Women in Noh Theater

Newsweek had a great article about the changing face of Noh theater in Japan. Like kabuki, the actors are traditionally men only - even so far as some Noh actors claiming, "if women are in Noh, it's not Noh theater."

What was surprising to me, was that the practice of Noh by registered professionals is genealogical, with actors beginning as early as age 4. There are over 30 to 50 "patrilineal family troupes" that compose five Japanese schools for Noh theater. There are currently 1,200 registered male and 200 registered female professionals.

Why the trend? The article says that many male performers are opting for office jobs that are more stable given the current economy. Noh theater has seen this trend in the past during economic crises and social. "During the Edo period (1600–1868), when Noh flourished with the support of the Tokugawa shogunate, women were banned from publicly performing Noh as part of a government crackdown on individual freedom and morality. But during the Meiji Restoration in the late 1800s, when Noh actors were stripped of their patronage, women returned to the stage. Finally, in 1948—newly defeated in World War II and reeling from Western pressures—Japan allowed its first officially recognized professional woman Noh actor, Kimiko Tsumura."

Regardless of what side of tradition you may rest on, you have to agree that this is an exciting time to see this much attention drawn to traditional Japanese performing arts. In many ways, this could ensure the sustained popularity of Japan's oldest performing art.

Upcoming JYPG event!-Sept29th

Blue C Sushi website
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Japan Young Professionals Group Business Event

“Adapting a Japanese Idea to American Tastes and
Making it a Successful Model”

Guest Speakers:James Allard, Founder and CEO of Blue C Sushi
&
Steve Rosen, Founder and CMO of Blue C Sushi


Featuring: Enfu




The Japan Young Professionals Group (JYPG) is excited to announce our third business event of the year! Mr. James Allard and Mr. Steve Rosen will speak about their personal experiences founding Blue C Sushi and what it took to overcome the challenges they faced adapting the Japanese idea of kaiten zushi or “conveyor belt sushi” to a successful American model. Enfu, who's art is on display at Blue C Sushi, will also speak briefly about "Art & Nikkei Identity." Join us for this fun and informative event!

DATE: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
TIME: 6:30 p.m. Registration
6:45 p.m. Dinner begins
7:00 p.m. Presentation, Q & A
7:45 p.m. Networking
8:30 p.m. Event concludes

LOCATION: Blue C Sushi, 2nd Floor Nomu Izakaya Lounge
505 Bellevue Square
Bellevue, WA 98004 Map

COST: $25/person for JAS members
$35/person for non-members
Includes dinner ~Cash bar~

Register here!
Registration Deadline: Sunday, September 27.

Prior to founding Blue C Sushi, Mr. Allard served as Senior Vice President of Operations at Go2Net, where he led groups totaling 500 employees responsible for all key operational and human resource functions. Previously Mr. Allard was Senior Business Manager for Worldwide Operations at the Microsoft Corporation. Prior to joining Microsoft, Mr. Allard served as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Treasury and also as a corporate and international trade attorney with the international law firm of Graham & James. Mr. Allard has studied Japanese language and culture extensively and lived in Japan on two separate occasions. Mr. Allard received his M.B.A. from Columbia University, his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. in Economics from Columbia University.

Prior to founding Blue C Sushi Mr. Rosen was Vice President of Creative Services for Go2Net responsible for the front-end web development, design and user interface for the Go2Net network. Mr. Rosen was also responsible for the company’s technical writing, editorial, marketing copywriting and collateral. Prior to Go2Net, Mr. Rosen was President of Breakaway Productions, a film and video production and postproduction facility which included directing and editing services for high-end retail clientele. Mr. Rosen was previously President of Logos Enterprises, a collegiate product-marketing firm that sold specialty items to over 250 University and independently owned retail stores. Mr. Rosen received his B.A. in Philosophy from Occidental College.

Artist Statement: Enfu is a sushi & hamburger eatin’ samurai cowboy. He grew up watching Dragon Ball and G.I. Joe, playing jan-ken-pon and rock paper scissors, and collecting Bikkuriman and Garbage Pail Kids. Enfu does not associate Japanese American identity as geishas, pagodas, & Bon Odori. Rather observes a culture steeped in anime, video games, & manga. Enfu explores this bicultural paradigm; not east vs. west, but east meets west. Welcome to Hybrid Nippop, a world of mash ups, remixes, & interpretations of the resurgence of exported Japanese consumer pop culture.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Rebecca Retzler at rretzler@us-japan.org or call the JAS office at 206-374-0180.

