Japan Commerce Association of Washington, D.C.

JCAW currently has 110 corporate memberships and 104 individual memberships, which amounts to total of little less than 500 members (as of Jan. 18, 2011). The organization is managed by the board members chosen through recommendation by members or by the board

JCAW has the following goals:
• To facilitate cooperation and friendship among the Japanese business community in D.C. area;
• To promote

cultural exchange and mutual understanding with the surrounding American communities through education, sports, community services and social activities. To realize these goals, JCAW has five areas of activities:
1. Events to promote friendship among Japanese members and Americans (e.g. Japanese New Year’s festivities);
2. Training sessions (e.g. Monthly seminar of politics, economics, trade, and etc.);
3. Interaction with non-members (e.g. Exchange with Japanese-Americans in the area);
4. Community services (e.g. Financial aid to regional groups and projects that relate to Japan);
5. Public relations (e.g. Issuing newsletters 10 times/year that promote JCAW among members and non-member Japanese communities in the area). Since last year, JCAW, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan, JCAW Found and other organizations, has been planning programs and working toward preparation for the 100th anniversary of Japan’s gift of cherry trees to the U.S. The projects mainly planned by JCAW include:
• Japanese Language Education Support;
• Japan-US Intellectual Exchange (targeting young scholars in U.S. think tanks).