Launched in 2010, the Japan Matters for America/America Matters for Japan project is a comprehensive and multi-activity effort to demonstrate and track Japan's importance to the United States, and the United States’ importance to Japan.

This project maps the trade, investment, employment, business, diplomacy, security, education, tourism, and people-to-people connections between the United States and Japan at the national, state, and local levels. Part of the Asia Matters for America initiative, this publication, the one-page summaries for states and congressional districts, and the AsiaMattersforAmerica.org website are resources for understanding the robust and dynamic US-Japan relationship.


East-West Center

The East-West Center promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. Established by the US Congress in 1960, the Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options. The East-West Center in Washington provides US and Indo-Pacific government stakeholders and program partners with innovative training, analytical, dialogue, exchange, and public diplomacy initiatives to meet policy priorities.

The views expressed in articles by external contributors are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the East-West Center or any organization with which the author is affiliated.


Our Partners

Sasakawa Peace Foundation

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) addresses the diverse and complicated issues that human society is encountering in the 21st century. In order to respond to increasing natural disasters and social crises, SPF implements and supports a variety of necessary programs and projects. As a private Japanese foundation, SPF strives to strengthen cooperation at all levels between our country and countries abroad. SPF makes use of its freedom as a private foundation to effectively promote activities, proposals, and exchanges in the search for a new governance model for human society.


Project Staff

East-West Center in Washington

Director: Satu Limaye, PhD

Coordinator: Spencer Gross

Research & Content: Edith Conn, Mimi MacKilligan, Kenji Nagayoshi, Amy Namur, Harini Narayan, Niles Rodgers, Kai-Chun Wang, Alura Winfrey, Devin Woods

THE SASAKAWA PEACE FOUNDATION | 公益財団法人 笹川平和財団
JAPAN-U.S. PROGRAM / 日米グループ

Director: Aya Murata / 村田綾
Coordinators: Takuya Tazawa / 田澤卓哉, Yuta Sano / 佐野裕太
Japanese translations provided by: Etsuko Oshita / 大下英津子

Notes on Methodology