Out & About with Donna//Congratulations to the Japan Business Association

The Japan Business Association (JBA) virtually celebrated their 60th anniversary this past Friday evening. The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce has enjoyed a longtime partnership with the JBA. Each year, for the past 22 years, the chamber partnered with JBA for what is known as the ‘Grand Mixer’. Although an event did not take place in 2020 due to Covid-19, the chamber is hopeful the ‘Grand Mixer’ will return in late 2021 or early 2022. I was pleased to join the virtual event and be a part of the 60th year anniversary celebration.

Several individuals provided words of welcome and congratulations including Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; Senate Majority Leader Robert Hertzberg; Assembly member Al Muratsuchi; Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles; Pat Furey, Mayor of Torrance; Muto Akira, Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles and Yuichi Mitsumori, President of JBA Southern California.

More than 700 Japanese companies are in Southern California, one of the highest concentrations of Japanese businesses operating outside of Japan in the world. The economic impact of Japanese businesses in Southern California is particularly significant because Japanese companies enter the U.S. market by establishing new facilities and hiring new employees rather than by acquiring existing businesses.

The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce congratulates JBA on their 60th anniversary and extends appreciation for their years of collaboration and partnership.

November 14. 2019 “Courtside with the JBA” was an event commemorating 21 years of professional partnership with the Japan Business Association. JBA, a non-profit organization, works to develop and improve the business environment for Japanese companies in the Southern California region.

Pictured: Jac Folkert, UCLA Health, Kiichi Nakajima, Pres./Chair of Japan Business Association, Mayor Patrick J. Furey, City of Torrance, Akira Muto, Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles, Dan Armendariz, California Water Service Co., and Donna Duperron, Pres./CEO of the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce