2022 World Affairs Council of the Year
Network of Independent World Affairs Councils of America

Impact: Japanese Business | Bill Hagerty

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Conversation with Bill Hagerty
United States Senator, Tennessee

Video Recording on the JAST YouTube Channel

Bill Hagerty [00:00:23] Good afternoon. It’s an honor to be speaking to you all today, albeit virtually. And to help welcome my friend, Ambassador Tomita, to the place I call home, the great state of Tennessee. In Tennessee, we’re fortunate to be home to a Japanese consulate, and I’d like to thank Consul General Fukushima for her work in fostering strong ties between our state and the nation of Japan. And thanks to our first Nashville based Consul General we see the fruits of our friendship every time we go to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, which happens to be the largest Japanese festival in the South. Today, over 53,000 Tennesseans are directly employed by Japanese owned businesses, and Japan accounts for over $19 billion in capital investment for our state. We’re proud of our ties to incredible Japan owned companies like Bridgestone, Denso, Mitsubishi, and Nissan, just to name a few. I believe wholeheartedly that the future of our collaboration with Japan looks bright and it will continue to flourish just as it has over the last couple of decades. This is a goal that I know all of you here today share, and I’m so honored to work hand-in-hand with you in this effort. Ambassador Tomita, I hope that through this trip, you’re able to see the amazing depth and breadth of the relationship between Japan and Tennessee. Japanese businesses have had an incredible impact in the volunteer state and the prosperity of so many Tennesseans. We value our linkages to Japan, and to the Tennessee World Affairs Council, thank you again for allowing me to join you for this special occasion. May God bless.