IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Theresa Kulczak, Executive Director
Japan-America Society of Indiana
Office: (317) 635-0123
Cell: (317) 409-6771 MEDIA ONLY – not for publication
theresa.kulczak@japanindiana.org
www.japanindiana.org

JAPAN UPDATE 2014:
A Forecast for Japan, Indiana and Asia
On Thursday, February 27th the Japan-America Society of Indiana will present "Japan Update2014", an annual conference providing a business, economic and international relations outlook
for the year with discussion of key developments and projections for Japan, Indiana and Asia.
The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis. The Keizai Koho Center ofKEIDANREN, Japan’s largest business association, and the National Association of JapanAmerica Societies are co-presenting organizations.
Indiana Governor Mike Pence will deliver opening remarks. In September, 2013, he completed
a successful economic development mission to Japan. Indiana is the only state to be the homeof assembly plants for three of Japan’s top automakers.
Shigeru Hayakawa, Senior Managing Officer for Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan will headline
the conference. With the Highlander, Sequoia and Sienna built in Princeton and the Camry built
in Lafayette, Toyota plays a vital role in Indiana’s economy. Globally, Toyota is forecasting arecord profit for the fiscal year ending in March.
The conference will also feature Morgan McGrath, Head of JP Morgan International
Commercial Banking at JP Morgan Chase, New York, and Mark Rechtin, West Coast Editor ofAutomotive News.
Distinguished speakers and industry leaders will take an in-depth look at the Indiana-Japan
relationship in the areas of investment, manufacturing and trade; including key considerationsin Asia. Representatives of Japanese industry with facilities in Indiana will speak to trends in theautomotive supply chain with projections for growth and economic development.
Tom Easterday, President of the Japan-America Society of Indiana and Executive Vice Presidentof Subaru of Indiana Automotive commented, “The Japan Update Conference provides a unique
opportunity to obtain insight into important developments that will impact Japan and Indiana

in 2014 and over the next several years. We are fortunate to have an outstanding group ofpresenters who are extremely knowledgeable about economic factors, international trade,industry trends and the Indiana-Japan relationship. ”
Theresa Kulczak, Executive Director of the Japan-America Society of Indiana, added: “It’s agreat line-up of speakers. We’re pleased to welcome Mr. Hayakawa of Toyota who will travelfrom Japan with the support of the Keizai Koho Center and Keidanren. And thanks to Chase,we’ll hear from Morgan McGrath who directs Chase’s global activities and has extensive
experience in Asia.”
Presenters include (in alphabetical order):Stephen Akard, Vice President and General Counsel, Indiana Economic Development
Corporation
Shinju Fujihira, Executive Director, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard
UniversityShigeru Hayakawa, Senior Managing Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation, JapanPeter Kelley, President, National Association of Japan-America Societies
Marc Knapper, Director at Office of Japanese Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington D.C.
Bob Mason, Vice President and International Sales Manager, Ford Meter Box
Morgan McGrath, Head of J.P. Morgan International Commercial Banking, New York
Rick Merkel, Executive Vice President, Enkei America
Mark Miller, President, Cornerstone Environmental, Health and Safety
Mark Rechtin, West Coast Editor, Automotive NewsThe Honorable Mike Pence, Governor of Indiana
Jim Riggs, President, NTN Driveshaft
Masayasu Saito, President and CEO, AISIN Holdings of America
Sachin Shah, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives, Vera Bradley
Ichiro Sone, Chief Executive Director, Japan External Trade Organization, Chicago
Scott Turpin, Executive Vice President, AISIN Holdings of America
The Honorable Masaharu Yoshida, Consul General of Japan at Chicago
The registration fee for the luncheon and conference is $130.00 for the public, $100 for JapanAmerica Society of Indiana members. Full-time college students with I.D. are free (not includinglunch). Registration is at 11:30 a.m., the keynote luncheon program with Mr. Hayakawa andGovernor Pence begins at noon, and the afternoon conference sessions start at 1:30 p.m.;followed by a networking reception from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. For the full conference scheduleand to register online go to www.japanindiana.org
Corporate Sponsors: AISIN; Cornerstone Environmental, Health and Services; Chase; Duke
Energy; Enkei America; GECOM Corporation; Honda Manufacturing of Indiana; Hoosier Energy;
Indiana Economic Development Corporation; Indiana Packers Corporation; KYB Americas Corp.,
Gecom Corp., NTN Driveshaft; Ogletree Deakins; Subaru of Indiana Automotive; TASUSCorporation; TOA (USA); Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing; Toyota Motor
Manufacturing, Indiana.
Supporting Organizations: Indiana Economic Development Corporation; the Indiana Japan
Chamber, and the Indiana Manufacturers Association.
###About Japan-America Society of Indiana (JASI)
Founded in 1988 by community, business and academic leaders, the Japan-America Society ofIndiana (JASI) is a not-for-profit cultural, educational, and business-support organization which
serves as a bridge of friendship and cooperation between the people of Indiana and Japan. The
Society is supported by a diverse membership of businesses, communities, academic institutions,families and individuals. Annually, the Japan-America Society of Indiana reaches more than
10,000 individuals through its programs, outreach activities, and services. The Japan-America
Society of Indiana is a member of the National Association of Japan-America Societies,
headquartered in Washington D.C., which includes over forty Societies nationwide.