January 2020

In this Issue

Tennessee-Japan Forum 2020
Welcome Consul-General Kayoko Fukushima
Member Spotlight - Brother Industries (USA), Inc.
Volunteer Spotlight - Claire Harden
Welcome JAST New Members
Upcoming Community Events

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Tennessee-Japan Forum 2020

Feb 12, 3:00 - 6:00 pm

Baker Donelson Event Center

Join us at the Tennessee-Japan Forum on February 12th. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about geopolitical issues currently facing Japan and America from recognized experts Dr. Sheila A. Smith and Dr. Yoshihide Soeya and to hear from new Consul-General Kayoko Fukushima. We will recognize important JAST member anniversaries and celebrate our 20th year. A networking reception will follow.

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 America.

Click HERE to learn more about our speakers, and click HERE to register. The registration deadline is January 31st.

Welcome Consul-General Kayoko Fukushima

Congratulations and welcome to Consul-General Fukushima, our new Consul-General of Japan, Nashville. Consul-General Fukushima assumed her post in December 2019. This is her third diplomatic assignment in the U.S. The Consul-General has extensive experience working with the United Nations. She served as Program Officer at United Nations University (2003-2006) and as the founding Director of the UN Women Japan Liaison Office (2015-2017), both based in Tokyo. To learn more about our new Consul-General please click HERE.

Consul-General Fukushima will be a speaker at JAST’s Tennessee-Japan Forum on February 12th. Please register HERE

Member Spotlight - Brother Industries (USA), Inc.

Brother Industries (USA), Inc., located in West TN, has been a dedicated member of JAST for 20 years. Brother actively participates in JAST activities throughout the year and is especially supportive of the Memphis Japan Festival. At last year’s festival, 30 Brother employees volunteered to staff their very popular children’s craft tent which featured some of their products in the largest exhibitor tent at the Festival.

Brother came to Shelby County in 1986 with great fanfare and has been an important part of the Bartlett community ever since. The company employs 600 people at their Bartlett campus, which spans more than 26 football fields. Among their many achievements, Brother has been recognized as Tennessee Business Recycler of the Year by the Tennessee Recycling Coalition.

JAST greatly appreciates the dedicated participation of Norio Mitsubayshi, President of Brother Industries (USA), Inc. and a member of the JAST Board of Directors. JAST thanks Brother and Mitsubayashi-san for their unwavering support. For more information, please visit Brother’s website.

Volunteer Spotlight - Claire Harden

Nashville native Claire Harden first became involved with JAST when she attended an inaugural meeting of JAST Young Professionals in 2012. It was after this meeting that Claire started volunteering with the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival - first as a Cosplay Contest “wrangler” and, in 2014, as J-Funland Area Chair. Claire enjoys working with the vendors and cosplayers. Her director experience with Middle Tennessee Anime Convention has helped bring more vendors to the Festival. Claire loves seeing Festival guests having a good time and the event grow each year. JAST thanks Claire for her continued dedication and hard work!