The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ, , Zainichi Beikoku Shōkō Kaigisho) is a non-profit business organization consisting mainly of executives from American companies. Currently, the ACCJ has over 3,000 members representing over 600 companies with chapters located in the Tokyo, Kansai and Chubu regions.

History

The ACCJ was established in 1948 by representatives of 40 American companies. Originally, the ACCJ had six committees and nine board members.

The ACCJ claims to be Japan's most influential foreign business organization, and serves as the primary forum for the foreign business community in Japan to identify and pursue shared interests and goals. There are more than sixty Chamber committees, subcommittees, task forces, and advisory councils that cover such diverse areas as: financial services, corporate social responsibility, marketing, independent business, healthcare services, e-business, transportation and logistics, legal services, the travel industry, and human resource management.

Programs

The ACCJ committees combined hold over 500 programs annually, and these events are exclusively attended by ACCJ members and their accompanying guests. Speakers are drawn from the ranks of global business leaders, top U.S. and Japanese government officials, industry experts, scholars and pop culture icons. Former speakers Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe; JP Morgan Japan Director of Research, Jesper Koll; Rakuten Inc CEO, Hiroshi Mikitani; General Electric CEO, Jeffrey R. Immelt; U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO, Tom J. Donohue; former Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger; U.S. Department of Energy Secretary, Steven Chu; Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood; Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano; U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, and many others have chosen the ACCJ as their forum for addressing Japan's international business community.

Advocacy

As a key stakeholder in the commercial relationship between the United States and Japan, the ACCJ works to influence the discussions that frame policy in both countries. The ACCJ issues its official positions on policy issues in Viewpoint position papers, white papers, public comments and other reports. The ultimate goal of these policy positions and the advocacy carried out to communicate them and promote their implementation is to further the mission of the ACCJ to improve the business environment in Japan for Chamber members.

ACCJ Board of Governors (as of 2025)

Leadership positions within the ACCJ are held by elected officials who represent top-level Japanese businesspeople and expats in Japan from the U.S. and around the globe.

Leadership Position Member Name Company Title President Victor Osumi Chief Executive Officer, Aerialence Partners Chairman Christopher LaFleur Senior Director for Japan, McLarty Associates Vice President—Tokyo Sarah Bader Managing Director and Principal Representative in Japan, Gensler Associates International Ltd Vice President—Tokyo Megan Barstow President & Representative Director, Edelman Japan Vice President—Tokyo Hans Klemm Japan Representative, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Vice President—Tokyo Arthur Mitchell Senior Adviser, White & Case LLP Vice President—Tokyo David Richards Managing Director, Chief Administrative Officer, Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co., Ltd. Vice President—Kansai Jiro Kawakami Senior Vice President, MGM Resorts Japan LLC Vice President—Chubu Robert W. Roche Executive Chairman and President, Oak Lawn Marketing, Inc. Treasurer—Tokyo John Kawase Chief Financial Officer, Amway Japan G.K. Treasurer—Kansai Treasurer—Chubu Jorma Winkler President, Maikai Wood Hawaii Governor—Tokyo Christopher Clark General Manager, JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo Governor—Tokyo Andrew J. Conrad Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Aflac International, Inc. Governor—Tokyo Rebecca Green Partner, ERM Governor—Tokyo Mitsuhiko Ida Operating Officer, Policy and Public Affairs Japan Lead, Pfizer Japan Inc. Governor—Tokyo Eric John President, Boeing Japan KK Governor—Tokyo Connor Myers Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager, Geo and Public Sector, Google Japan G.K. Governor—Tokyo Tomoko Naoe Country Manager & Director - Policy, Japan Business Software Alliance Governor—Tokyo Nancy L. Ngou Associate Partner, EY Strategy and Consulting Co., Ltd. Governor—Tokyo Yumiko Ohta Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Governor—Tokyo Frank Packard Partner, Eight Peaks Partners GK Governor—Tokyo Eric Sedlak Partner, Registered Foreign Lawyer, K&L Gates Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise Governor—Tokyo Megumi Takayama Senior Vice President, Weber Shandwick Governor—Kansai Simone Thomsen President and Representative Director, Eli Lilly Japan K.K. Governor—Chubu Julian Bashore Managing Director (Japan), Bodo Möller Chemie Executive Director Laura Younger

References

External links The American Chamber of Commerce Japan (ACCJ) website