NextGen Japan-U.S. Innovation Networking Event
2024/3/21
Consul General Osumi gives welcome remarks
Panel discussion
On Wednesday, March 13, the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco co-hosted the "NextGen Japan-U.S. Innovation Networking Event" with the Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC) at the Japan Innovation Campus (JIC), which opened last fall. The event aimed to foster mutual understanding and strengthen relationships between young Japanese Americans, Japanese, and friends of Japan in Bay Area, who are expected to lead the next generation of Japan-U.S. relations. Approximately 80 individuals participated in the event.
In his opening remarks, Consul General Osumi noted that when Foreign Minister Kamikawa met with Japanese American leaders during her visit to San Francisco last November during APEC Leaders’ Week, she expressed the hope for young Japanese Americans to work together with Japanese youth to shape the future of Japan-U.S. relations. He also referred to Prime Minister Kishida's upcoming official visit to the United States in April, noting that the Japan-U.S. Joint Leaders' Statement of May 2022 stated that, “the two leaders also paid tribute to the history, contributions and cultural heritage of Japanese Americans and concurred to engage next generation Japanese American leaders in the future Japan-U.S. cooperation.” Consul General Osumi expressed the expectation that this event would serve as a platform for fostering new connections and cooperative relationships among the next generation of Japan-U.S. leaders in various fields.
The event featured a panel discussion to cultivate a shared awareness of common issues among the next generation of Japan-U.S. leaders. The theme revisited “Women, Peace, Security + Innovation (WPS+I)”, which was discussed at the "WPS+I" symposium during Minister Kamikawa's visit last November. Derek Kenmotsu, one of the panelists at that symposium and the Head of Partnerships for AI/ML at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), moderated the discussion. Panelists included Ms. Lori Yurika Riser, Product Marketing Manager at Meta; Mr. Robert Roche, J.D. Candidate at the University of California, Berkeley; and Yoko Morishita, CFO/US Growth Strategy at Tier IV North America. They shared candid discussions, incorporating their own perspectives and experiences on the evolving roles and space of women in the workplace and society, career paths, differences in working styles between Japan and the United States, and identity, answering questions from the audience.
Following that, to further deepen participants' understanding and interest in Japanese culture, an introduction to Japanese sake and tasting session was conducted by Chika Oohata, a sake sommelier based in the Bay Area.
During the networking reception held in the latter half of the event, participants enjoyed Japanese-fusion cuisine prepared by David Yoshimura, Japanese American chef at Michelin-starred Nisei restaurant in San Francisco, while building new relationships and socializing with their peers active in a variety of fields.
In his opening remarks, Consul General Osumi noted that when Foreign Minister Kamikawa met with Japanese American leaders during her visit to San Francisco last November during APEC Leaders’ Week, she expressed the hope for young Japanese Americans to work together with Japanese youth to shape the future of Japan-U.S. relations. He also referred to Prime Minister Kishida's upcoming official visit to the United States in April, noting that the Japan-U.S. Joint Leaders' Statement of May 2022 stated that, “the two leaders also paid tribute to the history, contributions and cultural heritage of Japanese Americans and concurred to engage next generation Japanese American leaders in the future Japan-U.S. cooperation.” Consul General Osumi expressed the expectation that this event would serve as a platform for fostering new connections and cooperative relationships among the next generation of Japan-U.S. leaders in various fields.
The event featured a panel discussion to cultivate a shared awareness of common issues among the next generation of Japan-U.S. leaders. The theme revisited “Women, Peace, Security + Innovation (WPS+I)”, which was discussed at the "WPS+I" symposium during Minister Kamikawa's visit last November. Derek Kenmotsu, one of the panelists at that symposium and the Head of Partnerships for AI/ML at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), moderated the discussion. Panelists included Ms. Lori Yurika Riser, Product Marketing Manager at Meta; Mr. Robert Roche, J.D. Candidate at the University of California, Berkeley; and Yoko Morishita, CFO/US Growth Strategy at Tier IV North America. They shared candid discussions, incorporating their own perspectives and experiences on the evolving roles and space of women in the workplace and society, career paths, differences in working styles between Japan and the United States, and identity, answering questions from the audience.
Following that, to further deepen participants' understanding and interest in Japanese culture, an introduction to Japanese sake and tasting session was conducted by Chika Oohata, a sake sommelier based in the Bay Area.
During the networking reception held in the latter half of the event, participants enjoyed Japanese-fusion cuisine prepared by David Yoshimura, Japanese American chef at Michelin-starred Nisei restaurant in San Francisco, while building new relationships and socializing with their peers active in a variety of fields.
Introductory sake lesson by sake sommelier Chika Ohata
Catering by Chef David Yoshimura of Nisei Restaurant
Networking reception
Group photo
