Annual Meeting for Japan Society of New Orleans

We will be holding our Annual Meeting at the Southern Yacht Club on Thursday, 20 November 2014.  Principal Speaker will be the Dr. William Farrell, a member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Japan America Societies and will speak to us on:

Images and Reality in US-Japan Relations:  Implications for East Asia at a Dynamic and Challenging Time

Much has been made regarding America’s “pivoting toward Asia.” But the US has been focused on Asia from the early days of the whaling and maritime trade. During the entire period, mutual understanding by all the nations involved has been lacking, significantly so with our ally Japan.

From the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry and the Black Ships in 1853 to the current “pivot,” Japan and the US have looked at each other through stereotypical lenses.  This practice has led to serious problems across the spectrum of the relationship: social, political and economic. If misperceptions were commodities, each nation would have run a trade surplus.

The key premise: historical impressions and images that influenced domestic and international policy in the past remain with us today.

With Asia now a major focus and issues as such as: a powerful China, territorial disputes, an active North Korea and nationalism on the rise, it is critical to place today’s US-Japan relations in some perspective.

Please come out and hear what's going on with your Japan Society, engage with our Guest Speaker and confirm next year's Board and Officers. 

Complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks along with light appetizers will be available prior to the meeting.