Mark your calendar for May 5, 2023, from 6:30 to 9 pm CDT. The Daikin Festival is back and moving to Point Mallard Park!

Each year in May, beginning in 1994, Daikin America, Inc. employees produced a Japanese Festival in the style of Bon Odori for their North Alabama neighbors. Every year, that is, until the pandemic made it impossible in 2020.

Now, at long last, the festival returns, offering even more fun for the entire family.

The Daikin Festival delights attendees with live music, Japanese Folk Dancing, Shodo (Japanese calligraphy), Yakisoba (grilled buckwheat noodles with beef and special sauce), BBQ, hamburgers, refreshing drinks, and special prizes.

This year, the festival will conclude with a dramatic fireworks display by PYRO Shows.

Best of all, the entire event is free of charge, including food, drink, and entertainment, and is open to the public.

We look forward to the return of one of the largest Japanese cultural events in the Southeast US.

Read more: https://daikinalabama.com/news/daikin-festival-is-back-for-2023

A free financial seminar held by Satoko Tsutsumi from Financial Planning and Education service on 3/11 (at Birmingham) and 3/12 (at Huntsville).

Ms. Satoko is an expert in financial planning in the USA and in Japan. We will learn about the general information about financial planning including benefits of saving and investing early for your retirement, social security benefits, Medicare, etc.

The seminar will be conducted in Japanese.

Milton Davis, JASA Board member, and past JASA Board chairperson, was recently inducted into the State of Alabama’s Engineering Hall of Fame (AEHOF). The Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame was founded in 1987 by proclamation of the Governor. AEHOF honors, preserves, and perpetuates the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of individuals, projects, and corporations/institutions that have brought and continue to bring significant recognition to the State.

Milton is a champion in the field of engineering and in Alabama. He is one of the top performing business development managers in his industry with more than 40 years of progressively challenging experiences. He is vice president of economic development for Clayco, a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, procurement, and construction firm. Throughout his career, Davis has received several honors and awards including UA Centennial Fellow Chemical and Biological Engineering in 2010, 2012 UA Distinguished Engineering Fellow, and was selected as Engineer of the Year in 1996 by the National Society of Black Engineers. His service to engineering education and the State includes several boards and leadership positions such as past chairman of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees, chair of the Capstone Engineering Society, and co-chair of the Economic Development Committee of Manufacture Alabama, active member of the Economic Development Association of Alabama, and JASA. As a member of the Alabama Community College System, Davis is at the forefront of examining and approving measures that ensure the success of residents, businesses, and industry at Alabama’s 24 community and technical colleges. He has promoted Alabama and helped in the recruitment of numerous manufacturing projects to the State.

Learn more about the Engineering Hall of Fame.

"We occupy a unique space in the United States ecosystem. We have a very long history with international companies and a unique relationship with the Japanese and the European space agencies. We work in the aerospace side, the automotive side, and the genomic research side."

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"Alabama's strategic strength in space and aerospace presents itself as a potential opportunity for Japanese companies looking to expand their footprint in the U.S. We plan to spend some effort in that regard as well. We believe that it's time for us to work closely with our Japanese partners to capture some of their knowledge base."

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JASA 2022 Annual Celebration Dinner and Business Forum was featured on Made in Alabama!

"Alabama-Japan relationship celebrated as robust bonds strengthen"

See the whole article here!

About JASA Annual Dinner...

Each year, the Japan-America Society of Alabama hosts a special reception and fundraiser to allow our members and guests from all over Alabama to gather, network, and dine with a special program to celebrate the JASA community. We recognize New and Expanding Japanese Companies across the state, hear from JASA leadership about our community's mission and goals, and honor the recipient of the Samuel Ullman Award.

3月23日（水）にウェアラブルタブレットに関するウェビナーを開催します。本ウェビナーでは、ウェアラブルタブレットが設備メンテナンス、機械修理、トレーニングなど様々な場面でどのように活用されているかのご紹介と、簡単なデモを通じて実際の使用例をお見せいたします。

『製造業向けウェアラブルXRソリューションデモ』
●日時：2022年3月23日（水）午後2時～3時 (ET)・午後1時～2時（CT）
●アジェンダ：
– ウェアラブルタブレット機能説明
– ウェアラブルタブレットを利用した簡単なデモ
●対象者：米国における製造日系企業の経営責任者、工場関係者、設備メンテナンス、ＩＴ
●言語：日本語
●主催：SYSCOM GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
●スピーカー：亀田洋輔 （中西部/南部/南東部担当シニアセールス )

●お問い合わせ：marketing@syscomgs.com

●申込：https://syscomgs.com/ja/event/webinar/event-webinar-wearable-xr-solution/

---  

We are hosting a webinar on Wearable XR Solution to demonstrate how wearable devices can help improve business transformation and operational efficiency. 

