JASA and a group of Alabama legislators as part of the Alabama-Japan Legislative Exchange had the distinct pleasure of being hosted last month by our member, Topre America Corporation, for a detailed history, overview, and tour of their Cullman production facility, led by Mark Moore, General Manager of the Cullman plant.

Topre is a major supplier for the automotive industry not just in Alabama, but throughout the Southeast. Specializing in the manufacturing of high-strength steel structural components and stamping, Topre America Corporation is a subsidiary of the Japan-based Topre, and serves automotive companies like Honda, Toyota, and Nissan.

 

Established in Japan in 1935, Topre’s first expansion outside of Japan was the Cullman plant in 2004. With five plants in Japan and five in North America, Topre reported ¥378.8 billion ($2.33 billion) annual sales in March this year. Although Topre generally focuses on metal and manufacturing, they produce components for a variety of equipment for various fields. Their expansion into these fields beyond automotive parts began by fabricating parts to sell to partner companies, before shifting to making the whole appliances themselves. While auto parts make up 79% of the company’s output, electronic equipment comprises 17%, and A/C units and their cold storage equipment division each make up 4% of their output. Their focus is on the art and technology of pressing, and are interested in expansion where that technology matters – their team is constantly innovating, researching, and developing Topre’s expertise in the pressing field.

 

The Cullman plant has been in a state of constant expansion since 2004, and has been recognized multiple times by their partner companies for the consistent high quality of their parts. Utilizing “high-tensile steel processing technology,” Topre America produces the high-strength skeletons for automotives that protect users in case of accidents. Their “hot stamp” technology, which super-heats and then quickly cools high-strength materials, allows Topre America to achieve higher strength parts while still reducing weight, helping to improve fuel economy. They supply these lighter, high-strength parts to local automotive manufacturers for a variety of makes and models of vehicles.

After a presentation of this information, the Legislative Exchange and JASA, along with Tesshu Harada, the Cullman plant’s Chief Executive and Financial Officer, as well as Masahiro Matuso, the Managing Executive Officer for Global Auto Parts at the Sagamihara plant, travelled to the plant for a guided tour through their production line. Wallace State Community College, a JASA member, kindly donated the use of one of their buses to transport us to and from the plant.

At the plant, we donned protective gear and were toured around the factory floor, seeing the hot stamp method in action. The Cullman plant operates at an extremely high level of quality and consistency, with very little scrap or errors produced in their production lines. The final stamped metal parts are so hard they can only be trimmed by lasers, also managed by employees on the line.

After our tour, Honorary Consul General Mark Jackson emphasized the extensive and still growing impact of Japanese manufacturing in Alabama, highlighting that, of the 100,000 manufacturing jobs available in the state, 38.8% are opportunities at Japanese companies.

Thank you again to Sandy Riordan at the Alabama-Japan Legislative Exchange for your work coordinating this event, and to Mark Moore and the entire Topre America team in Cullman for welcoming us to the plant.

A Reflection on the University of North Alabama's Japanese Lantern

Dr. Butler Cain, Professor of Mass Communication

Lanterns have long been one of my preferred symbols. When you’re walking through the fog of life, a hand-held lantern cannot illuminate the full path ahead. However, it provides ample light to ensure your next step is on solid ground. Step by step, the path reveals itself. A lantern is both a guide toward progress and a powerful symbol of faith.

The University of North Alabama’s Latin motto is Veritas Lux Orbis Terrarum: “Truth is the Light of the World.” Along busy Pine Street on the western side of campus, an authentic granite Japanese lantern has stood for more than two decades as a representation of that ideal.

Carved by hand circa 1700, it was donated in 2005 by Dr. Dan Howard, former UNA Vice President for University Advancement, and his wife, Anne. A stone marker describes the lantern as “a symbol encouraging an enlightened quest for truth and engagement in allocentric behavior.” Allocentrism is focusing interest and attention on other people rather than one's own self.

 

When the JASA Board of Directors visited UNA for its quarterly meeting this past July, we stopped at the lantern during a campus tour. I am a UNA faculty member whose office is near the lantern, and I have been taking photographs of it during different seasons. I hope you enjoy them.

