More Event Information

Created in 1976, the Southeast U.S./Japan Association has a Japan counterpart, the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association. The Japanese Association’s membership includes Japan’s top business leaders and government officials. Membership in the Southeast U.S./Japan Association is open to residents of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, and includes both private and public sector members. On a rotational basis, each of the seven as “Host and Co-Host State” for a two-year term and assumes leadership of the Association during that period.

Join us at the 40th annual Southeast U.S./Japan Association joint meeting which will be held in Greenville, South Carolina over three days from October 22-24, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel downtown. The conference theme will be “Success through Tradition, Innovation and Partnerships”. Along with other highly regarded speakers, General Electric Chairman, Jeff Immelt, will deliver one of the the keynote addresses at the conference, while panelists will discuss “Labor Force Trends & Challenges in Japan & the Southeast U.S.” and “U.S.-Japan Bilateral Relations – Where Are We Headed?” The conference golf tournament will be held at the beautiful mountain top golf course, The Cliffs at Glassy. 

Mr. Teruo Asada, Chairman of Marubeni Corporation, will serve as the meeting’s private sector co-chairman alongside co-chairman, Ms. Minor Shaw, President and CEO of Micco, LLC in Greenville, S.C.

Additional information can be found at www.seusjapan2017.com, however, all South Carolina delegates must register for the conference on this site. (IF YOU ARE NOT INTENDING TO REGISTER AS A SOUTH CAROLINA DELEGATE PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER HERE – SEE THE ABOVE WEBSITE FOR THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR REGISTRATION IN YOUR MEMBER STATE). The conference registration fee is $450 and the golf tournament fee is $175. Should there be the need to rent golf clubs there is a fee of $125 payable to the course upon arrival to the tournament. The hotel block reservation deadline is October 1st, 2017, and the conference registration deadline is Friday, September 22nd, 2017.After this date registration is possible at a rate of $650, but not online and registrant will not appear in the conference directory. Additionally, there can be no refunds after September 22nd however substitutions are permitted.  

THE ROOM BLOCK AT THE HYATT REGENCY GREENVILLE IS SOLD OUT AS OF TODAY, 9-22-17. THERE IS A LIMITED NUMBER OF ROOMS AVAILABLE AT THE  WESTIN POINSETT HOTEL FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY NIGHTS ONLY. THOSE ROOM RESERVATIONS CAN BE MADE AT THIS LINK:  https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/events/start.action?id=1707242435&key=3591F0AD

On the day of the golf tournament at the Cliffs of Glassy, Sunday, October 22nd, there will also be 3 optional tours offered for delegates & their registered spouses and guests. There will also be an optional guest/spouse delegate tour offered on Monday, October 23rd for registered spouses and guests at no additional cost. Use this site to indicate your interest in participating in these tours, but re-confirm these at the registration desk upon arrival. Note that the tours on Sunday run concurrently so only sign up for one.

– Tours will include lunch

– Delegates should re-comfirm pre-registration upon check-in at the Tour Desk

– Delegates who are not pre-registered may participate on a space-availability basis

– All tours leave from the Hyatt Regency Hotel lobby

– Comfortable walking shoes are recommended and light jackets or sweaters if necessary

Sunday Optional Tour 1 – Jocassee Lake Tour   (9:15 am – 3:45 pm)

Enjoy the splendor of South Carolina’s natural beauty on a boat tour of Lake Jocassee, a lake known for its clean, clear water fed from the Appalachian mountain rivers. This three-hour excursion is guided by a “Master Naturalist” who will illuminate the environment of South Carolina and of Lake Jocassee. See six named waterfalls, and crystal clear mountain water that plunges nearly 400 feet (122 meters).

Sunday Optional Tour 2 –  South Carolina Botanical Gardens & Clemson University’s Watt Family Innovation Center   (9:30 am – 2:30 pm)

Tour the South Carolina Botanical Gardens with Director Patrick McMillan, renowned botanist, and then tour Clemson University’s Watt Family Innovation Center, an interdisciplinary research center partnered with local businesses and government. Also, tour the campus of Clemson University with guidance from current students, including Japanese Studies and foreign exchange students, via the campus’ electric bus system. 

Sunday Optional Tour 3 –  Yeah THAT Greenville Tour (10:30 am – 3:00 pm)

Experience one of the fastest growing cities in America on a tour of downtown Greenville. See the bustling main street that was once a simple textile town, including restaurants, theaters, shops and more. The tour concludes at Fluor Field Stadium, home of the Greenville Drive, a Single-A minor league team affiliated with the Boston Red Socks. Join Mayor Knox White for refreshments at the stadium’s Champions Club, featuring classic baseball food favorites and beer from local breweries.

Monday Optional Spouse/Guest Tour  – Downtown Greenville Cuisine and Crafts

 Cooking Demonstration & Lesson at Soby’s Loft

Visit one of Greenville’s most popular restaurants, Soby’s Loft, and learn to cook a favorite local dish. Enjoy the meal on Soby’s famous loft overlooking Greenville’s skyline. Take home the recipe to recreate the dish for your family and friends! Depart from Hyatt front lobby at 10:15 AM. Depart for the Art Cellar at 12:45 PM

 AND

Painting Fantasy Flowers with Melinda Dement at The Art Cellar

Paint easy, free-form flowers from your imagination using a reductive scratching technique guided by artist Melinda DeMent. Take home your cheerful 11×14 ready to frame or hang! Melinda teaches a reductive scratching technique to create details in the freeform flowers. Following lunch, there will be live artist demonstrations and time for guests to interact with the artist(s). Class will be from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.