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The ECU Japan Center East

The ECU Japan Center East is an affiliate of the Japan Center at NC State, established in 1980 by then-Governor James B. Hunt to strengthen the state’s academic, economic, scientific and cultural ties with Japan.

The ECU Japan Center East has two components: economic development and cultural enrichment. The overall Japan Center East falls under the direction of ECU's Regional Development Services and focuses on five key elements to reach its goals: retaining and recruiting Japanese companies, assisting local American companies, promoting tourism in the local area, and cultural enrichment.

Retention:
The Center works to retain Japanese companies by:

• Assisting work force enhancement through senior-level training and by serving as a pipeline for East Carolina University and local community colleges
• Helping develop internship programs
• Providing cross-cultural training to build employee morale and productivity
• For more information on Japanese companies in eastern North Carolina, click here

Recruitment:
The Center works closely with the development commission on recruiting Japanese companies by:

• Introducing empowerment recruitment tools. For example:
  • About North Carolina
  • About Greenville
  • Things to do before leaving Japan
  • For more Japanese recruitment tools, guides, and manuals, email Chikako Massey, Japan Center East director
• Facilitating smooth communication with site selection teams
• Advising on business manners and protocol for regional development commissioners, both prior to and during site selection team visits
• Researching potential companies and their profiles prior to visits

Assistance:
The Center assists local American companies in exporting products and services to Japan. For example:

• SpeechEasy - The Japan Center East has worked closely with SpeechEasy to help export their product to Japan. SpeechEasy is a fluency device designed to improve fluency for the majority of people who stutter. For information about the company and its products in Japanese, click here.
• New Growth Designs - The Japan Center East provides business consultation to New Growth Designs, which oversees manufacturing of life-like artificial botanical and flower arrangements. This company has had successful transactions with high-end Japanese department stores.

Tourism Promotion:
The Center promotes tourism in eastern North Carolina. Samples of tourism brochures include:

• Japanese Tourism Brochure 1
• Japanese Tourism Brochure 2

Cultural Enrichment:
In the area of cultural enrichment, the Center focuses on educating the general public about traditional and contemporary Japanese culture so residents of eastern North Carolina can learn to embrace and enjoy their cultural differences. The enrichment builds a welcoming and diversity-friendly community that accepts different cultures, including foreign corporate culture. Some cultural enrichment events include:

• Visit Japan - The Center will host a free presentation, “Experience Japan,” on March 1. The event will include a slide presentation on Japan and information on an economy trip to Japan being offered in 2006.
• Bon Dance - The Center introduced the Bon dance at the 2005 Greenville International Festival. It will lead the Bon dance at the April 2006 Festival as well.
• Taste of Japan - The Center hosted a Taste of Japan cooking demonstration, dinner, dessert, and Sake tasting in September 2005. For more information on this event, click on the links below:
  • Taste of Japan event photos
  • Taste of Japan recipes
  • Taste of Japan appetizers
  • Taste of Japan Sake information
• Bonsai - Living Art - The Center hosted a Bonsai workshop on Jan. 26, 2006 where attendees learned how to manicure a Bonsai tree and could purchase a Bonsai tree, pot, soil, and care sheet.

Japan Center East Email List:
To add your name to the Japan Center East's email distribution list to hear about upcoming Japanese events and activities in eastern North Carolina, click here and email your name, email address, home address, and phone number to Chikako Massey.

Other useful sites:
Click on the purple text to access these Web sites.

• Japanese-affiliated companies in the southeastern portion of the United States, their employment numbers and investment amounts
• Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta - get information on the overseas establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo
• Learn the Japanese language and get more information about Japanese culture
• Japanese culture including clothing, travel, music, food, language, holidays, and festivals
• Japanese holiday calendar and other interesting facts
• Beginners can learn Japanese history, geography, art, culture, and food
• Extensive Japanese cultural information including theater, Koi, festivals, ceremonies, and weddings

For more information about ECU's Japan Center East, its upcoming cultural activities, trade show information in Japan, or economic development, contact:

Chikako Massey
Phone: 252-737-1352
Fax: 252-737-1381
Email: masseyc@ecu.edu