Young Professionals to Watch: Chase Rehder
The Kwansei Gakuin MBA candidate shares how the ACCJ’s student membership has advanced his career goals.
The Young Professionals Forum (YPF) serves as a platform to connect working professionals aged 35 and under within the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ). This includes a growing number of student members. Through networking, information sharing, and other peer-led programs, members can enhance their professional and personal development while building valuable connections.
An option for those in graduate school or under 30 was added in 2025. Young professionals can join the chamber for just ¥24,000 per year, with the one-time entrance fee waived. In this installment of our Young Professionals to Watch series, we talk to Chase Rehder, an MBA student at Kwansei Gakuin University (KGU), about how he has made the most of his membership.
How did you find out about the ACCJ?
Funnily enough, I originally found out about the ACCJ through ChatGPT when I was wrapping up my first year at Kwansei Gakuin University. I told ChatGPT that I was searching for a professional community to meet like-minded people.
I understood the importance of networking and social capital, as that was how I received the opportunity to study in Japan. I just happened to meet the right people who knew of the right opportunity for me. I always knew that the next step after graduation wasn’t going to appear out of thin air, and that I had to put in the work and make the right connections. Joining the ACCJ felt like the right move.
How has the ACCJ helped you as a student?
Joining the ACCJ has tremendously benefited my studies. At KGU, I am in an MBA program with a concentration in finance. My graduate research thesis examines how real land asset prices are affected by infrastructure development—specifically, the effects of shinkansen (bullet train) development on land prices in regional cities. Using historical data, I am building a regression model to forecast residential land prices in Nakatsugawa, a city in Gifu Prefecture.
The project was actually kicked off by a chance encounter at an ACCJ event in Nagoya, where I met a man who had a personal stake in Nakatsugawa. Although he was not particularly interested in the potential capital gains, as his reasons for buying land were more personal, I immediately thought there must be some kind of investment opportunity.
That encounter took my research in a completely unexpected direction and ultimately served as the catalyst for a project that not only I have become genuinely excited about, but my professor has as well.
Do you have a memorable moment from a YPF or ACCJ event?
A Night of Stars & Stripes is the best event I’ve attended thus far. Prior to that, I really enjoyed the Kansai shinnenkai and Leading Growth: Global Strategy and Personal Leadership with Fusako Znaiden. The Kansai shinnenkai was just a great first experience at an ACCJ event, and Leading Growth was my first event in Tokyo. All events have become unforgettable experiences that have led to many great connections with peers and mentors.
Are there any standout members you’ve met?
One YPF member I connected with is Alex Wise. I have long-term goals and dreams that involve my ties to both the United States and Japan, but up until that day, I had only seen people who were already at or nearly at their finish lines. Meeting Alex was really what showed me that this dream I have is possible. Alex was the first person I met who was at that next step, the one I couldn’t quite see yet. In a way, his existence alone showed me that the path I imagine is actually possible.
I’ve been incredibly grateful for his willingness to lend a hand, share his experiences, and help me think more clearly about my own career path.
What are your expectations for the YPF and the ACCJ?
I wonder if more people like me—students looking to meet real professionals—will join the ACCJ and the YPF. Although I’ve only been a member for roughly nine months, I have already seen substantial growth in the Kansai chapter’s YPF. I hope for and am actively trying to support the continued success of the ACCJ and the YPF. I’m grateful to be a part of this organization and am excited for its future.
