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Outline of
Japan-U.S. Business Council
The "Japan-U.S. Business Council" in Japan hold "Japan-U.S. Business Conference" with its American counterpart, the "U.S.-Japan Business Council" The conference makes recommendations to the Japanese and the U.S. governments and to the organizations concerned.
Both Business Councils seek to persuade both governments and related organizations to implement or promote recommendations that were discussed and agreed in the Business Conference.
The Japan-U.S. Business Council comprises about 80 public and private companies doing business in Japan as well as in the U.S., and is supported by "the Japan Business Federation," "the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry," "Japan Association of Corporate Executives," "Kansai Economic Federation," and "Japan Foreign Trade Council, Inc. "
Membership in the USJBC is open to executives from Fortune 1000 public and private U.S. companies doing business in Japan, as well as leading consultancies, law firms, and other major service providers.
Missions
and Objectives
1 To make proposals on basic, long-term business policy to
the Japanese and U.S. governments, and to the governments of other countries.
To study current business issues and possible future issues between Japan
- U.S.
2 To promote exchanges of opinions on the above mentioned issues and to reach constructive agreement with U.S.-Japan Business Council, Inc.
3 To make timely recommendations to the Japanese and U.S. governments with the U.S.-Japan Business Council, Inc. in respect of Japan-U.S. business issues and common concerns.
4 To promote all activities necessary to achieve the purposes of the Japan-U.S. Business Council.
History
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, following its post-war recovery, Japan entered a period of high economic growth. At the same time, Japan U.S. relations grew closer and more complex. Widespread recognition of the need for improved mutual understanding persuaded Japan's Federation of Economic Organizations, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Japan Foreign Trade Council to form the Joint Commission on Trade with the U.S., in 1958. In 1961, this Commission initiated and organized the Japan-U.S. Business Conference.
As U.S.-Japanese interdependence continued to deepen, the U.S. took the step of forming the Advisory Council on Japan-U.S. Economic Relations on April 8, 1971, under the chairmanship of Mr.Najeeb E. Halaby, the chairman of Pan American World Airways. In 1985 it became the U.S.-Japan Economic Council, and in 1989 it took on its present name, the U.S.-Japan Business Council, Inc.
Japan also took steps. On April 28, 1971, the Japan-U.S. Business Council was established, under the joint leadership of Mr.Kogoro Uemura (chairman of the Federation of Economic Organizations), Mr.Shigeo Nagano (chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Mr.Kazutaka Kikawada (chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives) and Mr.Yoshizane Iwasa (chairman of Fuji Bank).
In February 1994, over 30 years after the inaugural meeting of the Japan-U.S. Business Conference, the two councils agreed to a Joint Mission Statement, as a means to review and reaffirm their policies and purpose, in light of 30 years history and changes in the business environment.
Chairman
of Japan-U.S. Business Council
| Period | Name | Company | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971~81 | Yoshizane Iwasa | Fuji Bank, Ltd. | Chairman |
| 1981~89 | Norishige Hasegawa | Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. | Chairman |
| 1989~93 | Eishiro Saito | Nippon Steel Corp. | Chairman |
| 1993~94 | Akio Morita | Sony Corp. | Chairman |
| 1994~97 | Yotaro Kobayashi | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Chairman |
| 1997~2002 | Minoru Makihara | Mitsubishi Corp. | Chairman |
| 2002~05 | Taizo Nishimuro | Toshiba Corp. | Chairman |
| 2005~2009 | Junichi Ujiie | Nomura Holdings, Inc. | Chairman |
| 2009~ | Hiromasa Yonekura | Sumitomo Chemical Corp. | Chairman |