NYT features Seattle's Zoka in Tokyo

Given Seattle's affinity for coffee, it is no surprise that Seattle continues to influence the cafe culture in Tokyo. 10 years ago you'd be hard pressed to find a Starbucks or a Tullys beyond the smoke-filled Doutour or the bottomless cup at Mister Donut. Now, you are equally cursed and blessed to have ample access - which has lead many to dive deeper to find a more meaningful cup of coffee.

The New York Times recently published an article, "Where Tokyo Grabs a Cup of Coffee" that featured a listing of a number of great places to grab a cup on your next visit, including aged Havana coffee from 1974. Seattle's own Zoka's was also featured, as presenting an alternative to Seattle's gigantic footprint on Tokyo's cafe culture.

Uniqlo Brings You Japan Like You've Never Seen

Warning: don't open this unless you have hours to spend gazing. Tilt shift photography has seen quite a resurgence recently. Combined with time lapse, it creates some amazing shots as Uniqlo has treated us to. Check out the weather in Seattle at the same time!

Click here for the Uniqlo Calendar Widget.

Shout out to our friends at Blue C Sushi for posting this on their blog!

Book Review: Oh! A mystery of mono no aware

When one says "Japan" a variety of thoughts come to mind: Sushi, karaoke, Akihabara, video games, anime. However the cherry blossom, or sakura, is the quintessential symbol of Japan to many. Why is the sakura so iconic? Of course, it is a beautiful tree. But why is it beautiful?

Picture the sakura in the Spring: You see the buds open one day; sitting under its full blossoms the next with company, food and drink. And then the blossoms wilt, seemingly in the blink of an eye. When one considers this cyclical act of the sakura, what is felt? Can it really be described? Is the feeling the result of pretty petals, or something else?

In Oh! A Mystery of Mono no Aware, by author Todd Shimoda and published by Chin Music Press, the reader is introduced to character Zack Hara, a third-generation Japanese-American living and working in Los Angeles. A very logical person, Zack can realize that other humans feel emotions, but he himself has a difficult time experiencing them. Leaving his "girlfriend" and his job behind, he sets off to the land of his grandfather, Japan.

Zack is the kind of fellow who looks at the sakura and understands its significance to other people, but it cannot evoke the same feelings in himself. At a hanami, or cherry-blossom viewing party, Zack is acutely more aware of his fellow participants preferring food and drink while under the sakura, to actually admiring the blossoms and their significance.

He does not deal in prose and long-winded sentiment, which is helpful as the book reads from the first person perspective and so this is useful for keeping the chapters short and the story flowing. Ironically, this means that the interjection of poetry, another key element in the novel, is at odds with the main character's straightforward manner.

The key solution to all this is a convenient one, as the Japanese poetry forms such as the haiku, can be as brief as they are deep. Poems are interspersed throughout the chapters as the main character attempts writing them to elicit his own emotional response to the world around him. In effect, this creates for the reader a real sense of becoming Zack, seeing and analyzing events logically while dealing with or writing poems which are at times vague, sometimes quite amateurish.

This concept of the logical versus the emotional meshes well with the third theme of the book, the suicide club. Questioning the motives of the Japanese people who join into groups in order to commit the act in tandem, Zack finds himself inexorably drawn towards them while on his path of self-discovery.

Will he unravel the mystery of the sakura? Or was it ever a mystery at all?

-The reviewer read the book to its completion and wanted to say a lot more, but wanted to avoid spoiling the great story. Oh! A mystery of mono no aware 's website is http://ohthenovel.com/. The hardcover version retails at Chin Music Press' website, here: http://www.chinmusicpress.com/. You can currently enjoy free shipping anywhere in the US or Canada.

Japanese Cinema Continues Big Seattle Draw at SIFF

Japanese film has a market with Seattle. Each year, the Seattle International Film Festival shows off some of the best of what Japan cinema has to offer. It is great to see more Japanese actors visit Seattle for their theatrical releases as well, evidenced by SMAP superstar, Kimura Takuya, visiting for the screening of the samurai movie Love and Honor last year.

