PRESS RELEASE: The East-West Center Releases Newest Edition of Japan Matters for America/America Matters for Japan Publication and One-Page State and Congressional District Connection Summaries
179 guests from the media, diplomatic, academic, and policy analysis communities attended the "How Japan Matters for America in the Indo-Pacific" event at Sasakawa Peace Foundation's International Conference Hall.
Left/Top: EWC in Washington Director Dr. Satu Limaye shares the highlights of the new Japan Matters for America/America Matters for Japan publication.
Right/Bottom: Panel discussion at the "How Japan Matters for America in the Indo-Pacific" event, (L-R): Dr. Ryo Sahashi, Dr. Tomohiko Satake, Professor Mie Oba, and Dr. Satu Limaye.
TOKYO, JAPAN (April 17, 2019) - The East-West Center (EWC) , in collaboration with Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) , released the newest edition of the Japan Matters for America/America Matters for Japan (JMA/AMJ) publication and one-page state and congressional district connection summaries on Monday. 179 guests from the media, diplomatic, academic, and policy analysis communities attended the "How Japan Matters for America in the Indo-Pacific" event at SPF's International Conference Hall which celebrated JMA/AMJ being a vital resource for exploring the multifaceted connections between the U.S. and Japan and the importance of U.S.-Japan relations in the context of other regional relationships such as with Australia and ASEAN.

SPF's Executive Director Junko Chano gave welcoming remarks, which was followed by a presentation of JMA/AMJ findings by EWC in Washington Director Dr. Satu Limaye. The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring Professor Mie Oba, Tokyo University of Science; Dr. Tomohiko Satake, Senior Research Fellow, National Institute for Defense Studies; and Dr. Ryo Sahashi, Associate Professor, The University of Tokyo.

The event marks the long-standing partnership between EWC and SPF, which started the JMA/AMJ project in 2009 as part of the Asia Matters for America initiative developed by Dr. Satu Limaye. The latest JMA/AMJ publication, written in both English and Japanese, highlights the mutual business, diplomatic, security, and cultural connections between the U.S. and Japan. Key highlights include nearly $300 billion in two-way trade and over $475 billion in Japanese investment into the United States. Japan creates more American jobs than any other Indo-Pacific country and Japanese tourists contribute $16.3 billion to the U.S. economy. Strategically, Japan is an important military ally and a host for U.S. military forces. All of the JMA/AMJ resources can be found at AsiaMattersforAmerica.org/Japan.

"The U.S.-Japan relationship is the key comprehensive U.S.-Indo-Pacific partnership in terms of its scope, depth, and distribution of interaction measured by trade, foreign direct investment, jobs generated by investment, and people-to-people ties through sister city ties, tourism, education, and exchanges. These relations touch nearly every U.S. state and congressional district and Japanese prefecture," said EWC in Washington Director Dr. Satu Limaye. "Plus, the U.S.-Japan alliance is ever more important in a contested Asia and for cooperation with other allies and friends. I am delighted to have cooperated with Sasakawa Peace Foundation for ten years on this collaborative initiative and welcome this occasion of launching the third edition of our publication."

As a comprehensive resource providing key statistics, infographics, news, and analysis on U.S.-Japan relations, the JMA/AMJ website is widely used by policy makers, trade groups, academia, journalists, students, and more. JMA/AMJ will also be making its debut at the U.S. Consulate General in Osaka later this week, where EWC in Washington Director Dr. Satu Limaye will highlight how the Kansai region matters to America.
About the East-West Center
The East-West Center promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1960, the Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options. The Center is an independent, public, nonprofit organization with funding from the U.S. government, and additional support provided by private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations, and governments in the region.
 
Over more than fifty years of serving as a U.S.-based institution for public diplomacy in the Asia Pacific region with international governance, staffing, students, and participants, the Center has built a worldwide network of 65,000 alumni and more than 1,100 partner organizations. The Center’s 21-acre Honolulu campus, adjacent to the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, is located midway between Asia and the U.S. mainland and features research, residential, and international conference facilities. The Center’s Washington, D.C. office focuses on preparing the United States for an era of growing Asia Pacific prominence.

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For more information on the Asia Matters for America initiative or the Japan Matters for America project, please visit our website or contact Caitlin Brophy at (202) 327-9757 or brophyc@eastwestcenter.org .
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