 

 

(clockwise from the top left) The UNA Japanese Lantern in late spring, summer, the fog, and winter.

Tanabata was introduced to Japan in the 6th and 7th centuries alongside the Chinese calendar. During the Edo period (1603-1868), it became one of the five major seasonal festivals and was known as the Bamboo Festival (Sasa no Sekku) due to the custom of writing wishes on colorful tanzaku paper and hanging them on bamboo.

The festival is rooted in the ancient legend of Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair), celestial lovers separated by the Milky Way, who are allowed to reunite only once a year on July 7th—but only if the skies are clear. The story of the two is as follows:

Orihime - her name meaning “weaving princess” - was a talented weaver. But she was very lonely, because she worked very hard at her craft. Her father, worried about her, introduced her to Hikoboshi, a cowherd, who lived on the other side of the Milky Way. 

They instantly fell deeply in love, married - and ignored their work completely! Orihime made no cloth, and Hikoboshi’s cows wandered wild all over heaven. Angry at them both, Orihime’s father banished them to opposite shores of the Milky Way and never meet again. But Orihime cried so much and begged her father so sadly that he permitted them to meet once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th month, after they both had finished their work.

The first time they tried to meet, Orihime and Hikoboshi could not cross the Milky Way. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies came and made a bridge of their wings for the two lovers to meet. However, they can only make the bridge if the skies are clear. A rainy Tanabata means the couple must wait another year to meet.

Because her wish was granted, Japanese people celebrate Tanabata each year by writing their own wishes for the next year on pieces of colorful paper and hanging them on bamboo trees.

Despite centuries of adaptation, Tanabata remains a cherished celebration of hope, perseverance, and artistic expression, with schools and communities across Japan continuing the tradition of decorating bamboo trees with wishes for personal growth and success in the arts.

Our Tanabata Festival is a free to the public, kid-friendly event, full of performances, activities, and crafts that mark the summer festival season's start. To learn more about this year's celebration, follow our Facebook event page here, or read more about it here on our website.

JASA worked together with Alabama Department of Commerce and the Mobile Chamber of Commerce to host a Japanese shipbuilding delegation during their visit to Mobile on April 29th and 30th. The International Trade Association coordinated the visit as an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Japan to cooperate on expanding shipbuilding capacity and making related investment in the U.S. The delegation included representatives from a variety of key Japanese shipbuilding companies such as Imabari Shipbuilding Company - the largest in Japan; the Maritime Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT); the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency (ATLA) of the Japanese Ministry of Defense; and the Embassy of Japan in the U.S.

In close collaboration with Christina Stimpson at the Alabama Department of Commerce and David Rodgers at the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, JASA supported the delegation in part by providing and organizing translation services. Cultural Affairs Coordinator Reiko Nakazawa, and local Japanese-Mobilian Yuko Jordan of JASA member High-Purity Silicon America, interpreted on behalf of both sides throughout their site and bay tours. During these tours, delegates assessed locations and participated in technical exchanges with the goal of identifying opportunities for collaboration and future investment in the United States. JASA facilitated these high-level discussions, while also providing history of the surrounding area and sharing Alabama’s rich culture with the delegates.

JASA also hosted a breakfast for the delegates on the morning of April 30th, highlighting our work across the state supporting Japanese business in Alabama. With corporate attendance coordinated by JASA's Assistant Director Gwenafaye McCormick and sponsored by member Page & Jones, the breakfast featured comments from Mark Jackson, Honorary Consul General of Japan; Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce; JASA’s own Board President Carolyn Turner; Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce Andrew Farquharson; and both Yuko Jordan and Yoshiya Watanabe, of Rain Bird Distribution in Steele. Ms. Jordan and Mr. Watanabe shared their experiences working in Alabama as Japanese nationals, and the integral role JASA has played supporting Japanese business interests and Japanese employees in Alabama over the past 37 years. 

