Open Positions!
LA Dodger x JTB
29th Annual Honolulu Festival
Farewell Message from Mr. Tanihara
Staying at the Top of the Game
Farewell 2024 Global Trainees
Travel Article
MC&A Win 3 Gala Awards!
Employee Spotlight
OJT Training
Welcome 2025 Global Trainees
Launch of Our Exclusive Shared Mobility Service
LA Travel & Adventure Show
Spring Mixer
Newsletter Poll
Last year, JTB have become the only official MLB partner in Asia, and this year, JTB has signed a multiyear partnership agreement to become the Official Japanese Tourism Partner for the Los Angeles Dodgers. This makes JTB the first-ever Japanese travel company to partner with the Dodgers. The collaboration aims to enhance the experience for Japanese fans attending Dodgers games, offering exclusive stadium tours and priority access. This partnership highlights JTB's commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences and strengthening the bond between Japanese baseball fans and the Dodgers.
There are some fun and new things we will be doing with the Dodgers!
Pre-game Dodger Stadium Tours in Japanese
Priority Admission to Dodgers Stadium
JTB Shuttle Bus Service to Dodgers Stadium
JTB x Dodgers themed Original Gifts and Souveniers
To read the full article, please go to:
MLB Article
JTB Corp Article
JTB Hawaii Travel, LLC Hawaii Sales Development Division
The 29th Honolulu Festival concluded successfully! Total number of attendees was approximately, 147,280 in total; the total participants from Japan was 4,548, which increased 116% from last year. We deeply appreciate everyone who joined us in celebrating cultural exchange.
Over three days, visitors enjoyed school tours, performances, and vibrant booths across various locations in Honolulu. Sunday’s Grand Parade and Nagaoka Fireworks beautifully symbolized friendship and unity. A heartfelt thank you to our attendees, performers, sponsors, and volunteers for making this event possible.
We are excited for next year’s 30th Annual Honolulu Festival, tentatively set for March 2026. Stay tuned for updates at: honolulufestival.com.
See you next year!
The focus of this clean up was to gather any firework debris that may've remained. We also picked up regular trash as well.
Dear all,
It has been a very valuable time working with you through both wonderful moments and tough situations. I have worked for JTB Americas Group for 9 years, so it’s very difficult for me to leave, but it’s time to move on. As of April 1, 2025, I will be stationed in Tokyo and will oversee business planning for the Global Business Unit at JTB Corp. One of my roles will be to design a global business strategy for the future of the JTB Group. This means I will still be involved with JTB Americas Group. I will miss you all, but let’s keep in touch.
JTB Americas Group has many talented individuals with a wide variety of knowledge, experience, and global networks. We have been running a variety of businesses for more than 60 years. I am confident that we will continue to grow if we adapt to the changing environment. As you know, our customers’ expectations are always evolving, so we need to keep learning and providing value to them as professionals. My final message is: “Take action before it becomes urgent.” Our value to our customers can only be created if we use our time effectively.
Thank you for all your support during my assignment. I wish you good health and every success.
Sincerely yours, Makoto
Tachibana Enterprises, LLC
Tachibana Enterprises, LLC, has proudly managed the Nissin Cup Noodle Golf Tournament for Kintetsu International Hawaii for the past five years. For February 2025, the tournament will feature 280 rounds of golf, showcasing Tachibana’s expertise in organizing large-scale events.
In addition, Tachibana is thrilled to announce that Daito Kentaku Group has been awarded the contract to handle golf tournaments for the third consecutive year. Tachibana will oversee the tournament arrangements, expecting 160 rounds in the August 2025 tournament, despite increasing competition from other vendors. While Tachibana’s pricing may be slightly higher, its exceptional service and strong brand reputation ensure continued success.
The company’s commitment to delivering seamless, high-quality experiences has earned the trust and loyalty of clients, solidifying our position as a leader in the industry. With a proven track record, Tachibana remains the go-to partner for memorable golf events.
