Japan Society 2025 Annual Dinner

Held at Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
(811 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019)
Black Tie

We are pleased to welcome you back to our Annual Dinner in 2025! The Japan Society Annual Dinner attracts approximately 700 prominent business and diplomatic leaders.  This year’s program will feature a keynote dialogue with senior executives from the U.S. and Japan’s business communities, along with a special tribute to the rich history of cultural and diplomatic exchange between the two countries through baseball, highlighting over 150 years of shared history. 

Since interest in attending this event is high, we urge you to make your reservation as soon as possible. Please complete and return the registration form to secure your participation.

Keynote Speakers

David Goeckeler

Chairman and CEO, Sandisk Corporation
Chair, U.S.-Japan Business Council
Chairman, Semiconductor Industry Association

Jun Sawada OBE

Executive Chairman, NTT Group
Chairman, Japan-U.S. Business Council
Vice Chair, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)
Co-Chairperson, Kyoto Institute of Philosophy

Moderated by

Douglas L. Peterson

Senior Advisor, Former President & CEO, S&P Global

Japan Society Award Recipient

Kurt A. Gitter, M.D.

Capstone Speaker

Jim Small

President, World Baseball Classic
SVP International, Major League Baseball

Mistress of Ceremonies

Sara Davis Buechner 

Pianist
German Díez Memorial Piano Chair,
Greenwich House Music School, New York City
Professor of Piano, Temple University and New York University

Performance

Kokusyoku Sumire

Featuring Live Art by 

Acky Bright
Representation courtesy of Amuse Group USA

2025 Annual Dinner Vice Chairs

Atsuko Chitose
SVP & Chief Strategy Officer
Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc.

Hiroshi Kawano
Executive Chairman of the Board
MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation

Tetsuo Kawate
President & CEO
Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas)

Linda Kirkpatrick
President, Americas
Mastercard

Keiji Machida
Chairman & CEO
Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc.

Masao Masuda
Managing Executive Officer
Development Bank of Japan Inc.

Douglas L. Peterson
Senior Advisor, Former President & CEO
S&P Global

Hirofumi Otsuka
Senior Managing Executive Officer
SMBC Americas
CEO, Americas Division, and President and CEO
SMBC Americas Holdings, Inc.

Daniel Simkowitz
Co-President
Morgan Stanley

Kotaro Tameda
President & CEO
Sumitomo Corporation of Americas

Donald J. Toumey
Partner
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Lee Waite
Vice Chair of Financial Institutions
Citi

SUPPORT LEVELS

RESERVATIONS
View benefits and download the registration form (PDF).

INFORMATION
Tel: (212) 715-1219
E-mail: [email protected]
Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

To see highlights from the 2024 Annual Dinner, please visit this page.