President’s Note for December 2023

Dear Friends,

I hope that you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season! Thank you so much for your interest and support for Japan Society’s activities over the last 12 months.

This has been a great (and very busy!) year for the Japan Society. As my first full year as president, it has also been a very gratifying year, with a record number of programs, some very successful signature events (Innovation Awards, Healthcare Conference, and Gala), and strong support from our members. 

It seems like only yesterday – and yet, also a long time ago – that we were kicking off a hectic January 2023 with 8 different events. 

I thought that pace might let up a little bit, but 2023 ended up being our busiest year ever, with more than 70 different programs and events, or an average of almost 6 activities per month! These events covered a wide range of interests – innovation, technology, healthcare, policy, economics, traditional and contemporary Japanese culture, food, language and more. 

Some highlights from this year include:

• Japanese archery – JSNC offered two excellent, sold-out, hands-on programs on kyudo (thank you to members Maria Peterson and Tim Macmillan) 
• Technology – we explored how cutting edge technology is affecting business and people alike with programs on green energy, mobility, AI, life sciences and more
• Government leaders – a series of Japanese politicians and officials joined JSNC events throughout the year
• APEC in San Francisco – we enjoyed several events with Japanese cabinet ministers, including a presentation/panel discussion with Foreign Minister Kawakami, and an opening celebration of the Japan Innovation Campus with METI Minister Nishimura
• VIP dinners – we launched a series of very popular dinners for our Leadership Circle featuring special visitors to the Bay Area and Board members who shared their expertise
• Rakugo – two different Rakugo (Japanese comedy) programs
• Community events – including the Millbrae Japanese Culture Festival, our 37th annual Friendship Cup Tennis Tournament, Japan Night at the Warriors and Giants
• Japan-based programming – JSNC helped build bridges through our programs in Japan, including a reception at Ambassador Emanuel’s residence, and two different programs with the American Chamber of Commerce (ACCJ) and two other joint events with TMIP (Tokyo Marunouchi Innovation Program), as well as an in-person workshop in Tokyo for Japanese biotech entrepreneurs
• We wrapped up our programming with our first event in the East Bay – a fun evening learning about two Japanese winemakers in the Bay Area, our host, Noria and Kazumi Wines

We also enjoyed a great Award of Honor Gala in November, at which we recognized Yoshiki, Hello Kitty, and Ira Ehrenpreis for their contributions. In spite of a last minute cancellation by Yoshiki for personal reasons, more than 280 people joined our Gala and gave generously to support our programming in 2024. Thank you to our indomitable Gala Chair, Nobuko Saito Cleary, for her tireless leadership of the event, our Gala Committee and team for pulling together an endless number of pieces, and a HUGE thank you to all of our Gala supporters!

I hope that you were able to take part in our Gala, our program and events throughout the year and, in the process, learn something new, make some good connections, and strengthen your interest in Japan. 

One sad note at the end of the year was the passing of our long-time, much beloved board member, Mr. John Thomas. John was an amazing person who was deeply loved and respected by all who knew him. He joined the JSNC board in 1997 after returning from a 5-year stay in Japan as the head of JP Morgan Trust Bank. 

John loved the people and culture of Japan, and he became a passionate supporter and board member of the Japan Society for more than 25 years. He left a lasting mark on the Society and all who worked with him, having been one of the founders of our two signature programs, the Innovation Awards and the US-Japan Healthcare Connection, and through the many people he worked with, supported and mentored during his many years of service on the board. We already miss him deeply, but we will strive to support his legacy by continuing our work to build connections between the people of the Bay Area and Japan as we go forward. 

Looking to the future, we hope to have another great year in 2024, and we look forward to seeing you at our upcoming activities. Plans for the coming month include:

• Japan Night networking event (Jan. 8) – an invite-only networking reception for people involved in healthcare
• Japanese language classes – Winter term group class enrollment is now open! Please sign up for classes that will start in January.
• Japan Outlook 2024 – our popular annual discussion of political and economic trends we expect to influence Japan in 2024. We are still finalizing the details but plan to do this program on Jan. 24 or 25.
• Japan-America Museum of San Jose – (Jan. 28) A guided tour of the wonderful museum in San Jose. Note that attendance is limited, so sign up quickly.
  

If you are interested in what we do, please consider purchasing or renewing your membership or making a donation to support our work. Whether you join as an individual member, a member of our Leadership Circle, or a corporate member, we welcome your support. If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch at any time, and, of course, you are always welcome to join our programs and activities.

Thank you again for a wonderful 2023, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Steve