Keidanren-USA sponsors several events series which address a range of bilateral and regional economic and political issues.
Our current events series include:
Heads Up: An invitation-only program series giving corporate executives, business organizations, scholars, government officials and the diplomatic community a venue to discuss and exchange views on key trade, economic and political issues in Japan, US-Japan and Asia relations.
The Bento Box Program: Off-the-record meetings for senior Keidanren corporate representatives by government officials and business leaders.
The Keidanren-US Chamber Dialogue: A discussion series for Japanese and American corporate executives and leaders, allowing an exchange of views on common trade and economic policy concerns.
In addition, Keidanren sponsored the Japan Business Dialogue series from 2000-2004, and the Japan Study Group from 2001-2004.
PAST EVENTS: BENTO BOX MEMBER BRIEFINGS
****2009****
USTR Briefing on US Trade Initiatives
Michael Beeman
Deputy Assistant US Trade Representative for Japan
Douglas Bell
Deputy US Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific
USTR
February 19, 2009
****2008****
Michelle O'Neill
Deputy Under Secretary
International Trade Administration (ITA)
US Department of Commerce
July 29, 2008
Frank Vargo
Vice President for International Economic Affairs
National Association of Manufacturers
January 10, 2008
****2007****
Kurt Tong
Director for Asian Economic Affairs
National Security Council
The
White House
September 21, 2007
PAST EVENTS: KEIDANREN-USA - U.S. CHAMBER SERIES
Michael Beeman
Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Japan
USTR
Kurt Tong
Director for Asian Economic Affairs
National Security Council
July 16, 2008
PAST EVENTS: HEADS UP
*****2009*****
Toshio Obi
Professor, Asia and Pacific Studies and Public Management
Waseda University
Kent Calder (discussant)
Director, Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies
SAIS
"The Political Landscape in Japan in 2009:
Implications for Japan-US Relations"
February 11, 2009
Kenneth Lieberthal
Visiting Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Professor, University of Michigan
"Climate Change: Overcoming Obstacles to Cooperation with China"
January 30, 2009
*****2009*****
Daniel Russel
Director, Office of Japanese Affairs
U.S. Department of State
"U.S.-Japan Relations: An Outlook for 2009"
December 16, 2008
Kent Calder
Director, Japan Studies Program
Director, Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies
SAIS
"Japanese Public Policies at a Time of Transition"
November 6, 2008
Michael Franc
Vice President of Government Relations
Walter Lohman
Asian Studies Center Director
The Heritage Foundation
"U.S. Elections 2008 and Implications for US-Asia and Trade Policies"
October 21, 2008
Tom Mann
Senior Fellow, Governance Studies
The Brookings Institution
"Election 2008: The U.S. Elections and Congressional Races"
September 29, 2008
Jeffrey Bader
Senior Fellow and Director, John L. Thornton China Center
The Brookings Institution
"After George W. Bush: Policy Challenges for the United States in East Asia."
June 2, 2008
Grant Aldonas
Principal Managing Director, Split Rock International, Inc.
Advisor, McCain Presidential Campaign
"U.S. Trade Policies Toward Asia Under a McCain Administration"
May 15, 2008
Richard Jackson
Director, Global Aging Initiative
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
"The Aging Challenge in Japan and East Asia"
March 21, 2008
Richard Bush
Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS)
The Brookings Institution
"Taiwan's Elections and Referendum: What they Mean for Taiwan, Japan and the United States"
February 29, 2008
Jim Zumwalt
Director, Office of Japanese Affairs, US Department of State
"The State of US-Japan Relations: An Outlook for 2008"
January 24, 2008
*****2007*****
Bill Reinsch
President, National Foreign Trade Council
"The 110th Congress' Trade Agenda at the Midway Point: A Summary and Forecast for 2008"
December 4, 2007
John Mercurio
Executive Editor, The Hotline
“Election 2008: US Presidential and Congressional Analysis”
October 25, 2007
Wing Thye Woo
Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development and Foreign Policy Studies,
The Brookings Institution
“Rising U.S. Trade Protectionism and China”
September 27, 2007
Frances Kernodle
Frances Kernodle Associates, Inc. (FKA)
“Homeland Security: Corporate and Individual Preparation”
June 19, 2007
Murray Hiebert
Senior Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
“Southeast Asia Steps Up the Pace of Trade Agreement Talks”
May 22, 2007
Paula Collins
Texas Instruments, Vice President of Government Relations
“The Three Pillars of U.S. Innovation Policy”
April 17, 2007
Roland Kelts
Author
“JapanAmerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the US”
March 8, 2007
Mamdouh Salameh
International Oil Expert and Consultant to the World Bank
“Is Peak Oil a Reality or Hype?”
