Who We Are
The Japan America Society of San Diego (JASSD) promotes mutual understanding, friendship, and cooperation between the peoples of Japan and the United States, with a focus on the Greater San Diego region, through programming in business and economic engagement, cultural exchange, education and next-generation development, and civic and community engagement. As a Pacific anchor city - home to major Japanese investment, deep naval and military ties, a thriving binational Nikkei community, and a Sister City partnership with Yokohama dating to 1957 - San Diego is uniquely positioned for one of the most consequential Japan America Societies in the country, and JASSD exists to realize that potential as the convener, connector, and institutional voice of the San Diego–Japan relationship for generations to come.
Our History
The Japan America Society of San Diego was incorporated as a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation in February 2026, but the experience behind it spans far longer. Our founding board brings more than seventy-five combined years of professional engagement with Japan across law, international business, executive education, public policy, and federal acquisition - anchored in deep institutional ties to the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), the Japan America Society of Southern California (JASSC), the Japan Society of Northern California, and the National Association of Japan America Societies (NAJAS), which personally encouraged the formation of JASSD after the prior San Diego society wound down its operations. JASSD inherits the trust and goodwill that San Diego's Japan-connected community built over decades, and we are committed to stewarding that inheritance with the seriousness it deserves, because the relationship between San Diego and Japan is not new, even if the institution carrying it forward is.
Our Values
Connection is the work. We exist to build relationships across borders, sectors, and generations. Programming, partnerships, and platforms all serve that one purpose. Every event, every introduction, and every initiative is measured against whether it strengthens the human ties between San Diego and Japan.
Substance over performance. We measure ourselves by what we deliver, not what we promise. We tell members what their dues funded and what is coming next. We publish our calendar, name our owners, and share our results, because the credibility of an institution is built on what it actually does, not on what it says about itself.
Bilingual and bicultural by design. Cultural fluency is how we work, not how we market. Japanese language, customs, and protocols are not decorative, they shape how we host, who we welcome, and how we conduct business. Members of every background are welcome at every table, and we make space for those who bring fluency without requiring it of those who do not.
Built for the long term. We are stewards of a relationship with deep roots and a longer future. Decisions today are made with the next generation of members in mind. We honor the legacy of those who built the San Diego–Japan relationship before us, and we hold ourselves accountable to the members and communities who will inherit the institution we are building.
Contact us
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