Investing in Resilience: U.S.–Japan Innovation in Infrastructure and Disaster Readiness
2026/3/26
On March 18, the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles hosted a business seminar and networking reception to facilitate future collaboration between California, particularly Los Angeles County, and Japan on infrastructure resilience and disaster response.
Los Angeles County and Japan both face challenges such as aging infrastructure in addition to risks from natural disasters such as earthquakes. This event featured a seminar introducing Los Angeles County’s policies for disaster prevention and mitigation, as well as advanced technologies related to disaster prevention, mitigation, recovery, and reconstruction by Japanese companies.
During the seminar, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and the Los Angeles County Fire Department provided an overview of the county’s disaster preparedness and recovery and reconstruction efforts. In the following panel discussion, moderated by the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, Japanese and U.S. companies presented on U.S. initiatives and advanced technologies for disaster prevention, mitigation, recovery, and reconstruction, highlighting the significant contributions made by Japanese companies in these fields. (Panelists: Amazon Web Services, GEO SEARCH, Kubota, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.)
At the subsequent networking reception, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Consul General Kosei Murota opened the event by expressing their hopes for further Japan-U.S. cooperation in this field. The forum was attended by many participants, including representatives from Japanese and U.S. companies, government officials, and economic organizations, primarily from Los Angeles County, providing an opportunity to discuss future Japan-U.S. cooperation in disaster prevention and mitigation.
Los Angeles County and Japan both face challenges such as aging infrastructure in addition to risks from natural disasters such as earthquakes. This event featured a seminar introducing Los Angeles County’s policies for disaster prevention and mitigation, as well as advanced technologies related to disaster prevention, mitigation, recovery, and reconstruction by Japanese companies.
During the seminar, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and the Los Angeles County Fire Department provided an overview of the county’s disaster preparedness and recovery and reconstruction efforts. In the following panel discussion, moderated by the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, Japanese and U.S. companies presented on U.S. initiatives and advanced technologies for disaster prevention, mitigation, recovery, and reconstruction, highlighting the significant contributions made by Japanese companies in these fields. (Panelists: Amazon Web Services, GEO SEARCH, Kubota, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.)
At the subsequent networking reception, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Consul General Kosei Murota opened the event by expressing their hopes for further Japan-U.S. cooperation in this field. The forum was attended by many participants, including representatives from Japanese and U.S. companies, government officials, and economic organizations, primarily from Los Angeles County, providing an opportunity to discuss future Japan-U.S. cooperation in disaster prevention and mitigation.
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| L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Consul General Kosei Murota and speakers and panelists |
Opening remarks by LA County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella |
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| Panel discussion by U.S. and Japanese companies | Reception booth by Japanese companies |