Ms. Jordan highlighted JASA’s key role in connecting Japanese nationals in Alabama with up-to-date information in the wake of 9/11, when restrictions surrounding foreign nationals obtaining U.S. drivers licenses tightened suddenly. She emphasized that, in her over 30 years living in Mobile - originally as a student at the University of South Alabama - JASA’s reputation in Alabama is that of being an information nexus, sharing updates and providing cultural support and opportunities for mutual exchange between Japanese and Alabamians across the state. Case in point, Mr. Watanabe mentioned that he and his wife actually first met at a JASA event many years ago. He went on to share that his experience of living and working in Alabama since he and his wife graduated from the University of Alabama has been one of warmth, cultural openness, and curiosity, and the realization that Japanese and U.S. Southern culture are not all that different.

 

The JASA corporate community at large also helped to support the delegation’s visit: Mazda Toyota Manufacturing’s President Mitsunobu Mukaida and Executive Vice President Masanao Watanabe, JASA treasurer Shinichi Kondo of KPMG, JETRO’s Chief Executive Director Toshio Kii and Director Kouki Danno, Dr. Rick Carter and Dr. Bri Ard of the University of South Alabama, and XpatHomes’ Akiko Miyamoto all took part in this important visit, and worked to ensure our visitors felt welcomed to Alabama - and the JASA community!

JASA was honored to work together with our corporate members to share the great qualities of our state with this delegation, highlighting our top-tier workforce and already existing, close ties with Japan. We look forward to tackling similar opportunities in the future!

Kyle Porter, Nisa Miranda Spring Intern     

     Hidden under the illuminating shadows of Japanese maples in Monte Sano State Park, the peace and serenity of Japanese culture blossomed like the colorful azaleas native to the area. In 1988, the North Alabama Japanese Garden was established in an undeveloped area of the park by Master Gardener and landscape designer, Mr. Robert Black. However, the gardens were not commissioned by the state or Monte Sano State Park themselves–the story of the gardens is as authentic as the serenity it brings towards the community. In the mid-1980’s, Mr. Black was approached by his daughter, who had just read the book “Secret Garden”, authored by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Her youthful insight and passion for Burnett's fictional yet magical gardens brought about the idea of having their own secret garden. Mr. Black’s daughter spoke to the Monte Sano Park Ranger with the same jubilance as she had with her father, and the concept of the Japanese Gardens came to fruition. Mr. Black had always had an appreciation for Japanese culture, especially the detail and serenity it brought to his life. He loved the beauty of bonsai trees, and had a growing passion for Japanese culture and tradition. When the opportunity came to build a Japanese garden in the state park, Mr. Black forwarded his passions and began to construct the beautiful Japanese garden that sits in the shadows of Monte Sano State Park today. 

     Through years of detailed construction, cultural research, and assistance from friends and the community, the North Alabama Japanese Garden began to welcome guests and serve as a statute of peace and tranquility. Mr. Black committed years of his life towards the fruition of this garden as a simple way to further his love and passion for Japanese culture, and provide a place where anyone can enjoy its quiet atmosphere and beautiful Japanese aesthetic. With no payment, commission, or monetary reimbursement for his works, Mr. Black highlighted his appreciation for such an opportunity, and commitment towards the surrounding community. Mr. Black also attributed the success of the garden towards the friends and peers that have supported him and the developing garden along the way, especially Mr. Kozo Matsuda. 

     Today, the North Alabama Japanese Garden continues to serve the surrounding community as a place of quiet serenity and cultural exchange! The gardens themself highlight the nature of Japanese culture through authentic structures such as a traditional tea house, tori gate, and bridges that lead over flowing streams and through bamboo forests. One of the most symbolic elements is the Zen rock garden (枯山水). Using various stones, it represents the flow of water and even clouds seen from above. However, these patterns are easily disturbed by wind or by people walking nearby. In Japan, this is seen as a reflection of the human mind—rather than resisting change or disturbance, one simply restores the pattern at the end of the day. It teaches us that no matter what happens, we can return to a place of balance and calm. This spirit of renewal and quiet resilience lives within the garden, and the garden reflects traditional Japanese values through its deep respect for nature and its effort to preserve authenticity. 

