Glad to see "the Whitfield's" and "the Nakahama's" back at it for the 31st GRASSROOTS SUMMIT, just hammered into being in lovely, warmish Wakayama, Japan. This great tradition of homestays and cultural learning and communing is back full throttle in Japan for the first time post-pandemic and the nearly four-score participants who traveled to the Osaka Region from across the U.S. couldn't have been more excited to be a part of this very special, historically rooted exchange. NAJAS and, more, its 38 member societies, have for a number of years played a supporting role in the Summits on both sides of the Pacific as hosts and promoters. Facing off in very friendly fashion over the doomed sake cask in the snapshot below from the opening ceremony are the Chair and President, respectively, of the organizing bodies in Japan and the United States, the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange (U.S.), Amb. Kazuhide Ishikawa and Mr. Dimitri Lorenzon. Welcome aboard, Dimitri-san : Welcome back, Ishikawa-Taishi. In about six weeks' time, NAJAS looks forward to holding its Annual Meeting in Portland, OR, not far from the birthplace of Manjiro Nakahama contemporary and -- in some ways -- kindred figure, Ranald MacDonald, another waylaid seafarer who traveled in opposite direction from young Nakahama but made a similarly significant imprint on communications surrounding the opening of Japan in the middle of the 19thC.
National Association of Japan-America Societies, Inc.
Non-profit Organizations
Washington, DC 1,360 followers
The mission of the NAJAS is to strengthen cooperation and understanding between the peoples of Japan and the U.S.
About us
The mission of the National Association of Japan-America Societies is to strengthen cooperation and understanding between the peoples of Japan and the United States by providing programs, services, and information to and facilitating cooperation among its member societies throughout North America. MISSION SUPPORT The NAJAS Leadership and Officers of the Board will: * Serve as an advocate and spokesperson for the Japan-America Society network to key external groups and individuals from the US and Japanese governments, as well as Japanese and American business, non-governmental organizations, universities and think tanks, foundations, and others, and seek support as appropriate * Provide information on programs, speakers, activities, events and funding sources to member societies. Offer quality programs to NAJAS member societies in support of the mission. * Serve as an information resource about the Japan-America Society network and the US-Japan relationship at the grassroots level * Facilitate cooperation and information sharing among the Societies to include providing managerial support, mentoring, advice, and guidance to members as appropriate * Organize regional and national meetings to facilitate information and idea sharing *Cultivate and enhance relationships with America-Japan Societies and the National Association of America-Japan Societies (Japan).
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External link for National Association of Japan-America Societies, Inc.
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- 1979
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Employees at National Association of Japan-America Societies, Inc.
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Thomas Tasche
Senior Director, Innovation at ideas42
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Emma Chanlett-Avery
Asia Society Policy Institute, Director for Political-Security Affairs and Deputy Director, DC Office
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Margot Carrington
Director for Marketing and Communications at Carrington Financial Planning LLC
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Alicia Lopez-Guerra
Student at Barnard College of Columbia University
Updates
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On Sunday, May 4th, join @Japan America Society of Michigan & Southwest Ontario for JAPAN DAY and celebrate the Japanese tradition of Children's Day in innovative fashion. Discover how Japan's spirit of technological progress is woven into this history. Eiji Toyoda gained insights into mass production techniques at the Ford Motor Company Rouge Plant and Thomas Edison's early light bulbs used bamboo filaments from Kyoto Prefecture, and see HONDA Job 1, the 1st car produced outside of Japan. Take a look at Isamu Noguchi's important role in modern design. Great to see a powerful collaboration from JASM&SWO with @Japan Society (Toronto) and Japan-America Society of Central Ohio. Thanks, Liseann Gouin and society friends! The Museum and Village are where visitors from around the world come to experience the incredible story of American innovation. 9:30 - Museum Opens 10:00 - Welcome from Consul General Hajime (Jimmy) Kishimori in the Anderson Theater 10:30 - 1- hour introductory tours in Japanese and English Japanese language materials and interpreters await you! 10:30 - 5:00 - Spend the day visiting the Museum & the Village
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Glad to see this! With Japan, too — key technology, business, security, military, and cultural partner of the States — we can use all the youth, professional, science, tourist, and language exchange we can muster. Apart from tourism and US-bound FDI, the last decades’ exchange numbers between our people have been anemic, so a relief to see the public and diplomatic engines coming back on line to support what is often termed the most consequential US partnership going.
The last 48 hours have been good ones for Department of State international exchange programs. The ongoing funding freeze seems to be unthawing. As of today, Alliance for International Exchange members report having received over 85% of outstanding payments that had been withheld due to the ongoing funding freeze. The payment pause has still not officially been lifted that we’re aware of – but payments began trickling through to implementing organizations over the past 10-12 days, and really picked up steam this week. At the end of last week, Alliance members had seen ~25% of payments come through. Over the past 48 hours, that number has shot up to ~85%. This is incredibly encouraging progress. A new payment process within the State Department seems to be coalescing and through that process, a rhythm of payments is slowly but surely developing. Despite this progress, challenges still remain. It’ll take implementing organizations some time to restabilize after the disruption of nearly two months without funding. And organizations need to have confidence that this new payment process will continue to work and that they can count on future funding. We couldn’t have gotten to this important moment without the exchange community’s overwhelming action. The advocacy campaign led by the Alliance, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, and The Forum on Education Abroad generated more than 24,000 letters to more than 500 Congressional offices (through both the Alliance’s and NAFSA’s letter-writing systems). This is an incredible and unparalleled response. Thank you for your advocacy and energy. This is an important step in protecting exchange programs and our field. I hope you’ll join us in celebrating this progress, while noting that we have to remain vigilant and fight for exchanges each and every day.
