U.S. Soybean Industry Celebrates 60 Years in Japan

The American Soybean Association opened its first overseas representative office in Tokyo in 1956. Since then, the U.S. soybean industry has been working in partnership with the Foreign Agricultural Service to create market opportunities for U.S. soybeans and soybean products in Japan.  On September 12, 2016, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) hosted a reception in Tokyo to mark the industry’s six decades of work in Japan.  Approximately 250 industry partners were in attendance and the even featured remarks by dignitaries including U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy and Japan Oilseed and Processors Association President Takao Imamura.

A number of women leaders who represented USSEC at the reception and also took part in a luncheon dialogue on women in leadership with female members of Japan’s oilseeds and soybean industry. 

Pictured above at the reception at the Roppongi Hills Club in Tokyo are, left to right: Elaine Gilles, Director/Secretary, Indiana Soybean Alliance; Jane Ade Stevens, CEO, Indiana Soybean Alliance; Pamela Snelson, Director, American Soybean Association; Danielle Clark, Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee Member, American Farm Bureau Federation; Nancy Kavazanjian, United Soybean Board (USB) Director and the USB Sustainability Target Area Coordinator; U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy; Amy Sigg, Director, Ohio Soybean Council Board of Trustees Member; Masako Kato, Director, Kato Oil; Ayako Miyanohara, Director, Shikaya Natto; Yoko Kaneko, Soybean & Sesame Seed Section, Food Materials Department, ITOCHU; and Masako Tateishi, Japan Food Soybean Manager, U.S. Soybean Export Council.