Happy New Year!

Last year, many important national elections were held around the world. As you know, the Democratic administration was defeated in the United States and a Republican administration was born, but similar events (harsh judgments on existing administrations) were seen in other countries. In addition, the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East are not only unable to find a path to resolution, but also cannot dispel concerns about the conflict's expansion. Looking at our daily business and life, very powerful AI technology has become a hot topic. While AI is likely to produce many benefits, there is growing concern that if it is used incorrectly, terrible things could happen. I think there are quite a few people who would choose "unstable and uncertain" to describe this situation.

In this era of great change, I believe it is important to continue to have hope for the future, to make calm analyses and judgments, and to pass on the right future to the next generation. JCCNC was established in 1951 with the aim of developing business between the United States and Japan. At the time of its establishment, Japan's economic power and international status were incomparable to today. In addition, the memory of the war was still strong, and there was a headwind of prejudice against Japanese people, Japanese people, and Japanese companies. In the midst of this, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce was established mainly by Japanese Americans, and the business environment was gradually improved, leading to the history of how we are doing business here today. In other words, our predecessors lived through the uncertain times of 1951 with strength and built the foundation for our current activities.

Currently, JCCNC is focusing on active exchanges with the state government, local chambers of commerce, and the local Japanese-American community. We also hold various seminars and member networking events. We hope that you will continue to participate in these activities.

As mentioned earlier, the year 2025 is expected to be an uncertain one, but it is precisely at times like these that it is important to pool together everyone's wisdom and spirit. JCCNC will continue to act as a catalyst for such activities. We look forward to your continued support this year.