Japan-America Society of Tennessee, Inc. - Annual Meeting / Tennessee-Japan Forum

Annual Meeting & Tennessee-Japan Forum

The Tennessee-Japan Forum serves as JAST’s Annual Meeting. Representatives from a variety of businesses, government offices, non-profit organizations and other sectors come together to connect and strengthen the vibrant bilateral relationship between Japan and Tennessee.

Widely recognized Japanese and U.S. experts as they lead a discussion about the U.S.-Japan bilateral relationship and geo-strategic issues in Asia and how they affect the U.S. and Japan.

2025 Tennessee-Japan Forum

Annual Meeting & Networking Luncheon

June 13, 2025

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CDT

Geodis Park

Goal Post Club

Parking Lot 10

0 Wilson Drive

Nashville 37204

Special Guest Speakers

U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (Ret.) General Paul M. Nakasone

Moderator

Christine Karbowiak Vanek

Retired

Vice Chair, Executive Vice President

Bridgestone Americas, Inc.

Executive Vice President, Executive Officer

With remarks from

The Honorable Shinji Watanabe

Consul-General of Japan in Nashville

The Japan-America Society of Tennessee's 2025 Tennessee-Japan Forum / Annual Meeting & Networking Luncheon will be held on Friday, June 13 from 11:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m. CDT at Geodis Park in the Goal Post Club.

AGENDA

10:45 a.m.

Registration opens

Informal Networking and Beverages

11:15 a.m.

Luncheon and Program

1:00 p.m.

Program concludes

The program will feature U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty, (Ret.) General Paul M. Nakasone and Consul-General of Japan in Nashville Shinji Watanabe.

U. S. Senator Bill Hagerty was elected to the U. S. Senate in 2020 and is currently serving his first term representing the State of Tennessee. His committee assignments include: U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, & Urban Affaires; U.S. Senate Committee on Foriegn Relations; U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations; and U.S. Senate Committee on Rules & Administration. Prior to his election to the Senate, Senator Hagerty served as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan. A life-long businessman, he started his career with the Boston Consulting Group, where his work took him to five continents, including three years based in Tokyo. He later became a venture capital and private equity investor. From 2011 to 2014, Senator Hagerty served as a member of the Governor’s Cabinet and Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

(Ret.) General Paul M. Nakasone joined Vanderbilt on June 1, 2024. His service as commander of U.S. Cyber Command and NSA director began in May 2018. Previously he had commanded U.S. Army Cyber Command from 2016 to 2018. Nakasone’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), the Defense Superior Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters), Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with four oak leaf clusters), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge.

The Honorable Shinji Watanabe assumed his post as Consul-General of Japan in Nashville in April 2024. This is his second diplomatic assignment in the United States, following his first assignment at the Consulate-General in Denver. Trained in the Swedish language, he has also served at the Embassy of Japan in Sweden on three occasions, with his most recent assignment being the Deputy Chief of Mission. Prior to his assignment as Consul-General, he worked as the Director of Exchange Programs Division, Minister’s Secretariat, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan from February 2021. The division is responsible for policies on people-to-people exchanges including the Fulbright Program, JET Programs, and sports exchanges.

JAST members attend FREE. Non-members, $50.

Reserve your spot by May 30th.

Register to attend

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