Connecting the Bay Area to Japan
Mr. Christopher J. Sigur, Executive Director, the Japan Society of Northern California

When it comes to US cities that profess a strong link to Japan, San Francisco is to many, the most influential. From serving as the site of the 1951 Treaty of Peace with Japan to today’s role as the gateway for Japanese firms into the US IT industry, the San Francisco Bay Area is simply the de facto hotspot for transactions between the two countries. As the Japan Society that represents this connection (there are 38 in the US), the Japan Society of Northern California often plays an important role in facilitation between the two cultures. As the organization’s Executive Director Mr. Chris Sigur puts it “ the Japan Society of Northern California is one of the largest and second oldest Japan Societies in the US… It also the most significant given the history and regional focus in technology.” Mr. Sigur had lots more to say about the mission of the Japan Society and his role in bridging the cultures when we sat down recently to chat with him about his experiences and thoughts on the future. This month’s Bridge Builder features the key points from this interesting discussion.

Q. Please tell us about your background. How did you get interested in Japan and other Asian countries?

A. My interest in Japan started when I was a child because I lived there for eight years, during my elementary to high school years. While at college (Georgetown), I studied the Japanese language and then continued to study the culture while getting graduate degrees at Johns Hopkins and Columbia. Early in my career, I joined the Peace Corps serving in Korea then worked for The Asia Foundation as Representative in the Korea office. While at the Asia Foundation, I served as Assistant Representative in Indonesia, and as Executive Assistant to the President in San Francisco. Before I was appointed Executive Director of the Japan Society, I had served as Vice President for Asia at the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs.

Q. What attracted you to your current position and how would you define your current mission?

A. I had been working in Tokyo through my work in relation to the Carnegie Council, when I first heard about the position. At that time (1997), the Japanese economy was still staggering but the US IT sector was beginning to show signs of a boom. I thought that given the age and size of the organization and its relationship with Silicon Valley, there would be tremendous potential for growth. During the first few years, we were able to take some advantage of the dotcom bubble but mostly its been an “up and down” experience. However, the mission remains the same- to promote US-Japan relations. Our location gives us a focus on high technology but we are not just about business. We try to give our sponsors a cultural context for their relations with Japan.

Q. Please elaborate a bit on the history of your organization. How does it distinguish itself?

A. The Japan Society of Northern California can trace its roots back to 1905 when a lawyer in Palo Alto named Henry Pike Bowie came together with others, who shared an interest in Japan, to found the organization. The organization started out as the Japan Society of San Francisco and had strong ties to Stanford and the Japanese Consulate (Japan’s first in the US) from the beginning. Over the years, there have been ups and downs but in the 80’s and 90’s we developed a clear focus on business. Today, we try to distinguish ourselves by focusing not just on business but on people- because doing business with Japan means building relationships. Our organization is the second oldest member of the NAJAS (the National Association of Japan-America Societies), which includes 38 Japan and Japan-America Societies in the United States and Canada.

Q. In addition to Japan, you’ve worked with many Asian countries on behalf of US interests. Comparing Japan to other Asian countries, what comes to your mind as some of the key characteristics about Japan one should remember.

A. Japan’s culture is simply so unique, it’s difficult to define. For Americans, there is a special historical connection that may not come up day-to-day but its there nonetheless. Japan has been an economic powerhouse for so long that the American interest is just natural. One point I recommend for those doing business with the Japanese is to do one’s homework because that’s what they do. Thorough due diligence on potential Japanese partners is critical to maintaining an equal footing.

Q. In your tenure at the Japan Society, you’ve had some great events with a clear impact on Japan-US relations. Which one was the most significant?

A. From September 6-8, 2001, we hosted a celebration and conference of the US-Japan relationship, the US-Japan 21st Century Project, a series of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty between the United States and Japan. U.S. Secretary of State of Colin Powell, Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, Former Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa (who attended the signing of the 1951 Peace Treaty as a junior Ministry of Finance official), and CEO of Hewlett-Packard Company Carly Fiorina, participated as keynote speakers. One of the panels featured all the former American ambassadors to Japan, chaired by Howard Baker the current ambassador. We believe the US-Japan 21st Century Project was the most significant gathering of business, academic, and political leaders of the United States and Japan in the last 20 years. Going forward, we will be working with the National Association of Japan-America Societies who will be coordinating the Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of US-Japan Relations.

Thank you Mr. Sigur. Individuals and companies that are interested in finding more about the Japan Society of Northern California, please see their website.

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