hills
  2151 Avenue of the Stars
  Los Angeles, CA 90067
  Map & Directions
  Valet parking only, $16 per vehicle

  
  

  Keynote Speaker: “Multilateral Trading System and US - Japan Cooperation”

  
  

  The Honorable Junichi Ihara
  伊原純一 大使
  Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Mission of Japan to the Int’l Organizations in Geneva
  Chairman, General Counsel, World Trade Organization
  Immediate Past Director-General, Asian & Oceanian Affairs Bureau, MOFA
  Past Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles (2008–2011)
  
  Ambassador Junichi Ihara is past, extremely popular, Consul General of Japan in LA.  Afterwards, he was General-Director for Asiana, where he was the lead negotiator with North Korea.  Today he is Permanent Ambassador to Geneva and was elected Chairman of the General Counsel of the WTO.  This event marks his first visit to LA since his posting here from 2008-2011.

  Ambassador Ihara will discuss challenges facing the WTO and multilateral trading system, including the US unilateral trade measures and the impasse of the dispute settlement mechanism; then, different from a general image that the US creates many of the problems, he will share some concrete examples in which questions raised by the US are legitimate and that Japan collaborate closely with the US on those issues; we sometimes differ in terms of approach, but in substance, we are allies even in trade policy areas.

  特命全権大使

  在ジュネーブ国際機関日本政府 代表部常駐代表

  WTO一般理事会議長

  前外務省アジア大洋州局長

  元在ロサンゼルス総領事 (2008–2011)

  
  社会の変化や科学技術の進歩により未来の仕事はどうなるのか、国際労働機関（ILO）設立100周年の本年にあわせて、世界の有識者による議論が行われています。また一方的関税措置などで揺れるWTOでも、危機を改革につなげていこうという動きが生まれており、一般理事会議長としてメンバー国の意向を形にするプロセスの一翼を担ってきました。2019年のジュネーブは、課題山積ですが、そのことを踏まえた上で、斬新な発想をする“thinking out of the box” が、求められているように思います。 激動の時代において、日米協力の重要性、そして世界がどう動き、私たちはどうすべきなのかを考えます。
  

  
  

  Keynote Speaker: “Unconventional Strategy Delivers Remarkable Results – Quantum Growth in a Flat Market”

  
  

  Tomoshige "Tomo" Mizutani

  水谷友重 氏

  Featured speaker at Harvard Business School alumni clubs in New York and Orange County  Chairman & CEO, Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. Chairman, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. President & CEO, Toyo Tire North America OE Sales LLC

  Tomo Mizutani is Chairman and CEO of Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc., as well as Chairman of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp, President and CEO of Toyo Tire North America OE Sales LLC and senior corporate officer of Toyo Tire & Rubber Corp., LTD., for both the Nitto and Toyo Tire brands.  He is a graduate of Kobe University.

  In 1992, when Tomo was assigned to the US, Nitto Tire had three employees, $8 million in inventory, and annual sales estimated at only $6 million (more inventory than sales). In addition, Nitto's largest client, which purchased 2/3 of total Nitto sales, was about to go bankrupt.

  To overcome this crisis, Tomo was moved to mastermind and execute aggressive strategies. Today, Nitto Tire holds a strong and loyal fan base – including renowned US athletes and even robots in a hit Hollywood movie. On Facebook, Nitto Tire has 12 million likes, which is the largest following in the tire industry.

  It has been an inspiring journey – from Tomo’s first time living in the US, with limited knowledge of the US tire industry, to how he transformed the Nitto brand into a leading off-road and street performance tires experience.  His story has been recognized by many business schools and universities. Tomo has been invited to speak at USC MBA, UCLA, UCI, Chapman, Clemson, Pepperdine University and graduate schools.  In addition to speaking engagements at universities, he has been a keynote speaker at the Harvard Business School Alumni Associations in Orange County and New York.   

  Now, he finally gets to share his story with fellow JAS members and guests.

  ハーバード・ビジネススクール　アラムナイクラブ　 ニューヨーク支部、オレンジカウンティ支部　特別講師
  Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. 会長兼CEO
  Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. 会長
  Toyo Tire North America OE Sales LLC　社長兼CEO

  1992年、アメリカ赴任時、Nittoタイヤの社員は3名。年商6億円に対し、在庫8億円を抱え、さらに売上の2/3を占める最大顧客の倒産危機に直面していた。

  その危機を克服するために、数々の挑戦的な戦略を打ち立て、現在では、全米プロスポーツ界の超一流選手の愛用車や人気ハリウッド映画のロボットに装着されるまでに。また、 Facebookで業界最大1200万人以上のファン数を獲得。

  タイヤの知識も乏しくアメリカ生活も初めてだった水谷のブランド成長物語は、USC MBA、UCLA、UCI、Chapman、Clemson、Pepperdine大学・大学院より招請を受けた。

  さらに、講演会は、ハーバード大学院 ビジネス・スクールAlumni Orange Countyに続き、New Yorkでも好評を博す。今回、Los Angelesで実現の運びとなった貴重なプレゼンテーションを披露致します。

  
  

  Japan Matters for America Initiative

  
  

  Satu Limaye, Ph.D.
  サトゥ・リメイェ博士

  Director, East-West Center, Washington, D.C.
  Senior Adviser, CNA Corporation

  Satu Limaye is Director of the East-West Center, Washington, D.C.  He will speak on the EWC’s “Japan Matters for America Initiative.”  His three take-aways will be –

  1. Japan’s continuing critical importance to US trade, investment, people-to-people relations and security
  2. Japan’s importance to California and especially LA and southern CA
  3. Japan’s changing role and US-Japan coordination in a fluid Indo-Pacific region.