As Aoi Yamamoto, Nana Kubota, and Noe Naruse’s training period comes to an end, we wanted to give a big shoutout for all the hard work and dedication they have shown. They have made some great contributions during their time with us, and we are sure that they will continue to do amazing things in the future. Let's all keep in touch and cheer them on as they move forward. We're excited to see all the great things they will achieve. Thank you for coming to the U.S. and being part of our team!
by Kazuyuki Oyanagi (JTBI Canada)
I recently visited the Rideau Canal. This canal runs through the city of Ottawa, the capital of Canada, and is registered as a World Heritage Site.
This is a place of relaxation for people in Canada. The canal allows for fun activities like canoeing and boat cruises in the summer, and ice skating when it freezes over in the winter.
The Rideau Canal is certified by the Guinness World Record as the longest skating rink in the world!
We have incredible news to share— MC&A have won all three of the 2025 Special Events Gala Awards we were nominated for! ��
✨ Best Event Produced for a Corporation or Association – "Wildest Dreams"
✨ Best Entertainment – "Wildest Dreams"
✨ Event Designer of the Year – Holly Loulan
This is a huge achievement and a testament to the creativity, passion, and teamwork that define MC&A. A massive congratulations to Meghan McSkimming, Kate Perez, Holly Loulan, Katie Smolic, Monica Armstrong, and Spencer Tiet as well as everyone behind the scenes who helped bring “Wildest Dreams” to life. And of course, an extra round of applause for Holly Loulan, whose talent and innovation earned her the top honor in event design!
These awards celebrate the incredible work we do every day, and this moment belongs to all of us. Thank you for continuing to push boundaries, dream big, and create unforgettable experiences.
Let’s take a moment to celebrate—this is a win for Team MC&A! ����
Company: JTB USA
Department: GBS BT Group Air
Operations
Favorite Place I’ve been to: Singapore
Favorite food: Dim Sum
Place I’d like to go to: Turkey (Blue Mosque)
I'm excited about being able to assist with flight arrangements, which is the first step in the travel journey.
Fun Fact: I am a stationary and coffee lover!
Company: JTB USA
Department: DMC Corporate
Favorite Place I’ve been to: Mexico
Favorite food: Sushi
Place I’d like to go to: Greece
I am excited to meet new people.
Fun Face: I have a fluffy Siberian Husky! Tomoe “Tomo” Glass
Sheila Mae de Sagum
Company: JTB USA
Department: GBS BT FIT Air Operations
Favorite Place I’ve been to: Kansai Region of Japan, specifically Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Hyogo.
Favorite food: Japanese food! Place I’d like to go to: Switzerland, specifically the Swiss Alps. I'm excited to gain hands-on experience in the travel industry, familiarize myself with its systems, and apply my skills.
Company: JTB USA
Department: GBS HNL Leisure
Favorite Place I’ve been to: Universal Studios Japan
Favorite food: Tomato Spaghetti Place I’d like to go to: Dubai
I am excited to create perfect moments together with my great team Jake Jun
Company: JTB USA
Department: DMC FIT PKG
Favorite Place I’ve been to: Lombok, Indonesia
Favorite food: Takoyaki, gyudon, karaage Place I’d like to go to: Hawaii I am looking forward to watchin MLB games that I am involved with at work!
by Masaki Ito (JTB Americas)
I recently had the opportunity to go to the JTB Corp office in Japan!
I learned from the HR teams about how HR functions work in Japan, and want to bring this knowledge and experience to create new initiatives, ideas and ways of thinking to the US. A major talking point was connecting JTB entities together, and I hope to assist in the efforts to do so.
If you learned something interesting on your business trip recently, please let us know at hr@jtbamericas.com
We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to our three new Global Trainees, who will be joining us in April this year! We're excited to have them with us and can't wait to get to know them better as they become part of our team.
Mizuha Sugawara
Yurika
Nagahama
Ai Sato
Ai Sato will be in New York for 3 years as part of the Global Challenge Program. We have 2 Trainees who are on a 1 year program: Yurika Nagahama will be in Hawaii with JTB Hawaii Travel for 1 year and Mizuha Sugawara will be in New York with JTB USA for 1 year
nounce the launch of our exclusive Shared Mobility LI Mobi, for our customers! This innovative offering rtation portfolio by providing convenient, eco-friendly ons tailored to our JTB customers’ needs, whenever ey need a short ride, “Choi Nori”!
a ride anytime from their phone, to catch the HiBus to sightsee around Waikiki, even with a crying toddler!
e aim to create seamless travel experiences while ntributing to sustainable practices.
ovation and customer satisfaction together!
The Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show took place on February 22-23, 2025, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This event was a hub for travel enthusiasts, offering a wide array of vacation options from top destinations around the globe. Attendees had the opportunity to meet travel experts, personalize their trips, and book vacations on the spot.
The JTB USA Japan Bound Operation team participated in a trade show to address overtourism by promoting lesser-known tourist attractions in Japan to U.S. travelers. The goal was to raise awareness of the unique experiences available in Japan's local and rural areas, beyond the major cities. By showcasing these hidden gems, we aimed to distribute tourist traffic more evenly across Japan, promoting sustainable tourism. At the booth, we highlighted various destinations and services, including Izu, Hakone, Mt. Fuji, Gifu, Nagano, and JTB services.
On the 22nd, we held a seminar for Fukuoka, attended by 80 agents. The seminar featured presentations on Fukuoka tourism by Yamakita-san, Director of Fukuoka Prefectural Government, and Pawel from JBO team.
We received positive feedback during the trade show and conducted several business meetings, successfully connecting with multiple U.S. travel agencies and their customers.
The efforts at LATAS highlighted the beauty and charm of one of Japan's lesser-known locales, offering diverse travel options to U.S. travelers.
In March, we had a Spring Mixer at the Torrance office to introduce and get to know the new trainees. The mixer provided a wonderful opportunity for LA colleagues to connect, share ideas, and build new relationships within our company. We were also thrilled to welcome our new trainees, who joined us for the first time. Their enthusiasm and fresh perspectives are a valuable addition to our team.
Thank you to everyone that attended!
March is National Noodle Month! What is your favorite noodle?
We have a clear winner with 54% of the votes: RAMEN!! (some were very specific and voted for Tonkotsu Ramen)
Second place at 13%: Pasta and Pho (tie)
Fourth place at 8%: Udon
Fifth place at 4%: Chinese Beef Noodle, Dao Xiao Mian (knife-cut noodle), Okinawan Soba (tie)
AprilisNationalBrunchMonth!
Shareyourfavoritebrunchspot!
Breakfast Republic (San Diego or LA, CA)
Chili's (various locations)
Chinchikurin (Torrance, CA)
Cinnamon's (Kailua, HI)
Cream Pot (Honolulu, HI)
First Watch (Flower Mound, TX)
Flipper's (New York City, NY)
Ha Long Pho Noodle House (Honolulu, HI)
Harry's Cafe (Honolulu, HI)
Prince Hotel-Sunday Brunch (Honolulu, HI)
Scratch Kitchen (Honolulu, HI)
The Franklin (Jersey City, NJ)
Times Coffee Shop (Kailua, HI)
Tonchin (New York City, NY)
Willow & Whisk (Wyckoff, NJ)
Codi Park (USA) shares her favorite brunch dishes.
Yuna Choy (JHT) shares her two favorite dishes from Scratch Kitchen in Hawaii: Milk n’ Cereal Pancakes and Spicy Southern Fried Chicken n’ Waffle.
Joy Tamura (JTBA) has many favorites such as:
Udon on the Sakurajima ferry
Ichiran in Fukuoka
Kamukura Ramen in Asakusa
Shio ramen in Shibuya
Ramen Jiro in Tokyo
Greg Chang (JHT) likes the Kakuni Tonkotsu Ramen at Menya le Nood in Kaka’ako, HI.
Nadia Handoyo (USA) shares two favorite ramens: Miso Curry Butter Milk Ramen from Ajino Sapporo Ramen in Aomori, Japan, and tsukemen from Tsukemen Aizen in Little Tokyo (LA), CA.
Toshiko Cressey (USA) enjoys the cheap but delicious ramen (420 yen!) from Chuuka Ichiban in Saitama, Japan. The tarako spaghetti from Tokyo Tarako Spaghetti Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan was good but different with ramen-like pasta and came with dashi soup.
The poll for the next newsletter is now available on Dayforce Hub!
You can also CLICK HERE to access the poll!
Daisuke Watanabe’s (JTBA) favorite is a ramen without soup from Chinchirin, an okonomiyaki restaurant, in Torrance, CA.