February 6, 2007
****2006****
Ado Machida and Vic Fazio
Ado Machida, the Kaizen Strategy Group, and Vic Fazio, former Member of the U.S. Congress
“How Does the Democratic Sweep Affect U.S. Trade and Foreign Policy?”
December 4, 2006
Michael Zielenziger
Research Scholar, Institute of International Studies, University of California, Berkeley.
“Benchmarking the New Japan”
November 16, 2006
Edward Gresser
Progressive Policy Institute
“What Would A Democratic Take-Back of the House in November Mean for U.S. Trade and Foreign Policy?”
October 19, 2006
Richard Cronin
Henry L. Stimson Center
“Possibilities for U.S.-Japan Cooperation in Enhancing Economic Competitiveness in ASEAN”
July 14, 2006
Steven Vogel
Associate Professor of Political Science, University of California, Berkeley
“Koizumi’s Legacy and What it Means for the United States”
June 27, 2006
Todd Malan
President and CEO, Organization for International Investment (OFII)
“CFIUS Reform: What’s Ahead and How Will Japanese Companies Be Affected?”
May 26, 2006
****2004****
Andrew Lowenthal
Van Scouyoc Associates
"Once More With Feeling: Congress Plans to Tackle Tough Financial Services Issues Again in 2005"
December 7, 2004
David Straub
US Department of State, Desk Officer for Japan
"US and Japanese Relations"
November 18, 2004
Karlyn Bowman
American Enterprise Institute
"The US Elections: Where Things Stand and What the Polls Tell Us"
October 21, 2004
Elizabeth Guran
Government Accountability Office
"Japan: An Emerging Player in Regional Security Cooperation"
September 9, 2004
William Meaux
Meaux Washington Group
"What US and Japanese Companies Should Know About the Democratic and Republican Party Conventions: America's Political Olympics"
July 14, 2004
Amy Porges, Esq. and Stanimir Alexandrov, Esq.
Sidley, Austin Brown & Wood LLP
"Bilateral Investment Treaties - How Japanese Companies Can Use Treaty Rights to Reduce Foreign Investment Risks"
June 2, 2004
Brian Mohler
US Department of State
"The US and Japan and Iraq's Economic Reconstruction"
April 15, 2004
David Peyton
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)
"Can the US and Japan Fight Product Counterfeiting in China Together?"
March 31, 2004
Veronique de Rugy
Cato Institute
"The Proposed Bush FY2005 Budget"
February 19, 2004
Jonathan McHale
Director of Telecommunications Policy, Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR)
"Economic Benefits of a US-Japan MRA Agreement for Telecom Equipment: A Time to Move Forward"
February 3, 2004
Lanxin Xiang
Kissinger Fellow, Library of Congress
"Geopolitical Realities in Asia: View from China"
January 21, 2004
****2003****
Stephen Wickman
Deputy Director, Office of Japan, US State Department
"The US-Japan Economic Partnership for Growth: Overview and Prospects"
November 6, 2003
Warren Maruyama and David Burgett
Hogan & Hartson, LLP
"New Protectionist Legislation: What is Afoot in Congress?"
October 16, 2003
Phil Eskeland
Professional Staff Member to Representative Donald Manuzullo (R-IL)
"Just What is 'Foreign Currency Manipulation' Anyway, and Why are China and Japan Targets of Some in Congress?"
