毎年、アラバマ日米協会（JASA）は、アラバマ州内外の会員やゲストが集まり、交流し、食事を楽しむ特別なレセプションとディナーを開催しております。

このイベントでは、アラバマ商務省による日本企業の表彰やサミュエル・ウルマン賞の授賞式に加え、ゲストスピーカーによる講演も行い、日本とアラバマの長きにわたる友好関係を祝います。さらに、翌朝にはビジネスフォーラムを開催し、ゲストスピーカーがアラバマ州でのビジネスに関する貴重な情報や最新の動向を共有します。

皆様のご参加を心よりお待ちしております。 

Each year, the Japan-America Society of Alabama (JASA) hosts a special reception and dinner featuring guest speaker presentations, the Alabama Department of Commerce’s New and Expanding Japanese Companies awards, and the Samuel Ullman Award celebrating Japan-Alabama relations. The following morning, we hold a Business Forum offering insights into conducting Japanese business in Alabama.

JASA CELEBRATION DINNER:

Date: Thursday, November 7

Time: 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

This year features keynote speaker Camille P. Dawson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. We’ll honor new and expanding Japanese companies in Alabama and present the 2024 Samuel Ullman Award.

JASA BUSINESS FORUM:

Date: Friday, November 8

Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Location: Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

The next morning, our Business Forum will showcase valuable insights from Hiro Kagohashi, Executive VP of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, and Mark Moore, General Manager of Topre America Corporation. They will share their perspectives on conducting Japanese business in Alabama from both Japanese and local viewpoints.

SPECIAL EVENT: GOLF AT ROSS BRIDGE

Join us for a golf outing at Ross Bridge after the forum with tee-off times starting at 12:00 PM!

SPONSORSHIP

Various sponsorship levels are available, offering exposure at the event and across our platforms. Your support is crucial to the success of our Annual Dinner and Business Forum, and we greatly appreciate it.

If you have any questions, please contact Rio Nunley, JASA Assistant Director, at officemanager@jasaweb.org.

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

September Kayoubikai / ９月の火曜日会

Tuesday, September 17

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Fuku Ramen-280: 210 Doug Baker Blvd #100, Birmingham, AL 3524 

Join us for our Kayoubikai! It's a great opportunity to meet new friends with similar interests, practice Japanese, and strengthen connections within our JASA community. Whether you're a JASA member or new to the community, all are welcome! Please RSVP at least one day in advance to secure your spot. While there's no cost to attend this event, please note that everyone will be responsible for their individual bills after the meal. We look forward to seeing you there!

RSVP HERE!

September Language Club Meetup

Thursday, September 12

6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

JASA Office

Join us once a month on Thursdays at 6:30 PM. Our self-study club uses Genki as our main resource, catering to different skill levels and goals—from travel phrases to JLPT preparation. Study the grammar section at home and join us for workbook exercises and conversational practice during our sessions!

英会話を練習したい方、新しいお友達を作りたい方、メンバーの日本語勉強を手伝ってくれる方も募集しています。ぜひお気軽にご参加ください！

Join our Facebook Group! 

BECOME A JASA MEMBER!

Our members enjoy basic benefits as well as special support from JASA for welcoming Japanese guests, coordinating events, and more. Whether you are Japanese or American, represent a group related to Japanese business and culture, or just have an interest in Japanese culture, we welcome all members. 

If you are interested in our membership program or would like more information, please contact us at officemanager@jasaweb.org or visit our website.

DIY Yums: Onigiri

Wednesday, September 18

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

O'Neal Library

Learn to make onigiri (Japanese rice balls) at the O'Neal Library! They're a simple lunch to pack and enjoy at school. All ingredients and supplies provided. This program is for teens in grades 7-12. Registration is REQUIRED. Got questions? Email young adult librarians Michelle Cheng and Gracie Roth at teens@oneallibrary.org. 

Register Here

Japanese Whiskey Tasting + Sushi Making Class

Wednesday, September 25

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Watkins Branch Bourbon and Brasserie

Watkins Branch will feature three distinct Japanese whiskies for you to sample, while Birmingham Sushi Classes will host a mini sushi-making session where you’ll learn to create your own sushi roll. 

Purchase Ticket

KAZHA Concerts

October 2 at The Nick! in Birmingham

October 4 - 6 at Von Braun Center in Huntsville

Kazha is a rock band founded by a Japanese singer-songwriter Kazuha Oda (Kazha) and a guitarist Hideki Matsushige in 2009. Kazuha is a classically trained singer who has worked in various genres of music from Classic to Heavy Metal. Her work has appeared on the iTunes Top 100 charts of numerous countries for a significant amount of time.

Purchase Ticket

JapanFest Atlanta

Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 

Sunday, Sept. 22, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  

Gas South Convention Center

Purchase tickets in advance from the website and skip the lines! 

Advanced Ticket: $16 (~Sep.20)

At the door: $20

JapanFest, now in its 37th year, typically draws 25,000 visitors. Organized by the Japan Chamber of Commerce and the Japan America Society of Georgia and supported by the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta, the festival is designed to promote understanding between Japanese and Americans in the Southeast.

Visit the Website

2025 Japanese American Leadership Delegation to Japan

The Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) program offers select Japanese American leaders from across the U.S. the opportunity to travel to Japan and engage with leaders in business, government, academia, and culture. This trip enhances understanding of multicultural America for Japanese leaders and strengthens U.S.-Japan ties through collaboration with JALD alumni, consulates, the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC), and various community organizations.