This year, Academy award winning moving, Okuribito is seeing an extended release following its splash at the Seattle International Film Festival at Seattle's Landmark Seven Gables Theatre. Plus, the film Manhole Children by Yoshio Harada was awarded Special Jury Prize out of 54 documentaries that were screened at this year's festival. Having seen the movie, it plays like the NHK documentary it was made for. Great camera work. Amazingly set in a backdrop this is so new, that you can't help but soak it all up. The city. The desert. The wind. The cold. That "one guy" doing the same narration for every documentary you have ever seen on NHK (and didn't pay for when the NHK person came to your door, too. Right?) Incredibly powerful, gut wrenching movie.

Sad news that one of Seattle's most visible purveyors of Japanese pop culture, Pink Godzilla Games, is undergoing a brand change - apparently due to a copyright dispute with Japan's Toho Studios. Do you really think that this pink little guy poses a threat? Guess the fact that the Pink Godzilla was a combination of Toho's big money makers - Godzilla and Pokemon that was a little too much to bear?" According to the post from the PI, Pink Godzilla will be announcing their new name and look in September. In the meantime, one of the best quotes ever published:

"If you got yourself a Pink Godzilla T-shirt with the name Pink Godzilla on it, you now own a collectors item and a part of Seattle videogame nerd history. Wear it with pride."

Seattle Hospital Studies Japanese Automaker

Katie Couric and the CBS Evening News featured Seattle's Virginia Mason Hospital where they are embracing the Japanese concept of 改善, kaizen, for continuous improvement on hospital procedures. They are modeling their approach on concepts develop by Japanese automaker, Toyota. The CEO of Virginia Mason, Dr. Gary Kaplan, takes Virginia Mason staff to Toyota's factories annually to adapt practices for solutions to problems on the hospital floor. The results of continuous improvements and efficiencies have been pretty staggering. According to the article, treatment time was cut from an average of 66 days to 12 days.

Pecha-Kucha Nights grow in popularity

Tacoma is seeing its first PK night on June 3 that will feature a who's who of the Tacoma art scene. This form of presenting art and architecture is credited to Japan and has spread to over 200 cities around the world and is growing ever more popular. Pecha Kucha is literally translated as "chit chat" and is fast turning into the networking event for the art community.

Why JYPG? Let's face it, we are proud of what we do and tend to talk alot about it. The Japanese Pecha-Kucha format allows artists and architects to present 20 images, 20 seconds per image, giving 6 minutes and 40 second for each presentation with no go back or pauses and definitely no do-overs to a large audience at one time. From a business/commerce perspective, this guarantees an efficiency not normally seen in the industry, and gives potential buyers a larger variety of works they can be exposed to in a short period of time. All in a relaxed atmosphere that is out of the gallery and with beverages to boot! The official global Pecha Kucha Night website even has examples where schools are adapting the Pecha Kucha format for student presentations.

Check one out soon!

Joint US/Japan/Korea Venture in Longview, WA

A joint venture to build a $200 million grain terminal capable of handling 8 million metric tons of grain at the Port of Longview between U.S., Japanese and Korean companies was announced Monday. Tokyo-based Itochu will help build the first grain export facility on U.S. soil since the early 1980's. Construction is slated for this month.

Japan Young Professionals Group Business Event: Finding Passion in Work and Life

Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Speaker: Takumi Ono, Founder/President, Junglecity Network, Inc.

We are excited to announce our second business event of the year!

Takumi Ono will speak about her personal experience founding her own company and how being passionate and dedicated to her work brought her many opportunities to meet professional and creative people. She will also talk about how her story and experiences relate to young professionals and how Junglecity can best serve as an example for other entrepreneurs looking to find passion in work and life.

Junglecity.com is the award-winning Japanese language portal dedicated to providing the most extensive and up-to-date information on the Northwest. Since 1988, Junglecity has consistently provided thousands of Japanese with high-quality content updated daily, revolutionizing the way Japanese get information about our area.

Did you know that Junglecity was just launched in Portland? Join us for this interesting and informative event to learn more!

Please note: Due to limited seating, no registrations will be accepted at the door. All registrations must be made in advance and prepaid by credit card. We thank you for your understanding.

Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Time: 6:30 p.m. Registration
7:00 p.m. Dinner
7:15 p.m. Presentation, Q&A
8:00 p.m. Networking
8:30 p.m. Event concludes

Location: O'Asian Kitchen & Lounge, 800 5th Avenue, Suite Plaza 1, Seattle, WA 98104

Cost: $25/person for JAS Members and $30/person for non-members
Price includes sit-down plated dinner. Cash bar.

Parking: Convenient parking is located in the garage downstairs. Validation is available. The entrance to the parking garage is located on Columbia Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue. Please click here for more parking information.

Registration: https://www.pspinc.com/jassw/register-6-24-09.htmRegistration Deadline: Monday, June 22 or until this event sells out.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Rebecca Retzler in the JAS office at 206-374-0180 or rretzler@us-japan.org


スピーカー : 大野　拓未（ジャングルシティ・ネットワーク株式会社　創設者・社長）

Japan Young Professionals Group (JYPG) では、今年第2回目のビジネスイベントを開催致します！

今回は、大野拓未氏をスピーカーに迎え、会社創立までのご自身の経緯や仕事への情熱と献身を通じ出会った、多くの専門家やクリエイティビティ溢れる人々とのご経験について語って頂きます。
また、彼女自身と若手専門家達との出会いや経験だけでなく、ジャングルシティがいかにして、仕事と人生に情熱を求めている企業家達の例として役に立ち続けるかということについてもお話頂きます。

ジャングルシティは、米国北西部において最も充実し、最新の情報を届ける日本語 サイトとして賞を受賞されました。1998年より、ジャングルシティは画期的なサイトとして、これまでに何千人という日本人にこのエリアにおける質の高い、また、毎日更新される最新の情報を届けてきました。

ジャングルシティがそもそもはポートランドで始まったことをご存知ですか？さらに深いお話をお聞きになりたい方は、是非本イベントにお越しください。ご参加をお待ちしております！

**注意: 席数には限りがございますので、当日のご予約は承れません。ご参加をご希望のお客様は、必ず事前に予約をし、クレジットカードでのお支払いを済ませて下さい。

時間: 午後6時半 　 受付
午後7時 　　　夕食
午後7時15分 講演, 質疑応答
午後8時 ネットワーキング
午後8時半 閉会

場所:　　　 O'Asian Kitchen & Lounge, 800 5th Avenue, Suite Plaza 1, Seattle, WA 98104 <地図>

費用: 日米協会会員様－お一人様当たり25ドル　　日米協会非会員様－お一人様当たり30ドル
費用にはテーブルでのお夕食が含まれます。 ~お酒はバーでのお支払いになります~

駐車場: 階下の駐車場をご利用頂けます。チケットをお持ち頂ければ無料です。 駐車場への入り口は、5th Avenue と6th Avenueの間の Columbia Street沿いです。さらに詳細をお知りになりたい方は、hereをクリックして下さい。

ご予約: https://www.pspinc.com/jassw/register-6-24-09.htm
ご予約受付締切: 6月22日（月） または、席数分まで。

スポンサーシップはいつでも受け付けております。日米協会のRebecca Retzlerまで、お電話206-374-0180 または、E-mail rretzler@us-japan.org までお問い合わせください。

Woodinville-based Loctronix, announced a new partnership with NEC Magnus Communications to bring their patented Special Compression Positioning (SCP) technology to Japan. SCP provides accurate, real-time location information from a single chip inserted in mobile devices.

But wait, it gets much cooler.

"...pedestrians will be able to point their mobile phones at a building and view a map of what is inside, locate particular stores, or see if their friend has arrived at their favorite meeting place."

JYPG Steering Committee Roll Call

Hey - you've heard so much about us... but many of you may not know who we are or what we are doing. Here's your JYPG Executive Roll Call! If you are interested in joining the JYPG Executive to get more involved with upcoming events and getting out in the community, we invite you to come to one of our meetings. Please contact Rebecca Retzler if you are interested and we will fill you in on all the details for our next meeting.

Brian Maeda, Microsoft, JYPG President: Brian lived in Japan for 7 years after college and was as an English teacher, Keio University student and Time Magazine advertising salesman. He currently works at Microsoft in the Xbox division. He is an Account Manager for a number of Japanese videogame publishers in the Global Third Party Publishing group.

