Japan-Oregon Relations
June 201４
Consular Office of Japan
in Portland
History
Oregon-Japan relationship : dates back longer than Commodore Perry’s visit to
Japan in 1853
Ranald MacDonald from Astoria : became the first native English teacher in
Japan in 1848
First Japanese emigrated to Oregon in 1880
Portland Consulate established in 1900, the 6th oldest in the U.S.A.
Japanese Embassy, Consulate-General, Consular Offices in U.S.A
Seattle. C
Detroit. C
Boston. C
Portland. CO
Chicago. C
Denver. C
New York. C
San Francisco. C
Washington, D.C. E
Nashville. C
Atlanta. C
Los Angeles. C
Houston. C
Miami. C
※
Ｅ：Embassy
Ｃ：Consulate-General
Other: Honolulu. C, Hagatna. C, Anchorage.CO, Saipan. CO
ＣＯ：Consular Office
Japan-Oregon Trade
2012 top export destinations for Oregon: China , Canada, Malaysia, Japan, Korea.
Oregon’s export to Japan ：Agricultural products (mainly wheat and animal fodder) 49%,
Chemicals 14%, Computer and Electronic Products11%. In fact, Japan was Oregon's No.1
agricultural goods export country with $0.74 billion traded in 2012.
Half of the wheat consumption in Japan (approx. 3 million tons), and almost 100% of the
wheat from the U.S. to Japan, is shipped from Pacific Northwest area.
As the landing port for automobiles (including automobile parts) from Japan, Portland with
12% of the market, is 3rd after Los Angeles and Newark.
Oregon State Representative Office(1984) and Port of Portland Representative Office
(1972) established in Tokyo.
２０１２
Billions
Oregon total exports
$１８．３１
China
$２．２６
Canada
$２．９８
Malaysia
$１．９５
Japan
$１．５８
Korea
$１．１０
Export items for Japan(%)
※ Other: Machinery except electronic, Paper etc
Economy- Japanese Companies in Oregon
103 companies in October, 2012( including Vancouver area, WA).
Oregon’s influx of Japanese companies started soon after World War Ⅱ. The trading
companies of wheat and timber were especially early.
Since the middle of 80’s, Intel factories located in the Portland Metro area have
encouraged many Japanese semiconductor-related companies to set up business in the
area.
 In addition, food manufacturing companies have increased recently.
Kinds of Japanese Companies
Manufacturing
Semi-Conductor、Food、Ink
Cartridge
39%
Commercial
Trading companies (grain, wood,
sporting goods)
38%
Services, Transportation etc
Sushi Restaurants、Cargo Services
23%
Direct Investment (form Japan to Oregon)
Japanese investment in Oregon:
 Japan’s investment in Oregon creates an estimated 4,900 jobs and
amounts to 1billion dollars
Of the top 25 foreign companies in Oregon (based on number of employees), 10
are Japanese. （Source: The Book of List 2009（Portland Business Journal))
1. Employment of US Affiliates of Foreign Companies
2. Property, Plant and Equipment of US Affiliates of
Foreign Companies
(Thousands of Employees)
Country
Employees
(Millions of dollars)
%Share
Country
amounts
%Share
Germany
9.7
21.9%
Canada
2,172
21.4%
UK
5.8
13.1%
Germany
1,686
16.6%
Japan
4.9
11.1%
Japan
1,033
10.2%
Canada
3.4
7.7%
UK
355
3.5%
France
2.9
6.5%
Netherlands
180
1.8%
2.8
6.3%
France
44.3
1582.1%
Switzerland
Total
Total
Germany, 21.9%
170
1.7%
10,142
5965.9%
Canada, 21.4%
Other, 33.4%
Other, 44.8%
UK, 13.1%
Switzerland,
6.3%
France, 6.5%
Canada, 7.7%
Japan, 11.1%
Germany, 16.6%
France, 1.7%
Netherlands, 1.8%
Japan, 10.2%
UK, 3.5%
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Department of Commerce. "Foreign Direct Investment in the US: Financial and Operating Data for US Affiliates
of Foreign Multinational Companies. Employment by State and Country 2007 / Gross Propety, and Equipment by State and Country 2007"
Note: The availability of data on individual countries are limited to that of the above mentioned source.
Friendship Exchanges
Oregon/Toyama Prefecture Sister-State established in 1991
There are 22 Sister-City relationships between Oregon/Japan
Portland/Sapporo have enjoyed a sister city relationship since 1959
 Japan America Society of Oregon---3rd oldest in U.S. (founded 1907)
JASO celebrated its 100-year anniversary (2007)
JASO has contributed to cultural, educational and business as well as people-to-people exchanges
 Japanese language/cultural education in Oregon
Japanese language/Japanese studies course offered in K-12 schools and many colleges/universities
Several sister-college relationships ongoing
Approx.860 Japanese students in Oregon colleges/universities(2008)
 Oregon is 2nd after Hawaii in per capita Japanese-language study. Oregon is the state with the most
Japanese immersion programs in schools.
 The Portland Japanese Garden is one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens in the world outside of Japan.
JASO 100th Anniversary
Annual Meeting
←
（Portland Art Museum, June 30, 2007）
↓
2013 Speech Contest
Portland Japanese
Garden
Japanese Community and Japanese Americans
Japanese residents in Oregon (Oct. 2011)
6,274 total (2,284 long term residents, 3,990 permanent residents)
※Including Clark county, WA, 7,098 total (Oct.2009)
70% long-term residents live in Portland Metro area
 12,000 Japanese Americans in Oregon (2000 Census)
Japanese Community
Japanese Organizations
Shokookai of Portland
(Japanese chamber of
commerce)
68 member companies
and 31 supporting
companies as of 06/2014.
Japanese-American Organizations
Portland Japanese
School
Japanese Ancestral
Society of Portland
As of 05/2014
enrollment is at 362
students in K-12.
Shokookai of Portland
manages the school.
Local organization
whose purpose is to
raise the visibility and
status of Japanese
Americans in the
community. Currently
300 members.
Japanese
American Citizens
League
National civil rights
organization to
promote status of
Japanese Americans.
Currently 480
members locally.