     On a daily basis, the gardens serve as a peaceful setting for visitors from all over the state to visit and enjoy the natural beauty that's brought about. The garden also hosts a variety of events and programs throughout the year, with the Japanese Spring Festival being one of the largest events, held on Sunday, May 3rd. The festival features a wide range of cultural performances, including traditional Japanese dance, live music, kendo demonstrations, and ninja performances. Visitors can also enjoy a cherry tree planting ceremony commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence, as well as an authentic tea ceremony. In addition, the festival welcomes Japanese antique vendors, cultural activities such as kendama, origami, and calligraphy, and opportunities to explore and experience Japanese traditions firsthand. 

     In a life full of busy schedules and daily work, the North Alabama Japanese Garden brings a unique and valuable commodity to Monte Sano State Park and the surrounding community–peace and serenity. With its highlights of Japanese natural beauty, and its detailed appreciation for Japanese culture and tradition, the North Alabama Japanese Garden serves as a statute of cultural appreciation and a simple place where people can enjoy the serenity of their own secret garden, just like Mr. Black did all those years ago. 

Thank you to Mr. Robert Black and Ms. Sumi Sanders for their valuable time, insight, and support towards the writing of this article. 

2026 Cherry Blossom Festival  - Event Report

2026 Festival Photos (Katie Phillips)

Kyle Porter, Nisa Miranda Spring Intern

Under the blooming cherry blossoms hidden within the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Japanese culture was alive and present in Alabama on March 21st. Our 19th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival welcomed nearly 6,500 guests from all around the state and beyond to enjoy their own piece of Japanese tradition and serenity. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is home to the historical Japanese Gardens – established in 1967, these gardens have served to highlight the natural and cultural beauty that Japan brings to Birmingham and the surrounding community. Each year, JASA welcomes local communities to enjoy a day full of cultural significance, beautiful dances, and lifelong memories! This year, JASA welcomed over 30 vendors, performers, and organizations to promote their activities, get creative with their community, and share their passions. With booths spread across the entirety of the Japanese Gardens, guests were able to explore their interests while enjoying the soft beauty of the gardens itself.

The festival began at 10:15 AM with the opening ceremonies, facilitated by JASA’s Assistant Director Gwenafaye McCormick, and included kind comments by Kennichi Matsuda, Consul General of Japan in Atlanta; Sonja Smith, City Councilor and Chair of the Arts and Culture Committee; Julia Adams, Head Horticulturalist of the Japanese Gardens; and JASA Board President Carolyn Turner. To kick off the day, Daikin’s drum team, Taiko Force, gave a rousing performance, followed by the UAB students’ Soran Bushi dance performance. As the sun began to shine through the pink and white blossoms, the Birmingham Kendo club took to the performance stage for a striking yet elegant demonstration. 

The performance schedule included a lunch break, which allowed guests time to visit various booths, enjoy the implicit peace of the gardens, and relax under the shade of one of the Gardens’ many trees - perhaps with a tasty lunch! Vendors including Panda Pan Bakery, On The Run Concessions, Cafe Baboy, and Nori Thai & Sushi had a variety of choices for a quick snack or a hot meal. For a more traditional “snack,” guests could participate in the very popular tea ceremony demonstrations at the historic Toshinan Tea House, showcasing the elegance and grace of Japanese traditional tea ceremony - and the deliciously complex flavors of matcha and Japanese tri-colored dango rice dumplings.  JASA’s variety of Japanese cultural activities were particularly popular during the break, with our calligraphy, origami, and kendama booths bustling with creativity and play. JASA’s own booth welcomed more guests to the gardens and shared Japanese culture further with Hinmatsuri doll displays and two beautiful Ikebana arrangements by Miki Jinno.

After the lunch break, guests were welcomed back to the performance stage through the soft sounds of traditional Japanese music, skillfully performed by Geni Skendo. As he concluded his flute performance, guests welcomed Reiko Otomo for her Buyo traditional dance performance, floating across the stage trailing wisteria in her wake. At 2:20 PM, Choko Aiken filled the air with music once again through a piano performance of modern and traditional Japanese music. The Skinkendo Club of Birmingham followed behind with sharp blades and a breathtaking demonstration of their own art form. Finally, the day’s performances ended with an adorable summer dance by the Briarwood Japanese Children’s Club, who pretended to be fireflies and raccoons frolicking in the moonlight! 

