The Japan-America Society welcomed Roland Kelts, an author of a recently-published book, "Japanamerica", a freelance journalist and a professor at University of Tokyo for an evening on the Japanese pop culture, particularly Manga and Anime.  About 40 members and non-members gathered as Kelts examined the differences between the Japanese animation production houses and the Walt Disney company with such perspectives as copyright protections and generating profits, and how Internet is playing a crucial role in helping make the Japanese pop cultures, from the latest manga comics to anime-streaming, not only make their debut in the United States but also gain strong supporters and followers among the younger generations of the Americans.  Kelts also pointed out that many of recent Japanese pop culture-imports are created by a mix of young talents from both sides of the Pacific Ocean -- not only the end products but also the process of making the products is becoming more borderless.

This program was made possible by Bruce Rutledge of Chin Music Press and City University of Bellevue.

November 28, 2006
Holiday Celebration Dinner and Auction

The Japan-America Society's Annual Holiday Celebration was held on November 28th at the Westin Seattle. Coincidently, it was hit by the snowstorm of 2006, yet it did not stop many of our members and guests from making it there and showing their support for our most important fundraising event of the year!

This year's silent auction featured many quality and popular items which were all donated by our members and various businesses from the Pacific Northwest, Canada and Japan. Our members and their guests enjoyed bidding on many travel-get-a ways, including a trip to the Sun Mountain Lodge, a weekend at the Executive Vintage Park Hotel in San Francisco, and luxurious accommodations at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo. Theatre and sports tickets were also popular, many of which were bundled with certificates from the area's most popular restaurants. The JAS Board of Directors Wine Collection showcased a record-breaking 53 wines, which were grouped into 3 separate collections -- two of which were sold in a second with the guaranteed prices. A pair of autographed baseballs by Ichiro and Johjima – a rare entry that showcased two Japanese superstars together -- generated a lot of interest and added excitement to the evening.

Dinner opened with welcoming remarks from the JAS Chair, Tom Sasaki, and the Consul-General of Japan in Seattle, the Honorable Kazuo Tanaka. Our members and their guests enjoyed viewing beautiful, designer-decorated Christmas trees encircling the Grand Ballroom while catching up with their colleagues and friends. The Evergreen Glee Club, a local Japanese men's chorus, provided the entertainment this year with a beautiful medley of old Japanese songs.

Raffle drawing was again emceed by David Lubitz, JAS Board of Director/Microsoft, and Tomoko Miwa, JAS Program Director. It featured many attractive prizes, such as 10 lb of Alaskan Red King Crab, a great holiday gift basket, and Mariners tickets. The Grand Prize, a round trip for 2 to Japan, courtesy of Northwest Airlines, went to a representative from American Family Insurance.

The Holiday Celebration adjourned at 9:00 o'clock. Despite the severe winter storm, the fundraiser was a grand success thanks to many supporters of the Japan-America Society. JAS would like to thank American Family Insurance, Kamada Foods International (America), Ltd., and Starbucks Coffee Company for the great favors, Providence O'Christmas Tree for the beautiful trees which helped make our event even more spectacular, sponsors and donors who contributed to a success of this very important event and every one of our members who supported the organization by attending the event.

November 2, 2006
Doing Business in Japan 2006:
"Compliance"

Japan-America Society presented the second annual "Doing Business in Japan" at the City University.  This year's theme was "Compliance" and the seminar presented 6 small sessions surrounding the related-subject, from the current status on E-commerce in Japan to the Japanese version of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act which is to be implemented in 2008.  The seminar was well-attended by over 100 people.  Masahiro "Max" Yoshimura, Attorney and CPA, returned as the Chair of the program and provided an overview of compliance in Japan.  The other presenters were Professor Ben Kim, Seattle University, on the Current State of E-Commerce in Japan; Atsushi Yamakoshi, Director of Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) on Japan Business Update; Takayuki Watanabe, Director of Public Relations and Marketing of JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) on New Government Resources and Programs; Trevor Boll and Swati Mehra, Principal and Senior Manager respectively at Deloitte and Touche on the Japanese Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Wistar Kay of Washington State CTED on New Business Opportunities for IT Companies Created by J-Sox, and Kim Suchomel, VP of International Division at Costco on Complying with Non-Tariff Related Trade Impediments.  Consulate General of Japan, Honorable Kazuo Tanaka made a closing remarks.  After the seminar, attendees enjoyed wine and cheese reception, provided by Deloitte and Touche.

