History

At the end of the 1970’s, there were approximately one thousand Japanese citizens residing in Georgia and some fifty-five Japanese firms located in the state. It was evident that the Japanese presence in Georgia had grown to a substantial size and that the 1980’s, 1990’s, and the decades in the new millennium were likely to be decades of further growth. A study by the Japan Economic Research Center indicated that while Japanese investment in North America was $4.5 billion in 1975, it had grown to $8.5 billion by 1979. Georgia’s experience in the 1970’s and the preliminary evidence of future trends available in the late 1970’s showed that the Japanese economic role and human presence in Georgia’s future would be and important one.

In 1979, a group of Georgians from business and academia came together to form a planning committee for the creation of a Japan-America Society of Georgia (JASG), an organization whose object would be to upgrade knowledge of Japanese society, culture, and public affairs among the citizens of Georgia. The organization also aimed to extend hospitality to the more than one thousand Japanese citizens temporarily in residence in Georgia and to make them aware of the history and traditions of Georgia. The planning committee was composed of people with substantial knowledge of Japan and long-term residence in Japan for business or cultural purposes. They recognized that because of the profound linguistic and cultural differences between American and Japanese, increased contact and interaction would hold not only a promise of mutual benefit but also possibilities for misunderstandings or simply a dearth of meaningful communication. The organization’s mission was to conduct programs and activities to bridge the cultural gap and thereby insure that the Japanese presence in Georgia would be fully realized opportunity for the state’s growth and development.

The planning committee members – Anne Godsey, Allen Judd, Michael McMullen, and George Waldner – were aided greatly in their efforts by the enthusiastic supports of the leadership of the Coca-Cola Company, particularly Ian Wilson, officer in charge of the company’s Pacific operations. This assistance was highly appropriate because the Coca-Cola Company is the leading example of a Georgia-based company to have established itself in Japan. In Japan, moreover, the Coca-Cola Company is also identified with the State of Georgia through the marketing of its coffee-flavored soft drink called, “Georgia.”

The leading figure in the Japanese business community to sponsor the formation of JASG has been Fred Chanoki, President of Murata-Erie North America, Inc., one of the original Japanese manufacturing investors in Georgia. In June 1980, the founding meeting of the Board of Directors of JASG was held in Atlanta. The decision was made to incorporate the organization and to elect Ian Wilson as Chairman, Fred Chanoki as Vice-Chairman, D. Raymond Riddle, President of the First National Bank, as Treasurer, and George Waldner as Executive Director. Governor Busbee and then-Consul General Kawade were elected Honorary Co-Chairmen. The Articles of Incorporation adopted at the founding board meeting listed the organization’s purposes:

1. To promote greater knowledge of Japan’s culture, society, and public affairs among the citizens of Georgia.

2. To promote greater knowledge of crucial issues and problems in U.S.-Japan relations.

3. To promote Japanese citizens resident in Georgia with aspects of American history, culture, and lifestyles.

4. To promote friendly relations between the people of Georgia and Japanese citizens residing in Georgia in order to secure better understanding by the people of Georgia of the country, people, and customs of Japan.

5. To provide a forum for discussion of topics of common interest to the people of Georgia and the people of Japan, including the arts, literature, and cultural ideas, aspirations, and development of each of these areas.

6. To foster and promote scholarship among the students of the colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning, of both countries, especially in those areas which would lead to a better understanding of one country and its people by the other.

The newly formed organization joined the National Association of Japan-American Societies of the United States, Inc. (NAJAS). The parent organization gave programming help to the Atlanta chapter as well as to thirteen other societies around the U.S.A. to best fulfill its purposes, the JASG incorporated as a non-profit, non-governmental, cultural and educational organization.

In January 1981 Betty Weltner became The Japan-America Society of Georgia’s first full-time JASG staff member, as Executive Secretary. Mrs. Weltner opened the JASG’s Atlanta Office at 100 Colony Square and continued in 1983 to serve as Executive Secretary.

