The mission of the ACCJ is to further develop commerce between the United States of America and Japan, promote the interests of U.S. companies and members, and improve the international business environment in Japan.

Established in 1948 by representatives of 40 American firms, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) has offices in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, and represents over 2,700 members from more than 1,000 companies and over forty countries.

Now in its 61st year, the ACCJ has built its reputation on the strength of providing both American and Japanese members, as well as a rapidly growing international base, with unsurpassed opportunity and advantage through advocacy, information and networking.

As a fully independent chamber of commerce, the ACCJ today is Japan’s most influential foreign business organization, and serves as the primary forum for the foreign business community in Japan to identify and pursue shared interests and goals. More than sixty Chamber committees, subcommittees, task forces, and advisory councils cover such diverse areas as financial services, corporate social responsibility, marketing, independent business, healthcare services, e-business, transportation and logistics, legal services, the travel industry, and human resource management. Each committee establishes goals at the beginning of the year and meets regularly to develop ideas, discuss issues, and exchange information on topics relevant to its goals and focus.

ACCJ committees combined hold over 500 programs annually, and these events are exclusively attended by ACCJ members and their accompanied guests. Whether social, educational, cultural or charitable, every ACCJ event represents the inspiration and personal investment of our volunteer members. The backbone of the annual agenda is comprised of hundreds of engagements with leading experts and shapers of policy and business trends in Japan. Speakers are drawn from the ranks of global business leaders, top U.S. and Japanese government officials, industry experts, scholars and pop culture icons. Movers and shakers such as CEO, Tantallon Research Japan CEO, Jesper Koll, Rakuten Inc CEO, Hiroshi Mikitani, Toyota Senior Advisor and Member of the Board, Hiroshi Okuda, U.S. Ambassador Thomas Schieffer, Professor Heizo Takenaka, Director, Global Security Research Institute, Keio University, BOJ Governor Toshihiko Fukui, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez, IBM Japan and Keizai Doyukai Chairman Kakutaro Kitashiro, Tokyo Stock Exchange CEO and Toshiba Corporation Chairman Taizo Nishimuro and many others have chosen the ACCJ as their forum for addressing Japan’s international business community.

The ACCJ is a high-profile participant in the debates that shape bilateral policy. Through official Viewpoint position papers, white papers and public comments, and thoroughly researched reports, the Chamber continuously works to expand foreign direct investment and market access in Japan for foreign firms, further deregulate the Japanese economy, and fully implement existing trade agreements between the United States and Japan. These advocacy efforts are conducted under a set of core advocacy principles. The ultimate goal is no less than to help improve the business and community environment of Japan, and contributions to progress in these areas over the past 60 years are among the ACCJ’s proudest achievements.

Opportunities for ACCJ members to give back to the Japanese community are also made through charitable activities. Campaigns run by ACCJ members raised a total of ¥37,955,379 for domestic charities in 2007.

The ACCJ also advances member interests through annual visits with key legislators in the U.S. Congress and the Japanese Diet during its Washington, D.C. and Diet ”Doorknock” events. The Chamber focuses as well on maintaining close ties with major Japanese business organizations—including The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Japan Business Federation, and Keizai Doyukai—and U.S.–based organizations such as the U.S.–Japan Business Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has a long-term working relationship with the U.S. Embassy, regularly exchanging information with American diplomats on issues of common interest and receiving Embassy briefings.

Chamber members additionally count business services among numerous ACCJ benefits. Conferencing facilities and videoconferencing services at the ACCJ Tokyo office, exclusive advertising rates, and opportunities to reach our extremely high-value membership audience via publications such as the annual ACCJ Directory and the monthly ACCJ Journal are just some of the benefits. Members also enjoy events and programs such as the ”Meet & Greet” events where ACCJ members meet new members, industry-focused networking events, the annual Charity Crystal Ball, Kansai Walkathon and Chubu Walkathon.

Exclusive opportunities to reach the general public under ACCJ auspices are also available through this website, the extremely popular ACCJ Employment Central website (www.ecentral.jp), and high-quality publications such as the ACCJ Directory. More information about the Chamber's communications program can be obtained on this website, or by contacting via email or (03) 3433-8541.

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