Dinner: Thursday, November 7

Forum: Friday, November 8

Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

We are thrilled to announce our 2024 Annual Celebration Dinner & Business Forum, where we will gather to celebrate and strengthen the Japan-Alabama Relationship. We are honored to have Camille P. Dawson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, as our keynote speaker for the dinner.

Please save the dates and stay tuned for further updates regarding registration and sponsorship opportunities. We look forward to your participation in this significant celebration!

Tanabata Festival / 七夕祭り

Saturday, July 6

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Experience the Japanese tradition of making wishes on colorful Tanzaku and hanging them on bamboo trees. Engage in a variety of cultural activities, such as origami, calligraphy, and Japanese yo-yo fishing. Explore the Alabama Bonsai Society's bonsai exhibition and enjoy a dance performance by Kids Japanese Dance Group from Huntsville! Refresh yourself with complimentary lemonade provided by Starbucks. This free, family-friendly event promises something special for everyone to enjoy!

Visit Facebook Event Page

July Kayoubikai / 7月の火曜日会

Tuesday, July 16

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Samurai Japan (700 Montgomery Hwy #178, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216)

Join us for our July 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!

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.

Samford University

Samford University, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is a private Christian institution founded in 1841. It is known for its strong commitment to liberal arts education and integrating faith and learning. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees across 10 schools, including arts, business, education, law, and pharmacy. With a student body of approximately 5,700, Samford emphasizes small class sizes and personalized education. The campus features Georgian-Colonial architecture and a vibrant community life, including various student organizations and athletic programs. Samford's mission focuses on nurturing students' intellectual, ethical, and social development within a Christian context.

Learn More

Wallace State Community College

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala.

Learn More

Shinkendo 101 with Shinkendo of Birmingham

Thursday, July 11

3:30 - 4:15 p.m.

Homewood Public Library

(Grades 2-5) Learn the art of Japanese swordsmanship with Shinkendo Birmingham!

Register Here

Anime Club: Belle

Thursday, July 11

4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Public Library of Anniston-Calhoun County 

Come to the Ayers Room to watch a new anime title and enjoy Japanese snacks and prizes every month! Meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 4 PM.



Register Here

Hiroya Tsukamoto Summer Tour '24

Sunday, July 14

6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

The Peoples Room of Mobile

General Admission: $25

Hiroya Tsukamoto is a Japanese-born fingerstyle guitarist who moved to the United States in 2000 to attend the Berklee College of Music. Needless to say, he’s not only a dizzyingly agile fingerpicker, but a soulful and transcendent performer, with compositions that combine instrumental guitar work with lyrical performance and spoken stories from his life. Tsukamoto has been recognized for his talents on stages such as at Blue Note in New York City, Japanese National Television (NHK), International Storytelling Center and United Nations, and by scoring second place at the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship both in 2018 and 2022.

Purchase a Ticket

Hands-on Japanese Culture Experience

Monday, July 29

10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

West Regional Library - Mobile Public Library

Join the Japanese Garden Foundation/Mobile Ichihara Sister City Association for the 2024 Student Cultural Exchange. Japanese students will lead hands-on activities including Origami, the Japanese Tea Ceremony, and calligraphy. Participants of all ages are welcome. Admission is free.

More Info

サンフォード大学の関係者が前橋市訪問 / Samford University officials visit Maebashi City

群馬県前橋市とアラバマ州バーミングハム市の姉妹都市関係を強化し、国際的な大学間交流を促進するため、サンフォード大学の関係者が小川市長を訪問し、意見交換を行いました。

To strengthen the sister city relationship between Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, and Birmingham, Alabama, and to foster international university exchanges, representatives from Samford University visited Mayor Ogawa.

See the news by Gunma Television on YouTube

2024 SEUS/Japan Conference

October 27 - 29

Charlotte Convention Center 

Make valuable Japanese business connections at the 2024 Southeast U.S./Japan Conference! This high-profile event, the 46th Annual Joint Meeting between the Southeast U.S./Japan Association and its counterpart, the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association, attracts senior Japanese business and government officials and features an outstanding group of speakers along with a series of special networking activities.

Review the agenda here

For more information and registration, visit the website

ウェビナー：在米日系企業給与・福利厚生調査2024／雇用・給与・福利厚生の傾向

2024年7月9日(火)

13:00 - 14:30 (CST)

主催：PASONA N A, INC. ＆ SGR法律事務所

参加費：無料

本ウェビナーでは、在米日系企業の労働市場の動向や福利厚生情報に加え、法的観点からみた組織・人材マネジメントの注意事項及び最新の労働関連法令についてご紹介・考察する機会にしたいと考えております。こちらよりお申込みいただけます。

Toyota Alabama to expand production with 350 new jobs in Huntsville



Toyota is expanding its Huntsville engine factory with a $282 million investment, creating over 350 new jobs. This project raises Toyota Alabama’s total investment to over $1.7 billion, reinforcing its commitment to U.S. operations. The Huntsville plant, Toyota's largest North American engine producer, employs over 2,000 people and assembled more than 770,000 engines in 2023. The new investment will add drivetrain product lines, enhancing production capabilities.

Alabama auto industry’s rapid growth fueled by billions in new investment

Today, Alabama’s five automakers have invested around $15 billion, creating over 50,000 jobs and making motor vehicles the state’s top export. The industry is now focusing on electric vehicles, with significant investments in EV production infrastructure. 

Japan posts record April current account surplus

Japan's April current-account surplus reached a record 2.05 trillion yen, driven by higher overseas interest rates and a weakened yen boosting bond-related income. This marks the largest surplus for April since 1985, reflecting 15 consecutive months of surplus.

Migrant labor law revised to allow longer, flexible stays

In June, Japan's Diet approved new legislation to extend migrant workers' stays, replacing the criticized technical intern training program. Workers can now stay up to 3 years, extendable under skilled worker status. The reform aims to expand job opportunities and enhance conditions, though family reunification is restricted for 8 years, sparking debate.

Monthly bankruptcies in Japan top 1,000 for 1st time in 11 yrs

In May, Japan saw corporate bankruptcies rise sharply to 1,009, up 42.9% from last year, the highest in 11 years. Economic strains from the pandemic, coupled with rising costs, labor shortages, and waning pandemic support, suggest annual bankruptcies could surpass 10,000 for the first time since 2013, hitting smaller firms particularly hard.

Japan Inflation Picks Up, Adding to Hopes for Rate Hikes by BOJ

In May, Japan's consumer inflation accelerated to 2.8% year-on-year, driven by higher electricity costs, up from 2.5% in April. Analysts anticipate Bank of Japan interest rate hikes as inflation has exceeded the 2% target for over two years. Despite potential monetary tightening, sluggish wage growth continues to hamper consumption recovery.