About Japan Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (JALAC) | 一般社団法人 ラテンアメリカ協会

About Japan Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (JALAC)

Chairman’s welcome

sasaki-soudanyaku

Chairman’s welcome:

Dear Members and Friends,

Since the turn of the new millennium and amidst the rise of Brazil, Mexico, and other emerging economies, Japan’s relations with Latin America and the Caribbean have grown even closer and stronger. Our peoples have enjoyed a long history of migration and many years of economic cooperation. Such are the foundations of our deep friendships, which now extend to trade and investment in natural resources, energy, information and communications infrastructure, and other sectors.

And with our bonds growing tighter day by day, I am convinced that the Japan Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (JALAC) will play increasingly vital roles in the years ahead. Here in Japan, JALAC has proven itself to be an instrumental hub for gathering and disseminating information on Latin America and the Caribbean.

I hope that all visitors to JALAC’s website will relate to and support the dedicated efforts of this association, whose ongoing aims are to promote mutual understanding between Japan and Latin America and the Caribbean, and to contribute to their collaborations across diverse industries and academic fields. We would like to ask for your continued support.

Mikio Sasaki Chairman

AJALAC Introduction

AJALAC Introduction(2022)[PDF]

Overview

Establishment

With strong support from the government, businesses, academia and civil society, JALAC was founded on July 1, 1958, by merging three organizations into one with the aim to create an integral private-sector diplomacy forum in Japan with Latin America and the Caribbean. Three organizations are the following: 1) Japan-Latin America Central Association, affiliated organization of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 2) Latin America Committee; and 3) Pan American Association.
On April 1, 2013, JALAC changed its legal status from a special civil law corporation to a general incorporated association.

Management (Board of Directors)
Chairman Mikio SASAKI Chairman Emeritus, Mitsubishi Corporation
Vice Chairman Satoru SATOH Former Ambassador of Japan to Brazil and Spain
Vice Chairman Nobuaki HAMAGUCHI Professor, Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration (RIEB) , Kobe University
Executive Director (General Management) Akira KUDO Former Board of Directors, Mitsubishi Corporation
Managing Director Teiji SAKURAI Former Professor, Kansai Gaidai University, Former Auditor, JETRO
Managing Director (Editorial Board) Toshihiro SAKURAI Executive Counselor (International Division), Tokura Corporation,  Board of Directors, The Association
of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad
Managing Director Akira YAMADA Special Assistant to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Former Ambassador of Japan to Brazil and Mexico
Managing Director Satoshi YOSHIDA Professor, Global Strategies Office, Kyushu University、Former Director General, Latin America and the
Caribbean Department, JICA
Managing Director Shogo MINETOMA Secretary General, Former General Manager, Metals, at Mitsubishi Corp. Beijing and Rio de Janeiro
Director Yutaka INABA Deputy Head of Energy Resources and International Business Unit, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. Former Managing Executive Officer, Global Head of Energy and Natural Resources Finance Group, JBIC
Director Motoko IWAMI (Ms.) Former Senior Analyst, Japan Institute for Overseas Investment
Director Mikio KUWAYAMA Research Fellow, Economics and Business Research Institute, Kobe University, Former ECLAC Senior
Economic Affairs Officer
Director Hidehiro KONNO Former Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Director Masaji SANTO Former President, Chiyoda Corporation, Former President, Engineering Advancement Association of Japan,
Former Senior Vice President, Regional CEO, Latin America, Mitsubishi Corporation
Director Tatsuhiro SHINDO Former Ambassador of Japan to Uruguay, Former Executive Vice President, JETRO
Director Hideharu TANAKA Representative in Asia, Inter-American Development Bank
Director Hiroshi TOMITA Partner, ERM Japan Ltd. Low Carbon Economy Transition(LCET)
Director Kotaro HORISAKA Professor Emeritus, Sophia University
Director Hidenori MURAKAMI Chairman, Organization of Food-marketing Structure Improvement, Former Ambassador of Japan to Chile,
Former Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (International Affairs)
Director Toyonari YAMAGISHI Director Executive, Japan Cuba Economic Conference, Former General Manager, External Affairs Department,
Team Latin America, Toyota Tsusho Corporation
Auditor Naohiko MUNAKATA Former Executive Coordinator, The Japan-Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Auditor Hiroyuki MAKIUCHI Director,Center for Promotion of Internationalization, Tokyo University of Science, Former Ambassador of
Japan to the Dominican Republic
Supervisor-Advisor Yasushi Imai ANDO Former Ambassador of Japan to Nicaragua
Supervisor-Advisor Masateru ITO Former Chairman, Japan-Venezuela Association, Former Ambassador of Japan to Venezuela and Honduras
Supervisor-Advisor Shigeo OSONOI Professor Emeritus, University of Tsukuba
Supervisor-Advisor Takeo KAWAMURA Former Member of the House of Representatives, former Chief Cabinet Secretary
Supervisor-Advisor Katuyuki TANAKA President, The Association of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad, Former Ambassador of Japan to Spain
Supervisor-Advisor Keiko TANAKA (Ms.) Vice President of Nissan Financial Services Co., Ltd., Former Ambassador of Japan to Uruguay
Supervisor-Advisor Terusuke TERADA Former President, Foreign Press Center of Japan, Former Ambassador of Japan to Mexico and Korea (ROK)
Supervisor-Advisor Akio HOSONO Senior Research Advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ogata Research Institute, Former
Ambassador of Japan to El Salvador
Supervisor-Advisor Yoshihiko MORITA Former Deputy Governor, Japan Bank for International Cooperation(JBIC)
Association’s Name in different languages