The festival concluded at 4:00 PM as guests captured their last photos of the colorful blossoms, and the gardens returned to a quiet state as the sun began to set. 

JASA is honored to have the opportunity to host the annual Cherry Blossom Festival again this year, and to support Japanese presence throughout the state. With increased popularity of the Festival, costs of putting on the event have increased 350% in the last 2 years. Our kind Sakura sponsors - Honda, Page & Jones, Quanta, Topre America Corporation, Madison Metal Processing, and the University of West Alabama - as well as personal donations made a significant impact on the possibility of this event. Similar to the delicate nature of the garden’s pink and white cherry blossoms, supporting Japanese presence through events like these can be challenging, but through community-based support, Japanese culture and communities within Alabama can continue to be supported, and the cherry blossoms can continue to bloom. 

We encourage you, if you are able or interested in being more involved in our mission, to make a one-time donation in support of our work or consider becoming a JASA member. 

Your involvement and support is what makes our work possible - thank you, to our current members, and those who have donated!

        

Written by Kyle Porter

Nisa Miranda Spring Intern

     

     The Japanese Gardens at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens are a unique cultural and thought-provoking space within the state of Alabama. Located on a 7.5 acre area at the southern end of the Botanical Gardens near Mountain Brook Village, the Gardens combine traditional Japanese landscape, architecture, and various cultural elements in a complementary design. Since its dedication in 1967 and major expansion in the early 1990s, the Gardens have become both a peaceful place for visitors and a symbol of cultural exchange between Birmingham and Japan.

     The idea for the Japanese Gardens began in the mid-1960s with Jack Parsons, who wanted to create a thoughtful memorial for his wife, Katie Parsons. Katie was a Japanese immigrant who had hoped to establish a public Japanese-style bird garden where children in Alabama could enjoy nature and learn about Japanese culture. After she passed away in 1964, Parsons worked to turn her dream into a substantive reality. The Federated Garden Club of Alabama supported the preliminary project and established a “Japanese Garden Fund” to raise money. Community leaders and volunteers quickly joined the effort and Jimmy Morgan, chair of the Botanical Gardens Committee on the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board, organized an advisory committee led by Mrs. Harvey Hooks. City horticulturist Carl Mattil helped prepare the site, and planning consultations were held with Kenji Shiozawa & Associates of California.

     In 1965, local architect Darcey Tatum partnered with Japanese-American architect Masaji “Buffy” Murai to ultimately design the Gardens. Their goal was to create a landscape inspired by traditional Japanese gardens while fitting the natural environment of Birmingham. Hundreds of tons of rock were transported from Oak Mountain, and soil from nearby Mountain Brook was used to shape hills, curved paths, and a central lake with a small island. These elements created a carefully designed landscape that appeared to capture the seasonal essence and beauty of Japanese culture and tradition.

     One of the most remarkable features of the Gardens were the tea house obtained from the 1965 New York World’s Fair. Senator John Sparkman helped secure the building as a gift from the Japanese Trade Association. Sent to retrieve it from New York, architect Fritz Woehle had the pegged-wooden structure disassembled and trucked to Birmingham, where it was carefully rebuilt using photographs from the World’s Fair for reference. This original tea house was named Toshinan, the same name the current tea house bears in the Gardens today.

     The Japanese Gardens officially opened on May 6, 1967, with a dedication ceremony attended by the Japanese Ambassador to the United States. The Gardens' opening was celebrated as part of the Birmingham Festival of Arts and marked an important moment of cultural connection between the local community and Japan. Visitors were drawn to the Gardens' distinctive features, including a red torii gate at the entrance, graceful bridges, and colorful koi swimming through its waters. The Gardens continued to develop in the following decades, growing as a cultural pillar throughout the surrounding community. In 1985, Birmingham’s sister city of Hitachi, Japan, donated a large Kasuga-style stone lantern to commemorate the sixtieth year of Emperor Shōwa’s (Hirohito’s) reign. The entrance to the Garden was redesigned in 1988, creating a more formal and welcoming entry point for curious visitors to the larger Botanical Gardens. 