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National Association of Japan-America Societies, Inc. reposted this
"The Samurai Collection" was the name of a highlight museum gallery stop that was part of the "Japan Currents" series of encounters organized by Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth in conjunction with the SMU Tower Center. But it equally could reference the panel moderated by SMU's Dr. Hiroki Takeuchi and comprised of "geo-economic policy and practice warriors,”Dr. Kazuto Suzuki, Mr. Stan Crow, and Mr. Yoichiro Suzuki. The quartet battled with thorny topics around business and technology dependence and indispensability in an increasingly competitive and fluid global political-economy before a highly engaged audience. Silicon and other "shifting sands" seem to have focused minds. The program proved most timely, as news of a fresh wave of tariff actions emanating from Washington broke around us. From NTT Data we learned about a game-changing effort to use the photonics-electronics convergence technology as a case study in the potential application of next-gen geo-economic resources. From our defense and aerospace expert we were introduced to "robust complementarity" between the U.S. and Japanese space ecosystems and a provocative framing of "astro economics." You heard it from NAJAS first. Thank you to the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. for generously funding seven (7) outstanding talks under our Japan Currents series.
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National Association of Japan-America Societies, Inc. reposted this
The small but growing NAJAS team finished the Japanese fiscal year on a tear, with four grant series carried out in eight cities over five weeks. Talks ranging from art conservation and 19th C. travelogues to AI regulation took center stage, but the programs and travel of the NAJAS president also allowed for invaluable time with the board leaders of a half-dozen member societies: Atlanta, Miami, R-Durham, Los Angeles, St. Louis and Dallas. Our 40 member societies come in all shapes and sizes: mega, medium, all-volunteer, well staffed, "shoe-string," business oriented, passionate about culture, etc. Common to all are boards of 5-35 community leaders who contribute hours, expertise, resources and more to the strategic guidance, oversight and, sometimes, “envelope stuffing labors” of our societies. We'd be nowhere as a grassroots force without these incredible folk. Connecting with these leaders is one of the most important and rewarding obligations of the NAJAS president. But it could not happen without the steady support of The Japan Foundation of New York, generous underwriter of NAJAS, to include, specifically, dollars to travel to meet the boards in their localities to take up practical non-profit management issues and to share inspired ideas across our sprawling network. Thank you board members. Thank you JFNY!
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Understanding Japanese Aesthetics: Defining Beauty in Art, Architecture, Gardens, and More https://lnkd.in/eq3kRa_8 Join Japan Society of Northern California for a direct experience of Japanese aesthetics, as seen in art, architecture, and gardens. From the refined rusticity of wabi-sabi to suggestive mystery, from freedom and spontaneity in artistic expression to elegance and courtliness in manner and ritual, the Japan Society of Northern California and special guest Steve Beimel will explore these concepts as well as framing, transition, color, and general presentation that has developed over 1000 years. Beimel and his team at JapanCraft21 are passionately committed to revitalizing traditional Japanese arts. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the foundations of Japanese beauty — reserve your spot today at JSNC's website and enjoy the talk via Zoom. Date & Time: Wednesday, April 16th from 5:00 PM PDT / Thursday, April 17th from 9:00 AM JST Online Via Zoom.
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The Palmetto-Sakura State. We hope you keep promoting and growing!
We had a fantastic time at the Irmo Cherry Blossom Festival @ Town of Irmo, South Carolina 🌸 We enjoyed connecting with the local community and hearing about their favorite things about Japan—from food and travel to culture and traditions. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat with us!
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National Association of Japan-America Societies, Inc. reposted this
Very much looking forward to a return to the heart of North Carolina's thriving biotech hub to learn first-hand via our "Business Speaker Series," installment #2, how a pair of leading r&d-based biotech firms from Japan are smartly expanding global production facilities. Thank you Keizai Koho Center, Kiyoshi Tanigawa, Keidanren USA Executive Director and hosts Michi Calcagno and Japan-America Society of North Carolina
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Whispers of Pink in the Air ..,. and a Hit Parade of Japan-related Happenings March/April: The Japan-America Society of Washington DC’s Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival, National Japan Bowl Japanese Language Competition ... and the National Cherry Blossom Festival August: NAJAS Annual Conference @ Japan/America Society of Kentucky (ケンタッキー日米協会) September: Sister Cities International U.S.-Japan Summit in Izumisano, Osaka October: the U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii The next 6 months: Expo 2025 Osaka
Carlo Capua (JET Alum), Chair of the Board for Sister Cities International, shares the exciting 2025 U.S.-Japan Sister Cities Summit's milestone event celebrating the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Japan. The summit will take place in Izumisano City, Osaka, September 16-19, 2025. Bringing together 600+ bilateral stakeholders, the summit will inspire collaboration, explore new partnerships, and empower the next generation of global leaders. This year's theme is “Celebrating our Legacies, Empowering our Future.” Early bird pricing ends March 31, so register now if you're interested in participating! 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ea7zvDNv Video courtesy of Sister Cities International #Osaka #SisterCitiesInternational #USJETAA