NAJAS/KKC Business Speaker Series

SINCE 2012

Co-sponsored by National Association of Japan-America Societies and the Keizai Koho Center, the NAJAS/KKC Business Speaker Series provides unique business content and information about the U.S.-Japan relationship to a broad audience across the United States.
With the support of local Japan-America Societies, the Business Speaker Series provides opportunities for Japanese corporate executives to speak directly to diverse audiences about their business strategies, their collaborations with and contributions to local industries and communities.
At each event, candid conversations also take place regarding public policy issues to reinforce U.S.- Japan economic relations.

About the Business Speaker Series (PDF)

Austin, Texas

March 29, 2024

: Ron McCune, Tokyo Electron U.S. Holdings

Denver, Colorado

March 25, 2024

: Antoinette Gawin, Terumo Blood & Cell Technologies
Emma Chanlett-Avery, Asia Society Policy Institute
Michelle Hadwiger, State of Colorado

Houston, Texas

March 20, 2023

: Takajiro Ishikawa, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America
Bob Harvey, Greater Houston Partnership

Chicago, Illinois, Online

March 13, 2023

: Mark Reisenauer, Astellas Pharma US
Richard Katz, Japan Economy Watch

Indianapolis, Indiana

April 20, 2022

: Fumiaki Hayata, Subaru Corporation

San Francisco, California, Online

March 31, 2022

: Ludovic Copere, Sony Ventures
Joseph Tou, Sony Corporation of America

Chicago, Illinois, Online

March 31, 2022

: Nigel Blakeway, OMRON Management Center of America
Edward J. Lincoln, Columbia University.

Dublin, Ohio

March 25, 2022

: Rick Schostek, American Honda Motor Co.
Deborah Scherer, OneColumbus

Dallas, Texas

February 25, 2022

: Hiro Hyakutome, CEO, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Americas Division
Ulrike Schaede, Professor, University of California

Atlanta, Georgia

June 29, 2021

: Yoji Saito, Executive Officer, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Remy Magnier-Watanabe, Associate Professor, University of Tsukuba

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Online

October 27, 2020

: Joseph Pozza, President, Hitachi Rail STS America

Washington, D.C., Online

June 09, 2020

: Hiroyuki Takai, Senior Vice President, Sumitomo Corporation of America
Nobuo Tanaka, Special Advisor, Sasakawa Peace Foundation
Samantha Gross, Fellow, Brooking Institution

Indianapolis, Indiana

February 26, 2020

: Masahiko Nittono, General Manager and Chief Corporate Representative, NTT Corporation, Washington D.C.
Tobias Harris, Vice President, Teneo

Huntsville, Alabama

November 15, 2019

: Mark Brazeal, US Vice President of Administration, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTMUS)
Hollie Pegg, Alabama Department of Commerce

Seattle, Washington

June 12, 2019

: Takaoki Niwa, President and CEO, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Americas)
Hank Iwasa, President and Head of Moses Lake Flight Center, Mitsubishi Aircraft Americas

Boston, Massachusetts

June 04, 2019

: Jason Stevens, President and CEO, Mitsubishi International Corporation
Ira Shapiro, President, Ira Shapiro Global Strategies, LLC

Portland, Oregon

April 25, 2019

: Yoichi Mineo, General Manager, Marubeni America Corporation
Glen Fukushima, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

Houston, Texas

March 19, 2019

: Yasunobu Fukuda, President and CEO, Tokio Marine North America, Inc.
William N. Burke, President, Tokio Marine HCC

Charlotte, North Carolina

March 01, 2019

: Daichi Arima, President, Asahi Kasei America
Ambassador Ira Shapiro, Senior Advisor, ASG's East Asia & Pacific practice

Honolulu, Hawaii

May 08, 2018

: Koji Nagashima, Executive Vice President, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance

Denver, Colorado

May 02, 2018

: Hiroyuki Takai, SVP & General Manager, Washington Office, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas
Senator Cory Gardner, State of Colorado

Portland, Oregon

March 29, 2018

: Haruo Kurata, Corporate Vice President, Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
Mark Metzler, Professor, University of Washington

Nashville, Tennessee

March 09, 2018

: Kenichiro Ito, CEO, Denso International America
Senator Lamar Alexander, State of Tennessee

Washington D.C.

