American Chamber of Commerce in Japan

The ACCJ Healthcare Committee hosted the luncheon seminar with Dr. Ichiro Kamoshita, former special advisor to the Cabinet on health and medical strategy and former LDP Diet member, on December 11. Thank you to Dr. Ichiro Kamoshita for sharing his views on the future of Japan’s social security system and for his engaging dialogue with our members. From left: Makoto Kawai, ACCJ Healthcare Committee Chair; Dr. Ichiro Kamoshita; Katsunori Fujita, ACCJ Healthcare Committee Vice Chair; Eiji Sasahara, Ph.D., MBA 笹原英司, ACCJ Healthcare Committee Vice Chair.

Victor Osumi, Managing Director and President – Japan, Delta Air Lines, Inc., has been re-elected ACCJ President for 2025. Congratulations to all the newly elected members and officers of the 2025 ACCJ Board of Governors! See the full list of elected and incumbent members of the Board:  https://lnkd.in/gGJV3yE2 Elected President: -Victor Osumi Managing Director and President - Japan, Delta Air Lines, Inc. Incumbent Treasurer: -John Kawase Chief Financial Officer, Amway Japan G.K. Elected Vice Presidents–Tokyo: -Meghan Barstow President & Representative Director, Edelman Japan -Steve Briggs President and Representative Director, Kraft Heinz Japan -Arthur Mitchell Senior Advisor, White & Case LLP -David Richards, CFA Managing Director, Chief Administrative Officer, Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co., Ltd. Incumbent Vice President–Tokyo: -Sarah Bader Managing Director, Principal Representative in Japan, Gensler Associates International Ltd Elected Governors–Tokyo: -Christopher Clark General Manager, JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo -Rebecca K. Green Partner, ERM -Mitsuhiko Ida Government Affairs Director, Microsoft Japan -Eric John President, Boeing Japan KK -Nancy Ngou Associate Partner, EY Strategy and Consulting Co., Ltd. -Eric Sedlak Partner; Registered Foreign Lawyer, K&L Gates Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise -Taishu "Connor" Takeda (Connor Myers) Government Affairs Vice President, SAP Japan Co., Ltd. Incumbent Governors–Tokyo: -Andrew Conrad Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Compliance Officer, Aflac Japan Senior Vice President, Aflac International -Tomoko Naoe Director - Policy, Japan, BSA | The Software Alliance -Yumiko Ohta Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP -Frank Packard Partner, Eight Peaks Partners G.K. -Megumi Takayama Senior Vice President, Weber Shandwick（IPG DXTRA Japan, Inc.) Elected Chubu Chapter leaders: -Vice President–Chubu: Robert Roche Executive Chairman and President, Oak Lawn Marketing, Inc. -Governor–Chubu: Mark Hosang Regional Chief Information Security Officer Japan & APAC, Randstad Japan Incumbent Kansai Chapter leaders: -Vice President–Kansai: Jiro Kawakami, CFA Vice President & Chief of Staff, MGM Resorts Japan LLC -Governor–Kansai: Simone Thomsen President and Representative Director, Eli Lilly Japan K.K. 2025 Non-Board Leadership Positions: -Regional Treasurer–Chubu: Julian Bashore Managing Director & Representative Director, Bodo Moeller Chemie Japan K.K. -Regional Treasurer–Kansai: Pending

The Fukuoka High Court ruled on Friday that banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. This ruling is a positive step for the business environment in Japan and for all people to live and work in Japan as equals. The “ruling is the first from a high court stating that the ban violates Article 13 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to pursue happiness.” – The Japan Times https://lnkd.in/dXy3TVGN The ACCJ is a longtime advocate of marriage equality and continues to call on the Government of Japan to legalize same-sex marriage and protect those who identify as LGBTQ+ from discrimination. Doing so will bolster Japan’s ability to attract global talent, further Japan's economic potential, and create a more inclusive living and working environment. Japan is the only G7 country which has not instituted legislation that recognizes same-sex marriage. - ACCJ Viewpoint: Support the Recruitment snd Retention of Talent by Instituting Marriage Equality in Japan 日本で婚姻の平等を確立することにより人材の採用・維持の支援を https://lnkd.in/gMfGgs-K #marriageequality #lgbtqrights

