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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160621T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160621T210000
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CREATED:20241208T212505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251105T215507Z
UID:10000163-1466532000-1466542800@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Why are Talented Young Japanese Flocking to San Francisco? – Big in Japan\, with Eriko Sekiya
DESCRIPTION:Graduate of Keio University\, worked at elite firms then started two companies of her own. Plus appearing on television and radio\, and publishing several books including a bestseller. Eriko Sekiya was a well-known successful businessperson with everything going for her in Japan\, but she gave it up to come to get a master’s degree at Stanford. This makes her one of many talented young Japanese that are flocking to the San Francisco area in recent years.\nWhy is San Francisco supplanting New York as the place that young Japanese yearn to go to? What makes the city appealing for young Japanese today? What do they hope to find here? Technology and the entrepreneurial atmosphere are certainly at the top of the list\, as well as the area’s other intangibles. And how can these young Japanese who have experienced Silicon Valley help Japan going forward?\nIn this presentation\, Eriko Sekiya will share her business journey\, and why she decided to come to the Bay Area for her next step. She’ll also talk about her experience here\, how she’s grown and what she plans to do next.\n“I think I gained an even more optimistic view on life. It’s okay to be controversial. It’s okay to be non-consensus. It’s okay to encounter conflicts. It’s okay to be different.” – Eriko Sekiya on what she learned at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.\n\nEriko Sekiya\nAfter earning a B.A. in Economics from Keio University\, Eriko Sekiya worked in Brand Management at Itochu and as a Product Manager at L’Oreal Japan where she spearheaded the global launch of two lipstick lines. She then co-founded a tutoring service\, followed by a translation company serving high-profile clients in politics\, IT\, technology\, fashion and business. This included serving as the official translator for speakers including Al Gore\, the Dalai Lama\, Mark Zuckerberg\, Sheryl Sandberg\, and Elon Musk. She earned her Master of Science in Management from Stanford in 2015 and is now planning her next step.\n \n  \n\n[tt-event url=’https://www.tickettailor.com/new-order/56050/ceff/ref/website_widget/’ minimal=’false’ bg_fill=’true’  show_logo=’true’  ] \n**No refunds issued after Tuesday\, June 14.\nOn-line registration will close at 12:00PM on Tuesday\, June 21. No walk-ins will be accepted for this event.  \n\nSchedule: \n\n6:00 PM – 6:45 PM       Networking/Registration\n6:45 PM – 8:00 PM       Presentation with audience Q&A\n8:00 PM – 9:00 PM       Networking & Reception\n\nLight appetizers and drinks provided \n\nThe event venue has been provided by generous support from:
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/why-are-talented-young-japanese-flocking-to-san-francisco-big-in-japan-with-eriko-sekiya/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Politics/Policy
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20160623T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20160623T193000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001525Z
UID:10000162-1466704800-1466710200@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:FUROSHIKI WORKSHOP: The Art of Japanese Gift Wrapping with Fabric-Traditional and Modern Adaptations
DESCRIPTION:The Japan Society is proud to present our Japanese cultural workshop on Thursday\, June 23rd from 6 p.m. at CONDE HOUSE in San Francisco Design Center. Join us to explore the history\, culture\, techniques and intentions behind gift wrapping with fabric in Japan.\nIn this hands on workshop featuring guest artist\, Megumi Inouye\, you will learn both traditional and modern styles of folding\, twisting\, and tying fabric to wrap everything from boxes\, circular objects\, bottles and ceramic objects while experiencing its application to today’s everyday lifestyle.\nThe workshop will take place in a Machiya inspired showroom reflecting the feel of a traditional Japanese Merchant House blending the history of ancient workshop spaces with today’s minimalist sensibilities. Special thank you to CONDE HOUSE\, purveyors of innovative contemporary furniture and designs of Japanese craftsmanship encouraging community and connection through sharing of their live/work space.\nPlease take this opportunity where you are invited to learn\, participate\, be inspired and meet others who share an appreciation for Japanese cultural traditions. Tea and light refreshments served.\nMs. Megumi Inouye is a second generation local Japanese American gift wrapping artist whose work is guided by her Japanese heritage placing value on thought and intention behind packaging symbolized by artful presentation and repurposing materials. She shares her passion\, ideas and techniques for gift wrapping through workshops\, demonstrations\, exhibitions and hosting events. \n\nDate & Time:\nThursday\, June 23\, 2016\n5:45 – 6:00 pm Check-in\n6:00 – 7:30 pm Program\nLocation:\nCONDE HOUSE [map]\nNo.2 Henry Adams St.\, Showroom 152\nSan Francisco\, CA 94103\nCost:\n$25 Japan Society Member | $32 Non-Member\n($5 material fees are included)\nCONDE HOUSE is noted for exceptional design and manufacturing quality as expressed in its line of contemporary furnishings for distinguished homes and contract market for 48 years. Their new showroom welcomes everyone interested in Japanese design with a modern aesthetic. Machiya\, or ancient artisan merchant houses\, were developed hundreds of years ago\, to combine all aspects of life and work into one deep space.\nThis event has limited space and registration is first come first served. Please register early to ensure your spot in the workshop. The deadline to RSVP for this event is Tuesday\, June 21st. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after this date.\n[tt-event url=’https://www.tickettailor.com/new-order/55228/b5de/ref/website_widget/’ minimal=’false’ bg_fill=’true’  show_logo=’true’  ]
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/furoshiki-workshop-the-art-of-japanese-gift-wrapping-with-fabric-traditional-and-modern-adaptations/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Community
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160628T173000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160628T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212504Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001524Z
UID:10000160-1467135000-1467147600@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Innovation Salon: Turning Hours to Dollars: Opportunities in the On-Demand Economy
DESCRIPTION:ATTENTION: NEW DATE\, SPEAKER for the Innovation Salon: On-Demand Economy  \n\n\n \n \nMuch has been written about the “solopreneur” – the modern virtual entrepreneur. Some call this the gig economy or 1099 economy or on-demand economy. In the US\, all employment growth since 2000 has been in the 1099 or part-time sector\, and services such as Uber and Lyft are taking advantage of this – essentially\, helping part-timers convert their finite hours into precious dollars. Providers can market the skills they have today\, such as driving or repair skills; but how do they acquire the skills of tomorrow?\nGoogle has launched two nanodegrees to help novice coders learn Android\, including a new Android Basics nanodegree last week!\nSince 1990\, use of a part-time labor force in Japan has grown\, and now some 40% of workers are temp or contract employees. Thanks to the growth in 1099s\, the US has now “caught up” with Japan\, and there’s opportunity to share best practices between the two countries. Can part-timers in Japan be tapped into by programs like Google’s to unlock new growth and expertise? Can full-time employers in Japan help their employees acquire new and essential skills for the digital economy?\nIn this program\, Google’s Shanea King-Roberson and analyst and author Michi Kaifu of Enotech Consulting share their insights on providing essential skills for the on-demand economy\, and how that can unlock growth in Japan.\nInnovation Salons are periodic programs set in an intimate and interactive setting that explore current developments in Japan – U.S. innovation and entrepreneurship. These Salons\, offered by the Japan Society of Northern California in cooperation with Stanford’s US-Asia Technology Management Center\, complement the annual Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium held at Stanford University.\n\nSpeakers: \nMichi Kaifu\, CEO\, Enotech Consulting\nMichi has over twenty years of international business development and consulting experience in the wireless and telecommunications industries.  Michi formed ENOTECH Consulting in 1999\, and since then\, have advised numerous companies in the U.S. and Japan\, in their global strategy. In 2008\, her first book “Paradaisu Sakoku” (パラダイス鎖国）was published in Japan. She currently writes a monthly column “Tech Mom’s New Wave from Silicon Valley” on Nikkei Business Online\, one of the top Japanese publication for business executives\, as well as business trend reports on “WirelessWire News”\, wireless industry publication\, from time to time. A second book\, “The Rulers of Big Data” (ビッグデータの覇者たち)\, was published in 2013. Previously\, Michi worked at a start-up mobile carrier\, NTT America\, Bain & Co.\, and Honda Motor.\n \nShanea King-Roberson\, Program Manager\, Developer Products\, Google \nShanea is a program manager at Google where she spearheads complex technology programs from Android to Internet of Things to Tech Entrepreneurship. She specializes in holistic programs that effectively balance budgets\, stakeholder needs and those pesky schedules that never work out in the ever-changing world of technology. Prior to Google Shanea started a digital marketing agency helping women entrepreneurs\, speakers and authors build their businesses online. Prior to that Shanea was a program analyst for the State of California. Shanea is extremely passionate about helping young\, rockstar women achieve their business and professional goals.\n \nModerator:\n\nJon Metzler\, Founder and President\, Blue Field Strategies\nJon provides a variety of US and Asian technology\, telecommunications and media clients with business\, strategic and regulatory consulting services\, including market analysis\, due diligence\, business development\, PR and regulatory advocacy\, and executive education. Jon has new business creation experience in print\, TV\, services\, edtech\, wireless broadband\, wireless location\, and events.  Jon is also a Lecturer in the MBA program at the Haas School of Business\, and a member of the board of the Japan Society of Northern California.\n\n \n[tt-event url=’https://www.tickettailor.com/new-order/52102/f99e/ref/website_widget/’ minimal=’false’ bg_fill=’true’ show_logo=’true’ ]\n \nLocation:\nDG717\n717 Market Street\nSan Francisco\, CA 94103\n \nProgram Schedule:\n5:30 – 6:15 PM – Registration/networking\n6:15 – 8:00 PM – Program\n8:00 – 9:00 PM – Reception/networking\nLight appetizers and drinks provided \n \nTickets:\nCost: \n\n$15 per person for Japan Society Members & Students w/ ID\n$30 per person for Non-members\n\nWalk-ins: \n\n$40 per person (cash or credit accepted at the door)\n\n\nThe event venue has been provided by generous support from: \n \n\n\n\nAdditional Support provided by the 2015 Innovation Award Symposium Sponsors:\n \n\nMUFG UnionBank\nSalesforce\nUnited Airlines\nMiner Foundation\nMorgan Lewis\nBNY Mellon \nDeloitte\nMartingale Asset Management\nNTT Data\nSephora\nTakeda\nTECDIA\nWells Fargo
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/innovation-salon-turning-hours-to-dollars-opportunities-in-the-on-demand-economy/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160629T163000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160629T183000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212510Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001526Z
UID:10000164-1467217800-1467225000@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:JAPAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE UPDATE – PANEL AND RECEPTION