January 18, 2018

: Hiroyuki Tsurugi, Executive Managing Officer, Mitsui & Co.
Jane Nakano, Senior Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

Charlotte, North Carolina

September 22, 2017

: Minoru Yoshinaga, President, Toray Industries (America), Inc.
Brian Woodall, Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology

Minneapolis, Minnesota

July 21, 2017

: Ray Nishimoto, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
Dr. Sheila Smith, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

Dallas, Texas Japan Summit in Dallas (pdf)

July 07, 2017

: Osamu Nagata, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corporation
Thomas Schieffer, Former United States Ambassador to Japan

Palo Alto, California

June 01, 2017

: Yasuyuki Kohaya, Chief Liaison Officer, Toyota Research Institute
Mr. Stephen Zoepf, Executive Director, Stanford University

Chicago, Illinois

May 25, 2017

: Kazuo Sako, President & CEO, TOTO Americas Holdings & TOTO USA, Inc.
Mr. Tobias Harris, Vice President, Japan, Teneo Intelligence

Portland, Oregon

May 11, 2017

: Minoru Wakabayashi, Associate Director, Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance
Ulrike Schaede, Director of Japan Forum, UC San Diego

Kansas City, Missouri

February 27, 2017

: Kunio Watanabe, Executive Managing Director, Nomura Holdings, Inc.
William R. Farrell, Adjunct Professor of Japanese, Naval War College

Past Events

53March 29, 2024Austin, TexasTokyo Electron U.S. Holdings
52March 25, 2024Denver, ColoradoTerumo Blood & Cell Technologies
51March 20, 2023Houston, TexasMitsubishi Heavy Industries America
50March 13, 2023Chicago, IllinoisAstellas Pharma US
49April 20, 2022Indianapolis, IndianaSubaru Corporation
48March 31, 2022San Francisco, CaliforniaSony Corporation of America
47March 31, 2022Chicago, IllinoisOMRON Management Center of America
46March 25, 2022Dublin, OhioAmerican Honda Motor Co.
45Feb. 25, 2022Dallas, TexasSumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
44Jun. 29, 2021Atlanta, GeorgiaMitsubishi Electric Corporation
43Oct. 27, 2020Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaHitachi Rail STS America
42Jun. 9, 2020Washington, D.C.Sumitomo Corporation of America
41Feb. 26, 2020Indianapolis, IndianaNTT Corporation
40Nov. 15, 2019Huntsville, AlabamaMazda Toyota Manufacturing
39Jun. 12, 2019Seattle, WashingtonMitsubishi Heavy Industries Americas
38Jun. 4, 2019Boston, MassachusettsMitsubishi International Corporation
37April 25, 2019Portland, OregonMarubeni
36March 19, 2019Houston, TexasTokio Marine Holdings, Inc.
35March 1, 2019Charlotte, North CarolinaAsahi Kasei America, Inc.
34May 8, 2018Honolulu, HawaiiAioi Nissay Dowa Insurance
33May 2, 2018Denver, ColoradoSumitomo Corporation of Americas
32Mar. 29, 2018Portland, OregonAjinomoto Co., Inc.
31Mar. 9, 2018Nashville, TennesseeDENSO International America, Inc.
30Jan. 18, 2018Washington, DCMitsui & Co.
29Sep. 22, 2017Charlotte, North CarolinaToray Industries (America), Inc.
28Jul. 21, 2017Minneapolis, MinnesotaSumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
27Jul. 7, 2017Dallas, TexasToyota Motor Corporation
26Jun. 1, 2017Palo Alto, CaliforniaToyota Motor Corporation
25May. 25, 2017Chicago, IllinoisTOTO USA, Inc.
24May. 11, 2017Portland, OregonMeiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company
23Feb. 27, 2017Kansas City, MissouriNomura Holdings, Inc.
22Dec. 15, 2016Atlanta, GeorgiaToray Industries (America), Inc.
21Oct. 17, 2016Lexington, KentuckySuntory Holdings Limited
20Jun. 1, 2016Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaHitachi America, Ltd.
19Apr. 28, 2016 Birmingham, AlabamaThe Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company
18Mar. 23, 2016Chicago, IllinoisNippon Sharyo Ltd./Toyota Motor Corporation
17Mar. 14, 2016Honolulu, HawaiiTOTO USA, Inc.
16Feb. 11, 2016Denver, ColoradoNTT America, Ltd.
15Oct. 7, 2015Minneapolis, MinnesotaToray Industries (America), Inc.
14Sep. 11, 2015Chicago, IllinoisThe Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
13May 20, 2015Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaTokio Marine Holdings, Inc.
12Apr. 22, 2015Seattle, WashingtonANA Holdings Inc.
11Mar. 19, 2015Honolulu, HawaiiHitachi America, Ltd.
10Feb. 13, 2015Dallas, TexasToyota Motor Corporation
9Jan. 31, 2015Kansas City, MissouriHitachi America, Ltd.
8May 8, 2014Denver, ColoradoHitachi America, Ltd.
7Apr. 23, 2014St. Louis, MissouriHitachi America, Ltd.
6Feb. 27, 2014Indianapolis, IndianaToyota Motor Corporation
5Jan. 29, 2014Boston, MassachusettsThe Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
4Jan. 28, 2014Houston, TexasToshiba America, Inc.
3May 23, 2013Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaHitachi America, Ltd.
2Apr. 11, 2013Atlanta, GeorgiaToyota Motor Corporation
1Dec. 4, 2012Detroit, MichiganToyota Motor Corporation