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

Chairman’s welcome

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	Shogo MINETOMA	Secretary General, Former General Manager, Metals, at Mitsubishi Corp. Beijing and Rio de Janeiro
Managing Director	Kimihiko INABA	Division Manager in Charge of Public Relations,Middle East / Africa Automobile Division,Suzuki Motor Corporation、Ex Director General, JETRO México
Managing Director	Masaji SANTO	Former President, Chiyoda Corporation,、Former President, Engineering Advancement Association of Japan,
Managing Director	Akira YAMADA	Special Assistant to the Minister for Foreign Affairs,、Former Ambassador of Japan to Brazil and Mexico
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	Toshihiro SAKURAI	Executive Counselor (International Division), TOKURA CORPORATION
Director	Satoshi SASAKI	Managing Executive Officer, Global Head of Industry Finance Group, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
Director	Harunobu TAKIGAWA	Managing Director, Head of Intelligence and Research Office, MUFG Bank, LTD.
Director	Hideharu TANAKA	Former Representative in Asia, Inter-American Development Bank、Senior Research Fellow, Nakasone Peace Institute
Director	Chihiro FUETA（Ms.）	Associate Professor, Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Komazawa University
Director	Tomohiko FURUTANI	Former Ambassador to Guatemala、Former Auditor of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
Director	Kotaro HORISAKA	Professor Emeritus, Sophia University
Director	Hidenori MURAKAMI	Chairman,Organization for Improvement of Food-distribution System、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
Director	Satoshi YOSHIDA	Chief Representative, JICA  Costa Rica、Former Professor,Kyushu University、Former Director General, Latin America and the Caribbean Department, JICA
Auditor	Motoko IWAMI (Ms.)	Former Senior Analyst, Japan Institute for Overseas Investment
Auditor	Hiroyuki MAKIUCHI	Director, Center for Promotion of Internationalization, Tokyo University of Science、Former Ambassador of Japan to the Dominican Republic
Supervisor-Advisor	Masateru ITO	Former Chairman, Japan-Venezuela Association、Former Ambassador of Japan to Venezuela and Honduras
Supervisor-Advisor	Yutaka INABA	Executive Officer, Senior General Manager, Energy Infrastructure and Solution Department, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.、Former Managing Executive Officer, Global Head of Energy and Natural Resources Finance Group, JBIC
Supervisor-Advisor	Shigeo OSONOI	Professor Emeritus, University of Tsukuba
Supervisor-Advisor	Yuko OBUCHI（Ms.）	Member of the House of Representatives、President of the Japan-Latin America Parliamentary League
Supervisor-Advisor	Teiji SAKURAI	Former Professor, Kansai Gaidai University、Former Auditor, JETRO
Supervisor-Advisor	Katuyuki TANAKA	President, The Association of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad、Former Ambassador of Japan to Spain and Mexico
Supervisor-Advisor	Keiko TANAKA (Ms.)	External Director of Kurita Water Industries 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	Hiroshi TOMITA	Partner, ERM Japan Ltd. , Low Carbon Economy Transition（LCET)
Supervisor-Advisor	Akio HOSONO	Senior Research Advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ogata Research Institute、Former Ambassador of Japan to El Salvador

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
	Greeni Inc.
	Hokko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
	Hokuetsu Corporation
	Iberoamerican Institute, Sophia University
	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
	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
	NEC Corporation
	Nippon Koei Co., Ltd.
	Nippon Steel Corporation
	Nishimura & Asahi(Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo)
	Nisshin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.
	Nitto　Kohki　Co.,　Ltd.
	NTT DATA, Inc.
	Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd.
	Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
	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
	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

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