DESCRIPTION:Stewardship in Japan: Resolution for Revolution\nThe publication of Japan’s Corporate Governance Code in 2015 capped a long list of capital market revitalization efforts\, including the introduction of a Stewardship Code. The Stewardship Code outlines the responsibilities of institutional investors to enhance the medium- to long-term investment return for their clients/beneficiaries through constructive engagement (dialogue) with portfolio companies. There are over 200 signatories to Japan’s Stewardship Code\, including Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). How are asset managers fulfilling their responsibilities related to the Stewardship Code and what changes have resulted from increased engagement? What plans does the GPIF have to drive further engagement and increase principles of responsible investment in Japan? We hope you can join this event to hear first-hand from these thought leaders about the most recent developments\, challenges\, opportunities and plans for the future.\nPanelists\n \n \nHiromichi Mizuno\nExecutive Managing Director and CIO\, Government Pension Investment Fund\nMr. Hiromichi Mizuno joined Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund in 2015 and serves as the Executive Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer. Previously\, he was a Partner at Collar Capital\, a London based private-equity firm. Before joining Collar Capital\, he held senior positions at Sumitomo Trust & Banking Co.\, Ltd.  Read more…\n \nJamie Allen\nFounding Secretary General\, ACGA\nMr. Allen is the founding Secretary General of the Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA). He is a published author and has more than 28 years’ experience as a writer\, editor and analyst covering Asian business\, finance and economics from Hong Kong.  Read more… \n  \nTheresa J. Whitmarsh\nExecutive Director\, Washington State Investment Board\nTheresa J. Whitmarsh is Executive Director of the Washington State Investment Board\, one of the United States’ leading institutional investors\, managing over $103 billion of state pension\, insurance\, and other assets. WSIB is a leader in private asset investing\, with private equity\, real estate\, and tangible assets comprising 40 percent of its retirement portfolio.   Read more…\n \nTracy Gopal\nModerator\nTracy Gopal currently serves the Chairperson of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Japan Society of Northern California. Most recently\, Ms. Gopal was part of the Strategic Research team at ISS\, where she published papers on various governance topics including Japan Governance Reform. In this role\, she also worked closely with the core research team on US and Japan proxy research.  Read more…\n[tt-event url=’https://www.tickettailor.com/new-order/56626/966f/ref/website_widget/’ minimal=’false’ bg_fill=’true’  show_logo=’true’  ]\nNOTE: \n\nSpace is limited\nPlease register early\nKindly allow extra time to check-in with security\nLight appetizers and drinks provided
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/japan-corporate-governance-update-panel-and-reception/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160722T133000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160722T180000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212433Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001517Z
UID:10000153-1469194200-1469210400@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:2016 Japan-US Innovation Awards Symposium
DESCRIPTION: \n \n \n \nEmphasizing the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship\, this event – now in its sixth year – takes on even greater prominence.  Since inception\, the Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Initiative has fostered constructive interaction between Japan and the San Francisco/Silicon Valley innovation & entrepreneurship ecosystem.\nThe 2016 Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium will be held Friday\, July 22\, 2016 at the Stanford University Arrillaga Alumni Center from 1:30 – 6:30 p.m.  The Symposium is offered by the Japan Society of Northern California in cooperation with the Stanford University US–Asia Technology Management Center.\nJohn V. Roos\, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan and General Partner\, Geodesic Capital\, will provide welcoming remarks.  Ari Horie\, Founder & CEO\, Women’s Startup Lab\, will give the keynote address on “Breathing New Life into Innovation.”\nIn addition\, the Japan- U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium will include presentation of the Emerging Leader Award to Mercari\, Inc. (Japan) and Dropbox (U.S.).\nFive exciting Japanese start-up companies will be recognized in the Innovation Showcase portion of the Innovation Awards Symposium. These companies include: Axelspace\, Floadia Corporation\, Preferred Networks\, Inc\, Spiber\, Inc.\, and Xenoma Inc.\nSymposium attendees also will have the opportunity to see first-hand the products offered by the 7 companies being honored\, plus an unmatched opportunity to network with leaders who are active at the intersection of Japanese creativity and San Francisco/Silicon Valley entrepreneurship and innovation.\n\nVisit  www.usjinnovate.org for more info!
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/2016-japan-us-innovation-awards-symposium/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160730T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160730T153000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212510Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001526Z
UID:10000165-1469887200-1469892600@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Author event w/ Romulus Hillsborough on The Ryoma Phenomenon
DESCRIPTION:The Japan Society of Northern California and Kinokuniya Bookstore in Japantown will host writer Romulus Hillsborough on Saturday\, July 30. Mr. Hillsborough will speak about the life and legacy of Sakamoto Ryoma\, a beloved and popular figure in Japanese history. \nSakamoto Ryoma\, a Japanese prominent figure in the Bakumatsu period in Japan (1853 – 1867)\, continues to be featured in books\, comics\, TV shows\, and film as his personality has become what some would call a phenomenon. At this event\, you can learn how Sakamoto Ryoma\, starting from a humble beginning to becoming a revolutionary leader\, contributed heavily to Japan’s history and modernization. Mr. Hillsborough brings many years of expertise in research and writing about the political landscape and vital figures of the Meiji era and modern Japan and will be signing his books\, including Ryoma: Life of a Renaissance Samurai\, the only biographical novel of Ryoma in English.\n\nDate & Time: Saturday\, July 30 at 2:00 PM\nLocation: Kinokuniya Bookstore\n 1581 Webster St. San Francisco\, CA 94115\nThis event is free and open to the public
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/author-event-w-romulus-hillsborough-on-the-ryoma-phenomenon/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160831T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160831T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001527Z
UID:10000166-1472666400-1472677200@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Big in Japan: Blue Bottle Coffee’s Japan Journey  with Founder & CEO\, James Freeman
DESCRIPTION:photo credit: Andrew Curry \nBay Area coffee legend Blue Bottle Coffee is known for its delicious coffee and aesthetic sensibilities.  Over the years\, many visiting Japanese coffee enthusiasts have fallen in love with it\, and now they can get their Blue Bottle fix closer to home\, as the company opened its first two cafes in Tokyo last year\, with a third cafe opened at Shinjuku station early 2016\, and an opening in Roppongi scheduled for the fall.\nEschewing the typical franchising route\, Blue Bottle has taken the unusual approach of entering the Japanese market with full ownership of its operations there. This enables the company to have greater control and to ensure the authenticity of its coffee in Japan.  Appreciative Japanese fans have responded by flocking to Blue Bottle Coffee in Tokyo\, waiting up to two hours for a coffee.\nEntering the Japanese market had been a longtime dream of Blue Bottle’s founder James Freeman\, an enthusiastic fan of Japanese culture. Blue Bottle uses a lot of Japanese equipment\, and its approach to coffee has a lot in common with Japan’s tradition of craftsmanship. James has been spending a lot of time in Japan in connection with the company’s entry there\, giving him even more opportunities to connect with the culture.\n\nIn this presentation\, James will share the company’s story of its Japan market entry\, including what adjustments they made to Japanese culture (and what they didn’t change) and what’s been the most interesting and surprising in the company’s experience so far. James will also share what he loves about Tokyo\, the inspiration he draws from Japan’s kissaten culture\, and how he embraces the Japanese concept of kodawari.\n\nJames Freeman:\n\nPrior to opening Blue Bottle Coffee\, James Freeman was a San Francisco-based freelance clarinetist. He opened Blue Bottle in the summer of 2002 in a 186-square-foot converted potting shed in Oakland\, California. James is the author of The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee\, which was published by 10 Speed Press. He has been Imbibe Magazine’s coffee professional of the year and one of Fast Company Magazine’s 100 most creative people in business.\n\nBlue Bottle Coffee now has 26 cafes and four roasteries split between the San Francisco Bay Area\, New York City\, Los Angeles\, and Tokyo. Blue Bottle has been featured in national and international press including ABC\, NBC\, The New York Times\, The Wall Street Journal\, GQ\, and Casa Brutus.\nJames lives a block from Alamo Square in San Francisco with his son Dashiell\, daughter Linden\, and his wife Caitlin\, whom he met while making coffee at the Berkeley farmers’ market.\n  \n\nSchedule: \n\n6:00 PM – 6:45 PM       Networking/Registration\n6:45 PM – 8:00 PM       Presentation with audience Q&A\n8:00 PM – 9:00 PM       Networking & Reception\n\nLight appetizers and soft drinks provided \n\n\nPurchase Tickets: \nPowered by Eventbrite\n\n\n TO ATTEND AT MEMBER PRICE\, JOIN HERE\n \n\nNo refunds after Wednesday\, August 24\nOnline registration closes at 12:00pm on Wednesday\, August 31\nWalk-ins accepted at $25 per person (New discounted price!)\n\n\nJapan Society Strategic Partner Event Sponsor
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/big-in-japan-blue-bottle-coffees-japan-journey-with-founder-ceo-james-freeman/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160913T093000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160913T173000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001527Z
UID:10000167-1473759000-1473787800@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:One-Day “Director Boot Camp” Program - Training for Prospective Directors of Japanese Boards
DESCRIPTION:The Japan Society of Northern California and The Board Director Training Institute of Japan (BDTI) are pleased to co-sponsor a one-day course providing “director training” for prospective members of Japanese public and private boards. This one-day intensive program\, which is offered regularly by BDTI in Japan\, teaches participants key legal and corporate governance knowledge needed to serve on\, report to\, or analyze boards in Japan. The course consists of lectures interspersed with time for interactive discussion and Q&A about real-life situations\, and how to handle them. Everyone will have a chance to learn from each others’ experiences\, as well as from BDTI. The course will cover topics such as: \n\nIntroduction to corporate governance\nThe role of directors and the board\nWhat is required of directors under the Company Law?\nLegal and liability issues\, and how to handle them\nDirector duties and conflict-of-interest situations\nStatutory auditors\, internal control\, and the audit process\nThe role of the board in strategy and risk management\nJapan’s new corporate governance code\nBest practices\, committees\, and succession planning\nChanging “corporate governance culture” in organizations\n\nVenue: Morgan\, Lewis & Bockius LLP | One Market\, Spear Street Tower\, 28th Fl. | San Francisco\, CA 94105\nDate:  Tuesday\, September 13\, 2016\nTime: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.\nInstructor: Nicholas Benes\, Representative Director\, BDTI; Chair of the Growth Strategy Task Force\, American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ); proposer of Japan’s Corporate Governance Code.\nNicholas Benes (Summary CV) \nMr. Benes received his B.A. in political science from Stanford University\, and a JD-MBA degree from UCLA\, after which he worked at JP Morgan for 11 years. He is an inactive member of the bar in California and New York\, and is certified as a securities salesman in London and Japan.  Read more…\nPast participants of this course include: \n\nBill Wilder\, External Director and Member of the Audit Committee\, Monex Group (JPX8698); Director\, GI Capital; formerly President and CIO\, Nikko Asset Management\nGeorge Olcott\, Outside Director at The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company (JPX8750)\, Denso Corporation (JPX6902)\, and Hitachi Chemical Company\, Ltd. (JPX4217; Audit Committee Member)\nMichael Alfant\, Fusion Systems\, Chairman and CEO; Independent Director\, Healios (JPX4593) and Newport; ACCJ\, President Emeritus; multiple past outside director positions\nTom Eastling\, Representative Executive Officer\, Chief Financial Officer at GNI Group Ltd. (JPX2160)\nNaoji Kato\, President\, Imperial Kitchen; formerly Director\, Nichirei Foods\, Inc.\nGerhard Fasol\, CEO at Eurotechnology Japan KK; Outside Director and Member of the Audit Committee at GMO Cloud KK (JPX3788\nRoyanne Doi\, Corporate Chief Ethics Officer and Vice President\, Prudential Financial\, Inc.\n\nCost of the course:    $875.00 (lunch box will be provided)\nMethod of Payment:  Please make check payable to the “Japan Society of Northern California”\nRefund:                         No refunds issued on/after Monday\, August 29\, 2016\nRegistration:              Please register by accessing and completing the following form: registration form \n                              Email it back to etanaka@usajapan.org . \n                                    Due to the venue’s limited capacity\, attendees will be admitted on a first-come\, first-served basis. \nWe have extended the date to receive the Payment & Registration Form by Friday\, September 2\, 2016. \n \n\n  \nThe event venue has been provided by generous support from:
