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        October 4 ~ 11, 2016        

The Japan‐America Grassroots Summit is an annual 1 week cultural exchange program for Japanese and American citizens of all ages, held alternately each year in Japan and the United States. An average of 200 people travel across the Pacific to take part in strengthening the peaceful relationship between the two countries by fostering peace and friendship at the grassroots level.

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Metro-Atlanta and the surrounding areas in Georgia hosted The 26th Japan-America Grassroots Summit 2016 in Greater Atlanta from October 4-11, 2016. The Summit, jointly organized by the John Manjiro Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange (CIE) in Japan and The Japan-America Society of Georgia (JASG) with support from the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta, Atlanta Mayor’s Office of International Affairs aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between Japan and the United States by fostering grassroots friendships through a one-week cultural exchange program for all ages.

This year’s Summit showcased Georgia’s local attractions, unique culture and customs, and special business opportunities to more than 200 visitors from Japan and over 300 American hosts. With 25 years of history and more than 40,000 Japanese and Americans participating, the Grassroots Summit is one of the most enduring and important bilateral international exchange programs.

While Japanese participants took part in tourist activities in Atlanta for 3 days, they also lived with host families and learn the American lifestyle in “Local Session” activities in the surrounding host communities for 3 days. Among the Japanese guests attending there will be students from two junior high schools from the still-recovering area of Fukushima through the efforts of the U.S.-Japan Council’s Tomodachi Initiative. Homestays are being arranged in fifteen “Local Sessions”: Alpharetta/Milton, Athens, Columbus, Dahlonega, Decatur, Dublin, Elberton, Fitzgerald, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Newnan/Chattahoochee Hills, Peachtree City, Rome/Floyd County, and Roswell.

Atlanta and Georgia are regarded as the center of Japanese industry in the Southeastern United States as Japanese-affiliated companies have invested over $10.4 billion in Georgia, where 547 Japanese-affiliated companies currently operate. These companies together employ nearly 37,000 workers state-wide. Georgia's imports from Japan in 2015 amounted to about $4.61 billion making Japan the 5th largest international importer. Georgia's exports to Japan in 2015 amounted to about $1.37 billion, making Japan the 6th largest export market. With more than 50 Georgia companies having major operations in Japan, the economic relationship between Japan and Georgia is something of which we can all be proud.

With Japan and Georgia sharing 11 Sister City Relationships with Japan (Elberton – Mure, Americus – Miyoshi, Gainesville-Izunokuni, Atlanta – Fukuoka, LaGrange – Aso, Augusta-  Takarazuka, Macon – Kurobe, Savannah – Shimizu, Columbus – Kiryu, Rome – Kumamoto, Dublin – Osaki), the cultural and educational connection Georgia and Japan share is certainly a key component of grassroots friendships and mutual understanding.