October 6, 2003
Wendy Cutler
Assistant US Trade Representative for North Asian Affairs
"Looking Ahead: Now That Cancun Has Failed, What’s Next? The US-Japan Economic and Trade Agenda"
September 23, 2003
Christopher Roberts
Senior Trade Analyst, Covington & Burling LLP and former Director-General, Trade, British government
"Report from Cancun: The WTO Ministerial"
September 16, 2003
Jim Fatheree
President, US-Japan Business Council
"Macro Problems and Micro Opportunities: The US Business View of Japan"
July 24, 2003
Banning Garrett and Dennis Sherman
Asia Program, The Atlantic Council
"Japan, the US, and the Challenges Posed by Failing States"
June 17, 2003
Brian Mohler
Director, Office of Japan
US Department of State
"The US-Japan Summit and the G-8 Summit"
May 29, 2003
John Neuffer
Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative (USTR) for Japan
"US-Japan Relations: Where Do We Stand?"
May 2, 2003
Joseph Winder
Director, Korea Economic Institute
"What’s Happening on the Korean Peninsula and How It Affects Japan"
April 11, 2003
Dr Leonard Schoppa
Associate Professor, University of Virginia
“Japan's Demographic Challenge: Will it Remain a Great Power in the 21st Century?”
January 31, 2003
****2002****
Brink Lindsey
Director, Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute
“US Trade Agenda – Preview for 2003”
December 18, 2002
Jay Farrar
Vice President for External Affairs, CSIS
"The 2002 Midterm Elections and What They Might Mean for Japan"
November 18, 2002
Michael Fine, Esq.
Powell Goldstein Frazer & Murphy LLP
"Corporate Compliance After Sarbanes-Oxley"
October 15, 2002
Christopher Nelson
The Nelson Report, Samuels International
“US Policy Toward China and Taiwan”
August 22, 2002
Lewis Leibowitz, Esq
Hogan & Hartson LLP, and Counsel to Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition (CITAC)
"US Steel Policies and CITAC's Solutions"
June 26, 2002
JAPAN BUSINESS DIALOGUE
The Japan Business Dialogue (2000-2004) was designed to inform American policy-makers and business executives about Japanese economic issues and changing commercial climate.
JAPANESE ECONOMICS/TRADE POLICIES
Kazuyuki Kinbara
Nippon Keidanren, Deputy International Economic Bureau
"Japan's Trade Policies: The WTO and Bilateral Trade Agreements"
November 2, 2004
Kojiro Shiojiri
Minister, Embassy of Japan
"Japan: Outlook for 2004"
February 23, 2004
Masaharu Takenaka
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Chief Representative in Washington, DC
"Fundamental Economic Changes in Japan: The 'Nation That Does Not Appear to Change"
July 8, 2003
(For a summary of Mr. Takenaka's presentation, please see ourAugust 2003 Japan Economic Currents)
Marcus Noland
Senior Fellow, Institute of International Economics
"Deflation: What it Means for the US and Japan"
June 26, 2003
Osamu Takemoto
Chief Representative, Bank of Japan's Representative Office in Washington, DC
"DEFURE and Deflation: Commentary on the Role of Monetary Policy in Japan"
February 6, 2003
(For a summary of Mr.Takemoto's presentation, please see our March 2003 Japan Economic Currents)
Yasuhiro Kawaguchi
Economic Counselor, Embassy of Japan
“The Japanese Economy: What’s Ahead?”