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/one-day-director-boot-camp-program-training-for-prospective-directors-of-japanese-boards/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Arts & Culture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160920T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160920T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001529Z
UID:10000170-1474394400-1474405200@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Big in Japan: Bringing authentic ramen to the Bay Area\, with Abram Plaut of Mensho Tokyo Ramen and Ramen Beast
DESCRIPTION:Don’t make the mistake of looking at the bowls of steaming noodles on Abram Plaut’s Instagram while hungry – this ramen connoisseur loves to introduce people to Japan’s most delicious ramen. And he knows where to find it! Tokyo-based Plaut has eaten thousands of bowls of ramen\, appears in the Japanese media as a ramen expert\, and is creating an app based on his blog called Ramen Beast.\nThis year\, San Francisco native Plaut has helped bring Tokyo’s beloved Mensho Ramen to his hometown\, where it’s been receiving rave reviews and generating long lines of customers.\nIn this sure-to-be-fascinating talk as part of the Society’s Big in Japan speaker series\, Plaut will share the story of how he came to be a mover and shaker in Tokyo’s ramen world\, the fine points of ramen connoisseurship (including the dead giveaways of a great bowl of ramen) and the story of Mensho’s journey to San Francisco and its experiences here.\nThis talk is not to be missed for anyone who wants to enhance their appreciation of ramen and learn more about how this quintessentially Japanese dish fits into the Bay Area’s food culture.\n“Paramount above all else is the harmony and balance of the five elements of ramen: sauce (tare)\, soup\, toppings\, noodles and oil. The explosive flavors occurring from the combination of these five elements into one bowl is the true birth of ramen.  The ramen cook pours his love into the ramen. The customer is embraced and moved by that love. This is the definition of true ramen.” – Mensho Tokyo Ramen owner Tomoharu Shono\n \nAbram Plaut\n\nPlaut got his first taste of “real” ramen when he was an exchange student in Kanagawa Prefecture. Since prior to that he had only known instant ramen\, the noodle shop near his dorm was a revelation. He moved to Tokyo twelve years ago and started a blog featuring his favorite ramen\, which attracted the attention of the Japanese media.  While writing a column for Japan’s Weekly Playboy magazine\, Plaut met Tomoharu Shono\, a star in the ramen world and proprietor of a 6-shop chain in Tokyo. Plaut persuaded Shono that there was room in the Bay Area food scene for Mensho’s approach to ramen…and the rest is history!\n  \n\nSchedule: \n\n6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Networking/Registration\n6:45 PM – 8:00 PM Presentation with audience Q&A\n8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Networking & Reception\n\nLight appetizers and drinks provided\n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets: \n\nPowered by Eventbrite\n\n\nTO ATTEND AT MEMBER PRICE\, JOIN HERE \n\nNo refunds after Tuesday\, September 13\nOnline registration closes at 10:30am on Tuesday\, September 20\nNo walk-ins accepted\n\n\nJapan Society Strategic Partner Event Sponsor \n \n\nThe event venue has been provided by generous support from:
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/big-in-japan-bringing-authentic-ramen-to-the-bay-area-with-abram-plaut-of-mensho-tokyo-ramen-and-ramen-beast/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Arts & Culture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20160921T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20160921T203000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212524Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251105T215633Z
UID:10000171-1474480800-1474489800@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Privacy and Security in A Digital World:  Latest Trends in Cybersecurity in Japan and the US
DESCRIPTION:Whether it is the role of government in compelling tech companies to unlock technology or provide access to data\, the controversy swirling around Secretary Clinton’s emails or the frustration at having one’s email account hacked\, finding the right balance between privacy\, security and convenience has become increasingly difficult in our digital world.  Silicon Valley companies lay both at the heart of the controversy and will also be key to a solution that will certainly require the Bay Area’s unparalleled technological prowess and entrepreneurship.\nHow economically powerful\, democratic nations like the US and Japan face these challenges today will have long-lasting socio-economic implications for our citizens and for the world. The issue is timely. Japan has just passed an historic new privacy law and is working to implement it.  Moreover\, it faces considerable cybersecurity risks as it prepares for the 2020 Olympics.  The US will have a new Administration in five months that will need to tackle quickly this set of issues which relate to fight against terrorism as well as the country’s global competitiveness.\nDespite the fact that the US and Japan come at these challenges from very different social and historical perspectives\, can they find some common ground to protect citizens’ privacy and data while maintaining an open internet and a dynamic competitive market place?\nPlease come engage with high level experts from Japan and the US in cybersecurity and privacy protection as they discuss the latest trends in Japan and the US.  William Saito\, an American entrepreneur with long experience in Japan\, currently is a senior policy adviser to Prime Minister Abe and working closely with the Abe Administration on a number of initiatives to spur innovation\, including in cybersecurity.  Morgan Lewis partner Mark Krotoski is one of the America’s most foremost legal expert on cybersecurity and privacy protection and brings a wealth of experience from his decades working in the government at both the state and federal level and in private practice.\nSpeakers:\nWilliam H. Saito\nOne of Nikkei’s “100 Most Influential People for Japan\,” Was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 1998\, and was widely recognized as an authority on cyber security. In 2004 he sold his company to Microsoft\, moved to Tokyo\, and founded InTecur\, a venture capital firm. In 2011\, Saito was named CTO of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission. In 2012\, he was appointed to a council on national strategy which reported directly to the Prime Minister. Active in the World Economic Forum and consults for several national governments. Currently\, he is the Special Advisor to the Cabinet Office for the Government of Japan. A TV commentator\, newspaper columnist and author. His best-selling The Team (Nikkei BP) appeared in 2012.\n\nMark L. Krotoski\nMark L. Krotoski represents and advises clients on antitrust cartel investigations; cybersecurity and privacy matters; trade secret\, economic espionage\, fraud\, and foreign corrupt practices cases; and government investigations. With nearly 20 years of experience as a federal prosecutor and a leader in the US Department of Justice (DOJ)\, Mark provides clients with a unique blend of litigation and investigative experience. He has tried 20 cases to verdict and successfully argued appeals before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth and Sixth Circuits.\n  \n\nSchedule: \n\n6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Networking/Registration\n6:30 PM – 7:45 PM Program\n7:45 PM – 8:30 PM Networking \n\nLight appetizers and drinks provided\n  \n\nPurchase Tickets:\n \n\n\nClick here to buy tickets\nSell tickets online with Ticket Tailor\n\n\n\nTO ATTEND AT MEMBER PRICE\, JOIN HERE \n\nNo refunds after Wednesday\, September 14\nOnline registration closes at 11:00am on Wednesday\, September 21\nWalk-ins accepted at $20.00 per person\n\n\n\n\nThe event venue has been provided by generous support from:
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/privacy-and-security-in-a-digital-world-latest-trends-in-cybersecurity-in-japan-and-the-us/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Politics/Policy
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20161009T090000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20161009T130000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001528Z
UID:10000168-1476003600-1476018000@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:The 28th US - Japan Friendship Cup Tennis Tournament - POSTPONED UNTIL 2017-
DESCRIPTION:The Japan Society is excited to announce the  \n28th US-Japan Friendship Cup Tennis Tournament! \nThe Japan Society of Northern California is proud to present the 28th US – Japan Friendship Cup Tennis Tournament. Started in 1987\, this friendly tournament was launched to build friendships between the peoples of Japan and the United States on the courts. The perpetual Consular Cup\, which was donated to the tournament in 1990 by the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco\, will be awarded to the winner.\n1st place winner takes home the Consular Cup and a 1 month “Executive Club” membership to SF Bay Club!\nVenue: Bay Club San Francisco | 645 – 5th Street\, San Francisco\, CA 94107\nDate: Sunday\, October 9\, 2016\nTime: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.\nNote: This event is limited to 50 participants.  Please read carefully and register early to ensure your place.  \nCost to Play: \n\n$55 JSNC members | $85 Non-members       \n\nJSNC memberships start as low as $35!  \nTo join\, please visit: https://www.usajapan.org/support/individual-membership/ \nRegistration Deadline:  \nPlease reserve your spot by returning the completed application form (below) & payment no later than Friday\, September 23\, 2016.  Applications not received by September 23\, 2016 will not be considered. Submitting your application before the deadline does not guarantee your participation in the tournament\, as participation is first come\, first served. We will confirm participation by email prior to the tournament. \nRegistration Form:  Please register by accessing and completing the following form: registration form\nRefunds: Refunds will not be granted after MONDAY\, October 3\, 2016\nSchedule: \n8:30am – Registration begins \n9:00am – Opening Ceremony and Warm – up \n10:00am – 12:30pm  Tournament \n12:30pm – Lunch \n1:00pm – Closing Ceremony and Raffle winners are announced \nOther Information: \n\nBBQ lunch is included with ticket purchase\nMatches will be men’s/women’s/mixed doubles; your partner will change each round. The doubles partner will be decided by drawing lots\, there will be no pre-arrangements.\nEach player plays a total of 4 sets\, each set consisting of 8 games (a total of 32 games).\nThe player with the most number of winning games out of 32 games is the winner.\nPlayers must be 18 or older to participate. All skill levels are welcome.\nThis is a friendship tournament with the intention of enjoying tennis with players of all skill levels. Please note that this is not a competitive USTA tournament.\nThere will be an award ceremony after the tournament\, so participants are asked to stay until the end of the event.\nWe will confirm your participation by e-mail prior to the tournament. Players participate at their own risk. The Japan Society and Bay Club San Francisco Tennis will not be held responsible for any injury or accident sustained while playing in the tournament.\n\n[tt-event url=’https://www.tickettailor.com/new-order/63132/4753/ref/website_widget/’ minimal=’false’ bg_fill=’true’  show_logo=’true’  ]\nThis event is held in cooperation with the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco.\nPlease contact David Dow at (415)986-4383 or ddow@usajapan.org for more information.