English: Japan Association of Latin America and the Caribbean ( JALAC )
Spanish: Asociación Japonesa de América Latina y el Caribe ( AJALAC )
Portuguese: Associação Japonesa de América Latina e o Caribe ( AJALAC )

Activities
  1. JALAC provides updates on Latin American and Caribbean developments and supports communication between its members.
  2. JALAC invites prominent visitors from Latin America and the Caribbean to attend and speak at the association’s lectures and seminars. Guests and speakers include Latin American and Caribbean government officials, members of the business community, academics and cultural representatives, members of the mass media, Latin American and Caribbean Ambassadors to Japan, and Japanese Ambassadors to the countries in the region.
  3. JALAC publishes its Quarterly Latin American Journal: With an emphasis on the political and economic landscapes, this journal will feature reports on Latin America and the Caribbean, submitted by industry experts and specialists.
  4. The Institute for Latin American and the Caribbean Studies (ILAC), recently created JALAC’s research arm, publishes articles and reports by experts in diverse areas, all available on the Association’s website.
  5. JALAC organizes Social Gatherings and Networking Events: Task meetings, Latin-American themed cultural events, and other initiatives will be planned in accordance with member interest. Themes covered will include Latin American and Caribbean literature and music, among others.
  6. JALAC is a liaison with various Japan-Latin America organizations of bi-national and sub-regional characters and chambers of commerce.
Corporate members
Air Water East Japan Inc.
ALFAINTER TRAVEL INC.
ASICS Corporation
Chiyoda Corporation
DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED
Division of Corporate Affairs, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies
Dowa Metals & Mining Co., Ltd.
EBARA CORPORATION
Encounter Japan Co. Ltd.
ERM Japan Ltd.
Franchir Co., Ltd.
Fujita Corporation
Gendai Mobility Research
Hitachi Ltd.
Hokko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
Hokuetsu Corporation
Iberoamerican Institute, Sophia University
IHI Corporation
Japan Bank for International Cooperation、JBIC
Japan Center for International Finance
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Japan International Cooperation System
Japan Institute for Overseas Investment (JOI)
Japanese National Committee of The Japan-Chile Business Cooperation Committee
Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security
Japan Overseas Enterprises Association
Japan University of Economics
JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
Kanda University of International Studies
Kansai University Library
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
KOIZUMI Co., Ltd.
Komatsu Ltd.
KOTOBA INTERNACIONAL ASSOCIATION
Kyodo News
Marubeni Corporation
MAYEKAWA MFG. Co., Ltd.
Metal One Corporation
Ministry of Defense Defense Inteligence Headquarters Analysis Department
Mitsubishi Corporation
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
MITSUI & CO., LTD.
Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nanzan University Library
NEC Corporation
Nippon Koei Co., Ltd.
Nippon Steel Corporation
Nishimura & Asahi
Nisshin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.
Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.
NTT DATA, Inc.
Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd.
PwC Advisory LLC
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
SoftBank Corp.
Sojitz Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Summit Agro International Ltd.
Takasago International Corporation
Teikyo University Media Library Center
Terumo Corporation
The Asahi Shimbun Company
Toda Corporation
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.
TOKURA CORPORATION
Toray Industries, Inc.
Toshiba Corporation
Toyo Engineering Corporation
Toyota Tsusho Corporation
UM Promotion Co., Ltd.
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

Supporting Members(Embassy in Japan)

Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Japan
Embassy of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in Japan
Embassy of the Republic of El Salvador in Japan
Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala in Japan
Embassy of the Republic of Colombia in Japan
Embassy of the Republic of Chile in Japan
Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Japan
Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Japan
Embassy of the Republic of Panama in Japan
Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay in Japan
Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil in Japan
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Japan
Embassy of the Republic of Peru in Japan
Embassy of the United Mexican States in Japan

Events

JALAC organizes around 30 seminars, roundtables etc. inside and outside Japan every year by inviting dignitaries and diplomats from Japanese and foreign governments, scholars and researchers from various universities and institutes, and business people.

Publication

JALAC’s ‘Latin America Quarterly’: JALAC publishes a quarterly journal in Japanese on Latin America.Fall 2018 Issue: Special Features “Migration in the Americas and its Effects”

  • U.S. Perspective on immigration issues; The Impact on public opinion and the government’s policy (Yuka Mizutani)
  • Economics of Migration; Trend of Migration and Remittance (Mikio Kuwayama)
  • Migration from Venezuela and the Impact on Neighboring Countries (Hidetake Miyamoto)
  • Costa Rica and Migration(Hajime Aoki)
  • El Salvador and Migration (Yukiyo Yasunaga, Kazuo Fujishiro)
  • Why Central American Children and Young People are Heading North (Ritsuko Kudo)

Contact

Name Japan Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (JALAC)
Address Hibiya Kokusai Bldg, 120A, 2-3, Uchisaiwaicho 2-chome,Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo, Japan
Phone/Fax Phone +81-3-3591-3831, Fax +81-3-6205-4262
E-mail Address Info@latin-america.jp
Website http://latin-america.jp