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2001
Highlights of the Japan-America Society Year
2001 was another successful year for the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington. The following constitute, in the order they occurred, the major highlights of the year just completed.
Welcome Luncheon for New Consul-General
 The Japan-America Society welcomed the new Consul-General of Japan in Seattle at a sold-out luncheon in her honor at the World Trade Center West on January 30. Consul-General Fumiko Saiga, who has a long and distinguished career in diplomatic service in various posts throughout the world and in Japan, arrived in Seattle to her new post in late 2000. Consul-General Saiga addressed attendees on the subject, A Japan in Transition and Its Relations with the State of Washington.
Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle website.
Japan-Western Americas Association Conference
 The 86th Japan-Western Americas Association Conference took place in Seattle March 12-13, 2001. This year, the annual conference focused on a crucial dilemma facing all 21st Century enterprises: how can corporations keep pace organizationally with rapidly changing technology. Once again, the conference became an active arena for participants to establish contacts, share experiences and exchange ideas and visions of the future. Among those speaking were the Japanese Ambassador to the U.S., the heads of The Boeing Company, NEC, and Matsushita Heavy Industries, and senior-level executives from Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Sony, and Japan Air Lines, among others. Japan-Western Americas Association-U.S. Secretariat website.
Welcome Program for Ichiro at Safeco Field
 1800 plus individuals attended a welcoming event for the Seattle Mariners new outfielder from Japan, Ichiro Suzuki. Dignitaries from the Japanese Consulate, the City of Seattle, and King County, and Seattle Mariners officials addressed the crowd at Safeco Field. April 1 was officially declared Ichiro Day in Seattle. The event was co-sponsored by the Japan-America Society. Ichiro went on to a banner year, garnering Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, and All-Star awards while leading the Mariners to a Major League record 116 wins. Seattle Mariners website.
ACCJ President Highlights Annual Meeting
 The Japan-America Society's 2001 Annual Meeting was attended by 350 members and their guests who heard Robert F. Grondine, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). Grondine's presentation, How American Business is Faring in Japan: The Real Story, addressed the ever-evolving business environment in Japan, the many opportunities that it is presenting U.S. companies, and the policy priorities for U.S. companies. Mic Dinsmore, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Seattle, was elected President of the Board of Directors for the 2001-2002 year. American Chamber of Commerce in Japan website.
Second Annual IT Business Mission to Japan
 Our second annual IT mission to Japan featured briefings by and networking receptions with Japanese and American IT and e-business leaders to give our delegation a most practical lesson in cross-border business. Among the topics covered were web channel analysis, enabling alliances, fulfillment, data-mining, cross-selling strategies, clicks-to-bricks integration, and the other key concepts critical to a solid understanding of how the pieces of success all fit together to be successful in the Japanese market. JAS IT Business/Trade Delegations pages.
Keidanren Asks JAS Assistance
 While in Tokyo on our 2001 IT Mission, the Japan-America Society was contacted by the Keidanren to assit its upcoming West Coast IT delegation to make Seattle appointmentswith leading IT companies. JAS also sponsored a lunch for its members on June 29 with this high-level IT Mission to "study the changing U.S. IT industry in the context of a digital economy." Speaking at the luncheon were Keikichi Honda, Chairman of Sun Microsystems K.K., and Masakazu Kubota, Director of the International Economic Affairs Bureau at the Keidanren in Tokyo. Keidanren website.
Japan in the Schools' Record 2000-01 Year
Japan In The Schools represents one of the Japan-America Society's major efforts in offering educational outreach programs to the Puget Sound region. During the school year completed in June of 2001, the program visited 2,954 elementary and high school students. Eighty-one volunteer presenters visited 88 elementary school classes and 37 high school Japanese language classes throughout the Greater Puget Sound Region from October through June. The number of classes visited and the number of students participating is the most since 1997. Japan in the Schools pages.
Commemoration of 50 Years of Japan-U.S. Relations
 The Japan-America Society of the State of Washington was honored to receive a delegation on September 10 of three distinguished business leaders from Japan, each representing a different Japanese generation, to discuss the current changes the Japanese society and economy are undergoing, the opportunities and risks that such changes bring, and the implications these changes hold for Americans, their businesses, and other interests. Led by Katsuhiro Fujiwara, Managing Director of the Keidanren (Japan Federation of Economic Organizations), the three travelled to Seattle after attending ceremonies in San Francisco commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the U.S.-Japan Peace Treaty.
Yuka Amy Kawai Born October 26, 2001
 Long-time staffer Akiko Kawai left JAS in early October to prepare for the birth of her child. For over five years, Akiko was a mainstay of the staff, valued highly by the Board of Directors, fellow staff, and members alike. Among her many contributions over the years was her role in planning and programming the JAS series, Living in the U.S.A. On October 26, proud parents Tosh and Akiko Kawai announced the birth of a healthy baby girl, Yuka Amy Kawai. Living in the U.S.A. page.
Wide Variety of Programs Offered to Members
 JAS continued to offer a wide variety of interesting and germane programs to its members in 2001, including JASIGs in a number of important industries, Quarterly Business Briefings on the current state of the Japanese economy, Living in the USA programs to assist Japanese company employees to live better in Washington State, and major programs featuring New Economy Leaders in Japan such as Fujiyo Ishiguro and Roger Boisvert, and Taichi Sakaiya, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister. In the last two years, JAS has offered over 100 separate programs to its members. Past JAS Programs pages.
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