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/the-28th-us-japan-friendship-cup-tennis-tournament-postponed-until-2017/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20161012T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20161012T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212524Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001530Z
UID:10000172-1476295200-1476306000@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Creating the Next Biomedical Powerhouse in Japan
DESCRIPTION:Despite groundbreaking technological innovations in biotech and medicine\, Japan still faces challenges in becoming a world leader in biotech and medicine. \nOn Wednesday\, October 12th\, Nobel Prize Winner\, Dr. Shinya Yamanaka will be the keynote speaker for a panel discussing these issues and how Silicon Valley entrepreneurship can help to bring this technology to market.  He and a panel of senior executives and experts will discuss how Japan and Silicon Valley together can build the next biomedicine powerhouse.  \nInnovation Salons are periodic programs set in an intimate and interactive setting that explore current developments in Japan – U.S. innovation and entrepreneurship. These Salons\, offered by the Japan Society of Northern California in cooperation with Stanford’s US-Asia Technology Management Center\, complement the annual Japan – U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium held at Stanford University. \nKEYNOTE SPEAKER\nShinya Yamanaka\, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application  \nProfessor Shinya Yamanaka is most recognized for his discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)\, which are differentiated cells that have been reprogrammed to the pluripotent state. He is Director of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA)\, which was founded in 2008 in response to his discovery\, at Kyoto University and Senior Investigator at the Gladstone Institutes. \nSince his breakthrough finding\, he has been the recipient of many prestigious awards including the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award\, the 100th Imperial Prize and Japan Academy Prize\, the Wolf Prize in Medicine and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. The significance of iPSC was culminated with Dr. Yamanaka being awarded the Nobel Prize in 2012. \n  \nDISTINGUISHED PANELISTS:\nGary W. Cleary\, Cape Theraputics \nDr. Gary W. Cleary is an accomplished entrepreneur and world renowned scientist in the field of drug delivery systems and polymer technologies\, having founded and co-founded companies and held management positions at many of the leading pharmaceutical companies. He was a founder of Cygnus\, Inc. and Corium International\, Inc. and earlier held research and management positions at ALZA Corporation\, Key Pharmaceuticals and Genentech\, as well as the U.S. Public Health Service and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Cleary was among the first researchers to determine and investigate the development of drug delivery systems for large molecular weight biomolecules. Read  more … \nThomas Novak\, Cellular Dynamics International \nDr. Tom Novak is Vice President\, Strategic Partnerships\, at Cellular Dynamics International (CDI) – A FUJIFILM Company\, the world’s leading supplier of stem cell-derived\, terminally differentiated cells. In addition\, he is the Principle Investigator on CDI’s $16M grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to reprogram samples from 3000 patients with a variety of multigenic disorders. Prior to joining CDI in 2012\, Dr. Novak was Senior VP of Research and Development at Fate Therapeutics\, a San Diego-based biotech developing small molecules and biologics to induce proliferation and differentiation of adult stem cells to replace tissue lost to aging or disease.  Read more … \nRobert Kneller\, University of Tokyo\nFrom 1988 to 1997\, Professor Kneller worked in cancer research in the US National Institutes of Health and then was responsible for the clinical trial agreements under which NIH and private companies cooperate to develop NIH-discovered cancer therapies. In 1997\, he went to Japan to study its system of industry-university cooperation and since 1998 has been a professor at the University of Tokyo doing research that compares in Japan and America the roles of entrepreneurship\, intellectual property\, and academic research funding in the development of university discoveries. Read more … \n\nMODERATOR:\nRichard B. Dasher\, Stanford University\nDr. Richard Dasher has directed the US-Asia Technology Management Center since 1994 and served concurrently as Executive Director of the Center for Integrated Systems (now renamed as the Stanford SystemX Alliance) since 1998. He holds Consulting Professor appointments in the Departments of Electrical Engineering (technology management) and East Asian Studies (Japanese business). From 2004\, Dr. Dasher became the first non-Japanese person to join the governance of a Japanese national university\, serving on the Board of Directors of Tohoku University and continuing on their Management Council until 2011. He is a member of the Program Committee of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) of MEXT and is on the international advisory committee to the Japan Science and Technology Agency. \n \nSchedule: \n\n6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Networking/Registration\n6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Program\n8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Networking\n\nLight appetizers and drinks provided\n \n\n\nClick here to buy tickets\nSell tickets online with Ticket Tailor\n\n\n\nTO ATTEND AS MEMBER PRICE\, JOIN HERE\nNo Refunds after Wednesday\, October 5\nOn line registration closes at 9:55 a.m. on Wednesday\, October 12\nWalk-ins not accepted \n\nThe event venue has been provided by generous support from:
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/creating-the-next-biomedical-powerhouse-in-japan/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Arts & Culture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20161026T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20161026T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212529Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001533Z
UID:10000174-1477504800-1477515600@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Big in Japan: Levent Arabaci on Implementing Culture Change at a Large Japanese Company
DESCRIPTION:In recent years\, many of the large firms that historically were the foundation of the Japanese economy have been losing their competitive edge and seen their market shares slipping. Determined to avoid having Hitachi suffer the same fate\, CEO Hiroaki Nakanishi decided that it needed to change the way that it managed its people and modernize its HR systems.\nThat is easier said than done\, for a company with nearly 1000 subsidiaries (each with its own separate HR system) and hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide. The company tapped Levent Arabaci\, one of the leaders in its U.S. operations\, to become EVP of Human Resources at the parent company\, and help to lead the HR transformation.\nSo far the project has involved mapping 50\,000 of the company’s managers into a global grading system\, which links to compensation and is a step away from the outdated seniority-based wage model. An HR system from Workday was selected and is being gradually rolled out throughout the company. This project has gained significant attention in Japan\, and all eyes are on Hitachi to see if its HR transformation will enable it to spur innovation.\nChanging the way people are managed and rewarded represents a significant cultural change for Hitachi\, and the process has not necessarily been a simple one. This talk will be a rare opportunity to get an inside view of how significant change initiatives can be implemented in a Japanese company\, and to hear what it’s like for a non-Japanese executive to take on a key role in making them happen.\n \n\n\nLevent Arabaci\nGeneral Manager\, Human Capital Division of Hitachi Ltd.\, and EVP\, Chief Human Resource Officer of Hitachi America Ltd.\nLevent Arabaci has over 20 years of experience in management and currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Hitachi Ltd. and EVP and CHRO for Hitachi America Ltd. Levent is responsible for driving and executing the HR vision and strategy for Hitachi Ltd. worldwide. Prior to Hitachi Ltd.\, Levent held senior level positions at Hitachi Data Systems\, Cisco Systems Inc.\, Nestle\, and Pepsi Co. in multiple functions such as operations\, finance\, internal audit and primarily human resources. His unique background brings a business acumen that is unusual among human resources professionals.\nLevent holds a Master’s degree in General Management from the University of Istanbul\, and a MBA in Marketing from the California State University\, San Bernardino. He is a member of various advisory boards and earned awards and recognition for the work he has produced in various positions during his career. The awards include the Best Plan Effectiveness in 2002\, and the Best Use of Technology in 2003 from the Global Equity Organization (GEO) for the systems and programs he designed in the field of compensation. He also received the “Global HR Leadership” award from the Asia Pacific HRM Congress in 2008 for his contribution to the HR field and exemplary leadership in the global landscape. In May 2009\, Levent has received the “Functional Excellence in HR” from the HR Symposium in the Silicon Valley for the work he produced in the areas of HR Shared Services and business partnership.\nDuring Levent’s tenure\, Hitachi Data Systems was recognized as the best place to work in 2009\, 2010\, and 2012. In addition\, HDS was listed on the Fortune 100 “Best Companies to Work For” in 2012\, and was recognized as the top 40 “Best Companies for Leaders” in 2012. \n\nSchedule: \n\n6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Networking/Registration\n6:45 PM – 8:00 PM Presentation with audience Q&A\n8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Networking & Reception\n\nLight appetizers and drinks provided \n\nPurchase Tickets: \n\nPowered by Eventbrite\n\n\nTO ATTEND AT A MEMBER PRICE\, JOIN HERE \n\nNo refunds after Wednesday\, October 19\nOnline registration closes at 11:00 AM on Wednesday\, October 26\nWalk-ins accepted at $25.00 per person\n\n\nJapan Society Strategic Partner Event Sponsor \n \n\nThe event venue has been provided by generous support from:
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/big-in-japan-levent-arabaci-on-implementing-culture-change-at-a-large-japanese-company/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20161028T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20161028T200000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212529Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250407T011603Z
UID:10000175-1477677600-1477684800@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:BUSINESS JAPANESE LANGUAGE WORKSHOP
DESCRIPTION:We are happy to announce that due to popular demand\, Business Japanese Language Workshop is back this fall.\nOne of the challenges in mastering the Japanese language is choosing the proper words and expressions according to the situation.  In the business world\, the knowledge of certain terminologies and rules are essential for non-native speakers to feel confident when communicating with your business partners in Japanese.  Dr. Minami teaches the Business Japanese Course at SFSU through an academic year.  He is happy to share his expertise with JSNC language students and members.\nThis workshop enables pre-advanced to advanced Japanese learners to master conversational expressions that are useful in business environments. The workshop provides intensive training in business Japanese\, focusing on honorific expressions frequently encountered in the business world.　このワークショップでは敬語の使い方を中心に、ビジネス日本語特有の言い回し等を学習します。\nThe goals of the workshop include:\n(1) Learning expressions and vocabularies essential to business\n(2) Acquiring verbal and nonverbal communication strategies for better interaction with Japanese business associates\n(3) Learning how to deal with Japanese business people both in formal and informal settings\nPlease come and join us for this dynamic and informative language workshop. This is a perfect opportunity for advanced learners to polish and expand your command of Japanese\, whether your workplace necessitates Japanese language skills or not.  .\nSpace is limited and registration is available on a first come first served basis.  Please register early to ensure your spot in the workshop.\nThis session is recommended for anyone who retains Japanese competence of JLPT N3 Level or above.  Contact ykato@usajapan.org if you need assistance to gauge your language ability.\nDr. Masahiko Minami\nDr. Minami is Professor at San Francisco State University where he specializes in Japanese language and cross-cultural studies. He is also Past President of the Foreign Language Association of Northern California (FLANC) and coordinator for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (Nihongo Nōryoku Shiken: JLPT) for Northern California. In addition\, he is Past President of the Northern California Japanese Teachers’ Association (NCJTA). Dr. Minami\, who received a PhD from Harvard University\, is also a guest Professor at the National Institute for Japanese Language & Linguistics\, Tokyo\, Japan. Dr. Minami was the 2007 recipient of the Phi Beta Kappa Excellence in Teaching Award for Northern California.\nLocation\nJapan Society of Northern California\n500 Washington St.\, #300\nSan Francisco\, CA 94111\n\nDate & Time\nFriday\, October 28th\, 6:00-8:00 pm\nCheck in  5:45pm～\nCost\n$25 for Japan Society Member\n$35 for Non Member\n[tt-event url=’https://www.tickettailor.com/new-order/68026/4583/ref/website_widget/’ minimal=’false’ bg_fill=’true’  show_logo=’true’  ]\nThe deadline to RSVP for this event is Thursday\, October 27th.\nNo refunds will be issued for cancellations received after 3 pm on October 27th.