     A major expansion occurred in the early 1990s when the original tea house eventually became structurally unstable, as it was not originally designed to last. Master Japanese carpenter Kazunori Tago worked with local volunteer Doug Moore to construct a new traditional tea house, also called Toshinan. Built using materials from Japan and traditional techniques, the tea house became a staple of the Gardens and earned it a designation as a Japanese Cultural Center by the Japanese government upon its completion in 1993.

     Today, the Japanese Gardens feature bamboo groves, cherry trees, koi ponds, and a traditional dry landscape garden. Cultural programs, community classes, and seasonal festivals continue to exemplify Japanese traditions and spirit with visitors. More than just a beautiful landscape, the Gardens stand as a lasting symbol of friendship, cultural exchange, and the vision of the community that brought it to life.

(photos courtesy of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens)

References

“Japanese Gardens.” Bhamwiki, https://www.bhamwiki.com/w/Japanese_Gardens. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

“A Look at the History of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens through Postcards.” Vulcan Park & Museum, 28 July 2020, https://visitvulcan.com/articles/a-look-at-the-history-of-the-birmingham-botanical-gardens-through-postcards/. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

“Birmingham Botanical Garden.” North American Japanese Garden Association, https://najga.org/birmingham-botanical-garden/. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

“Japanese Garden.” Birmingham Botanical Gardens, https://bbgardens.org/gardens/japanese-garden/. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

As we step into a new year, we take a moment to reflect on JASA’s achievements throughout 2025. This year was remarkable, marking a period of growth and renewed energy for our organization. We were pleased to welcome two new members to our team — Gwenafaye McCormick, Assistant Executive Director, and Reiko Nakazawa, Cultural Affairs Coordinator. Their talents and enthusiasm have already made an impact on our programs and our mission.

With their valuable contributions, along with the steadfast leadership of Past Board President Mark Jackson and Executive Director Mike Swinson, JASA has experienced an exceptional year of progress and success. Together with our board, members, and volunteers, we continue to strengthen the bonds between Alabama and Japan and look forward to even greater accomplishments in the year ahead.
From all of us at JASA, we hope you enjoyed a joyful holiday season and wish you a prosperous New Year.

JASA Committee Achievements and Updates

In 2025, under the guidance of our dedicated staff, board members, and committees, JASA has experienced tremendous success across Alabama. Our four committees—Culture, Education, Governmental Affairs, and Corporate—have continued to strengthen connections between Alabama and Japan.

We encourage all JASA Board Members to review the committee details on the JASA Website and support the groups that best align with your interest sectors.

Cultural Committee
Cultural engagement reached record levels, with nearly 10,000 participants at Cherry Blossom Festivals in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and the North Alabama Japanese Garden, and over 75,000 attendees at Japan-related events statewide. Monthly Kayoubikai and Friendship dinners remain sold-out events. Cultural Affairs Coordinator Ms. Reiko Nakazawa has expanded popular initiatives such as Japan in a Suitcase and Japanese language classes. The 62-piece Satsuma Pottery Collection, catalogued by Professor Chin at the University of North Alabama, has begun its statewide tour, highlighting Alabama’s cultural ties with Japan.

Education Committee
The Education Committee endorsed the Student Engagement Initiative led by Dr. Mark Davis and Dr. Teresa Wise, which includes JASA internships and the creation of a JASA Student Council. Enrollment of Japanese students at the University of North Alabama currently stands at over 60. And we have 2026 plans to support a Scholarship program to study abroad in Japan. These efforts continue to strengthen educational and cultural exchange across the state.

Governmental Affairs Committee
Under the leadership of Steve Pelham of Auburn University, the Governmental Affairs Committee successfully established the Alabama Japan Legislative Exchange Group, unanimously approved by both legislative chambers. This initiative led to the first Japan Day at the Alabama State House—now officially recognized on March 4—featuring exhibits from Japanese companies and strengthened ties among government and industry leaders.

Corporate Committee
The Corporate Committee hosted the JASA Virtual Speaker Series, featuring leaders from Alabama’s education and technology sectors, and organized recruitment events at the Trash Pandas Stadium in Huntsville. Despite progress, increasing JASA membership among Alabama-based Japanese companies remains a key focus for the coming year. As the State of Alabama Department of Commerce pursues more Foreign Direct Investment from Japan, and with the establishment of the Alabama Business Development Office representation in Japan, JASA stands ready to support the Alabama Economic Development initiatives with Japan. 

