National Association of Japan-America Societies

What National Association of Japan-America Societies does

The National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) membership association incorporated in New York State in 1979 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. since 1999. It serves as the umbrella network for 40 regional Japan-America Societies spanning 31 U.S. states and approximately 10,000 individuals, providing them with grant funding, administrative guidance, conference programming, and representation before governments and major Japan-related foundations. The organization was founded under former Ambassador U. Alexis Johnson and has administered the Keizai Koho Center Teacher Fellowship (since 2004), High School Diplomats (since 2007), and the Japan-America Grassroots Summit (since 2011).

NAJAS's core offerings are a portfolio of cultural, educational, public affairs, and bilateral-relations programs delivered through its member societies. Major programs include Japan Currents (a media and analysis program), Geostrategy in the Grassroots, the NAJAS/KKC Business Speaker Series, the ACCJ/NAJAS Business Leaders Series, the Japan US Military Program (JUMP), the U.S.-Japan Future Forum, Digital Replicas of Traditional Art (Tsuzuri), the annual Network Conference, and the NAJAS-99 stakeholder directory (print and digital flipbook). The underlying technology footprint is modest: Wild Apricot membership-management software, OAuth-based SSO with Google/Microsoft/Apple, and a website (us-japan.org) distributing a biweekly newsletter. The organization operates with three staff members (President, Senior Manager for Operations & Communications, and Manager for Development & Member Service).

NAJAS earns revenue through (i) tiered membership dues from its 40 society members (structured by IRS-990 reported revenue and unchanged for over a decade), (ii) affiliate memberships at $199 (organizations) and $99 (individuals) on 12-month terms, (iii) NAJAS-99 directory sales with bulk discounts, (iv) conference and registration fees, and (v) grants from major Japan-related foundations, with corporate sponsorship (Japanet in 2025, JERA in 2026) layered on top. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: growth is generated through network expansion, annual conferences, and cross-society collaboration rather than direct sales or paid marketing.

Name

National Association of Japan-America Societies

Legal name

National Association of Japan-America Societies, Inc.

Website

https://us-japan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Association of Japan-America Societies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association founded in 1979 that connects 40 regional Japan-America Societies across 31 U.S. states, delivering cultural, educational, and public affairs programs to approximately 10,000 networked individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAAAG

Human Rights, Democracy & Rule of Law IGOs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Multilateral & Intergovernmental Organizations

SECONDARYBPADAAAL

Culture, Education & Heritage Intergovernmental Organizations

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Multilateral & Intergovernmental Organizations

Keywords

• Cultural exchange programs
• Nonprofit association services
• US-Japan relations
• Membership organization
• Public affairs programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from 40 member Japan-America Societies, with dues structured by tier based on the organization's IRS-990 reported revenue. Fees have remained unchanged for over a decade.
2. Affiliate Membership Fees: $199 per 12-month term for organizations; $99 discounted rate for individuals who are dues-paying members of a NAJAS-affiliated Japan-America Society.
3. NAJAS-99 Directory Sales: Sale of the NAJAS-99 print directory (a stakeholder guide to U.S.-Japan organizations) with discounts for bulk purchases (10% off for 3+ copies, 20% off for 10+).
4. Grants: Program series grants awarded in cooperation with major Japan-related foundations to support member society programming (public affairs, geostrategy, business, security, cultural issues).
5. Conference Fees: Revenue from annual network conferences, including registration fees for the flagship annual gathering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NAJAS is a nonprofit membership association that connects and supports 40 regional Japan-America Societies across 31 U.S. states to strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship through cultural, educational, and public affairs programs. It sells tiered annual society and affiliate memberships, hosts an Annual Network Conference, publishes the NAJAS-99 stakeholder directory, and administers a portfolio of program series on topics including business, geostrategy, military relations, cultural exchange, and youth education.

