Through the Eyes of the Consul General of Japan in Detroit

 
The next common language between Japan and the state of Michigan in the automotive sector is innovation rooted in manufacturing.
 
To promote this concept, I thought of leveraging local media. JETRO could handle the subsidiary work. Based on that sense of shared responsibility, I looked for a reliable press contact and found Carol Cain, editorial director for the Detroit Free Press. I had met her at Mayor Duggan’s breakfast in the spring, and since then, I visited her in Ann Arbor three times. At the end of August, she invited me as a guest on the television program Michigan Matters. Continuing my outreach, she arranged a Japan feature in the Sunday edition of the DFP on October 5 — just two days before the high-stakes Newlab event on October 7. However, the photos focused more on “cooking diplomacy” in an apron provided by Kimono Mom, and innovation was not highlighted as much as I had hoped. I continue to encourage Carol to come to Japan and cover the country as it is today (so far, her interest in Asia has mainly been limited to China).
 
Thanks in part to JETRO’s support, TriOrb, the first Japanese startup to move into the Newlab, was celebrated with a launch event organized by the J4 — a coalition of four organizations: the Consulate General, JETRO, JBSD, and the Japan-America Society. Of course, the venue was the Newlab. U.S. and Japanese panelists were carefully selected to support the success of TriOrb. Deputy Director Shiono of JETRO Chicago served as MC. With the backing of JBSD and the Japan-America Society, participants included MEMA (Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association), MichAuto (Automotive, Mobility, and Technology Association), MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation), and Industry 4.0 (a Michigan startup support organization). The opening remarks were delivered by Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist of Michigan. The keynote speech was entrusted to Professor Sexton, co-chair of the U-M Roundtable on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, to focus on “what’s next.” She agreed with a smile, even though she muttered about having her husband’s 50th birthday party that night. My hope is that TriOrb’s success will attract a second and third Japanese startup to the Newlab rather than Silicon Valley. However, that will mainly be JETRO’s work. As the Consulate, we must consider other partners to solidify manufacturing as a common language, which is why the University of Michigan will play a key role (to be introduced in February next year).
 
With over 100 diverse stakeholders participating, the event was a success. But TriOrb’s real challenge begins here — first, transitioning visas, which has become more difficult under the Trump administration. The ripple effects will eventually lead to the expansion of a major Japanese sports manufacturer into Michigan, but I will leave that story for another time.