California-Japan 2025 Trade Mission Pre-Reception
2025/10/16
On September 19, the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles co-hosted a reception to kick off a California state-wide trade mission to Japan from September 28th to October 4th, 2025.
The trade mission will help attendees seize new investment opportunities and access Japanese markets across three focus areas: infrastructure resiliency, energy, and food & beverage. The delegation includes approximately 50 participants, including state legislators, local government leaders, and representatives from U.S. companies and organizations. They will visit Tokyo and Osaka, engaging in discussions with Keidanren, and several Japanese companies, and visiting the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
The pre-trade mission reception opened with greetings by mission delegates, including a video message from the California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who will lead the delegation, and remarks from California State Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.
Following the remarks, Stephen Cheung, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) & World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTCLA),which are organizers of the mission, provided an overview of the trade mission.
Touching upon infrastructure resilience, a theme of the mission, UNIQLO, AFC Franchise Corporation (a subsidiary of Zensho Holdings), and the American Red Cross gave presentations about the support they provided the community following the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
After the presentations, there was a networking reception and toast by Consul General Murota. Several Japanese companies from the food and beverage industry, another priority area of the trade mission, had booths. Additionally, booths promoting investment in Japan and the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan were featured to enhance the participants’ understanding of Japan.
The trade mission will help attendees seize new investment opportunities and access Japanese markets across three focus areas: infrastructure resiliency, energy, and food & beverage. The delegation includes approximately 50 participants, including state legislators, local government leaders, and representatives from U.S. companies and organizations. They will visit Tokyo and Osaka, engaging in discussions with Keidanren, and several Japanese companies, and visiting the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
The pre-trade mission reception opened with greetings by mission delegates, including a video message from the California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who will lead the delegation, and remarks from California State Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.
Following the remarks, Stephen Cheung, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) & World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTCLA),which are organizers of the mission, provided an overview of the trade mission.
Touching upon infrastructure resilience, a theme of the mission, UNIQLO, AFC Franchise Corporation (a subsidiary of Zensho Holdings), and the American Red Cross gave presentations about the support they provided the community following the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
After the presentations, there was a networking reception and toast by Consul General Murota. Several Japanese companies from the food and beverage industry, another priority area of the trade mission, had booths. Additionally, booths promoting investment in Japan and the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan were featured to enhance the participants’ understanding of Japan.
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| Group photo with Consul General Murota and mission organizers LAEDC/WTCLA and BizFed/NCC |
Video message by CA State Treasurer Fiona Ma |
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| Remarks by California State Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry |
Presentation by UNIQLO |
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| Presentation by AFC Franchise Corporation |