January 29, 2003
(For a summary of Mr. Kawaguchi's presentation, please see the February 2003 Japan Economic Currents))
Tetsuro Sugiura
Chief Economist, Research Division, Fuji Research Institute Corporation
"How Japan's Private Sector Views the Japanese Economy"
January 31, 2002
(For a summary of Mr. Sugiura's presentation, please see the March 2002 Japan Economic Currents)
Tadashi Uhira
Chief Representative, Bank of Japan
"Improving Financial Infrastructure in Japan"
December 14, 2001
(For a summary of Mr. Uhira's presentation, please see the February 2001 Japan Economic Currents)
Kiyoto Ido
Minister for Financial Affairs, Embassy of Japan
"How Japan's Private Sector Views the Japanese Economy"
November 29, 2001
(For a summary of Minister Ido's presentation, please see the January 2002 Japan Economic Currents)
Akio Ema
Chief Research Associate, Fuji Research Institute, New York
"Japan's Economic Prospects"
January 25, 2001
(For a summary of Mr. Ema's presentation, please see the March 2001 Japan Economic Currents)
Yoshio Nakamura
Managing Director, Keidanren
"Will the Japanese Economic Recovery Come Soon?"
July 26, 2000
(For a summary of Mr. Nakamura's presentation, please see the October 2000 Japan Economic Currents)
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
Toru Tokuhisa
Chief Representative, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
"JBIC's Activities and Japan's Overseas Development Assistance"
December 6, 2001
(For a summary of Mr. Tokuhisa's presentation, please see the February 2002 Japan Economic Currents)
Sumio Takeichi
Director, International Finance Corporation
"New Business Investment Opportunities Without Borders in Emerging Markets"
August 3, 2000
(For a summary of Mr. Takeichi's presentation, please see the October 2000 Japan Economic Currents)
JAPANESE MEDIA
Masanori Matsui
Washington Bureau Chief, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun
“Changes in the Japanese Newspaper Industry”
November 20, 2002
(For a summary of Mr. Matsui's presentation, please see the January 2003 Japan Economic Currents)
Toru Takanarita
Bureau Chief, American General Bureau, The Asahi Shimbun
"What is the Japanese News Media Carrying?"
September 20, 2000
(For a summary of Mr. Takanarita's presentation, please see the November 2000 Japan Economic Currents)
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Hideo Takahashi
Director, Environment, Science and Technology, Keidanren
"Global Warming: The Views of Japanese Industry"
April 23, 2002
(For a summary of Mr. Takahashi's presentation, see the June 2002 Japan Economic Currents)
Shinichi Goto
Vice President, Toyota North America, Inc.
"How to Cope with Environmental Issues: A Company View"
October 27, 2000
(For a summary of Mr. Goto's presentation, please see the December 2000 Japan Economic Currents)
JAPANESE POLITICS
Toshiyuki Ito
Staff Correspondent, Yomiuri Shimbun
"Japanese Politics After the General Election"
December 16, 2003
Tsuneo Watanabe
Fellow, Office of the Japan Chair, Center for Strategic & International Studies
"Koizumi Reforms are Trapped in the Idiosyncratic Japanese Policy Process"
June 18, 2002
(For a summary of Mr. Watanabe's presentation, please see the July 2002 Japan Economic Currents)
Tsuneo Watanabe
Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.
"What's Ahead on Japanese Politics"
March 21, 2001
(For a summary of Mr. Watanabe's presentation, please see the May 2001 Japan Economic Currents)
JAPANESE BUSINESS
James Toyama
Sony Corporation
"Sony: A Diversified International Company"
July 29, 2004
Yukio Tada
Sojitz Corporation (formerly Nissho Iwai)
"The Future Role of Japanese Trading Companies"
April 27, 2004
Osamu Nakayama
General Manager, Central Japan Railway Company, JR Tokai Washington Office
"Is a High Speed Railroad System Possible in the US?"
March 13, 2003
(For a summary of Mr. Nakayama's presentation, please see our March 2003 Japan Economic Currents)
Masayoshi Yamashita
Executive Vice President and General Manager, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) "Japanese Telecommunications: Market Realities"
November 15, 2001
(For a summary of Mr. Yamashita's presentation, please see the December 2001 Japan Economic Currents)
Toshihiko Furuya
General Manager, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)
"Deregulation of Electricity Industry In Japan: A Corporate View”
July 18, 2001
(For a summary of Mr. Furuya's presentation, please see the September 2001 Japan Economic Currents)
Tak Sonoda
Assistant to the President, Honda North America, Inc.
