Greetings. I’m Neal Jansen, Director of the State of Arkansas’ Asia Office for economic development. It is a true honor to take the role of President of the American State Offices Association of Japan (ASOA) for 2025. In leading ASOA I aim to further bolster the crucial ties between the U.S. and Japanese business communities, as well as the diplomatic missions and economic organizations which support continued bilateral investment and cooperation.

Since our foundation in 1980, ASOA’s mission has been to promote investment, trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between the United States and Japan. Spearheading this effort are multilingual representatives from 22 American state and municipal-level offices based throughout Japan. ASOA hosts and supports programs of mutual interest, co-sponsored by a wide range of organizations, including the U.S. Department of Commerce, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, & Industry (METI), JETRO, the Keidanren, and various prefectural Chambers of Commerce and economic research bodies.

Japan’s stock of FDI in the United States reached nearly $800 billion by the end of 2024, where the country remains the largest international creator of jobs. In 2024 some 970,000 Americans were employed by Japanese firms, based on recent data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Japan is the leading foreign investor in 39 U.S. states, and ranks among the top 3 in all 50 states. These investments create not only sustained economic growth in the American communities where they’re located, but also avenues for deeper cultural understanding between our two nations, as well as exchanges of efficient business processes & cutting-edge know-how.

The U.S. and Japan have long benefitted from strong bilateral economic relations, but the importance of our ties on geopolitical and security matters cannot be understated either. 2025 will be likely be yet another year of increasingly volatile geopolitical circumstances in many regions of the world, including the Asia-Pacific. As such, the U.S.-Japan alliance will continue to be a critical one, especially as we collaborate on vital technologies such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and energy, where resilient supply chains and respect for intellectual property are key.

As President of ASOA, I look forward to supporting further engagement between Japan and U.S. states, and invite American states or regions not already involved with ASOA to consider membership going forward. As an organization, we are excited about dynamic prospects on the horizon for both economies, and will remain dedicated to seeing relations continue to flourish in the years ahead.

Neal Jansen (Director, State of Arkansas Japan Office)
2025 President
American State Offices Association (ASOA)