U.S. & Japan Leaders to Discuss Growth, Security and Sustainability in Honolulu, Hawaii on Friday, October 10th

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Sep 18, 2014, 04:03 ET

HONOLULU, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 2014 U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) Annual Conference, "U.S.-Japan Connections: Contributing to Growth, Security and Sustainability," will bring together regional, national and international leaders from government, business, academia and non-profit sectors to discuss innovation and entrepreneurship through international collaboration. It will highlight Hawaii's historical, cultural and strategic significance in the Asia Pacific, as well as the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance and cross-cultural partnerships. The Conference will feature as speakers (the asterisk (*) denotes Keynote Speakers):

*Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., Commander, United States Pacific Fleet
*Marillyn A. Hewson, Chairman, President & CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation
*Masami Iijima, President & CEO, Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
Norihiko Ishiguro, Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan
Kathy Matsui, Chief Japan Equity Strategist, Co-Head of Macro Research Asia, Goldman Sachs
George Takei, Actor, Hosato Enterprises, Inc.
Roy Yamaguchi, Chef & Founder, Roy's

The many dimensions of the U.S.-Japan relationship will be reflected in the Annual Conference's twelve breakout sessions. These include:

Insights into the U.S.-Japan Security Relationship: This session will explore the U.S.-Japan security relationship through senior U.S. and Japanese political, military and diplomatic perspectives. Topics will include both "hard power" elements and "soft power" dimensions.
Economic Development Through Tourism and Events: Using case studies from Japan, Hawaii and mainland United States, this session will look at successful tourism markets and how to promote international accessibility, including the impact on community and economic development.
Other topics include: Capitalizing on Business Opportunities Abroad, Diversity & Inclusion in the Global Marketplace, The Making of the TOMODACHI Generation, Partnerships for Effective Disaster Management, and U.S.-Japan-Korea Partnership & Educational Exchanges.

The closing reception will be one of the highlights of the Conference, featuring a "Culinary Festival" that brings together twelve premier chefs from Hawaii and Japan to collaborate with one another. This event celebrates USJC's new culinary diplomacy initiative, which aims to promote cross-cultural dialogue and understanding through sharing meals.

This is the first time USJC will hold its Annual Conference in Hawaii. USJC has strong ties to the Aloha state, including the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, one of the co-founders of the U.S.-Japan Council, and many other Japanese American leaders. From an educational neighbor island tour, to the opening reception that features a musical performance by former sumo wrestler KONISHIKI, the Conference celebrates Hawaii's unique setting along with the many aspects of U.S.-Japan relations.

AGENDA: http://www.usjapancouncil.org/us-japan-council-annual-conference

Media Information:
Date & Time: Friday, October 10, 2014 (8:30am-8:00pm)
Location: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, 2005 Kalia Rd, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815, U.S.A.
About the U.S.-Japan Council: www.usjapancouncil.org
Registration: Press registration is complimentary. Click here to register: bit.ly/USJCAC2014Media