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/business-japanese-language-workshop-3/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Innovation,Language
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20161103T083000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20161103T100000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212530Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001535Z
UID:10000176-1478161800-1478167200@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Mind the Gap: Gender Equality in Japan and the U.S.
DESCRIPTION:Japan and the U.S. present interesting case studies for the role of women in the workplace. In Japan\, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has instituted a series of reforms called “womenomics” to empower more women to join the workforce and contribute to economic growth. Here in the United States\, women have succeeded in integrating into the workplace\, but are contending with wage gaps and the “glass ceiling.” \nJoin Asia Society of Northern California and the Japan Society of Northern California as we bring together a panel of experts from both sides of the Pacific to look at the role of women and leadership in the workplace in Japan and the U.S. What kind of progress have women made in the workplace since Prime Minister Abe instituted “womenomics” in Japan? How does it compare to gender equality in the workplace right here in the Bay Area? And how can men become champions to support and promote working women locally and globally? What are the current barriers to success and what are some possible solutions? \nSpeakers\nMichael Chui\, McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) Partner\, McKinsey & Company\nShie Lundberg\, Director of 1:1 Care\, Google\nKaori Sasaki\, Founder & CEO\, ewoman\, Inc.and UNICUL International\, Inc\nSteven Vogel\, Professor\, U.C. Berkeley\nSchedule: \n\n8:00 AM – 8:30 AM Light Breakfast and Registration\n8:30 AM – 10:00 AM Discussion and Q&A\n\n \n\n\nClick here to buy tickets\n\n\n 
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/mind-the-gap-gender-equality-in-japan-and-the-u-s/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20161110T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20161110T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212524Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001531Z
UID:10000173-1478800800-1478811600@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Big in Japan: Why do Japanese large companies want to collaborate with SV startups?
DESCRIPTION:Japan’s large companies realize that they need to innovate\, and are attracted by the energy and dynamism of Silicon Valley startups. Deloitte’s Masayuki Kimura is focused on helping to connect Japanese large companies with startups in Silicon Valley. In this talk\, he will give us insight into the strategic possibilities of such connections\, and share stories about what works and what doesn’t work in such collaborations. He will also give advice for startups on what to look for in evaluating potential partnerships with large Japanese companies\, and the do’s and don’ts for successful collaborations\nThis will be a fascinating talk for everyone interested in how Japan and Silicon Valley can work together for innovation.\nMasayuki Kimura\n Masayuki Kimura is the Co-founder and International Business Development Director of Deloitte Venture Support Co.\, Ltd.\nMasayuki joined Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC in 2007 where he provides business strategy\, M&A and IPO consulting services. In 2010 he co-founded an internal startup called Deloitte Venture Support in Deloitte Japan. Now there are over 150 members working in the group. Through this organization\, Masayuki provided business planning consulting and fund raising support to over 200 startups. He also provided open innovation consulting services to Japanese large companies including Hitachi and the NTT group.\nSince 2014\, Masayuki has handled cross-border projects for Deloitte Venture Support and moved to Silicon Valley as the head of its Silicon Valley office in order to act as a bridge between Silicon Valley startups and Japanese large corporations in order to create new business alliances. \n\nSchedule:\n\n6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Networking/Registration\n6:45 PM – 8:00 PM Presentation with audience Q&A\n8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Networking & Reception\n\n Light appetizers and drinks provided\n\n\nPurchase Tickets:\n\nPowered by Eventbrite\n\n \nTO ATTEND AT A MEMBER PRICE\, JOIN HERE\n  \n\nNo refunds after Thursday\, November 3\nOnline registration closes at 11:00 AM on Thursday\, November 10\nWalk-ins accepted at $25.00 per person\n\n \n  \n\nThe event venue has been provided with generous support from:
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/big-in-japan-why-do-japanese-large-companies-want-to-collaborate-with-sv-startups/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20161116T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20161116T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001537Z
UID:10000179-1479322800-1479330000@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Documentary Film Screening: Paper Lanterns
DESCRIPTION:The Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) in Mountain View presents a special screening of the documentary film\, Paper Lanterns. \n\n\n\n\nOn August 6\, 1945\, the atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima\, Japan. Among the estimated 140\,000 casualties that day were 12 American prisoners of war. For decades\, the families of these 12 Americans were never informed about the fates of their loved ones. Paper Lanterns tells the story of Shigeaki Mori\, the man who spent over 35 years tracking down their stories following the end of World War II. Thanks to his tireless efforts\, the names of those 12 Americans are now included in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum\, and their relatives have learned the truth.\nThis screening is free and open to the public. Seating is limited; please arrive early. Doors open at 7:00pm. 
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/documentary-film-screening-paper-lanterns/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Community
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20161118T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20161118T180000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212530Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001536Z
UID:10000178-1479474000-1479492000@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Globalization of Japanese Lawyers: Achievements\, Challenges and Expectations to American Law Schools
DESCRIPTION:Click here to register\nThe University of California Hastings College of the Law (UC Hastings) has organized a major symposium on Japan every year since 2012. This year\, we are pleased to organize a symposium on the topic of “Globalization of Japanese Lawyers: Achievements\, Challenges\, and Expectations to American Law Schools” on Friday\, November 18. In March 2016\, UC Hastings signed an exchange agreement with the Daini Tokyo Bar Association (Niben). Niben is one of the three bar associations in Tokyo. Niben is the second largest bar association in Japan\, and it is also considered the most flexible and progressive bar association in Japan. This symposium commemorates the signing of the exchange agreement\, and Niben will participate as a co-sponsor. We are also honored to have the Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC) as another co-sponsor. We have been extremely fortunate to have JSNC as a continuous local supporter of our East Asian Legal Studies (EALS) Program since the EALS Program was established in January 2015.\nTraditionally\, Japan has been known for its small bar. While the number of practicing attorneys (bengoshi) has more than doubled since 2000\, there are only approximately 36\,000 practicing attorneys as of 2015\, which means that there is about one attorney for every 3\,500 people. In contrast\, the United States has one lawyer for every 265 people\, while Germany and the United Kingdom each has one lawyer for every 400 to 500 people\, whereas France has one lawyer for approximately every 1\,100 people (Japan Federation of Bar Associations\, White Paper on Attorneys 2016). Even Japan’s largest law firms have only 300 to 500 attorneys\, as compared to mega law firms in the U.S. and the U.K. which have more than 2\,000 lawyers\, with the largest law firm having more than 4\,000 lawyers. Furthermore\, the Japanese Supreme Court’s mandatory apprenticeship for those who have recently passed the national bar examination is still mostly designed to train them for domestic litigation. Thus\, components for new attorneys’ transactional and cross-border practices are limited. Yet\, as the third largest economy in the world that critically depends on international trade\, Japan has a potentially great need for transactional and cross-border legal services. In fact\, Tokyo offices of major U.S. and U.K. law firms are expanding. For instance\, Morrison Forster’s Tokyo office\, has over 120 attorneys on the ground. Similarly\, globalization of legal practice can also be discussed in the spheres of public interest lawyering\, such as international human rights\, international environmental law\, legal assistance to developing countries\, and the like. The need for globalization of public interest lawyering must also be rising.\nTherefore\, the following questions should be analyzed: How have Japanese lawyers been coping with this globalizing legal market? How much and in what way have Japanese lawyers been globalized? What are their achievements and what challenges are they facing?\nThus\, this symposium will discuss these issues with four exemplary members of Niben as main speakers. The keynote speaker is a pioneer in cross-border legal practice in Japan and a former President of the International Bar Association (IBA). Additionally\, there will be one speaker to discuss business lawyering and another to discuss public interest lawyering. The fourth speaker will examine the role of national and local bar associations in facilitating globalization of Japanese lawyers. Furthermore\, each speaker is requested to discuss their expectations to American law schools in helping globalization of Japanese lawyers\, and discussants are invited from the Japan Society of Northern California and UC Hastings to make comments from their perspectives. We hope that this symposium will facilitate collaboration of Japanese and American lawyers and will provide a forum for networking for American law students with interest in an Asia practice. \nSpeakers:\nAkira Kawamura\nAkira Kawamura is a graduate of Kyoto University\, 1965\, and of Sydney University\, LL.M.1979. He was admitted to the Japanese Bar in 1967\, and joined the firm of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (then\, Anderson Mori & Rabinowitz). He has an extensive general corporate\, business law\, international trade\, energy and real property law and litigation/arbitration practices. Read more…\nYoshimichi Makiyama\nYoshimichi Makiyama is an Attorney-at- Law with KITAMURA & MAKIYAMA in Tokyo\, Japan. His practice areas include finance\, intellectual property\, environment\, energy\, antitrust\, IT/information security/privacy and international corporate transactions. Read more…\nShinichi Sugiyama\nShinichi Sugiyama is a managing partner at Harago & Partners Law offices which is a middle size law firm based in Tokyo with 21 lawyers and 10 secretaries. His expertise is real-estate issues and corporate/labor law matters on behalf of foreign and domestic clients. He also serves as an outside independent director of a listed company in Japan. Read more…\nTatsu Katayama\nTatsu Katayama is a partner at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune\, whose areas of expertise are international banking\, finance and securities matters on behalf of foreign clients. He is individually named by legal periodicals\, such as Chambers International and Legal 500 as a leading lawyer in the area of banking and finance and structured finance/securitisation. Read more… \nSchedule:\n12:30-13:00: Registration and Socializing.\n13:00-13:15: Welcome Speeches. \n\nModerator: Setsuo Miyazawa\, Senior Professor of Law & Senior Director of the East Asian Legal Studies Program\, UC Hastings\n\nSpeakers: \n\nDavid L. Faigman\, Acting Chancellor & Dean\, John F. Digardi Distinguished Professor of Law\, UC Hastings.\nC. Lawrence Greenwood\, President\, Japan Society of Northern California; former US Ambassador to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group.\nShouichi Nagayoshi\, Deputy Consul General\, Consulate General of Japan.\n\n13:15-14:15: Keynote Speech. \n\nModerator: Evan Lee\, Acting Provost & Academic Dean\, Professor of Law\, UC Hastings.\nSpeaker: Akira Kawamura\, Of Counsel\, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (AMT); former President\, International Bar Association (IBA).\nDiscussant: David A. Makman\, Chairman of the Board\, Japan Society of Northern California; Law Offices of David A. Makman.\n\n14:15-14:30: Break & Group Photo (speakers\, discussants & moderators).\n14:30-15:30: Panel 1: Globalization of Business Lawyering. \n\nModerator: Keith J. Hand\, Associate Dean for Global Programs\, Director of the East Asian Legal Studies Program & Professor of Law\, UC Hastings.\nSpeaker: Yoshimichi Makiyama\, Partner\, Kitamura & Makiyama.\nDiscussant: Abraham Cable\, Professor of Law\, UC Hastings.\n\n15:30-16:30: Panel 2: Globalization of Public Interest Lawyering. \n\nModerator: Richard A. Boswell\, Associate Dean for Global Programs & Professor of Law\, UC Hastings.\nSpeaker: Shinichi Sugiyama\, Partner\, Harago Law Office.\nDiscussant: Naomi Roht-Arriaza\, Distinguished Professor of Law\, UC Hastings.\n\n16:30-16:45: Break.\n16:45-17:45: Panel 3: Role of Bar Associations. \n\nModerator: Setsuo Miyazawa.\nSpeaker: Tatsu Katayama\, Partner\, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (AMT).\nDiscussant: Richard Zitrin\, Lecturer in Law\, UC Hastings.\n\n17:45-18:00: Closing: Setsuo Miyazawa.\n18:00-18:30: Socializing.
