Japan-U.S. Summit in Washington, D.C.

See the video of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's official visit to Washington, D.C. and Palm Beach, Florida with U.S. President Donald Trump. 

U.S. Secretary of State Visits Japan

On March 16, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who made his first official visit to Japan. Tillerson also met with his counterpart Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. 

Foreign Minister Kishida Attends G20 Meeting in Bonn, Germany

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida met with fellow Group of 20 foreign ministers in Bonn, Germany on February 16-17. He also attended a trilateral meeting with his U.S. and South Korean counterparts, as well as bilateral meetings with China and Russia.

U.S. Legislators Visit Prime Minister Abe

On Feb. 20, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from a delegation of the U.S. Congressional Study Group on Japan and a delegation of legislators participating in the U.S.-Japan Legislative Exchange Program, at the Prime Minister's Office.

Japan Cabinet Office Ad Highlights Japan's Economic Contribution and Investment in the U.S.

The Cabinet Office presented Japan's position as a close economic ally to the U.S. in a special paid program in the Wall Street Journal. Click on the link to find out more.

Japanese American Leadership Delegation in Japan

The 2017 Japanese American Leadership Delegation sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited Tokyo and Kanazawa in early March and met with high level leaders including Prime Minister Abe. In Kanazawa, they participated in a public symposium titled "Culture and Community Engagement: A Japanese American Perspective," co-sponsored by the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership and the U.S.-Japan Council.

Experts Visit Los Angeles As Part of the Japan Brand Program

The Japan Brand Program promotes Japan's strengths, values, traditions and cultural background that contribute to the makeup of its modern society. Experts from a variety of fields travel worldwide to hold lectures, seminars, workshops and other events showcasing Japan. Click the links to watch video of two presentations.

Japan in 2017 Symposium

The Japan America Society of Southern California and the Japan Business Association of Southern California presented the "Japan in 2017 Symposium" on Feb. 8, welcoming leading experts from both sides of the Pacific to talk about the outlook for Japan-U.S. relations, political affairs and economic trends.

The World of Ikebana: Arrangement in Trio

Three schools of Ikebana (Ikenobo, Ohara, and Sogetsu) practiced their craft on Feb. 22 using fresh cut flowers provided by The Japan Flowers and Plants Export Association that were flown in directly from Japan that same morning. The demonstrations, held at the Official Residence of the Consul General, captivated the audience, with some viewing the process of traditional Japanese flower arrangement live for the first time.

"The Art of Kohei Nawa"

Contemporary artist Kohei Nawa held a lecture at NeueHouse Hollywood's Screening Room, offering a behind-the-scenes look at his various works. Nawa's projects include "PixCell," a series of works consisting of various taxidermy animals and other objects covered with spherical crystals.

2017 Japan Bowl® of California Held

The Japan America Society of Southern California held its Japanese Language and Culture Competition for High School Students, also known as Japan Bowl® of California, on Saturday, March 11. Congratulations to all the winning teams, which will go on to compete at the National Japan Bowl® in Washington, D.C.

Love to Nippon Memorial 2017

The sixth anniversary tribute in commemoration of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake was held at the headquarters of the Los Angeles Police Department on March 5. After an interfaith service, Consul General Chiba delivered remarks, honoring the memory of victims and survivors. The Los Angeles County Fire Department provided emergency preparedness information and the event also featured cultural demonstrations including taiko drumming and martial arts.

FY2017-18 Grants Program

The Japan Foundation offers several types of grants programs to support Japanese language education in the United States. Check their website for more grant details and deadlines, which fall at different times of the year depending on the program.

Cherry Blossom Festivals 

Time to celebrate cherry blossom season in Southern California! Check out the consulate's events calendar for a festival near you!

Wonders of the 2017 Sapporo Snow Festival!

On Feb. 6-12, the northern Japanese city of Sapporo hosted and presented their famous annual Snow Festival. Japanese and foreign tourists alike flock to the city every year to be amazed by animals, giant structures and historic tableaus all rendered painstakingly in snow and ice. See the spectacular creations here: