 |
|

|
■The Establishment of the Society, and the
Society Today |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fukuoka Airport at Itazuke
|
Pictures taken in1956
by
Mr. Ronald E. Billet, York, PA
|
The Japan-America Society of Fukuoka was established
in January 1958 with the goals of promoting friendship
and mutual understanding between Japan and the United
States, and contributing to cultural exchange. The
previous year a mission composed of leaders from
Kyushu financial circles was dispatched to meet
with top management in the United States with the
objective of studying management techniques, and
this was the direct cause of the establishment of
the Society. The document citing the reasons for
establishment clearly reveals the times, mentioning
the recovery of Japan after World War II and a desire
to achieve peace and fully enter the community of
nations: it shows the hopes of management in the
private sector in search of friendship through interaction
with leaders in the United states.
|
Fukuoka a International
Airport
at Itazuke today
|
|
Fukuoka today
|
|
|
Activities toward improving Japan-US friendship
continued in the following years, and in May 1998
the Second Japan-America International Symposium
was held in Fukuoka City under the direction of
the Society, and with the cooperation of local governments
and private enterprises. Over 1500 participants
took part, including leaders from both nations,
society members and the general public. With active
discussions held on a wide range of topics including
the economy, national security, problems of the
home and youth, and expectations for a volunteer
society, the Symposium was a resounding success.
The current Society president is Shigeyuki Takasaki
(Chief Director, Nishitetsu Gakuen), and
the membership consists of 230 private individuals
and 53 corporations. Regular activities include
seasonal get-togethers, receptions for important
guests on their visits to Fukuoka, lectures, discussions,
English conversation classes
as well as the acquisition and dissemination of
a wide range of information on exchanges between
Japan and the US. |
■Links between the Society and Other Organizations |
Fukuoka City is home to the American consulate
and the Fukuoka American Center. Many of the activities
of the Society are hosted in close cooperation with
especially these two American offices, as well as
with the support of the Fukuoka prefectural and
municipal governments, the Kyushu Productivity Center,
the Fukuoka Junior Chamber, the International Soroptimist
clubs in Fukuoka, the Fukuoka International School
and other groups.
There are a total of nine Japan-America societies
on Kyushu Island, with the others located in Kitakyushu,
Kurume, Nagasaki, Sasebo, Kumamoto, Beppu, Miyakonojo
and Kagoshima. Exchange among the various Japan-America
societies is also active, not only within Kyushu,
but also with those established throughout Japan
under the auspices of the Japan-America Society
in Tokyo.
In the United States, there are about 35 active
Japan-America societies which engage not only in
activities within the United States but also in
international exchange efforts between America and
Japan. |
■The Future of the Japan-America Society and
the Region |
In recent years a number of e-mail messages from
former US servicemen have come to the Japan-America
Society of Fukuoka hoping to locate friends they
met from their stay at the American military base
in Itazuke, searching out family roots or inquiring
about student exchange programs. From Japanese correspondents,
we receive inquiries about learning English sign
language; requests to cooperate in convention hosting;
and consultations from corporations.
Although Japan and the United States enjoy a strong
bilateral relationship and a global partnership,
past trade conflicts and economic competition have
generated friction between the two countries. Now
how to restructure both economies to meet the challenges
of globalization and competition in the 21st century
are a major concern. Also questions about the roles
and missions of the two allies as well as the constitutionality
of Japan's security participation still remain.
|
Supporting to Fukuoka city sister city committee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
While the Japanese feel a strong affinity for the
individuality, creative public efforts of U.S. citizens
and the diverse cultural make-up of America, political,
economic and social frictions stemming from the
very closeness of our nations give birth to complex
considerations among Japanese when it comes to the
United States. The role of the Japan-America Society
within this environment is increasingly becoming
more important. And today, more than ever, the Society
will continue to contribute to improved relations
between these two nations through individual friendships
and grass-roots level mutual exchange programs,
as cited in the founding documents of the Society.
At the same time, the Society will maintain and
expand activities designed to improve social welfare
for the peoples of Asia and the Pacific.
Widespread public recognition of these issues was
achieved at the Second Japan-America International
Symposium held in Fukuoka in 1998. The Third Japan-America
International Symposium, held in September 2001
in San Francisco to commemorate the 50th anniversary
of the signing of the peace treaty between Japan
and the United States saw these same issues discussed
once again with increased depth and meaning.
The world was shaken by the terrorist tragedy of
September 11 in the United States, and following
that horrible incident the need to maintain a good
relationship between America and Japan is more important
than ever. Each and every member of the Society
can contribute to this goal through thoughts and
action. The Japan-America Society of Fukuoka will
serve as a center for information as well as a channel
to expand and deepen friendship activities between
the two nations, together with other organizations
in the region. Our Society -a community of friends
without borders- hopes to support "the most
important bilateral relationship bar none"
meet the new challenges of tomorrow.
October 2020
The Japan-America Society of Fukuoka
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|