Event box

2026 Japan Currents -- Innovation and Growth: Urbanization and Globalization in the U.S.-Japan Partnership In-Person

You are invited to the event Japan Currents Symposium: Innovation and Growth: Urbanization and Globalization in the U.S. – Japan Partnership, presented by JASDFW In partnership with SMU Tower Center Sun & Star Program on Japan and East Asia. Supported by Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC. and National Association of Japan-America Societies, Inc (NAJAS).

Japan Currents Series

In 2019, NAJAS inaugurated the “Japan Currents” public affairs series, with support from the Embassy of Japan in Washington DC. The series involved events in fourteen different cities, each hosted by the local Japan-America Society, and composed of speakers from Japan, the U.S. and the local community. Public affairs topics of interest relating to Japan vary by location. Each host selected the theme, and the reports of the events demonstrate the depth and variety of interest in Japan across the country. As the only national public affairs program series focusing on the US-Japan relationship, we believe Japan Currents serves an important part of the mission of Japan-America Society network. We are grateful for the support of the Embassy of Japan for this program.

The event is free and open to the public. To join in-person or virtually registration is required and the seats are first come, first served.

Date: Friday, February 20, 2026

Time: 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm CT

Location: Prothro Great Hall, 5901 Bishop Blvd, Dallas, TX 75205

Program:

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration

12:00 p.m. – 01:30 p.m. Keynote Luncheon

•Speaker: Mikio Sugeno, The Nikkei

•Moderator: Hiroki Takeuchi, SMU

02:00 p.m. – 03:30 p.m. Afternoon Panel

•Chris Carter, Toyota Motor North America

•Mike Chmielecki, Nomura Research Institute IT Solutions America

•Russell Keith, 1Finity Americas (Fujitsu Group)

•Kristin Vekasi, University of Montana

•Moderator: Hiroki Takeuchi, SMU

Please find the speakers’ bios in the attachment below.

Invitation image: Tokyo cityscape viewed from Tokyo Skytree Tower and Dallas cityscape viewed from Dallas Reunion Tower. Photo credit: Astrid Galvan-Segura.

Any person who requires a reasonable accommodation on the basis of a disability in order to participate in this program should contact the SMU Tower Center at tower@smu.edu in advance at least 4 days prior to the event to arrange for the accommodation.