Vol.
8 #1, September 2008
Midwest U.S. – Japan Conference Success
 The Midwest
U.S. – Japan and Japan – Midwest U.S. Associations had a
successful joint meeting in Milwaukee, September 7-9, 2008.
Approximately 400 representatives from ten Midwestern states and Japan
met for discussions centered on the theme “Empowering Innovation
for Tomorrow’s Opportunities.” General and breakout
sessions addressed “Making a Technological Leap Forward,”
“Next Generation Technology,” :Strategic
Partnerships,” Path to Sustainable Growth,” and
“Trade and Investment in a Global Economy.”
This year’s event was the 40th annual joint meeting of the two
associations and the first time it was held in Wisconsin since 1991.
The Japanese delegation included His Excellency Ichiro Fujisaki,
Ambassador of Japan to the United States, the Japanese Consuls General
stationed in Chicago and Detroit, Governor Akiko Domoto of Chiba
Prefecture (Wisconsin’s sister-state in Japan), Mr. Yuzaburo
Mogi, Chairman and CEO of Kikkoman Corp., Mr. Ryoichi Ueda, Executive
Vice President America for Mitsubishi Corp., Mr. Toyoo Gyohten, Senior
Advisor to the Bank of Tokyo, Mr. Nobuo Ohashi, Chairman of Mitsui
& Co., Mr. Toru Nagashima, Chairman of Teijin Ltd., Mr. Taizo
Nishimuro, Advisor to the Board of Toshiba Corp., Mr. Masahiko
Fukakushi, Chairman and CEO of Toshiba America Inc., Mr. Shigeru
Hayakawa, President of Toyota Motor North America, and many others.
Governor Jim Doyle was joined by the governors of Indiana, Nebraska,
and Ohio and the lieutenant governors of Kansas, Illinois, and
Minnesota. Private sector participants included representatives
of GE Global Research, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Johnson Controls,
Kohler Company, Manpower, Northern States Power Company, ReGENco, Super
Steel Corporation, Trek Bicycle Corp., and many others from the region.
Throughout the conference, delegates reconfirmed that innovative
development of technology is the key to business growth.
Innovative next generation technologies and strategic alliances that
utilize and expand new technology will not only be the source of
competitiveness in a global economy, but also supply important elements
to solution of global problems such as the environment and energy.
The 41st joint meeting of the two groups will take place in Tokyo, September 13-15, 2009.
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