The Japan-America Society of Alabama

What The Japan-America Society of Alabama does

The Japan-America Society of Alabama (JASA) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1989 to strengthen cooperation and understanding between the cultures of Japan and Alabama. It is one of 39 regional members of the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) and operates with a small staff of seven from a mailing address in Vestavia, Alabama, while running programming across Birmingham, Huntsville, Decatur, Tuscaloosa, and Montgomery. Its portfolio spans annual cultural festivals (Cherry Blossom Festival, Tanabata Festival, DAIKIN Festival, Japanese Spring Festival), recurring social and language gatherings (Kayoubikai Tuesday Club, JASA Friendship Meeting in Huntsville, Japanese Language Club), educational outreach (Japan in a Suitcase, cooking classes, Miyazaki film screenings at Capri Theatre), and professional programs including an internship pipeline, travel awards, and a member-only virtual speaker series.

JASA funds its activities through corporate and individual memberships, modest per-event fees (for example, $5–$10 for members and $10–$15 for non-members on cooking classes), and donations, with corporate members such as Daikin, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, US Steel, Pharmavite, Sanyo Corporation of America, and ButlerSnow LLP anchoring the budget and underwriting flagship events. Its go-to-market is primarily direct, in-person, and member-driven, supported by Constant Contact newsletters, a Wild Apricot-powered website at japanalabama.com, Facebook community activity, and partner-amplified outreach via NAJAS, the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta, the Alabama Department of Commerce, and the SEUS-Japan Association. Recent moves — a Japan Foundation New York Capacity Building Grant (December 2025), deepened collaboration with the Alabama Department of Commerce's Tokyo office, and continued SEUS-Japan Conference participation (October 2025) — indicate a sustained effort to expand institutional capacity and the state's bilateral channel with Japan.

Name

The Japan-America Society of Alabama

Legal name

Japan-America Society of Alabama

Website

https://japanalabama.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Japan-America Society of Alabama is a 7-person, 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1989 that strengthens Japan-Alabama relations through cultural festivals, business networking, and educational programs for corporate and individual members across Alabama.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Exchange and Nonprofit Community Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business Associations (813910), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAFAA

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Exhibitions, Fairs & Expos (Consumer/Public)

SECONDARYMPAGAFAE

Food, Wine & Beverage Festivals/Expos

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Exhibitions, Fairs & Expos (Consumer/Public)

Keywords

• Cultural exchange programs
• Japan-America relations
• International networking
• Nonprofit cultural education
• Japanese language programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Vestavia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership: Annual corporate membership fees providing business development, networking, and cultural exchange opportunities between Japan and Alabama for member companies.
2. Individual Membership: Annual individual membership fees for personal involvement in cultural programs and networking opportunities.
3. Event Revenue: Some events such as the Ouchigohan cooking classes have registration fees ($10 for members, $15 for non-members). Sushi Roll Cooking Class charges $5 for members and $10 for non-members.
4. Donations: The organization accepts donations as a 501c(3) non-profit organization.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

JASA delivers a portfolio of cultural, educational, and business networking programs linking Japan and Alabama. Core offerings include annual cultural festivals (Cherry Blossom, Tanabata, DAIKIN, Japanese Spring), the Japanese Language Club, cooking classes, the Member-Only Virtual Speaker Series, the Annual Celebration Dinner and Business Forum, and the JASA Internship Program and Travel Award. Membership is offered separately to corporate partners and individuals, providing access to events, networking, and Japan-related resources.

Product overview

The Japan-America Society of Alabama is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that serves as one of 39 regional members of the National Association of Japan-America Societies. Rather than offering a technology product, JASA provides a portfolio of cultural, educational, and business networking programs designed to strengthen cooperation and understanding between Japan and Alabama. The core offerings include annual cultural festivals (Cherry Blossom Festival, Tanabata Festival, DAIKIN Festival, Japanese Spring Festival), language learning programs (Japanese Language Club), social gatherings (Kayoubikai, Friendship Meetings), educational outreach (Japan in a Suitcase, cooking classes, Miyazaki film screenings), professional development (Internship Program, Travel Award), and business networking events (Annual Celebration Dinner and Business Forum, Virtual Speaker Series). Membership programs provide access to these programs for both corporate partners and individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Membership Annual corporate membership program offering businesses with Japan-Alabama interests access to networking events, business forums, Japan-related business development resources, and visibility across the JASA community.
• Individual Membership Annual individual membership program providing access to JASA cultural events, language clubs, cooking classes, virtual speaker series, and community gatherings.
• Cherry Blossom Festival

