--- --- # THE PACIFIC CONNECTION  Since the days of black ships to thriving bilateral trade, the U.S.-Japan relationship is stronger than ever.  From the earliest contact between sailors to the present day, the histories of Japan and the U.S. have been closely intertwined. The 1853 Perry Expedition ended Japan’s isolation, triggering rapid modernization and the adoption of outside influences, from cuisine to railways. Western interest in the island nation also grew rapidly, with the _Japonisme_ movement influencing the global art scene. Notable examples included the Ho-o-den pavilion at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, inspired by its counterpart in Kyoto, the Byodo-in Temple. Fast forward to the present, and this interest has only grown. Japanese anime and automobiles enjoy devoted followings across the United States, while Japan’s food exports to the U.S. rose 13.7% year-on-year in 2025\. On the sports front, Shohei Ohtani’s jersey has topped MLB sales charts every year since 2023\. Similarly, Japanese society has developed a fondness for American culture, from workwear fashion to baseball, jazz and beachside architecture. **The U.S.-Japan partnership is a formidable force of innovation and economic enterprise. By combining our respective strengths in everything from advanced technologies and manufacturing to research and financial services, we can drive growth and create opportunities in the business sectors transforming our economies.** **ーU.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass** Behind the scenes, much of the cooperation takes place in the boardroom. American MBA programs teach _kaizen_ principles, while Japanese tech firms look to Silicon Valley for glimpses of the future. In the automotive sector, companies such as Toyota evolved from imported brands into American institutions in their own right, hiring local workers and reaching a point where more than 70% of Japanese-brand vehicles sold in the U.S. are assembled there. Decades of investment in each other’s markets, while leveraging their respective strengths, have delivered benefits on both sides of the Pacific. One such company is Itoh Denki, a Hyogo-based manufacturer with operations in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. As a supplier of rollers to major global logistics providers, the company continues to benefit from strong demand, with further U.S. investment on the horizon. “We are basing operations in the U.S. as we see strong potential in the region. By focusing on local suppliers and manufacturing, we hope to reduce lead times and meet growing demand,” said President Tetsuya Itoh. Another Japanese firm with a growing U.S. presence is Nachi-Fujikoshi, the maker of Japan’s first industrial robot and a leader in machine tools. With a major manufacturing presence in Greenwood, Indiana, Nachi is looking to tap into America’s AI ecosystem as robotics becomes an increasingly important part of its future. “In order to acquire the latest AI technology, we are strengthening our development efforts via joint research with universities and collaborations with venture companies and startups,” said president of Nachi, Naritoshi Nakamura. At all scales, the integration of Japanese and American firms remains unmatched. Tokyo’s Jupitor Corporation began as an importer of American aerospace systems, establishing an office in California nearly 60 years ago. “The landscape is now shifting rapidly, with the rise of drones, unmanned vehicles and UAVs,” according to Jupitor’s president, Toshiyasu “Tom” Asano. From security to semiconductors, the U.S. and Japan are more interconnected than ever. Billions of dollars in investment are expanding American industry while providing Japanese companies with access to one of the world’s most dynamic markets. As both nations confront an increasingly uncertain world, one thing is clear. The partnership is here to stay. 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