"Globalization and Localization -- Honda's Way,"
May 25, 2001
(For a summary of Mr. Sonoda's presentation, please see the July 2001 Japan Economic Currents)
Yuji Takagi
Vice President and General Manager, Mitsui & Company (USA), Inc., Washington, D.C.
"Trading Companies' New Mission: Challenge to New Era"
February 22, 2001
(For a summary of Mr. Takagi's presentation, please see the April 2001 Japan Economic Currents)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/HIGH-TECH
Risaburo Nezu
Senior Executive Officer, Fujitsu Research Institute
“The Japanese IT Sector: Why It Lost Out and How It Will Recover"
July 25, 2002
(For a summary of Mr. Nezu's presentation, please see the August 2002 Japan Economic Currents)
Andy Kikuchi
Director of Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Washington office, Panasonic
"IT Transforming Society In Japan: A Corporate Perspective"
June 27, 2001
(For a summary of Mr. Kikuchi's presentation, please see the August 2001 Japan Economic Currents)
Masanobu Katoh
General Manager, Fujitsu Limited, Washington, D.C.
"Calligraphy vs. Keyboard: Future of Japanese E-Business"
April 11, 2001
(For a summary of Mr. Katoh's presentation, please see the June 2001 Japan Economic Currents)
ASIAN ISSUES
Yoshiyuki Watanabe
Major-General
"Japan's Defense Policy in North East Asia and US-Japan Security Arrangements,"
September 25, 2003
Naoko Munakata
Visiting Fellow, Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS), The Brookings Institution
"Evolution of Japan's Policy Towards Economic Integration in Asia"
March 14, 2002
(For a summary of Ms. Munakata's presentation, please see the May 2002 Japan Economic Currents)
US-JAPAN RELATIONS
Brian Mohler
Director, Office of Japan Affairs, US Department of State
"President Bush's Visit to Japan"
February 28, 2002
(For a summary of Mr. Mohler's presentation, see the April 2002 Japan Economic Currents)
Toshinori Shigeie
Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan
"US-Japan Relations After the Election - What's Ahead"
November 20, 2000
(For a summary of Minister Shigeie's presentation, please see the January 2001 Japan Economic Currents)
OTHER
Rebecca Dornbusch
Deputy Director, International Biometric Industry Association (IBIA)
"Security with a Personal Touch: the Impact of Biometric Technologies"
June 21, 2004
Ayako Doi
Editor, Japan Digest
"Heading for A Demographic Train Wreck: What's Wrong With Japanese Women,"
May 4, 2004
Akio Ema
Director, Mizuho Research Institute
"Japan's Think Tanks and Research Institutes"
October 30, 2003
JAPAN STUDY GROUP
The Japan Study Group series took place from 2001-2004. Its purpose was to provide information to Japanese corporate executives stationed in Washington DC on US laws and economic and trade policies.