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJASA is one of 39 regional members of NAJAS. NAJAS maintains links to a variety of Japan-related websites on business, public affairs, culture and education, providing JASA members with access to national resources and a broader network of Japan-America societies.
• Alabama Department of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJASA participates in Alabama Department of Commerce's New and Expanding Industry Report, collaborates on Japanese business development, and works with the department's Tokyo business development office opened in late 2025.
• Capri TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presents Miyazaki film series monthly at Capri Theatre in Montgomery, hosting screenings of Studio Ghibli films for cultural education.
• Alabama Bonsai SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in JASA's Tanabata Festival with bonsai exhibitions and cultural demonstrations.
• Birmingham Botanical GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to the Japanese Garden and venue for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Co-hosts Toshinan and other Japanese cultural events at the gardens.
• North Alabama Japanese Garden FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresents the Annual Japanese Spring Festival at Monte Sano State Park. Co-hosts the 23rd Annual North Alabama Japanese Garden Spring Festival.
• Table for Two USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on Ouchigohan virtual Japanese cooking classes. Table for Two provides curriculum and recipe developers for monthly cooking programs.
• US JET Alumni AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Table for Two and JASA on the Ouchigohan virtual cooking class program for Japanese cultural education.
• Consulate General of Japan in AtlantacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta provides diplomatic support and recognition. Consul General Mio Maeda was welcomed in March 2023 and makes visits to member organizations.
• SEUS-Japan (Southeastern United States - Japan Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in the annual SEUS-Japan Conference, with Alabama sending delegations to Japan. The 47th Annual SEUS-Japan Conference was held in Tokyo, Japan in October 2025.
• Alabama International Trade Center (AITC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts webinars on topics including Immigration and Staffing and Alabama Ports Update with JASA.
• Girl Scouts of North-Central AlabamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Sushi Roll Cooking Class held at the DreamLab facility in Vestavia Hills.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Japan-America Society of Washington DC: Washington DC-based Japan-America society engaging in policy, business, and cultural programming with strong ties to government and diplomatic institutions. Comparable as a regional affiliate, though with greater policy focus.
• Japan Society of Boston: Northeast regional Japan-America society providing cultural programming, business networking, and educational outreach. Comparable mission and operating model to JASA.
• Japan Society: The oldest and largest Japan-America cultural and business society in the U.S., based in New York. Directly comparable as a nonprofit membership organization running cultural festivals, language programs, business networking, and educational outreach connecting Japan and the U.S.
• Japan-America Society of Houston: Houston-based regional Japan-America society with parallel corporate membership, cultural festival, and educational programming model. Closely comparable given similar regional scope and corporate-sponsor-driven revenue mix.
• SEUS-Japan Association: Southeastern U.S.-Japan trade and cultural association in which JASA actively participates (47th Annual SEUS-Japan Conference in Tokyo, October 2025). Comparable as a regional US-Japan convening body.
• Japan Society of Chicago: Midwestern Japan-America society operating cultural events, business networking, and language programs. Comparable in structure as a regional nonprofit with corporate members and recurring annual festivals.

Others

• Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta: Diplomatic mission covering the southeastern U.S. that provides recognition and support to JASA (Consul General Maeda visits). Ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.
• Sister Cities International: National umbrella coordinating U.S. city-to-city international partnerships. Comparable as an adjacent nonprofit ecosystem facilitating cultural and economic exchange, though operating on a city-pair model rather than country-to-region.
• The Japan Foundation, New York: Major funder of JASA (Capacity Building Grant, December 2025). Not a peer in the competitive sense but a key funding counterpart and ecosystem participant supporting Japan-related cultural exchange organizations across the U.S.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS): Umbrella body of which JASA is one of 39 regional members. Comparable as the broader network coordinating US-Japan societies nationwide, providing context for JASA's place in the larger bilateral ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/japanalabama
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/japanalabama

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Japan-America Society of Alabama