Product overview

NAJAS operates as a non-profit membership organization rather than a technology company, providing a portfolio of cultural, educational, and public affairs programs designed to strengthen US-Japan relations. The core offerings include: Japan Currents (media program), the NAJAS-99 directory (stakeholder guide), multiple speaker series (NAJAS/KKC Business Speaker Series, ACCJ/NAJAS Business Leaders Series), youth programs (High School Diplomats), exchange programs (Japan-America Grassroots Summit), and an annual network conference. These programs are delivered through member societies across 40 organizations spanning 31 US states, with support services including grant opportunities, administrative guidance, and representation before governments and foundations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NAJAS Society Membership Annual tiered membership sold to regional Japan-America Societies and Japan Societies across the United States, with dues structured by tier based on the organization's IRS-990 reported revenue and approved by existing member societies. Members gain access to the national network, grant programs, annual conferences, representation with governments and foundations, cross-network learning, and group benefits.
• NAJAS Affiliate Membership

Named customers3 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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• JERAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026JERA, Japan's top power producer and one of the world's largest LNG buyers, serves as Premier Sponsor for the 2026 Network Conference in New Orleans. JERA is making significant investments in Louisiana/American energy futures including natural gas, renewables, and low-carbon fuels (ammonia and hydrogen). The partnership provides prominent visibility for JERA at the flagship annual conference.
• NHK WORLD-JAPANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHK WORLD-JAPAN provided generous support for the debut of the NAJAS-99 print edition at the 2024 Annual Meeting, enabling the production and distribution of this stakeholder directory.
• Center for International Exchange (CIE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIE partners with NAJAS to organize the annual Japan-America Grassroots Summit, bringing 100-200 Japanese citizens to Pennsylvania for cultural understanding and lifelong friendship programming.
• JapanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJapanet is featured as a conference promotion partner, offering cruise packages that 'Uncover Japan's Past and Present' and promoted through NAJAS channels.
• Keizai Koho CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAJAS has served as U.S. Administrator for the Keizai Koho Center Teacher Fellowship program since 2004, facilitating educational exchange between Japan and the U.S.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Pacific Century Institute: Bipartisan nonprofit focused on U.S.-Asia policy and next-generation leadership development. Emerging peer in the U.S.-Japan leadership/exchange space with partial programmatic overlap.
• U.S.-Asia Institute: Nonprofit focused on U.S.-Asia relations through policy dialogue, youth programs, and exchange. Emerging peer with comparable bilateral U.S.-Asia mission but smaller scale than NAJAS.

Broad incumbents

• The Japan Foundation: Japanese government-affiliated institution conducting international cultural exchange globally, with significant U.S. programming. A broader incumbent in the same U.S.-Japan cultural/diplomatic space, often a partner and funder rather than a direct competitor.
• Asia Society: Larger, broader nonprofit covering all of Asia with policy, arts, and education programs. Comparable as a peer institution and partner/fellow-traveler in U.S.-Asia public affairs programming, though much broader in geographic scope than NAJAS.
• Japan-United States Friendship Commission: U.S. federal commission funding people-to-people exchange between the U.S. and Japan. A historical funder of NAJAS, with a broader mandate and direct grant-making role, making it an incumbent peer and counterparty rather than a competitor.

Direct peers

• American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ): Business association of U.S. companies operating in Japan. Direct peer in U.S.-Japan business programming; NAJAS already co-hosts the ACCJ/NAJAS Business Leaders Series, making it both a peer and a partner.
• Japan Society (New York): New York-based nonprofit promoting U.S.-Japan arts, culture, business, and policy. Direct peer in mission, programs (speaker series, exchange, cultural programming), and bilateral U.S.-Japan focus.
• Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership: Japan Foundation subsidiary funding U.S.-Japan intellectual exchange and policy dialogue. Direct peer in grant-making for U.S.-Japan programs and frequent partner to organizations like NAJAS.
• U.S.-Japan Council: National nonprofit strengthening U.S.-Japan relations through leadership programs, networking, and policy engagement. Direct peer serving overlapping audiences (corporate, policy, next-generation leaders) with a comparable network-and-program model.
• The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation: Nonprofit advancing U.S.-Asia relations with strong Japan focus, running exchange programs (including with Keidanren) and policy dialogue. Direct peer in bilateral U.S.-Japan programming, government relations, and grants-funded model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/JapanetAmerica
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61555984919415
• Instagraminstagram.com/japanetamerica_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Association of Japan-America Societies