This program was sponsored by Deloitte and Touche and JETRO.  Also co-sponsored by Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle, Washington Dept. of Community, Trade and Economic Development, International Practice section, Business Law Section and Corporate Law Department Section of Washington Sate Bar Association, Seattle Chapter and International Committee of the Washington Society of CPA, Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, The World Affairs Council, and World Trade Club.
 

October 10, 2006
Fall Meet and Greet
Top Gun Seafood Restaurant, Bellevue

Around 100 JAS members and non-members gathered at Top Gun Seafood Restaurant in Bellevue for the JAS' Fall Meet and Greet.  Everyone enjoyed Top Gun's delicious Chinese appetizers while meeting new members and catching up with old friends.
 

September 25, 2006
Global Business Forum:
JAS Welcomes New Business Conference

On September 25th, JAS welcomed visitors from the New Business Conference (NBC) to Seattle.  NBC, which marked their 2nd annual visit to Seattle, is a Japan's business association which membership consists of the country's leading companies.  They hope to build a relationship between Japan and Seattle that will eventually help small to mid-size companies make their U.S. market entries. 

Around 100 people attended to listen to 2 of the NBC members make presentations:  Hideharu Kadowaki, the Chair of Japan Research Institute, and Hiroyuki Fujiwara, Professor at Hosei University, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.  The program opened with welcome speeches from The Consulate General of Japan in Seattle, the Honorable Kazuo Tanaka and Laura Peterson, the incoming Chair of the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle and the Vice President of the Boeing Commercial Airplanes.  After the program, attendees enjoyed meeting each other at a  networking reception.

September 6, 2006
Seeking Perfection in Healthcare:
Applying the Toyota Production System to Medicine

Around 100 people gathered at the Virginia Mason Medical Center to attend its CEO and Chairman, Dr. Gary Kaplan's presentation on the Virginia Mason Production System (VMPS), which was modeled after a well-respected Toyota Production System.  The production system, which took Dr. Kaplan and fellow doctors numerous trips to Japan and Toyota Plants to learn and perfect, has been successfully implemented at the hospital's entire operation for the last 5 years.  Dr. Kaplan's passionate talk on how eliminating "muda (waste)" can improve productivity and efficiency, resulting not only less medical expense and burden on tax payers but also ultimately saving lives, left a lasting positive impression of Virginia Mason and its dedication to our community.

August 8, 2006
Japan Day at the Seattle Mariners

Japan-America Society and the Seattle Mariners joined together to bring the first annual Japan Day at the Mariners on August 8th, 2006.  Over 700 attendees got great seats and special Mariners hats by purchasing special tickets online.  Consul-General throw the opening pitch for a winning game!   Groups of Taiko Drummers opened the evening with just the right touch, and the Echo Chorus, all dressed in their Yukata, sang the National Anthem.  A series of lesson showing baseball terms in Japanese language were given on a big screen between the innings.

July 17, 2006
The 46th Annual Japan-America Society Charity Golf Tournament

The Japan-America Society's Annual Golf Tournament took place July 17, 2006 at Mill Creek Golf & Country Club for the fourth year in a row. 112 members and their guests, including the Consulate General Kazuo Tanaka and Mrs. Tanaka, participated in the competition this year, which was followed by an awards dinner. Top winners in this year's competition, which introduced a new format of "best ball, four men scramble", were Don Lorentz, Jim Fitzgerald, Doug Kemper and Jim Calderon (Low Net Team), Michi Terada and Mark Leatham (Nearest to the Pins), Ken Uchikura (Men's Longest Drive), Michi Terada (Women's Longest Drive), and Tom Broetje (Straightest Drive).  The weather was mild, the course was in great shape, and a grand time was had by all.
(Picture above from L to R: Mrs. Yoshiko Tanaka, Consul General Kazuo Tanaka, JAS President Ed Reilly, and Jeff Jacobson, NYK Line)