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/globalization-of-japanese-lawyers-achievements-challenges-and-expectations-to-american-law-schools/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20161119T173000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20161119T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212523Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001528Z
UID:10000169-1479576600-1479589200@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Award of Honor Gala 2016
DESCRIPTION:Please save the date for our upcoming Award of Honor Gala\, held Saturday\, November 19 at the Hotel Nikko San Francisco.\nClick here for more information.\n\n 
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/award-of-honor-gala-2016/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20161206T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20161206T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212530Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001536Z
UID:10000177-1481047200-1481058000@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Big in Japan: How Japanese Startups are Different Than Those in Silicon Valley\, with Tim Romero of Disrupting Japan
DESCRIPTION:Over the past decade\, the Japanese government has introduced dozens of programs to foster innovation. Clearly they are having some effect because we are now seeing both an explosion in the number of startups being founded and the number of smaller companies entering the Japanese market.\nIn this presentation\, Japan-based entrepreneur and podcaster Tim Romero will explain why the Japanese model of innovation\, however\, is developing into something very different from what the government expected and very different from what we’ve seen in Silicon Valley. Longer sales cycles\, lower availability or growth capital and the relative rarity of strategic M&A have forced many Japanese firms to be more focused and operationally sound\, and there are both good and bad aspects to this situation.\n \nTim Romero \nTim Romero is a Tokyo-based entrepreneur\, podcaster and author who has started four companies and led Japan market entry for others since coming to Japan more than 20 years ago. Tim hosts the Disrupting Japan podcast and is deeply involved in Japan’s startup community as an investor\, founder and mentor.\n \n  \n\nSchedule: \n\n6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Networking/Registration\n6:45 PM – 8:00 PM Presentation with audience Q&A\n8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Networking & Reception\n\nLight appetizers and drinks provided\n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets: \n\nPowered by Eventbrite\n\n \n\n\n\nNo refunds after Tuesday\, November 29\nOnline registration closes at 10:30am on Tuesday\, December 6\n\n\nThe event venue has been provided with generous support from: 
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/big-in-japan-how-japanese-startups-are-different-than-those-in-silicon-valley-with-tim-romero-of-disrupting-japan/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Community
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20161208T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20161208T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251105T215632Z
UID:10000180-1481220000-1481230800@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Ashes to Gold:  How the 1964 Olympics Transformed Japan and Lessons for 2020 featuring Dan Rather and Tomohiko Taniguchi
DESCRIPTION:The Tokyo 1964 Olympics marked Japan’s transformation from a defeated pariah nation to a prosperous democracy dedicated to improving the lives of its citizens and contributing to world peace.  That success involved a massive and controversial undertaking that literally transformed the face of Tokyo and the nation and set the country on a path to becoming the second largest economy in the world.\nToday Japan faces equally daunting challenges.  As the first modern nation state in history to experience a long-term secular decline in its population\, Japan must address unprecedented challenges of rapid aging\, shrinking labor force and rising debt.  It must find a way to ensure its security in a region marked by growing uncertainty\, changing power balances\, and a backlash against globalization.  It must find a way to again transform itself – this time from a post-war manufacturing powerhouse into a post-industrial innovation center.\nCan the Olympic Games in 2020 provide the same kind of rallying call for change that they did in 1964?  Can the Abe Government use the Games as both a spur and a stage to drive economic and political reforms at home and security and foreign policy initiatives abroad?  Can the Olympics be the symbol in 2020 that it was in 1964 for a “new Japan” as perceived both by the Japanese themselves and by the people of the Asian region and the world?\nThe Japan Society of Northern California is proud to present a program featuring news icon Dan Rather to explore how Japan held what many have called the most successful Olympics ever and how it can use the 2020 Games to address the critical issues it faces today.   Mr. Rather will discuss a documentary he is producing\, Ashes to Gold\, that will look at the remarkable accomplishments of 1964.  Well-known Japanese commentator and speechwriter for Prime Minister Abe\, Professor Tomohiko Taniguchi\, will address on how Japan is addressing the challenges it faces in the coming four years.  That will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Mr. Rather to explore these issues in depth.\nAn important part of that story is the role played by OIC Chairman Avery Brundage who helped steer the games to a war-torn\, battered Tokyo.  Fittingly\, the December 8 program will be held at the Koret Auditorium of the de Young Museum which housed the original Brundage Asian Art collection which later became the Asian Art Museum\, now located near City Hall.    The program will be followed by a networking reception for the audience. \n\nDan Rather\nWith a famed and storied career that has spanned more than six decades\, Dan Rather became one of the world’s best-known journalists. He helped pioneer the very idea that television could be a place for news\, and then kept that spirit of innovation alive by constantly pushing the boundaries of what video storytelling could accomplish. Along the way\, his work ethic\, nose for investigative reporting\, and calmness and composure in moments of triumph and tragedy made him a respected voice that millions of people have trusted to make sense of a complicated world.\nRather’s resume reads like a history book. He has interviewed every president since Eisenhower and personally covered almost every important dateline of the last 60 years. From his first big assignment at a local news station covering Hurricane Carla\, to the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan\, Rather was there reporting the news to America and the world. On the scene in Dallas\, he was key in breaking the news of President John F. Kennedy’s death\, and uncovered key developments as a White House correspondent during the widespread criminal conspiracy known as Watergate. He was outside Martin Luther King\, Junior’s jail cell in Birmingham and at the anchor desk for countless hours on 9/11 and the days that followed. He reported from the Berlin Wall when it fell\, spent a year covering the jungle combat zones of Vietnam\, and was forced off the air at Tienanmen Square when the Chinese government’s crackdown began. And yet Rather’s range was such that in addition to covering world changing events\, he quickly gained a reputation as a gifted\, versatile\, and nuanced storyteller whose reports rung with empathy and even humor when warranted.\nRather got his start in print\, then moved into radio and local television news\, before joining CBS News in 1962. He quickly rose through the ranks\, and in 1981 he assumed the position of anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News\, a post he held for 24 years. His reporting was featured across the network. It helped turn 60 Minutes into an institution\, launched 48 Hours as an innovative fly-on-the-wall news magazine program\, and shaped countless specials and documentaries. Upon leaving CBS\, Rather returned to the in-depth reporting he always loved by creating the Emmy Award winning prime-time news magazine and documentary program\, Dan Rather Reports on the cable network HDNet. Now\, building upon that foundation\, he is president and CEO of News and Guts\, an independent production company he founded that specializes in high-quality non-fiction content across a range of traditional and digital distribution channels.\nWhile Rather has won all of the most prestigious journalism awards (many times over) and has reported from the majority of nations on earth\, he considers himself first and foremost a Texan. He is a proud native son of Wharton and Houston\, and he graduated from what is now Sam Houston State University. Rather’s unique Texas phrases have become a hallmark of his winsome and approachable style to reporting and storytelling. \n\nDr. Tomohiko Taniguchi\nProfessor\, Keio University Graduate School of System Design and Management (SDM)\, reading international political economy and Japanese diplomacy. He is also Special Adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet.\nBetween February 2013 and March 2014 he was Councillor\, Prime Minister’s Office. Then and now his responsibilities have included writing foreign-policy speeches for PM Abe.\nAfter spending 20 years with Nikkei Business\, a weekly magazine\, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2005 as Deputy Press Secretary and Deputy Director General for Public Diplomacy. Until he left the ministry three years later he addressed the English speaking press and wrote speeches for then Foreign Minister Taro Aso and other national leaders including then PM Shinzo Abe.\nWhile with the magazine he spent a stint in London\, 1997-2000\, as the magazine’s correspondent. In 1999 the Foreign Press Association in London elected him President\, the first from “the East of Suez.” He spent sabbaticals at Princeton University as a Fulbright Visiting Fellow\, at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies\, and at the Brookings Institution as a CNAPS Fellow.\nFor five years till 2013 he was Executive Adviser to the then Chairman of the Central Japan Railway Company\, Yoshiyuki Kasai\, while holding visiting professorships at Keio SDM and Meiji University School of Global Japanese Studies.\nLL.B. from the University of Tokyo\, PhD. in national security from Takushoku University\, he has authored or co-authored more than 10 books on international affairs. He has appeared live more than 250 times on BBC\, Al-Jazeera English\, CNN\, CNA\, and other global news networks. \n\nJames Higa\nJames Higa has a long and storied career in Silicon Valley. He reported directly to Steve Jobs and worked alongside him at Apple for nearly three decades to change the face of technology and entire consumer industries as we know it. Whether it was negotiating the landmark agreements with the major record labels to launch the iTunes Music Store\, helping to develop iconic products like the Macintosh personal computer and the iPhone\, or ushering in the online revolution in education with iTunes University\, he has always worked to marry technology with the liberal arts to transform our world.\nNow as Executive Director of Philanthropic Ventures Foundation\, known for it’s grassroots philanthropy and 48 hour grant cycle\, he aspires to make a dent in the universe and to close the growing Inequality Gap through radical collaboration\, people\, and communities.\nJames still has one foot in technology as a Mentor in Residence at the venture capital firm\, Index Ventures\, whose investments include Dropbox\, Etsy\, Facebook\, and Skype. He actively mentors startup founders and their companies across the globe “peak around corner” and think strategically about their products\, services\, operations\, execution\, marketing\, international expansion\, and implementing social impact programs.\nJames attended Stanford University and received his AB ’81 in Political Science. He serves on the Stanford University Libraries and Academic Information Resources Advisory Council and Stanford Distinguished Career Institute Board. He is a former member of the SAA Alumni Executive Board\, Haas Center for Public Service National Advisory Board\, Stanford Admissions Office Advisory Board\, extended faculty member of the Stanford d.school\, and arbitrator for the International Chamber of Commerce.\nHis deep connections to Japan include on the ground relief efforts during the 1995 Kobe and 2011 Tohoku disasters\, the US Japan Council & TOMODACHI initiatives\, the launching of Apple Japan and NeXT Japan\, and serving as advisor to UNIQLO and Lawson’s Convenience Store. \n\nSteven Vogel\nSteven K. Vogel is the Il Han New Professor of Asian Studies and a Professor of Political Science at the University of California\, Berkeley. He specializes in the political economy of the advanced industrialized nations\, especially Japan. \nVogel is the author of Japan Remodeled: How Government and Industry Are Reforming Japanese Capitalism (Cornell\, 2006) and co-editor (with Naazneen Barma) of The Political Economy Reader: Markets as Institutions (Routledge\, 2008). His earlier book\, Freer Markets\, More Rules: Regulatory Reform in Advanced Industrial Countries  (Cornell\, 1996)\, won the Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Prize. He also edited his mother’s book\, Suzanne Hall Vogel\, The Japanese Family in Transition: From the Professional Housewife Ideal to the Dilemmas of Choice (Rowman & Littlefield\, 2013)\, and a volume on U.S.-Japan Relations in a Changing World (Brookings\, 2002). \nVogel is currently working on a book\, tentatively entitled Marketcraft\, that argues that markets need rules not simply to protect people and the environment from collateral damage but to function effectively in the first place. It explores why viewing markets as institutions that are deeply embedded in law\, regulations\, practices and norms is essential to understanding recent developments in advanced economies such as the United States and Japan. \nVogel won the Northern California Association of Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Excellence Award in 2002\, and the UC Berkeley Faculty Award for Outstanding Mentorship of Graduate Student Instructors in 2005.  He has been a columnist for Newsweek-Japan and the Asahi Shimbun\, and he has written extensively for the popular press.  He has worked as a reporter for the Japan Times in Tokyo and as a freelance journalist in France. He has taught previously at the University of California\, Irvine and Harvard University. He has a B.A. from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California\, Berkeley. \n\nSchedule: \n\n6:00pm-6:30pm Registration\n6:30pm-8:00pm Program\n8:00pm-9:00pm Reception\n\n\n\nParking:\nParking is available in the de Young Museum’s  “Music Concourse Garage” in the basement of the Museum until 11:00PM at a flat rate of $17 from 5:30PM. The Museum can be accessed directly from the garage.\nFor those coming from the street level\, please enter by the Tower entrance on the North East side of the de Young Museum.  Please come by 6:00 as the program will start promptly at 6:15. \n\nPurchase Tickets:\n \n\n\nClick here to buy tickets\nSell tickets online with Ticket Tailor\n\n\n\nTO ATTEND AT MEMBER PRICE\, JOIN HERE
