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Community leaders send open letter to local governmental agencies - Page 2 JJuly 27, 2022
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WABASH, IN PERMIT NO. 233 Vol. 45, No. 20
Summit brings East-West together 4th annual Japan-Northeast Indiana summit takes place in Wabash By Phil Smith psmith@thepaperofwabash.com For the fourth time, local business and industry leaders met with their peers from the country of Japan to continue fostering business partnerships between the two nations with a focus on the major paradigm shift on the horizon in the auto industry. At the 4th Annual JapanNortheast Indiana Summit, held July 19 in Wabash’s Eagles Theater, representatives from both countries discussed numerous manufacturing trends, most importantly the increase in the number of automobiles that no longer rely on fossil fuel for power. Before the day began, Wabash Mayor Scott Long offered condolences to the summit visitors from the Far East on the loss of one of their most prominent countrymen, who was assassinated July 8. “Before we start today’s program, I wanted to share mine and the city of Wabash’s deepest condolences to the people of Japan for the recent loss of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,” said Long. “He was a beloved figure, both in Japan and the United States and he will be missed.” The nearly five-hour summit included panel discussions and was kicked off in the morning with presentations by not only Long, but Emcee Chad Ruston of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership; Theresa Kulczak, Japanese American Society of Indiana; Consul-General Tajima Hiroshi; Tomofumi Nishizawa, Japan External Trade Organization and Bernard Swiecki from the Center for Automotive Research. Kulczak, who lived in Japan for six years, touted Wabash’s history of collaboration with its Far East ally. “The city of Wabash has been at the forefront of communities, which have developed new initiatives with Japan, especially with the establishment of the new high school Japanese language program, thanks to Mayor Long’s leadership,” she said. Kulczak also pointed east to Huntington County, making another parallel between the area and the home country of the summit’s guests. “One of my favorite reasons to visit Northeast Indiana is the Joseph Ducuis restaurant in Roanoke,” she continued. “The
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Consul-General Tajima Hiroshi was among the speakers at the 4th Annuyal Japan-Northeast Indiana Summit. Photo by Phil Smith Joseph Decuis restaurant, to our knowledge, still has the only farm in the United States raising Japanese Wagyu beef, using all the natural humane Japanese practices taught to them by the legendary Wagyu farmer in Japan, Shogo Takeda. It represents the agrarian side of a relationship and it points to Indiana’s active agricultural ties to Japan.” As pointed out by later speakers, Kulczak touted the Hoosier state’s strong connection to Japan. “The State of Indiana is proud to serve as one of the top homes for Japan-invested manufacturing in the country,” she said. The region is really an anchor for our relationship.” She added that the summit
would serve as a status update for a move to alternatives to fossil fuel. “Industry continues to evaluate and prepare for the transition to electrification,” she said. Hiroshi and Nishizawa both thanked Long for the words of condolence regarding the shooting death of Abe. “I was glad to hear that the Japanese-learning students in Wabash High School have increased by more than three times from 2020 to 2021,” said Hiroshi. He added that the strong relationship between the two countries was illustrated by Long’s earlier comments. “The outpouring of appreciation and condolences received from Mayor Long, the Japan-American Society of
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Indiana and countless others reminded me of the solidarity in community, policy and business purpose that Japan and Indiana share.” Hiroshi also talked about a longstanding U.S.-Japan relationship further east, in Allen County where Fort Wayne has been partnered with a city in Japan for more than 40 years. “Why Japan and Northeast Indiana relationship is so close boils down to the strong cultural connections we have built,” he said, mentioning the “sister city” program between Fort Wayne and Takaoka, Japan, begun in 1977. “Our business partnership continues to deepen with strong momenCont. on Pg. 15.
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