November 30, 2018

Event: Dayton Region Delegation to Japan, November 4 - November 14, 2018, all over Japan

Attendees of the delegation included:
Jim Hill, Sidney-Shelby Economic Partnership
Marcia Bailey, Champaign Economic Partnership
Horton Hobbs and Amy Donahoe, Chamber of Greater Springfield 
Toni Overholser, Clark State Community College
Gwen Eberly & Erik Collins, Montgomery County
David Cook, Honorary Consul of Ohio to Japan
Alex Hara, JP Morgan Chase
Mitch Heaton, Dayton Development Coalition

Why were you there?
Ohio is fortunate to be the home of many Japanese owned companies. In the 12-county Dayton Region alone, we have more than 60 companies that employ over 14,000 individuals. Our delegation’s mission was simple--one of thanks and relationship building for our collective future. As a group, we discussed how we continue to partner as a region toward the prosperity of their companies. 

Who did you meet?
Yaskawa (Motoman); Isuzu Motors (DMAX); Honda Motors (Honda Engine); Honda Foundry (CAPT); Toyo Seikan (Stolle Machinery); Sankyo Seisakusho (Sankyo); Yamashita Rubber (YUSA); F-Tech (F&P America); MetalOne (Coilplus); Itochu Plastics (Hexa Americas); Seg (Segna); Mitsui Chemical (Advanced Composites); Nihon Kompo (NK Parts); Ahresty Wilmington; Nippon Steel & Sumikin Bussan (JR Manufacturing; H-One (KTH); Tachi-S Engineering (Setex); Yamada; Odawara Automation; Nihon Plast (Neaton); Sankyo Kogyo (SK Tech); Teikuro Corp.; Fukuvi Chemical (Fukuvi USA); Nihon Parkerizing (Parker Trutec); Tokai Kogyo (Green Tokai) 

Top things you learned:

• Finding a skilled workforce is the top priority for all these companies, no matter their location. This is not only a U.S. concern. 
• Ohio has 390 Japanese-owned companies, with more than 70,000 employees, though the overwhelming majority of those employees are America. For those who do move here from Japan, the region has numerous networking groups with a focus on multicultural connectivity and acclimation, Japanese language schooling, and more.
• Since 2011, the Dayton Region has planted over 1,000 Cherry Blossom Trees. Operation 2000 Cherry Trees is an organization dedicated to raising funds to purchase and plant cherry trees in and around Dayton, Ohio. It gives Japanese and Japanese-American people the opportunity to show their appreciation, while at the same time, planting a seed for friendship that will endure for generations.