GEORGIA-JAPAN RELATIONSHIP
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
GEORGIA-JAPAN HISTORY
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The JASG commends the creation of the Georgia-Japan Legislative Caucus whose mission is to support efforts within the Georgia General Assembly to sustain and enhance the deep economic and cultural relationship between the country of Japan and the state of Georgia. The Georgia-Japan Legislative Caucus is an official caucus of state legislators who value the long history between Georgia and Japan. It is open to all legislators, but particularly those who have Japanese-owned companies in their districts, represent Georgia-Japan sister cities, and/or generally support proven foreign direct investment in the state. |
POLITICS
Official relations between Japan and the state of Georgia were first
inaugurated in 1973 with the establishment of a Georgia State Department
of Industry, Trade and Tourism office in Tokyo. The opening of the
Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta in April 1974
offered a major boost in bilateral political relations. In 1991, Prime Minister Toshihiki Kaifu visited Atlanta. The visit of the
Emperor and Empress to Atlanta in June 1994 was a crowning touch to
these developing political ties. Political relations, economic development, and personal contacts are renewed and reinforced every year by Georgia state
government officials at the Annual Joint Meeting of the Japan U.S.
Southeast Association. The Japanese Government also sponsored a visit of
two Georgia state legislators to Japan in late November-early December
1995, and through the GEN-J program, a group of over 20 state senators/representatives in 2019.
Georgia shares a Sister State/Prefecture relationship with Kagoshima. There are 11 Sister City relationships between Georgia and Japan: Elberton-Mure, Americus-Miyoshi, Gainesville-Izunokuni, Atlanta-Fukuoka, LaGrange-Aso, Augusta-Takarazuka, Macon-Kurobe, Savannah-Shimizu, Columbus-Kiryu, Rome-Kumamoto, Dublin-Osaki. Georgia and Japan also share 1 Sister Port relationship between Savannah and Shimizu.
ECONOMY
Georgia is regarded as the center of Japanese industry in the U.S. Southeast. Japanese-affiliated companies have invested $10.4 billion in Georgia, where 547 Japanese-affiliated companies currently operate. These companies together employ nearly 37,000 Georgian workers. Some major Japanese firms in Georgia include Kubota, Murata, Panasonic, Ricoh, TOTO, Toyo Tire, Yamaha, and YKK. In 2015, Georgia's imports from Japan amounted to $4.61 billion, making Japan the 5th largest international importer, and Georgia's exports to Japan amounted to $1.37 billion, making Japan the 6th largest export market. Over 50 Georgia companies have operations in Japan including Aflac, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, NCR, Newell Rubbermaid, and UPS).