Why JYPG? The social network that we've created is a nice mix of business professionals who have a connection to Japan. Whether you've lived in Japan or want to live in Japan there is a common tie that binds us together. I got involved because I enjoy spending time with like-minded individuals on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Japan has had a profound influence on my business and personal life today and it will always be a part of what I do and how I identify myself. JYPG is a great way to network with interesting people who share similar experiences.

Ryan Hart, Kibble & Prentice, JYPG VP: Ryan spent five years in Japan teaching on the JET Program, working for Metropolis Magazine in Tokyo, and then teaching and writing textbooks for AEON Corporation. He is currently the co-Country Representative for JETAA USA, which has 19 alumni chapters across the United States. He now manages content and marketing collateral for Kibble & Prentice, a full-service insurance brokerage in downtown Seattle, in their corporate marketing department.

Why JYPG? In addition to JYPG being the best Young Professional Group in the Pacific Northwest, Ryan is involved in JYPG in order to provide career networking opportunities for members of the Pacific Northwest JET Alumni Association (PNWJETAA). "I hope to see lots of JETs at JYPG events. This is a great opportunity that shouldn't be overlooked!"

Christopher Cummins, NNR Global Logistics, JYPG Secretary: Chris graduated from The University of Puget Sound and then spent two years in Japan teaching ESL for the Japanese company GEOS. Chris is currently the Account Executive for NNR Global Logistics in Seattle, WA; the local branch of the Fukuoka-based Japanese company Nishitetsu (西日本鉄道). NNR (Nishi Nippon Railroad) assists companies with the export and import of freight worldwide by air, ocean, rail, and truck.

Why JYPG? An original interest in working for NNR was the prospect of working with native Japanese speakers and using the Japanese language regularly. However in the business world of logistics these opportunities are few and far between. Chris joined JYPG to give himself more access to local Japanese speakers and professionals and continue to develop his language and networking skills.

Rebecca Retzler, Japan-America Society, JYPG Co-Treasurer: Rebecca graduated from The University of Michigan and began working at an interpreting and translating company called Suzuki, Myers & Associates. Rebecca then spent five years in Japan teaching English at Senshu University Matsudo Junior and Senior High School. Following her time in Japan, she worked in Chicago as a TQM Administrator at the American branch of a Japanese company called GC America, Inc. Since relocating to Seattle, Rebecca has been with the Japan-America Society for almost two years and is currently the Program Director.

Why JYPG? To quote our JYPG mission statement : "To create a social network of young professionals in Washington State who share a common interest in Japanese business, culture, and society." JYPG is the perfect outlet to stretch your wings and meet new people with common interests in the Seattle Japan-America community. JYPG not only provides great chances for networking, meeting new friends (or catching up with old ones), meeting business contacts and creating possible career opportunities, we also have interesting and informative business events every quarter with local distinguished speakers.

Akiko Kasugayama, Nintendo of America, JYPG Co-Treasurer: Born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, Akiko moved to the United States in '95 to pursue an undergraduate degree in Comparative Cultures. After graduating, she held various positions such as reporter, fraud investigator, bartender, medical interpreter, and recycling project manager. With a passion for traveling, languages, and cultures, she travelled around the world for 101 days with a Japanese non-profit organization that promotes social justice and conflict resolution. In addition to JYPG, she currently sits on the board of Eastside Nihon Matsuri Association . She enjoys skiing, windsurfing, and a good game of scrabble.

Why JYPG?: JYPG offers a great platform for Japan-related people from different industries to connect professionally and socially. Being a part of the Committee has been a fun learning experience thus far, and I look forward to seeing the community grow.

Gregory Buehler, University of Washington, JYPG Committee: As an undergraduate, Gregory attended Colorado State University and studied abroad at Trinity College Dublin. After graduation, he spent three years teaching English in Hiroshima prefecture on the JET Program. Returning to the US, Gregory spent three years managing the Berlitz Language Center in Bellevue. Since September 2008, he has been pursuing a Japan Studies MA at the University of Washington with a focus on Japanese business and political economy.

Why JYPG? Hoping to meet other young professionals in the Seattle area who shared his interest in Japan, Gregory found the perfect fit at JYPG. As a new group with a fresh perspective, he thinks JYPG offers a unique opportunity to apply your vision towards building something from the ground up. So far, one of the biggest benefits for Gregory has been spending time with the other committee members and getting to know them better.