Economic Impact
Japan continues to play a vital role in Alabama’s economy as its largest trading partner. Japanese companies contribute significantly across the state—from Daikin and Honda in North and Central Alabama to High Purity Silicone in the south—collectively supporting thousands of jobs and injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into local communities.

JASA remains a crucial bridge between Alabama and Japan. We invite individuals and companies who are not yet members to join us in advancing this important partnership.

Say hello to our new JASA 2025 Fall interns, Ali and Kyle!

Ali and Kyle will be joining in supporting JASA's activities this fall academic semester. Read on to learn more about them both!

Ali is an Integrated Marketing Communications graduate student at the University of West Alabama and is excited to use her skills to further cultural knowledge between Japan and Alabama. Her interest in cultural exchange began at a young age when her mother, a first-generation immigrant from Poland, would tell her of her struggles of coming to the United States, not knowing its language or culture. She attributed her successful integration into American society to the high school that housed both Polish immigrants and American students, allowing them a space for cultural exchange and understanding. 

While working towards her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies at the University of North Alabama, Ali joined the Global Lions Organization on campus, which encourages domestic students to attend and volunteer at international campus events. She was also given the opportunity to be a Resident Advisor in the international student resident hall, where she hosted community programs and helped connect her residents to campus events, despite their language barrier. After graduation, Ali worked as a Resident Director at the University of Alabama in Huntsville for two years, leading a team of Resident Assistants to build community in the residence halls through community events and periodic check-ins. 

In the future, Ali hopes to work in a nonprofit or university setting, connecting communities no matter their cultural or language barriers. For now, she is thrilled to have the opportunity to expand her knowledge of Japan while contributing to JASA’s cross-cultural mission.

Kyle is an undergraduate student at the University of Alabama studying Public Health & Japanese and is honored to serve as an intern for the Japan-America Society of Alabama (JASA)! Throughout his life, Kyle has always had a passion for Japan and its beautiful culture, traditions, and language. Currently, Kyle is in his 3rd year of studying Japanese at the University of Alabama, and holds his personal and academic connections to the language very close.

Kyle is also involved in several other initiatives on his campus, including a Japanese language partner program in which he welcomes new exchange students and helps them acclimate to life in Alabama! Kyle believes that it's so important to foster and support the relationship between Japan and Alabama, and the values that relationship brings to the communities around our state and nation.

With experience working with various organizations, including the U.S. Department of State, and an implicit passion for Japan and its culture, Kyle looks forward to working with JASA this Fall, and to supporting the beautiful connection between Japan and Alabama!

We are so happy to have them both - please give them a very warm JASA welcome!

North Alabama Japanese Garden Vintage Doll Fund Raising

Mr. Mike and Mrs. Donna Williams donated the vintage Japanese doll collection that belonged to his mother, Satsu Harada Williams, for our Japanese Garden. We are so grateful for this donation, and we would like to use the sale for our garden maintenance and renovations. Please feel free to message us via Facebook if you are interested in the purchase from the link!

Japanese Geisha Maiko Doll --- $220

----------Description from Mr. Mike Williams----------

My parents met after World War II in Yokohama, Japan. My father's military service took him all over Southeast Asia. They were stationed in Okinawa where my mother began lessons on how to make dolls. She made a few of these dolls but the other were purchased as part of her collection. The wooden dolls belonged to my mother as a child, as I was told. We settled as a family in Louisiana at Fort Polk which was my father's last duty station in the US Army. The dolls were proudly displayed in our family home from my earliest memory. My Mother passed away from cancer in 2011. That was when I took possession of the collection. Before Donna and I got married, I needed to downsize my home. That was when I reached out to the Japanese Society of Alabama. Mike Swinson and I connected. We came up with a few ideas and the one I liked the most was to donate the collection to the society so that they could have them in an auction or as gifts to speakers. I love the idea, that others would enjoy them as much as my family has for all these years.