Japan Trade Events

WEBINAR: Overview of the Japan Aerospace, Defense and Space Relationship with the United States

Please join us for an informative webinar on the Aerospace, Defense and Space sectors in Japan.

[Date and Time] 

• Monday, April 22
  5:00 PM Los Angeles time
  8:00 PM DC time
• Tuesday, April 23
  9:00 AM Tokyo time

[Agenda] 

• Japan Market overview, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Embassy - Tokyo 
• Defense Market Overview, Mutual Defense Assistance Office, U.S. Embassy - Tokyo
• Space Market Overview, NASA Asia Representative, U.S. Embassy - Tokyo
• Success Stories and Tips for Achieving Success, Northrop Grumman Corporation Japan
• U.S. Pavilion at Japan Aerospace, Kallman Worldwide Inc.

[Cost]      Complimentary for U.S. companies

Defense Market Highlights

• Japan is increasing its defense budget in response to a challenging regional security landscape, underscored by North Korean missile advancements and China’s rising influence. The Cabinet approved a historic $55.9 billion budget for FY2024, marking a 16.5% increase from the prior year, to enhance capabilities across naval, land, and air dimensions, including the modification of Izumo-class carriers for F-35B operations, acquisition of new armored vehicles, and procurement of F-35A and F-35B fighter jets.
• The budget focuses on advancing Japan’s defense technology research and development, with significant investments in stand-off defense, counter-hypersonic capabilities, and the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) in collaboration with Italy and the UK.

Space Market Highlights

• Japan’s space industry, renowned for its world-class industrial and technological prowess in R&D, is shifting its focus towards the commercialization of space technology, with concerted efforts from the Japanese government and industry to grow its space business. This pivot builds on a long-standing international collaboration in space development and exploration, initiated by a Japan-U.S. Joint Communique in 1969, and has seen Japan engaging in significant projects primarily led by NASA, with expectations for expanded collaboration in space exploration and science.
• Recent developments have further strengthened space cooperation between the U.S. and Japan, including the signing of the Gateway Implementation Agreement in November 2022 as part of NASA’s Artemis missions for lunar exploration, offering a JAXA astronaut a crew position on a future Artemis mission. Additionally, Japan’s early commitment to the ISS extension until 2030, the signing of the Framework Agreement for Cooperation in Outer Space in January 2023, and subsequent dialogues and plans for a trade mission in May 2023, underscore a deepening partnership aimed at advancing space science, exploration, technology, and commercial opportunities between the two nations.

Aerospace Market Highlights

• U.S. firms dominate Japan’s aerospace sector, benefiting from long-standing partnerships and increasing involvement of Japanese companies in international defense and civil aviation projects.
• The resurgence in aircraft demand post-COVID-19 highlights a recovery in the aerospace sector, with a gradual increase in production for Boeing components by Japanese manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Subaru. This recovery is supported by the U.S. FAA lifting the ban on Boeing 787 deliveries and a cautious approach to Boeing 777X program delays. In 2022, Japan imported $8.3 billion worth of aerospace products, with 59.6% coming from the U.S., and continues to offer duty-free importation on aircraft and parts under the WTO Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft.

【Energy Matchmaking Event】         
◆38th NOA Conference (Friday, May 17, 2024) ◆

The Commercial Service Japan announces the 38th New Orleans Association (NOA) Conference—a one-on-one business matchmaking event for U.S. firms/suppliers and Japan’s major electric power utilities—to be held on Friday, May 17, 2024 (09:30 to18:00 Japan Standard Time).         
This opportunity for representatives of U.S. suppliers of non-fuel materials and equipment and their Japanese agents will provide for individual meetings with the procurement managers from Japan’s 12 major electric power utilities (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku, Tokyo, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa Electric Power Companies, Japan Atomic Power Company, and J-POWER). Combined, these utilities generate 80 percent of the nation’s electricity.         
 

• Date: Friday, May 17, 2024
• Time: 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. JST
• Location: Hibikoku Conference Square, located in Central Tokyo (Uchisaiwai-cho 2 Chome 2-3-8F, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 100-0011) 

History of the NOA Conference:        
Following a successful procurement seminar (jointly organized by Japanese electric utilities and the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Energy) held in New Orleans in September 1994, the first NOA Conference took place in Tokyo in July 1995.  Representatives from 12 Japanese electric utilities and U.S. suppliers participated in both inaugural seminars.         
To continue the momentum and enthusiasm shared by the U.S. and Japanese attendees at that first 1994 seminar, the New Orleans Association (NOA) formed, and the U.S. Department of Commerce has since taken the lead in convening annual NOA conferences and events.         
 

2024 Participation Fees:         
The 2024 NOA participation fee is $800 per company (up to three attendees). Registrants submitting payment by Friday, March 1, 2024, are eligible for the ‘early bird’ participation fee $700. Additional participants may register for $200 per person.          
Conference costs (which cover expenses for the event venue, IT connections, and other charges) are shared by participating U.S. firms, and the U.S. Embassy will collect these participation fees directly. The 12 Japanese electric power companies will contribute additional funds to cover operational costs. Emerson Automation Solutions (Emerson Japan) has been appointed as the U.S. Secretariat of the 2024 NOA Conference.          
 

Important Notes:        
· U.S. companies interested in attending this year’s NOA Conference may reference here “What Japanese electric power companies seek from U.S. suppliers” to learn more about the utilities’ general needs.        
· Some screening is necessary to set up individual matchmaking meetings. For the utilities to understand the products and services being offered, U.S. firms are asked to fill out their application forms (38th NOA Conference Meeting Application). Additionally, U.S. firms are strongly encouraged to submit a product/technology brochure (typically two to three pages in PowerPoint/PDF format); these materials are helpful in securing meetings with the Japanese utilities.        
· We anticipate approximately 20 U.S. firms will participate in all or most of the meeting sessions with the Japanese utilities. We will work with the utilities to take every U.S. firm’s request into careful consideration, and make every effort to fulfill requests when arranging individual meetings. However, please understand that not all meeting requests are able to be realized.        
 

Contact:        
For further registration or questions, please contact: Takahiko Suzuki, Senior Commercial Specialist, Commercial Service Japan, U.S. Embassy Tokyo.