June 28, 2006
Professor Masaki Iino, President of Tsuda College

Around 150 people packed an auditorium of the Seattle Asian Art Museum on a sunny afternoon to listen to Professor Masako Iino, the President of Tsuda College, who spoke on the History of Japanese-Americans and their contributions to the LARA Relief Activities in the post WWII years.  The Consul General Kazuo Tanaka opened the event with a welcome remark and introduced Professor Iino.  Following the program was a reception at the beautiful Board Room in the Museum where members and non-members mingled and enjoyed themselves.

The event was co-presented by the Consulate General of Japan in Seattle.

June 15, 2006
Japan-America Society Night at the Seattle Symphony

Around 70 JAS Members, including the Consul General Tanaka and Mrs. Tanaka, the Boeing employees and their Japanese affiliates partnering for the Boeing's Dreamliner Project, and employees of the Mitsubishi Motors all gathered to attend the 2nd Annual JAS Night at the Seattle Symphony. The event kicked-off with a pre-concert reception on the Promenade Level of the Benaroya Hall.  Everyone enjoyed the night's performance featuring an amazing young artist from Germany, Julia Fischer, as well as pampered treatment with complimentary champagne and chocolate at the Founders Room during the Intermission.  The Seattle Symphony's new Japanese violinist, Ayako Gamoh, stopped by to our post-concert gathering and greeted everyone.  The night's performance was sponsored by the Boeing and Mitsubishi Motors North America, and the JAS activities were supported by Davis Wright Tremaine and Acucela.

June 1, 2006
Early Summer's Meet and Greet
at the DragonFish Asian Cafe, Downtown Seattle

Over 50 JAS members and friends gathered for the second meet and greet of the year.  Great array of tasty appetizers were nicely presented by DragonFish Asian Cafe, enhancing great conversation and networking.  JAS hopes to bring next meet and greet to the East Side (possibly Bellevue).  Look forward to meeting more members at the next meet and greet!

April 27, 2006
Dr. Ken Ruoff, Director of the Center for Japanese Studies,
Associate Professor, Portland State University

Around 30 people gathered to listen to Dr. Ken Ruoff of Portland State University speak on the Japanese monarchy and its political surroundings.  Dr. Ruoff is a recipient of Osaragi Jiroo prize for Commentary, which is equivalent to the Pulitzer Prize, in 2004 for his work on "The People's Emperor (Kokumin no tenno; Kyodo News Publishing Company)".  Dr, Ruoff focused his talk on the current debate surrounding the proposal set by Prime Minister Koizumi that would permit reign empresses and strong oppositions set by right wing parities, as well as the current emperor's effort to mend relationship with neighboring countries who were victimized by Japan during the war.

April 25, 2006
Spring Networking Event
JAS Night at the Mariners

Japan-America Society presented its first spring networking event at the Safeco Field, sponsored by Lane Powell.  The sold-out crowd of 72 JAS members and their friends gathered under a beautiful evening sky at private suites to watch the Mariners takes on the Chicago White Sox.  As a "pre-game coverage", the event kicked off with a speaker session at the Safeco's Interview Room with Masayoshi Niwa and Bob Sherwin, sports writers who extensively cover the Mariners and the Major League.  Everyone enjoyed the behind-the-scene stories and Q & A on Ichiro, Johjima, the Mariners and the recent WBC.

Everyone enjoyed the view of the field (and Seattle skyline) from the suites, catching up with friends and meeting new members.  The Mariner Moose made a surprise visit and made friends with the members.  Unfortunately, the Mariners lost to the White Sox, but everyone enjoyed the company, the speakers, the suites and the whole evening!