Get ready to welcome the New Year in style at our 2025 Shinnenkai on Thursday, January 23, at the Imperial Hotel! 🎉 This popular event is the perfect opportunity to make new connections, reconnect with friends and colleagues, and engage with high-level government officials and decision-makers from both the Japanese and U.S. business communities. We can't wait to see you there! 🎊 Thursday, January 23, 18:30–20:30: https://lnkd.in/gpCBST5V

To improve the lives of all workers and retirees in Japan, and to enrich Japanese society, the ACCJ Investment Management Committee has issued a Viewpoint proposing recommendations to reform the Defined Contribution (DC) system. The Viewpoint notes that "it is critical to design a system that is fair, easy to understand, of sufficient scale, and meaningfully able to build retirement assets." Doing so will help NISA and DC support the foundations of an "asset management nation." Read on for full recommendations: https://lnkd.in/giwKJcAf

🌟Over 250 members, partners, and friends celebrated with us at the Hilton Tokyo on December 5 for our final signature networking event of the year, Networking for Tomorrow! This special evening brought together the ACCJ community— from senior executives to rising young professionals— to toast 2024 highlights, forge new connections, and thank our members for their exceptional support and engagement. ACCJ President Victor Osumi kicked off the evening with a presentation of the Leader and Volunteer of the Year Awards, recognizing our members' incredible contributions to the ACCJ mission and our local communities.🥇 🥂After the kanpai, guests enjoyed world-class cuisine with interactive food stations and a fantastic cocktail bar, accompanied by an amazing music playlist from the DJ Milky B 🎵. We’re grateful to our sponsors—Hilton Tokyo, Delta Air Lines, Robert Walters Japan, and Share-Me—whose generous support made this event possible. ✨Thank you to all our attendees for making the evening a highlight of the year and showcasing the meaningful connections made through the ACCJ network. We look forward to welcoming you to more inspiring events throughout the rest of this month and in 2025! More photos and highlights to come! Photo credit: LIFE.14

Members of the ACCJ Chubu Chapter External Affairs Committee were honored to meet with Anna Wang, the new U.S. Consulate Nagoya Principal Officer, this week to discuss strengthening ties between the U.S. and Chubu economies. We look forward to further collaborating with the U.S. Consulate Nagoya on shared initiatives.

We were honored to welcome Kathy Baxter from Salesforce's Office of Ethical and Humane Use of Technology on November 18. Kathy addressed key industry concerns around AI ethics, sustainability, and the critical role of trust in AI adoption. She also discussed how organizations can develop responsible Generative AI solutions, focusing on accuracy, inclusion, honesty, sustainability, and mitigating risks like data privacy and bias. We sincerely thank Kathy for her valuable insights and perspective! Top photo from left: Kathy Baxter, Principal Architect, Responsible AI & Tech, Salesforce; Darren McKellin, Chair, ACCJ Information, Communications, and Technology Committee

🎙️Ready to wrap up 2024 with a powerful new skill? Join us to master the art of public speaking with confidence! Public speaking can be a challenge for even the most confident leaders. Tom Boatman has developed a solution with the No Script Method, a better way to prepare for and deliver a public presentation. While preparation and rehearsal are key, the No Script Method lets you ditch the notes and connect naturally, using stories you have told all your life as the foundation for delivering your key message. Come prepared to participate! Tuesday, December 10, 18:30–20:30: https://lnkd.in/gPX24SGB We’re excited to co-host with Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan! 

🎉 Celebrate the year with the ACCJ Women in Business (WIB) Committee at our Bonenkai on December 12 at TRUNK Hotel in Jingumae! Enjoy delicious food, free-flowing drinks, networking, fun activities, and a chance to win prizes in our Lucky Draw. Open to all—bring your guests for a memorable night of celebration! 🥂🎁✨ Sign up at: https://lnkd.in/gnX7SWAT