Partner Profile: Strengthening Relationships in Japan

The Office of Global Engagement’s new NC Japan Center Director, Jonathan Brewster, traveled to Japan in mid-October for the Southeast-U.S./Japan and Japan-U.S. Southeast Association (SEUS) Conference held in Tokyo.

The purpose of this conference, started in 1976, is to bring together business leaders and government officials from Japan and U.S. member states Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia to report on and learn about current trade and business relations between the two countries and each state. 

Through the NC Japan Center, NC State supports North Carolina economic development efforts. Brewster prepared the North Carolina delegation, led by Chief Deputy Secretary of Commerce Liz Crabill, for Japanese business culture protocol, as well as facilitated the delegation during the event.

There were a number of informative presentations by the heads of state delegations, corporate representatives, and by the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, William F. Hagerty, as well as networking opportunities for members to make new connections and renew incumbent relationships.

During his Japan trip, Brewster also visited three NC State academic exchange partners: Sophia University, Waseda University, and Kwansei Gakuin University, in order to strengthen and grow NC State’s relationship with these institutions, as well as to discuss ideas for our current exchange programs. 

Learn more about NC State’s academic partner institutions in Japan on NC Japan Center’s new website.