Japan Study Group guest speakers in 2004:
Naotaka Matsukata
Ph.D., Hunton & Williams LLP
November 10, 2004
Myron Brilliant
Vice President, Asia-US Chamber of Commerce
October 27, 2004
Julie Coons
Executive Vice President, PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association
September 29, 2004
Todd Malan
Executive Director, Organization for International Investment (OFII)
September 15, 2004
Carl Green
Senior Representative, Hitachi Ltd
September 1, 2004
Linda Jamison
Director, Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy, CSIS
"The US Elections: Impact on Japan"
July 6, 2004
Patricia Mears
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)
"An Overview of the Fair Currency Alliance's 301 Petition on Chinese Currency"
June 10, 2004
Ado Machida
Akin Gump LLP
"Policy-Making in the Bush White House"
March 16, 2004
Amy Walters
The Cook Political Report
"The 2004 Elections: Where Things Stand"
March 3, 2004
Japan Study Group guest speakers in 2003:
Lynn Shotwell
American Council for International Personnel (ACIP)
"US Immigration Policy and Pending Legislation"
November 2003
Jeff Werner
Executive Director, Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue
"TABD's Activities and Mission"
September 30, 2003
Michael Chinworth
Decisive Analytics
"Federal R&D Funding for Private Sector-University-Government Consortia"
July 9, 2003
Michael Fine
David Martin and Tod Ackerly
"Sarbanes-Oxley: US Corporate Accounting Law"
June 25, 2003
Barry Bosworth
The Brookings Institution
"US Fiscal and Monetary Policy and the US Economic Outlook"
June 19, 2003
Yoichiro Kato
Lepon, Holzworth & Kato, PLLC
"The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and the Lobbying Disclosure Act"
May 14, 2003
Tom Morr
Greater Washington Board of Trade/Greater Washington Initiative
"Foreign Investment in the Greater Washington DC Area"
March 12, 2003
Yasuhiro Kawaguchi
Economic Counselor, Embassy of Japan
"The US Economy"
February 21, 2003
Japan Study Group guest speakers in 2002:
Richard Cronin
Specialist in Asian Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division, Congressional Research Service
“The Role of the Congressional Research Service”
December 4, 2002
Atsushi Nishimura
Pension Bureau, General Affairs Division, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare
“A Proposed Social Security Totalization Agreement Between the US and Japan”
October 24, 2002
Toshio Obi
Professor, Waseda University
“The Koizumi Administration, the LDP Party, and US-Japan Relations”
September 10, 2002
Scott Otteman
Director, International Trade Policy, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)
“The Role of American Trade Associations: Trade Promotion Authority – A Case Study"
July 23, 2002
Masayoshi Yamashita
General Manager and Senior Vice President, NTT USA, Inc.
“US Telecommunications Policy”
June 19, 2002
Lisa Phelan, Chief of Antitrust Enforcement and David Bolling, Staff Attorney
National Criminal Enforcement Section, Antitrust Division, US Department of Justice
“US Antitrust Law and the Role of the Department of Justice”
May 14, 2002
Yasuhiro Kawaguchi
Counselor, Embassy of Japan
“How to Understand US Economic Indices”
April 17, 2002
William F. Martin
Chairman, Washington Policy and Analysis
“US Energy Policy”
March 20, 2002
Tetsuo Sugiura
Chief Economist, Fuji Research Institute Corp.
“A Perspective on the Japanese Economy: The Non-Performing Loan Problem”
January 30, 2002
Chuck Marr
Economic Policy Advisor to Senator Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota)
“The Senate’s Agenda in 2002”
January 17, 2002
Japan Study Group guest speakers in 2001:
Sandy Davis
Director, US Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
“The Role of the US Congressional Budget Office”
November 8, 2001
Kevin Driscoll
Senior Legislative Counsel, American Bar Association
“The US Judicial System”
October 30, 2001
Kiyoaki Fujiwara
EBRI Fellow, Employee Benefit Research Institute
“The US Social Security System”
October 19, 2001
Hiromi Murakami
Research Associate, Economic Strategy Institute
“Think Tanks in Washington, DC”
September 20, 2001
Mieko Nakabayashi
Majority Staff Member, Senate Budget Committee
“The US Budget Process”
August 1, 2001
Martha Caldwell Harris
Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
“US Energy Policy: What It Means to the US and Japan”
July 24, 2001
Carole Plowfield
Associate Director, The Presidential Appointee Initiative, Brookings Institution
“The US Political Appointee System”
June 26, 2001
Takeshi Yagi
Minister, Congressional Affairs, Embassy of Japan
“The US Legislative Process”
May 30, 2001
Harry Harding
Dean, Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University
“US-China Policy”
April 12, 2001
Yoshihiro Saito
Perkins Coie LLP
“US Trade Law”
March 30, 2001
Allan Goodman
President and CEO, Institute of International Education
“US Foreign Policy”
February 16, 2001