Since September 1980, JASG has sponsored a wide range of activities in support of its basic purposes. JASG hosted countless corporate luncheons, a corporate receptions, golf tournaments, and Annual Dinners, at which experts in Japanese-American relations address the membership. In 1981, JASG co-sponsored an educational “Japan Caravan” at Georgia State University. JASG’s women’s activities have included a luncheon honoring the director of the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS); a tea ceremony; and half-Japanese, half-American Tomodachi Club, which meet bi-monthly. JASG has sponsored other Japanese Cultural activities in Atlanta including beginner and intermediate level Japanese language classes. Through the efforts of paid staff and hundreds of volunteers, JASG continues to foster understanding, communication, and friendship among Japanese and Georgians.

ジョージア日米協会の生い立ち・歴史

１９７９年に一連のビジネスマンや大学関係者が集まり、ジョージア州民に日本社会、文化、政治等の知識を広める目的でジョージア日米協会（JASG)が発足され、さらにジョージア州在住の千名余りの日本人を歓迎し、ジョージア州の歴史伝統を知ってもらおうとする目的も加えられました。計画実行委員会は日本について造詣が深く、滞日経験もある人々から構成されました。両国民の接触が深まるにつれ、言語、文化の違いから来る誤解やコミュニケーションの不足が危惧されましたので、協会の使命としてこの文化的ギャップを補うための各プログラムや行事を提供し、州の成長・発展と共に、ジョージア州在住の日本人の暮らしを助ける援助をして来ました。

計画委員会のメンバーは、アン・ガッジー、アレン・ジャッド、マイケル・マクマレン、ジョージ・ウォルドナーの方々でした。特にコカコーラ社のイアン・ウィルソン氏の援助は、ジョージア州ベースの日本の大手会社の責任者として最適でした。日本側の代表としては、ジョージア州に最初に投資した製造会社の一つである村田エリー北アメリカ社長のフレッド・茶の木氏にお世話になりました。１９８０年に日米協会の幹部創立会がアトランタで開かれ、イアン・ウィルソン氏が会長に、フレッド・茶の木氏が副会長、ファースト・ナショナル・銀行のD.レイノルド・リドル氏が会計係、ジョージ・ウォルドナー氏が事務局長に選出されました。また、時のバズビー州知事と川出総領事が名誉会長に選ばれました。

協会の目的は、下記の通りに決まりました。

１．日本の文化、社会、政治の知識をジョージア州民に広める。
２．日米関係の論争・問題点の意識促進。
３．ジョージア州在住の日本人にアメリカの歴史、文化、生活を伝える。
４．ジョージア州民に日本、日本人、及び日本の習慣について伝え、ジョージア　
　　州在住の日本人との友好関係を促進する。
５．ジョージア州民と日本人に共通の関心あるトピック、例えば美術、文学、　
　　文化についての討議会場を提供する。
６．両国の相互理解に将来貢献する大学レベルの学生に奨学金の援助をする。

ジョージア日米協会は、ナショナル日米協会（NAJAS)にも加入しました。この母体団体は、ジョージア日米協会と同様の非営利、非国営の文化、教育組織である米国の他の１３の日米協会に援助しております。

１９８１年にベティ・ウェルトナー氏がジョージア日米協会の初の常任事務局秘書となり、８３年まで勤めました。

当協会は、１９８０年の９月からビジネスランチョン、レセプション、ゴルフ・トーナメント、年次晩餐会等広域に渡って活動を開始して来ました。１９８１年からジョージア州立大学と提携して“ジャパン・キャラバン”と題する教育セミナーを開始しました。女性会員の活動として、NAJASの局長をお招きした昼食会や茶会、２ヶ月に一度会合して文化的活動を行う日米の婦人の集まりの友達クラブなどがあります。また、初級、中級の日本語のクラスも定期的に開講し、日本語の普及に努めています。このように、ジョージア日米協会は、有給職員と多くのボランティアに支えられ、日本とジョージア州のよりよい理解、伝達、友好関係を促進する努力を続けております。