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/ashes-to-gold-how-the-1964-olympics-transformed-japan-and-lessons-for-2020-featuring-dan-rather-and-tomohiko-taniguchi/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Politics/Policy
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20170118T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20170118T200000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212543Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001539Z
UID:10000183-1484762400-1484769600@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:JSNC YPG @iiD
DESCRIPTION:Japan Society YPG Kickoff Event\nThe Japan Society of Northern California’s YPG is rebooting in 2017.  We are planning to have a series of events–some networking\, some substantive throughout the year that are specifically aimed at “younger” professionals.   We have formed a committee and as a kick-off\, we are having a get-together at iiD.  There will be beer and good conversation.  Please come and meet the members of our committee and see the innovative space at our host\, iiD\, which we expect will be the site of some of the YPG programming.\nThe kickoff event–all networking\, no speeches–will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at iiD\, which is located at Stockton St\, Suite 1 in San Francisco. We’re on the 1st floor. It’s the Dante Building right off of Washington Square Park.  We will charge $10.00 at the door to members and non-members alike to defray the costs of refreshment.  Casual attire (but not too casual\, please).\nWhere:\niiD (ideas in digital)\n1606 Stockton Street\, Suite 1\nSan Francisco\, CA 94133\n[Map]\nWhen:\nWednesday\, January 18\, 2017\n6:00 to 8:00 pm\nCost: $10.00 at the door for members & non-members\nNo need to RSVP\, we will ask you to sign in at the event.\nThe YPG Mission\nOur mission is to provide cross-cultural networking and social opportunities for students and professionals at all career stages to meet other like-minded internationalists with an interest in Japan and the United States.\nThe Japan Society YPG encourages guests to act responsibly if they drink at any event. NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE!\nThis program is co-sponsored by iiD.
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/jsnc-ypg-iid/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20170208T173000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20170208T193000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212548Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251105T215632Z
UID:10000185-1486575000-1486582200@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:SOLD OUT! Asia’s Rise in a Year of Uncertainty: a Dialogue with The Honorable Kevin Rudd
DESCRIPTION:The Japan Society of Northern California is pleased to partner with the Asia Society of Northern California and the World Affairs Council to present a special program featuring President of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Mr. Rudd will talk about the rise of Asia in a year of uncertainty\, as a new American Administration takes the stage in Washington DC. Mr. Rudd is one of the most highly respected voices on Asian political and economic developments globally and will have invaluable insights into prospects for U.S. relations with Asia\, including with its most important ally in the region: Japan.\n \n\nSchedule: \n\n5:30 – 6:00 PM  Registration\n6:00 – 7:00 PM  Dialogue with The Honorable Kevin Rudd\n7:00 – 7:30 PM  Networking Reception\n\n\n\nJapan Society members can register free of charge at this link\, which also has more information on the program.
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/sold-out-asias-rise-in-a-year-of-uncertainty-a-dialogue-with-the-honorable-kevin-rudd/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Politics/Policy
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20170215T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20170215T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212543Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001538Z
UID:10000182-1487181600-1487192400@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Big in Japan - Robert Cole of U.C. Berkeley on the Japanese Software Industry: What went wrong and what can we learn from it?
DESCRIPTION:The Japanese IT sector increasingly lags the U.S. IT sector in software innovation\, contributing to the weakening competitiveness of Japanese firms. In this next installment of the Japan Society’s Big in Japan series\, U.C. Berkeley’s Robert Cole will look at the factors contributing to Japan’s software weakness\, including being slow to realize the transformational role of software and its value-creating potential\, the structure of the software industry in Japan\, lack of strategic emphasis on IT\, a hardware-centric attitude\, and slow adoption of enterprise software and state-of-the-art software development practices.\nPlease read more about Dr. Cole’s research here. \n\n\nRobert E. Cole\nRobert Cole is Emeritus Professor of Business and Sociology at University of California Berkeley\, and Joint Researcher at the Institute of Technology\, Enterprise and Competitiveness (ITEC) at Doshisha University in Kyoto. He holds a PhD in Sociology and an MA in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois. His current research and interests include the software and automotive industries\, the management of technology\, Japanese organizations and organizational transformation. He spent two years in Japan while a student\, part of the time working in two Japanese  factories in blue collar jobs which culminated in his first book\, Japanese Blue Collar. Later he was a Fulbright Research Scholar at Keio and also a visiting scholar at Todai. More recently\, he served as Omron Professor of Technology Management at Doshisha University.\nTo find out more about the professor\, please visit here.\n \n\nSchedule: \n\n6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Networking/Registration\n6:45 PM – 8:00 PM Presentation with audience Q&A\n8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Networking & Reception\n\nLight appetizers and drinks provided. \n\nPurchase Tickets: \n\n\nPowered by Eventbrite\nTO ATTEND AT A MEMBER PRICE\, JOIN HERE \n\nNo refunds after Wednesday\, February 8\nOnline registration closes at 1:00 PM on Wednesday\, February 15\n\n\nThe event venue has been provided by generous support from:
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/big-in-japan-robert-cole-of-u-c-berkeley-on-the-japanese-software-industry-what-went-wrong-and-what-can-we-learn-from-it/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20170216T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20170216T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212548Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001539Z
UID:10000184-1487268000-1487278800@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Documentary Film Screening of "Paper Lanterns"
DESCRIPTION:Please join us on Thursday\, February 16 at Wilson Sonsini in Palo Alto to view a powerful documentary about the little-known story of Shigeaki Mori and his life-long quest to make known the identities and to honor the memory of the 12 American prisoners of war killed by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.  Following the screening of the film\, former US Ambassador to Japan and San Francisco native John Roos will talk about his experience of being the first US emissary to attend the annual Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony\, which paved the way for President Obama’s historic visit to Hiroshima.\nIn the summer of 1945\, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. Hundreds of thousands were killed. What few people know is that 12 American POWs were on the ground in Hiroshima\, 1\,300 feet from ground zero. Two of the twelve Americans were Normand Brissette of Lowell\, Massachusetts\, and Ralph Neal of Corbin\, Kentucky.\nOn that same early August morning\, a young Japanese boy\, Shigeaki Mori\, would witness the explosion. He survived that day\, but his life changed forever. Mr. Mori would go on to document the bombing and through his research\, would find evidence of the 12 American POWs.\n“Paper Lanterns” is a film about Normand Brissette\, Ralph Neal\, and Mr. Mori’s struggle to account for their stories in the years and decades that followed the end of World War II. This story is about the families that struggled to find the truth\, and one man’s effort to give them the gift of closure and make an important contribution to the remarkable reconciliation between two nations that were once at war and are now close friends.\nGuest Speaker \nJohn V. Roos\nFounder & General Partner\, Geodesic Capital\, Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan\nJohn V. Roos served as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 2009 to 2013. He is currently Founding Partner of Geodesic Capital\, a later stage venture capital firm located in Silicon Valley. Ambassador Roos also serves as Senior Advisor to Centerview Partners\, a preeminent mergers and acquisitions advisory firm\, on the Board of Directors of Salesforce.com and Sony Corporation\, on the global advisory board of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and as Chair of the Advisory Board of the Toyota Research Institute. From 1985 to 2009\, Ambassador Roos practiced corporate and securities law at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati\, the leading law firm in the United States in the representation of technology\, life sciences\, and emerging growth companies\, where he served as Chief Executive Officer. Ambassador Roos is a graduate of Stanford University and Stanford Law. \n\nSchedule: \n\n6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Networking/Registration\n6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Film Screening & Guest Speaker John V. Roos\n8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Networking & Reception\n\nLight appetizers and drinks provided. \n\nPurchase Tickets:\n[tt-event url=’https://www.tickettailor.com/new-order/81897/66a0/ref/website_widget/’ minimal=’false’ bg_fill=’true’  show_logo=’true’  ]\nTO ATTEND AT A MEMBER PRICE\, JOIN HERE \n\nNo refunds after Thursday\, February 9\nOnline registration closes at 10:30 AM on Wednesday\, February 15\n\n\nThe event venue has been provided by generous support from:
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/documentary-film-screening-of-paper-lanterns/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20170222T173000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20170222T203000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212549Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001540Z
UID:10000186-1487784600-1487795400@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Building a Business in Japan: Key Legal Insights on Fintech & IP
DESCRIPTION:The Japan Society of Northern California will co-sponsor a seminar on “Key Legal Insights in Fintech and IP in Japan” with JETRO’s (Japan External Trade Organization) San Francisco Office and the UC Hastings East Asian Legal Studies Program on Wednesday\, February 22\, 2017 at the UC Hastings Alumni Reception Center.\nToyohisa Kaminiwa\, Partner of Inaba and Partners Law Office in Tokyo\, will focus on deregulation efforts and commercial trends in Japan’s Fintech industry. Tatsuya Sawada\, Executive Director at Sugimura Patent and Trademark Attorneys of Silicon Valley will talk about tips for IP asset development and management when doing business in Japan. This event will be most valuable to entrepreneurs\, C-level executives\, and business owners who plan to expand to Japan. \n\nSchedule \n\n5:30 – 6:00 PM  Networking / Reception\n6:00 – 6:15 PM  Welcome Remarks / Speaker Introduction\n6:15 – 7:00 PM  Speaker Presentations\n7:00 – 7:30 PM  Panel Discussion / Q&A\n7:30 – 7:40 PM  Closing Remarks / Program Introduction\n7:40 – 8:30 PM  Networking\n\n\nTo find out more and register\, please click here.
