2021 Leaders and Volunteers of the Year

Dec 24

The ACCJ recognizes exceptional contributions from across its three chapters

Each year, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) honors members who have shown extraordinary dedication. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic once again made the usual celebratory gathering at Tokyo American Club difficult, so ACCJ President Jenifer Rogers presented certificates as part of a virtual Leadership Forum on December 16.

Leaders of the Year

Royanne Doi

As chair of the Governance Task Force, Doi worked tirelessly throughout the year, leading numerous meetings and discussions related to enhancing the chamber’s governance practices. She ensured that the decision-making process was inclusive and transparent, giving multiple stakeholders opportunities to share input.

Eric Waters

As vice-chair of the Women in Business Committee, Waters played a key role in shaping the agenda and activities while providing the perspective of male leaders and allies—a critical factor in driving change. He inspired other men to step up as allies of women in business, and advance diverse leaders in the workplace.

Julian Bashore (Chubu)

Bashore revitalized the Aerospace and Manufacturing Committee as its chair by recognizing the need for continued aerospace representation while also incorporating the local manufacturing focus that is critical to the Chubu region. And as vice-chair of the Programs Committee, he led the Charity Golf Tournament, enabling the ACCJ to support local charities.

Rica Bradshaw (Kansai)

As chair of the Kansai Community Service Committee, Bradshaw helped restructure the committee’s focus, increase the number of active members, and establish close relationships with local groups to enhance education on environmental issues in schools. She also executed the fundraising alliance with the ACCJ No-Show Charity Ball to support the Kansai Food Bank.

Yuri Ichihashi (Kansai)

Ichihashi was a driving force behind the 10th annual Kansai Leadership Series. The first to be held virtually, this year’s series had a record number of registrants. And as co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, her leadership in organizing the 7th annual Diversity and Inclusion Summit Series was indispensable.

Volunteers of the Year

Noriko Morikawa

A member of the Women in Business Committee, Morikawa’s valuable insights on the workplace challenges facing women in Japan led to better tailored events and an impressive network of speakers. She served as an inspiring speaker herself, as part of the Women in the Boardroom Series, and helped explore collaboration with groups such as the Keidanren (the Japanese Business Federation).

Daisuke Yasumizu

Yasumizu contributed endless energy and expertise to the Healthcare Committee, proactively proposing new speaker programs and advocacy initiatives. He has been a key catalyst in driving greater alignment between the committee and the Healthcare x Digital (HxD) initiative, and provided the ACCJ with crucial information regarding our Covid-19 vaccination rollout.

James Hedden (Chubu)

A supporter of the Chubu Children’s Fund and Chubu Walkathon, Hedden’s commitment to volunteerism and his community is unparalleled. For more than five years, he has devoted immense resources. Most recently he served as “Walk Tanto,” developing new ways to secure funds and creating tie-ins that benefited the charities, sponsors, and participants.

HxD Initiative Team (Kansai)

Torsten Kanisch, Francisco Proaño, Christian Boettcher, and Yasuhiko Iida successfully executed the first ACCJ HxD startup pitch event in 2020, and followed that up this year by increasing submissions by 30 percent. The HxD team embodies all four ACCJ core pillars, and their groundbreaking work is making a positive impact on the chamber’s healthcare and digital transformation goals.

Special Achievement Award

Robert Noddin

As founder and chair of the F500 CEO Advisory Council, Noddin enabled large-company CEOs to become more actively engaged with the ACCJ. He has also been a strong champion of advocacy with the US government, participating in DC Doorknocks visits to Washington. And as a member of the ACCJ Election Governance Task Force in 2020 and the Governance Task Force this year, he has helped bring significant, positive changes to the chamber’s governance.