  東西センター　ワシントンDC支部、ディレクター
  CNA コーポレーション、シニアアドバイザー

  
  

  東西センターのデータを元に、１.米国の貿易、投資、市民同士の交流、安全保障について日本がもつ重要な役割、２.カリフォルニア州においての、特にロサンゼルスや南カリフォルニアと日本の重要性、３.流動的なインド太平洋地域における、変動する日本の役割と日米協力についてお話します。
  

  
  

  Japan Update Moderator / モデレーター

  
  

  Kaori Iida
  飯田香織 氏

  Los Angeles Bureau Chief, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corp.)
  Past Senior Economics Correspondent, Wash., D.C. News Bureau, NHK

  
  NHKロサンゼルス支局長

  
  

  Admission

  $60 JAS, JCC, JBA, HBSASC Members
  $75 Non-Members or Guests
  $115 Admission plus 1 year NEW JASSC Individual Membership (not valid for membership renewals)

  
  REGISTER ONLINE   |  Download Flyer

  
  

  Japan Update is presented by the JASSC and it is supported by the JBA and by an “Opinion Leaders” grant from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the National Association of Japan-America Societies. Cooperating Organization include the Harvard Business School Association of Southern California.
  
  

  

  
      

  
  
  

  
     

  
  

  
    

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• 7th Annual Japan Bowl of California

  • When
    Saturday, March 16, 2019
  •  
    8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Location
    Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA)

  
                 
  
  

  
  

  Japanese Language & Culture Team Competition for High School Students

  To register a team for the competition, please follow this link: Japan Bowl® of California

  Saturday, March 16, 2019
  Registration - 8:00am - 9:00am
  Preliminary Rounds - 9:30am - 11:20am (Registration is Required)
  Championship Rounds - 1:15 - 4:00pm (Open to public, no registration is needed)
  Awards Ceremony - 4:30pm - 5:30pm

  Loyola Marymount University
  1 LMU Drive,
  Los Angeles, CA 90045
  

  Japan Bowl® of California is an academic team competition that tests the achievements and caliber of high school students who are studying the Japanese Language. This uniquely designed high school contest evaluates not only the students’ proficiency of the Japanese language, but also their knowledge about Japan as a country. Japan Bowl recognizes their efforts to study such a complex language and encourages these students to enhance their Japanese language skills even further each year. The competition format models popular quiz shows such as, “It’s Academic,” the longest-running television high school quiz show in the world. Teams sent to Japan Bowl® can compete at three different levels depending on how long they have studied Japanese. This challenging and exciting atmosphere created at Japan Bowl® will allow students of all levels to showcase their Japanese language skills and knowledge. Students will also have opportunities to make connections with new language partners from all over California who have a similar interest in Japanese.

  Championship Rounds and the Awards Ceremony is open to the public, we encourage you to attend and support the students!

  Please note absolutely no photography, video taping or audio recording is allowed during the competition.
  

  For additional details, visit www.jas-socal.org/JapanBowl

  2018 Major Sponsors

  We thank our generous sponsors and supporters for making Japan Bowl possible!

  

  Sanders Charitable Fund
  

     
  

    

  
  

  Japan Bowl^® is a registered trademark of The Japan-America Society of Washington, Inc. The Japan Bowl^® name and logo may be used only with the permission of The Japan-America Society of Washington, Inc.

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• 8th TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program - Application Open

  • When
    Monday, March 18, 2019
  • Location
    Japan

            

  
  

  The 8th TOMODACHI MUFG
  International Exchange Program

     
  

  The Japan America Society of Southern California is accepting applications from high school students to participate in the 8^th TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program, a two-week people-to-people exchange and learning program in early summer 2019.

  Hosted by the U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) TOMODACHI Initiative and sponsored by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), including MUFG Bank, Ltd. and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., the exchange program offers a homestay experience with a Japanese family, visits to cities affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, as well as educational and cultural visits to the cities of Tokyo and Hiroshima.

  The purpose of the exchange program is to enhance the students’ understanding of Japan, its people, language, culture and to learn about the challenges for a sustainable society as well as leadership. The program expenses are provided by MUFG.

  Program Period: Saturday, June 22, 2019 to Sunday, July 7, 2019
  

  Application Deadline: Monday, March 18, 2019, 5:00pm (PDT)
  
  

  Contents of the Program: (Subject to change)

  Objective: To educate and foster youth who will be the future leaders in US-Japan relations by incorporating the 2 goals within the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN

  • • Sustainable Cities and Communities
    • Partnership for the Goals
  • People-to-people exchange with Japanese through a home stay experience, visits to high schools, cultural experiences, and volunteer activities
  • Learning about disaster preparedness and crisis management through visits to Disaster Prevention Institutions, and understanding the status of reconstruction efforts in the disaster struck areas

  Program Location and Accommodations: (tentative)

  Tokyo, Fukushima, Miyagi and Hiroshima

  
  

  Click here for additional program details and application forms 

  Application Deadline: Monday, March 18, 2019, 5:00pm (PDT)

  
  

  Read more on past TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Programs

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