Port of Seattle Increases Japan Import-Export Capacity

Washington state is the nation's third largest exporter of agriculture products, with about one-third of Washington-grown products shipped overseas. Japan, the world's second largest economy, was the state's leading overseas customer in 2008.

Washington just increased that capacity through the Port of Seattle scoring two shipping lines starting in June. Maersk Line and CMA CGM will begin weekly calling with a combined service at Terminal 18 with fourteen vessels, each with a capacity equivalent to 6,500 20-foot shipping units being deployed as part of the joint service.

Read more on this story here.

2009 SakuraCon Results (wow)

Roland Kelts, author of JapanAmerica and former presenter for the Japan America Society, published a report in Japan's Daily Yomiuri on the recent SakuraCon, manga and anime convention, held in downtown Seattle. Frankly, the numbers are staggering. Japanese pop culture doesn't sell in Seattle? I think that argument is officially over.

- 20,000 attendees for each of the three days (at up to $60 per person for attendee)
- 13 million dollar injection to Seattle's economy over three days

Wow, is right.

Japanese Vampire Tourism!

Yep, it's true. The Puget Sound Business Journal reports on the upswing in international tourism to Forks on the Olympic Peninsula where the movie, Twilight, is based. (even though the movie was filmed in Oregon... another case in the trend of movies supposedly based in Washington but filmed in Oregon and British Columbia)

Namely, Japanese tourists. The movie just came out in April 2009 and the state is seeing an upswing in tourism for a normally sleepy season.

Japanese tourists are coming and with the demand and the right connections, there is bound to be great business opportunities for the summer travel season! Over the winter months, the Forks Chamber of Commerce normally sees 40 visitors on a rainy, winter weekend. This winter, they saw an average of 300-500 visitors. Washington State Tourism is in on it. The Olympic Peninsula Visitors Bureau is in on it. - there is even a tour company in Colorado in on it!

Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology puts Cray Xy5 into production

Seattle-based global supercomputer leader, Cray Inc., announced yesterday that the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) has put their XT5 model supercomputer into production. As one of Japan's premier academic research centers, JAIST is using the supercomputer for their main system.

Read the press announcement here.

Seattle Genetics signs deal with Japanese pharmaceutical company

The Puget Sound Business Journal published news that Seattle Genetics, a biotechnology company focused on enhancing the survival of cancer patients, has just made a deal with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Japan's largest pharmaceutical company. Read the article here.

Tuesday, April 21 - JYPG Networking Event

IT'S HERE! We are please to announce our second networking event for 2009 on Tuesday, April 21 at Wann Izakaya on 2nd and Lenora in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood from 6:30 to 8:30p.m. Come for some oishii appetizers and lots of networking. Don't forget to bring lots of meishi! Our last networking event had over 90 members who all shared the same interest in Japan, the Japanese language, Japanese culture, and doing business with Japan.

JAPAN-AMERICA SOCIETY MEMBERS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPECIAL PRICING. Not only will JAS Members be able to attend for the special price of $15, JAS Members will also be able to invite guests to attend at the same special price. This special price is pre-pay online only. Sign up today! https://www.pspinc.com/jassw/register-4-21-09.htm RSVP deadline is April 17th.

Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 6:30-8:30pm

Location: Wann Izakaya, 2020 2nd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121

Cost: $15/person for JAS Members, $20/person for non-members

JAS Members can take advantage of our "Bring a Friend" special by prepaying for their guests online at the JAS Member rate of $15. Membership has it's privileges!

Registration: Deadline is Friday, April 17 https://www.pspinc.com/jassw/register-4-21-09.htm

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Rebecca Retzler at rretzler@us-japan.org or call the JAS office at 206-374-0180.

Utada Hikaru comes to Seattle!

Seattle continues to be a stop for some of Japan's top musicians as they tour the west coast. Just last week (March 18th), legendary J-Pop superstar Utada Hikaru made amazingly, under-hyped appearances in Seattle earlier this week at local radio stations, including KUBE 93, KISS FM 106.1 and Nathan High School's C89.5. There is lots of coverage from the interviews out there, so enjoy!

Clearwire names former President of Vodafone KK and Japan Telecom as new CEO

Kirkland-based Clearwire is set to expand and make Seattle one of its "clear" cities this year in 2009. On March 9, Clearwire hired William Morrow to take the reigns. Mr. Morrow is familiar with the Japanese telecom industry, having served as President of Vodafone KK and Japan Telecom in Japan. According to TheDeal.com, Mr. Morrow's experience in Japan "sealed the deal", noting that the Japanese telecom industry is typically five years ahead of the United States.