Submission Details:

• Deadline: September 9, 2024
• Submit applications by email to the local consulate office based on residence. Residents of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina should submit to the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta.
• Send a duplicate copy to the U.S.-Japan Council at amurata@usjapancouncil.org.

Learn More

Toshinan - Reawakening a Treasure

"Seated in the Cultural Center of the Japanese Garden, beyond the Taylor Gate, visitors may discover a 16th-century, Sukiya–style teahouse, named “Toshinan.” While the teahouse might look untouched since its construction in 1993, the scent of freshly shaved and sanded cedar that lingered in the breeze this past summer is evidence of the restorative construction completed by carpenter Hiroshi Awano and copper craftsman Taichirou Ishii..."

Read the Article by Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Beth Thames: The ‘Haiku Path’ at Monte Sano State Park

To beat the summer heat, visit Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville, where it's 10 degrees cooler. Explore the Haiku Path in the Japanese Garden, featuring engraved haiku poems inspired by local flora and fauna. Created by friends Terri French and Peggy Bilbro, the path invites visitors to reflect on nature and poetry. With ongoing contributions and a goal to expand, this serene spot offers a calming experience amidst the natural beauty.

Read the Article by AL.com

Register Now for the 46th Annual Japan-U.S. Southeast & Southeast U.S./Japan Associations Meeting!

October 27 - 29 at Charlotte Convention Center 

Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair will lead a statewide delegation to the conference providing Alabama economic developers and business leaders an opportunity to reconnect and build relationships with top government and business leaders from Japan and other southeast United States member states.

This conference will include networking opportunities and sessions on current international trade and investment economic outlooks in Japan and the Southeast U.S. To be a part of the Alabama delegation, register HERE. Please encourage your Japanese investment to participate in this year’s SEUS-Japan Joint Meeting. 

Feel free to forward this information or contact Alabama’s SEUS-Japan state coordinators Christina Stimpson at christina.stimpson@commerce.alabama.gov or David Sides at david.sides@commerce.alabama.gov.

Conference Website and Registration

Full Agenda

Registration deadline is October 4 2024

Governor Ivey Celebrates Alabama’s Exporting Success with ‘Trade Excellence Awards,’ Proclaims World Trade Month

Governor Kay Ivey awarded five Alabama companies with the 2024 Governor’s Trade Excellence Award for their global success and impact on the state's economy. The companies honored include Evonik, Hartzell Engine Tech, MDT Armor, PTS Expeditionary Communications, and United Aero Group. Governor Ivey also proclaimed May as World Trade Month in Alabama. Additionally, Nisa Miranda received the Trade Advocate of the Year Award for her significant support of Alabama's export system during her tenure at the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development.

New investments, strategies position rural Alabama for economic growth

Alabama’s rural areas are poised for economic growth through strategic investments and policies. Governor Kay Ivey emphasizes commitment to rural revival, citing Sunbelt Solomon Services’ new $5 million facility in Coffee County, which will create 50 jobs. Additionally, Enterprise is accelerating industrial development with a $5.7 million state grant for an $8.5 million industrial park project. Click the link above to explore the recent developments driving growth in rural Alabama.

Japan draws up plan to develop health care business into growth industry

Japan's health ministry plans to enhance its medical sector by accepting 20 foreign medical students with scholarships, improving services for international patients, aiding Asian countries in adopting Japanese medical systems, and boosting drug development with international collaboration.

Japan to open US-inspired defense tech research center in October

Japan's Defense Ministry will open a new research institute in Tokyo this October to advance defense technologies, inspired by the U.S. DARPA model. The Defense Innovation Technology Institute, staffed by 100 personnel from the ministry, companies, and universities, aims to develop cutting-edge technologies like autonomous vehicles and submarine detection. The institute, with a budget of 21.7 billion yen, will also serve as a think tank and oversee dual-use technology programs, supporting Japan's major defense expansion in response to regional threats.

Biden Prepares to Block $14 BillionSteel Deal

U.S. Steel’s CEO warned of closing mills if the planned $14.1 billion sale to Nippon Steel collapses, as the Biden administration nears blocking the deal. Nippon Steel's investment is crucial for upgrading U.S. Steel's older mills and preserving jobs. With U.S. Steel's stock falling 17% on news of the potential block, the company is facing opposition from unions, political figures, and a national-security review.

Nikkei sinks over 4% on US economy fears, 3rd biggest fall of year

On Wednesday, the Nikkei stock index fell 4.24%, its third-largest drop of the year, amid concerns over a potential U.S. economic slowdown following weaker-than-expected manufacturing data. The index closed at 37,047.61, its lowest since August 15. The broader Topix index dropped 3.65%. The yen appreciated as investors sought safe-haven assets, and the yield on 10-year Japanese government bonds fell. The decline in Tokyo stocks was exacerbated by losses in tech shares and worries about U.S. economic data and its impact on Federal Reserve policies.

Japan's rice exports hit record high for Jan.-Jul. period

Japan's rice exports hit a record 24,469 tons from January to July, a 23% increase, driven by higher demand from Japanese restaurants overseas. Despite this, domestic rice is scarce due to low stock levels before harvest and increased buying after recent disasters.