2020 Public Symposium: Opening Session Recap
November 17, 2:00 – 3:00 pm ET: Opening Session featuring “Japanese Americans & Japan:Legacies” – Interview with Tom Iino
Speakers:-Welcome Remarks: Suzanne Basalla, President & CEO, U.S.-Japan Council-Special Remarks: Shinsuke J. Sugiyama, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaryof Japan to the United States of America-

Moderator: Dianne Fukami, President, Bridge Media, Inc.

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Moderator: Debra Nakatomi, President, Nakatomi & Associates, Inc.

-Distinguished Panelist: Thomas Iino, Board Member, First Choice Bank; & USJC LegacyCouncil Chair

Description: The USJC Public Symposium will kick off with the first installment of the“Japanese Americans & Japan: Legacies” series. This video series highlights the careers and life
journeys of prominent Japanese American leaders who are pioneers in developing the U.S.Japan relationship. Through their stories, we will learn about the role of Japanese Americans instrengthening U.S.-Japan relations, and the ways Japan has contributed to Japanese American
identity and community. This first dialogue in the series will feature USJC’s Founding Board
Chair, Thomas Iino.
Summary: On November 17, the U.S.-Japan Council kicked off the 2020 Public Symposium witha 60-minute opening webinar. USJC President and CEO Suzanne Basalla set the stage for thethree-day, seven-session symposium with introductory remarks that emphasized theimportance of the people-to-people relations between the United States and Japan andexpressed optimism for the continued development of these relations in 2020. Following Ms.
Basalla’s remarks, Hon. Shinsuke J. Sugiyama (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaryof Japan to the United States of America) expanded on these notions of cooperation andfriendship across the Pacific by speaking to the continued strength of the alliance in multiple
arenas including the economy, cultural and educational exchanges, and security partnerships.
Amb. Sugiyama also recognized Irene Hirano Inouye, USJC’s Founding President, as a leading
figure in the development of U.S.-Japan relations and highlighted the posthumous confermentof the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon from the Government of Japan toher as a symbol of her unwavering commitment to promoting friendly relations.
After these opening segments, Dianne Fukami (President, Bridge Media, Inc.) and Debra
Nakatomi (President, Nakatomi & Associates, Inc. ) moderated an in-depth interview withThomas Iino (Board Member, First Choice Bank; & USJC Legacy Council Chair) in the firstedition of the “Japanese Americans & Japan: Legacies” series. Mr. Iino began by recounting hisindividual and family history as a sansei Japanese American and his diverse upbringing in Los
Angeles before expanding on his long track record of work to bridge the gap between theUnited States and Japan. Mr. Iino worked tirelessly to increase awareness of Japanese American
history and to achieve greater integration of the Japanese and American communities in both
his personal and professional capacities, and lent his leadership to a number of prominent
Japanese American organizations including the Japanese American National Museum and theJapanese American Cultural & Community Center. Mr. Iino is also the Founding Chair of theU.S.-Japan Council and has helped guide USJC since its inception. Recounting his experience
with USJC, he said, “I’m most proud in identifying and engaging prominent JapaneseAmericans throughout our country nationally to participate in this bridging process between
the U.S. and Japan.” When asked about the USJC’s greatest accomplishments, he said, “Everyquarter, top people in business, top people in the service industry, top people in academics, toppeople with the not-for-profit world are being identified and are all contributing to the processof bonding with counterparts in Japan.”