Recap from the Dr. Ryo Kubota event on February 17 event at Yama at the Galleria

Thank you everyone who came out to our last event at Yama Restaurant at the Bellevue Galleria. This was our first "business presentation" event and this was our first event on the Eastside. Over 40 members came out to see Dr. Ryo Kubota of Acucela to speak about the challenges of entrepreneurship in the United States versus his home in Japan.

It was a great event with great food and service. JYPG was thrilled that we had the support of four Japan America Society Board Members that came out to support us. Thank you!

See you at our next event on April 21st at Issian Izakaya on 45th Street in Wallingford for our Spring Meet-and-Greet. Bring lots of meishi! Our last Meet-and-Greet saw over 90 members.

Spice Your Business Meeting with Japanese Flavor

So, you want to have a business meeting, but you want to have a distinctly Japanese flavor – be it food or atmosphere. There are tons of great spaces in Seattle and the metro area that are perfect for a business meeting. Understandably, this is not a comprehensive list. If you have a great meeting space that you would like to let us know about, please comment or write me at japanypg[at ]gmail.com .

Wann Izakaya – Great space. Great feel. Great food. Wann is far enough away from the whole Belltown scene to be quieter than most other options in the area. If you call ahead, management will reserved a private space in the backroom for you and your party. Happy hour that runs from 5-7pm gives you the chance to keep the meeting from turning into a dinner meeting.

Issian Izakaya – Issian is a welcome addition to Seattle via the Kansai area of Japan. Issian has a private area in the back that could be reserved for your meeting. However, it is partitioned off, not walled off, so the noise from the restaurant could carry over into your meeting. Additionally, Issian serves quite a bit of grilled fare, so if you are hosting guests that have an aversion for that smell, you may want to plan for that.

I Love Sushi - Where’s the love for the Eastside? It is all at I Love Sushi. This restaurant has one location on South Lake Union, and boasts two locations that are practically next to each other in Bellevue. One sits smack dab in the middle of a what seems to be one huge parking lot next to Whole Foods in Bellevue. Further back in that same parking lot, on the shores of Lake Bellevue (more like a pond, but that is a different post), sits the other location that features lakefront dining and a private room that can be reserved. Lots of natural wood and views of the water will surely impress – not to mention the best sushi you’ve ever had. You get what you pay for though… and here you get a lot.

P.S. A quick look at their website unveils they are now serving the allusive fugu! Hmmm… that is one way to spice up your meeting!

Panama Hotel Café and Teahouse – Looking to do just coffee? How about the Panama? Unless there is a hosted event there, this place is pretty open to groups, in a very relaxed atmosphere. There are two rooms – one where the cash register is and one that is separate and much quieter/conducive to meetings. IN the second room, there is a long table that can be reserved for meetings, with a $5 minimum purchase for all attendees. My recommendation would be to sit closer to the windows in the lounge chairs away from the coffee grinder noise next door. You also take a step back in time with pictures of the old Nihonmachi in the International District adorning the walls. This place is a jewel.

Overcoming Intercultural Challenges to Entrepreneurship, Dr. Ryo Kubota of Acucela, Inc., February 13, 6:30pm

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

“Overcoming Intercultural Challenges to Entrepreneurship”
Speaker : Dr. Ryo Kubota, President and CEO of Acucela Inc.

Your Japan Young Professionals Group (JYPG) is very excited to present Ryo Kubota, Ph.D., President and CEO of Acucela, Inc. for our winter main event! Acucela is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is commited to developing therapies for blinding eye diseases. Dr. Kubota will be sharing his experience in business with us, including the cultural challenges he faced in establishing his business in the United States from Japan.

In addition, our program will feature great networking opportunities with others sharing your interest in Japan, Japanese culture, and doing business with/in Japan. Yama Restaurant of Bellevue Galleria will be preparing some delicious food to enjoy - so we hope to see there!

