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2004
Highlights of the Japan-America Society Year
The following constitute, in the order they occurred, the major highlights of the 2004 year.
January 21, 2004
Ambassador Thomas Foley
Ambassadors Anniversary Series
The second in a series of programs to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of U.S.-Japan relations and the 80th Anniversary year of our organization's founding. This program featured Ambassador Thomas Foley who was sworn in as the 25th U.S. Ambassador to Japan on November 6, 1997, staying in his post until 2001. Prior to taking up his diplomatic post, he served as the 49th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He is currently a partner in the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., where he specializes in international affairs. U.S. Bank was the prime co-sponsor of this program featuring Ambassador Foley. Additional assistance has been provided by the University of Washington Global Business Center.
March 1, 2004
Ambassador Takakazu Kuriyama
Ambassadors Anniversary Series
The third in a series of programs to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of U.S.-Japan relations and the 80th Anniversary year of our organization's founding. This program featured Ambassador Takakazu Kuriyama, Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. from 1992 to 1995. Ambassador Kuriyama began his distinguished diplomatic career in 1954. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to the United States, he served as Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador to Malaysia, Director General of the North American Affairs Bureau, and Counselor to the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C. Prime sponsors for this program featuring Ambassador Kuriyama were the Japan Studies Program at the Uniuversity of Washington, the East Asia Center at the University of Washington, and Northwest Airlines.
March 24, 2004
Ambassador Kunihiko Saito
Ambassadors Anniversary Series
The fourth in a series of programs to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of U.S.-Japan relations and the 80th Anniversary year of our organization's founding. This program featured Ambassador Kunihiko Saito, Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. from 1995 to 1999. Ambassador Saito's distinguished career has included posts as the Ambassador to Iran, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. He is currently President of the International Friendship Exchange Council in Japan, a non-profit international exchange organization whose goal is to deepen international understanding and to promote multilateral exchanges with other countries. Prime sponsors for this program featuring Ambassador Saito were the Northwest Airlines and the Japan Studies Program at the Uniuversity of Washington.
April 22, 2004
2004 Annual Meeting
Keynote Speaker Michael Armacost
Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan
275 members and their guests heard former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Michael Armacost at the 2004 Japan-America Society Annual Meeting at Bell Harbor International Conference Center on the Seattle waterfront. A new slate of Officers and Directors was nominated by the members present. Paul Rollins, Senior Vice President at Bank of America, succeeded Chris Helm, Partner at the Seattle law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine, to the position of Chair of the Board of Directors.
April 30, 2004
Robert Whiting
The Meaning of Ichiro
As our way to commemorate the opening of baseball season, JAS presented the foremost writer on Japanese baseball, Robert Whiting, speaking about his eagerly-awaited new book, The Meaning of Ichiro: The New Wave from Japan and the Transformation of Our National Pastime. Following Whiting’s presentation, a panel, including sports columnist Art Thiel of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, baseball writer Larry Stone of the Seattle Times, and JAS members (and big-time baseball fans) Don Lorentz and Tom Sasaki, commented on the book.
June 10, 2004
Digital Networks in Asia:
Trends and Opportunities
Risaburo Nezu, a Senior Executive Fellow at Fujitsu Research Institute and a Director at METI, the Ministry of Economy and Trade's Research Institute of Economy, Trade, and Industry (RIETI); Izumi Aizu, a Principal at Asia Network Research, the Secretary General of the Asia Pacific Internet Association (APIA), and a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Global Communications (GLOCOM); and Takashi Yamakawa, a senior executive at NTT DoCoMo, and until recently the Executive Director of the i-mode Business Division of NTT DoCoMo, provided an overview of digital network growth in Asia, particularly Japan, Korea, and China, in this High Tech JASIG program. Trends in the development and adoption of network technologies, such as integration of heterogeneous networks, were also examined. In discussing the successes and failures in the Asian market, our speakers also offered their thoughts about opportunities for U.S. firms in Asia as network usage grows. This program was supported by Perkins Coie LLP.
July 19, 2004
Japan-America Society Golf Tournament
44th Annual Event at Mill Creek
The Japan-America Society's Annual Golf Tournament took place July 19, 2004 at Mill Creek Golf & Country Club for the second year in a row. 112 members and their guests participated in the competition this year, which was followed by an awards dinner. Top winners in this year's competition were Yasushi "Joe" Masaki of Nabtesco Aerospace (Low Mens Net) and Patti King of the Port of Tacoma (Low Womens Net). The weather was glorious, the course was in great shape, and a grand time was had by all.
October 7, 2004
Debbie Howard, President, ACCJ
Japan's Changing Consumer
The Japan-America Society presented a luncheon featuring Debbie Howard, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, the first speaker in the 2004-2005 speakers series, Japan Is Back. Howard concentrated her remarks on the enigmatic Japanese consumer -- long a challenge for Western marketers – who is changing in ways that bode well for foreign products and services. The program and the series is co-sponsored by the Global Business Center at the University of Washington.
October 20, 2004
Japan-America Society Welcome Luncheon
for Consul-General Kazuo Tanaka
The Japan-America Society held a welcome luncheon on October 20 for the new Consul-General of Japan in Seattle, Kazuo Tanaka. Consul-General Tanaka, who arrived in Seattle in late September to assume his new post, has a long and distinguished career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which he entered in 1969. Among his many postings have included a number at the United Nations in Geneva, Kuala Lumpur, and Tokyo, at MOFA headquarters in Tokyo, and at the Japanese embassies in Malaysia and Nigeria, as well as the Japanese Consulate-General in Toronto.
November 30, 2004
Japan-America Society
Holiday Celebration Dinner and Auction
529 members and their guests attended the Japan-America Society's annual Holiday Celebration Dinner & Auction on November 30 at the Westin Hotel Seattle's Grand Ballroom. Featuring a reception, auction, dinner, table favors, and entertainment by The Dickens Carolers and the La Primavera String Trio, this year's event also featured 25 beautiful designer-decorated holiday trees encircling the ballroom, which put all in a holiday spirit. Northwest Airlines was the Event Sponsor for the second year in a row.
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