At the moment, the webinar is only available in Japanese. However, if you would like us to run a similar webinar in English, please let us know. It will be our pleasure to schedule another webinar for English speakers. Here is the overview of the webinar: 

 

『Wearable XR Solution Demo』

●Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2022

●Time: 2-3PM (ET)/1-2PM (CT)

●Agenda：

   - Features of the wearable tablet by Realwear

   - Quick demo on the wearable tablet

●Language: Japanese

●Host: SYSCOM GLOBAL SOLUTIONS

●Speaker: Yosuke Kameda, Senior Sales for Mid-West, South, South-East of the US

●Contact: marketing@syscomgs.com

●Registration: https://syscomgs.com/ja/event/webinar/event-webinar-wearable-xr-solution/

The AAMA Supply Chain & Logistics Conference will connect logistics providers, tiered suppliers, OEMs and more to discuss issues and solutions for Alabama's expanding Automotive Industry.

This year's conference will also include Exhibitors with dedicated exhibitor breaks, a Special Luncheon presented by NAITA, and a Networking Reception (snacks & cash bar) following the conference.

***Please note, if you have registered for the full conference, lunch is already included***

Conference Program

Wednesday, March 23, 2022 from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM CDT

The Jackson Center 6001 Moquin Dr NW Huntsville, AL 35806

Don't miss presentations by the Port of Huntsville, the Port of Mobile, DSV Air & Sea, Inc, Norfolk Southern, US Customs and Border Protection, Foreign Trade Zone Corporation, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, and more!

Register Now!

The Japan-America Society of Washington DC is recruiting volunteers to help with this year’s National Japan Bowl competition. Now in its 30^th year, the 2022 National Japan Bowl will be held online via Hopin on April 21-22 as Digital Japan Bowl III.

 

Each spring the Japan-America Society of Washington DC brings together 200 of the country’s top high school-level Japanese language students for two days of competition, cultural events, and networking. The National Japan Bowl is a high-intensity competition that tests the students' knowledge of Japanese language, and of the culture, history, and social context that brings the language to life.

JASWDC is looking for volunteers to serve as preliminary round monitors to help guide the students through the preliminary round. Volunteers are assigned to one team during each preliminary round of the competition and share the pre-recorded video of the preliminary round questions, distribute answer sheets, make sure students adhere to competition Code of Conduct. It's a rewarding position that allows volunteers to engage with the students and experience the competition questions. Knowledge of the Japanese language is not necessary. Volunteers will receive training in advance.

 

For any questions, please reach out to japanbowl@jaswdc.org.

DJB III Volunteer Flyer_Final.pdf

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Businesses and Residents in Central Alabama Affected by October Severe Storms and Flooding  

NEWS RELEASE

Disaster Field Operations Center East 

Release Date: Dec. 23, 2021 Contact: Michael Lampton (404) 331-0333  Michael.Lampton@sba.gov 

Release Number: 22-110, AL 17289/17290 Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs & Instagram 

WASHINGTON – Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are  available to businesses and residents in Alabama following the announcement of a Presidential  disaster declaration due to severe storms and flooding on Oct. 6 - 7, 2021. 

“SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help Alabama small businesses and residents impacted by  this disaster in every way possible under President Biden’s disaster declaration for certain affected  areas,“ said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal  disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and  communities recover and rebuild.” 

The disaster declaration covers Jefferson and Shelby counties in Alabama, which are eligible for both  Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit  organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury  Disaster Loans: Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Coosa, Saint Clair, Talladega, Tuscaloosa and Walker in Alabama.  

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or  replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other  business assets. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical  damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include  a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, elevation, retaining walls, and landscaping to help protect  property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster. 

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and  most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet  working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available  regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage. 

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or  destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace  disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property. 

Interest rates are as low as 2.855 percent for businesses, 2 percent for nonprofit organizations and  1.563 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set  by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. 

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at  https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/, and should apply under SBA declaration #17289, not for  the COVID-19 incident.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at  DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable,  applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video  Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.  

Businesses and individuals may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s  Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded at  sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration,  Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. 

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Feb. 21, 2022. The deadline  to return economic injury applications is Sept. 21, 2022. 

About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only  go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA  empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow  or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive  network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit  sba.gov.