DATE: Tuesday, February 17, 2009

TIME: 6:30 p.m. Registration, appetizers

7:00 p.m. Dinner

7:15 p.m. Presentation, Q & A

8:00 p.m. Networking

8:30 p.m. Event concludes

LOCATION: Yama at the Galleria, 550 106th Ave. NE #300, Bellevue, WA 98004

COST: $25/person for JAS members and $30/person for non-members.

Price includes sit-down plated dinner.

MENU: Appetizers - 3 piece California roll and Dragon roll

Dinner - salad, tempura, rice, salmon or chicken.

Includes soft drinks, coffee & tea. ~Cash bar~

PARKING: Convenient parking is located in the garage downstairs and will be validated for each person free of charge.

REGISTRATION: https://www.pspinc.com/jassw/register-2-17-09.htm

Registration Deadline: Friday, February 13

The Japan America Society would like to thank the Global Business Center, UW Foster School of Business for their generous sponsorship and support of this program.

Other sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please contact Rebecca Retzler at rretzler@us-japan.org or call the JAS office at 206-374-0180.

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2009年2月17日（火）
ジャパン・ヤングプロフェッショナルグループ・イベントのご案内
“Overcoming Intercultural Challenges to Entrepreneurship”
スピーカー : Dr. Ryo Kubota, Acucela Inc.社長　及びCEO

ヤングプロフェッショナルグループ(JYPG) では、今年度初めてのビジネスイベントを開催致します。今回は、窪田良ご自身の会社設立までの経緯や、日本及びアメリカでビジネスをしていくことの難しさ、またそれらを乗り越える方法などについてお話頂きます。

経歴：　窪田良は 2002年に眼科系疾患の応用治療を研究する場として、バイオテクノロジーを中心とするAcucela Inc.を設立されました。同氏は、日本政府職員や多くの著名人を含む延べ1000回以上の眼科系の手術をご担当され、世界的にも有名な眼科医として知られています。深刻な眼科系の病気を世界的な視野で治療していきたいとの信念の下、慶応大学で広い範囲に渡り眼科系の研究をされ、その過程で緑内障の原因遺伝子であるMyocilinを発見されました。神経変性疾患の研究分野における先駆者として、ワシントン大学にて眼科系疾患に関する研究を続け、2002年にAcucela社を設立されました。

注：　講演はすべて英語で行われます。

日程: 2009年2月17日（火）

時間: 午後6:30 受付開始、ネットワーキング、前菜

午後7:00 夕食

午後7:15 講演、質疑応答

午後8:00 ネットワーキング

午後8:30 終了

場所: Yama at the Galleria, 550 106th Ave. NE #300, Bellevue, WA 98004

駐車場：　お車でお越しのお客様は階下の駐車場を無料でご利用頂けます。

賛助：　Global Business Center, UW Foster School of Business

本イベントへのスポンサーも随時受け付けております。 お問い合わせ・ご質問は、日米協会オフィス（206）374-0180 、またはRebecca Retzler rretzler@us-japan.org までご連絡下さい。

Shinnenkai Recap

Wow! What a great way to kick off the new year! We had over 90 people at our 2009 Shinnenkai! It was great to see everyone start the new year off right! Typhoon Restaurant was a great venue to host our Networking Bingo - as well as plenty of drinks and good food to go around. I mean, who hasn't shopped for business clothes at Uniqlo, right? C'mon JYPG. Give us some difficult questions, already!

We look forward to seeing everyone at our Winter event at Yama Restaurant at Bellevue Galleria on February 17th. Given his success, Dr. Kubota will be a great resource in regards to the challenges of doing business in the Puget Sound from Japan. See you there!

2009 JYPG Shinnenkai

The Japan Young Professionals Group (JYPG) is excited to announce our Shinnenkai. Please join us for an exciting night of delicious appetizers and interesting people. This is an excellent opportunity to meet and network with various young professionals who have an interest in Japan . We are looking forward to seeing you there!

DATE: Wednesday, January 21, 2009
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Typhoon! 1400 Western Ave. Seattle , WA 98101

Registration Deadline: Monday, January 19

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Rebecca Retzler at http://us.mc631.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rretzler@us-japan.org or call the JAS office at 206-374-0180.

Welcome to JYPG!

Be sure to keep an eye on this space for more news and information on Seattle's Japan Young Professionals Group (JYPG). We work closely with the Japan America Society for Washington State to create opportunities for young professionals in the Puget Sound to connect with their like-minded interest in Japan and doing business in Japan.