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/building-a-business-in-japan-key-legal-insights-on-fintech-ip/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Innovation
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20170309T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20170309T210000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212549Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001541Z
UID:10000187-1489082400-1489093200@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Big in Japan – Dr. Christina Ahmadjian on "A Firsthand View of Corporate Governance Reform in Japan"
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Christina Ahmadjian has been involved in Japanese corporate governance reform as a researcher\, an activist\, and most recently\, an independent director of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries\, Japan Exchange Group (the parent company of the Tokyo Stock Exchange) and Eisai. She will speak\, based on her own experience\, of the slow (and then suddenly\, fast) evolution of Japanese corporate governance and the state of governance today. Dr. Ahmadjian will address key issues around Japanese corporate governance reforms including: Are the changes in Japanese corporate governance real or window-dressing? What makes a good board and a good independent director in the current Japanese context? What remains to be done? \n\n\nDr. Christina Ahmadjian is a professor at Graduate School of Commerce and Management of Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo\, Japan. Her research interests include comparative corporate governance\, globalization\, systems of capitalism\, business groups\, and Japanese business and management. Her publications have appeared in journals including American Sociological Review\, Administrative Science Quarterly\, Organization Science\, and California Management Review. She teaches courses including Organizational Behavior\, Corporate Governance\, Business Research\, Leadership\, and Global Management. She received an A.B.\, magna cum laude\, from Harvard University\, an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business\, and a PhD at the Haas School at the University of California at Berkeley. Prior to her position at Hitotsubashi\, she was an assistant professor at Columbia Business School. Her business experience includes positions at Bain & Company as well as Mitsubishi Electric. She served as a non-executive director at Eisai Co.\, Ltd. from 2009 to 2013 and currently serves as a non-executive director at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries\, Ltd. and Japan Exchange Group\, Inc. She is an American citizen and has lived in Japan for 21 years. \n\nSchedule: \n\n6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Networking/Registration\n6:45 PM – 8:00 PM Presentation with audience Q&A\n8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Networking & Reception\n\nLight appetizers and drinks provided. \n\nPurchase Tickets: \n\nPowered by Eventbrite\n\n\nTO ATTEND AT A MEMBER PRICE\, JOIN HERE \n\nNo refunds after Thursday\, March 2\nOnline registration closes at 12:00 PM on Thursday\, March 9\n\n_________________________________________________________________________________________________ \nThe event venue has been provided by generous support from: \n\n  \nDG717 is an event\, coworking and incubation space owned by Digital Garage. Digital Garage is a Tokyo-based internet investment & global marketing firm developing next-generation businesses. We invite you to visit dg717.com to learn more about how we might work together.
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/big-in-japan-dr-christina-ahmadjian-on-a-firsthand-view-of-corporate-governance-reform-in-japan/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20170405T173000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20170405T200000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212549Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001541Z
UID:10000188-1491413400-1491422400@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Asahi Beer at the Annual General Members Meeting
DESCRIPTION:The Japan Society of Northern California is hosting a members-only gathering where you’ll have the opportunity to meet our board\, staff and other members! Kozo Kimura of Asahi Beer U.S.A. Inc. will be showcasing the Asahi Beer brand and discussing the rich history of Japanese beer. They will have samples for you to try\, so come mingle and drink beer with us!  \nThe Annual General Members Meeting is complimentary for JSNC members. New members are also encouraged to register and attend. We have limited capacity\, so we encourage you to register early! \nIf you are not yet a member\, in order to attend this event\, please sign up for membership by clicking the button below! \nSign Up for Membership \n\nLaunched in 1892\, “Asahi” was named with the pride of a beer from the land of the rising sun—symbolizing promise and growth as the morning sun rises. The brand was an instant bestseller\, and has since gone on to receive numerous accolades and awards in Japan and abroad. With the Asahi Group’s long-fostered dedication to innovation\, the Company continues to create new values in order to share impressive moments with people around the world. \nMORE ABOUT ASAHI BEER U.S.A. INC.\n\nASAHI SUPER DRY \nWith its refreshing barley flavor and crisp aftertaste\, Asahi Super Dry is by far the most popular high-quality beer in Japan. Since its debut in 1987 as Japan’s first dry beer\, it has continued to improve the taste and excitement of beer. Its taste has set a new standard that is acknowledged around the world today. \n\n\n \nASAHI SELECT AMBER LAGER \nCrystal malt. Aroma hops. Lager yeast. Three quality ingredients that yield the smooth\, balanced\, and complex flavor of Asahi Brewmaster’s Select\, Asahi’s premium amber lager. \n  \n\nYou must be at least 21 years old to be of legal drinking age. We ask those of legal drinking age to please drink responsibly. \n\nSCHEDULE: \n\n5:30 PM – 6:00 PM      Registration / Networking\n6:00 PM – 7:15 PM      Members Meeting & Beer Tasting\n7:15 PM – 8:00 PM      Networking / Reception\n\nLight snacks will be provided. \n\nPURCHASE TICKETS: \nAs this is a members only event\, if you are not yet a member\, please sign up for membership HERE. (People ages 21 to 35 receive a special offer on the Young Professional (YP) membership.) \n[tt-event url=’https://www.tickettailor.com/new-order/89424/6f5e/ref/website_widget/’ minimal=’false’ bg_fill=’true’  show_logo=’true’  ] \nPURCHASE MEMBERSHIP TO ATTEND THIS EVENT\n\nThe event venue has been provided with generous support from: \n \n\nArare rice crackers have been generously provided by:
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/asahi-beer-at-the-annual-general-members-meeting/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20170412T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20170412T200000
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212601Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T001542Z
UID:10000190-1492020000-1492027200@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:Japan Society Young Professionals Group: Networking & Happy Hour
DESCRIPTION: \n\nPlease join the Japan Society Young Professionals Group for another networking/happy hour event!\nThis will be a great opportunity to network with professionals with ties to Japan or Japan-related businesses. We also look to get more feedback on what type of events you are interested in attending. The event is open to all and we encourage anyone interested in meeting new people to attend! We hope to see you there!\nThere is no cover charge nor upper age restrictions for this event. This is not a sponsored event\, and Local Edition is a 21+ establishment\, so please bring a photo ID for entrance.  \n\nAdmission: Free \n\n\nRegistration: To register for this event\, please click here.
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/japan-society-young-professionals-group-networking-happy-hour/
LOCATION:CA
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20170426T180000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20170426T201500
DTSTAMP:20260411T012027
CREATED:20241208T212601Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251105T215631Z
UID:10000189-1493229600-1493237700@www.usajapan.org
SUMMARY:CANCELLED - Farewell to Free Trade? Trump's New Deal with the World
DESCRIPTION:The future of free trade is in flux: almost immediately upon taking office\, President Trump moved to cary out his campaign promises to protect the American worker from “unfair” foreign competition. The President withdrew the U.S. as a party to the Trans-Pacific Partnership\, announced that one of his top trade priorities would be to renegotiate NAFTA\, and threatened to take actions against countries with large bilateral trade imbalances with the U.S.\nJoin Asia Society Northern California and the Japan Society of Northern California for a dialogue that will assess what these developments mean for America’s economic relationships with countries throughout the world and how Trump’s trade policy will impact the economy in the U.S.\, as well as in the Bay Area where foreign trade and investment has been a key driver of jobs and growth. Speakers will feature trade experts along with former officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative\, including Wendy Cutler of Asia Society’s Policy Institute\, who as the former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative spearheaded the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. \n\nSpeakers:\nVinod Aggarwal\, Professor\, Political Science\, UC Berkeley\nWendy Cutler\, Vice President and Managing Director\, Asia Society Policy Institute; former Deputy U.S. Trade Representative\nLarry Greenwood\, President\, Japan Society of Northern California (moderator)\nDemetrios Marantis\, Senior Vice President\, Global Government Affairs\, Visa; former Acting U.S. Trade Representative \n\nSchedule: \n\n6:00 PM – 6:30 PM       Networking/Registration\n6:30 PM – 7:45 PM       Dialogue & audience Q&A\n7:45 PM – 8:15 PM       Networking & Reception\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets:\nTo purchase tickets for this event\, please click here. \n\nOrganized in Partnership with:
URL:https://www.usajapan.org/event/cancelled-farewell-to-free-trade-trumps-new-deal-with-the-world/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Politics/Policy
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END:VCALENDAR