Stay Engaged
As the pandemic enters a new stage and direct communication opens up, the chamber is fostering lasting change—thanks to all of you.
Listen to this story:
One of the greatest attractions of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) is our myriad activities and the vibrancy of our members. From networking to advocacy to information exchange, the ACCJ is not only the voice of global business in Japan, but a dynamic, rewarding community.
The coronavirus pandemic challenged our ability to sustain our energy, but our members are resilient and resourceful. We not only adapted and maintained our inspiring event schedule and connections virtually, but we gained new skills along the way that now allow us to extend our reach and foster greater engagement as the way we interact continues to evolve.
Look at the event photos. Those of you who were there felt the energy in the air as the veil lifted. Seeing our members together at in-person events filled me with optimism, the sense of urgency to shake hands and see faces, to get back to business, to reignite advocacy efforts, and to reinvigorate our relationship with government back in Washington. All safely, of course.
Hello, Capitol Hill
Speaking of government, it was an honor to lead, as president, an ACCJ delegation to Washington for our first DC Doorknock since before the pandemic. I was joined by ACCJ Chair Eriko Asai, Governor Victor Osumi, Special Advisor Christopher LaFleur, and Executive Director Laura Younger. Engaging face-to-face with members of the executive branch and Congress once again is very important to the chamber’s advocacy efforts.
With the recent rollout of the Indo–Pacific Economic Framework—an occasion to which the ACCJ was invited—and the recent Quad meeting of leaders from the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, the US–Japan partnership continues to be the most important nexus for peace and prosperity—not just in the region, but for the global order.
We in the ACCJ are a key conduit for lawmakers in Washington to what is going on in Japan in terms of the business aspects of the bilateral relationship, and through our discussions during the DC Doorknock we have had a positive impact over the years. As business leaders on the ground, we experience firsthand the opportunities, obstacles, and ground-truth in Japan. As a trusted primary source in a world awash with information and disinformation, our voices are heard and valued by the administration and members of Congress.
The way in which Washington is engaging with the ACCJ and the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is important. There’s energy and urgency in the US–Japan partnership on all fronts—from the economy to national security—
and you can see this in the number of Congressional delegations (well over 10 percent of the Senate leadership) coming to Japan, capped by US President Joe Biden himself in late May. We are pleased and encouraged to see the United States leading in the region, and the heightened role Japan has taken on the world stage.
US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel has been an incredibly positive addition to the US–Japan dialogue and a valuable partner for the ACCJ. We have hosted him at several meetings and events, including a special welcome luncheon (page 10). His energy, enthusiasm, and attitude are welcome, timely, and highly infectious!
Opening Up
In terms of advocacy and getting results, I’d like to thank you all for your important contributions to our core advocacy document—something new we have tried this year in addition to our viewpoint papers. For example, your input, leadership, and energy pushing for fair and science-based policy regarding Japan’s border restrictions very quickly led to results. We, combined with the voice of our fellow foreign chambers of commerce and other organizations—both foreign and domestic—are making a real difference.
Stay Engaged
I will end by asking all chamber members to embrace the sense of urgency that is defining the world we find ourselves in—one of transition—and help the ACCJ continue to champion strong partnerships and communication to create the best environment for global business in Japan.
