Japan-America Society of Oregon

The Japan-America Society of Oregon (JASO) is a comprehensive member-based organization dedicated to strengthening business and community connections between the United States and Japan. Based in Portland, OR, JASO offers a diverse array of professional programs and services designed to support both corporations and individuals in building meaningful cross-cultural relationships. The organization provides business speaker series, corporate culture training, and specialized services including the DVM program and Women's Leadership Council to help professionals navigate and thrive in the US-Japan business landscape. JASO also offers extensive Japanese language instruction through multiple delivery formats—online Zoom classes, in-person courses in Portland and Salem, and personalized private one-on-one sessions tailored to individual professional and personal needs. For the education sector, JASO operates the Japan on the Road program, bringing authentic Japanese cultural experiences to elementary school students across Oregon and Southwest Washington, while also hosting the Pacific Northwest Japan Bowl and Japanese Speech Contest. The organization's cultural programming includes networking events, professional development opportunities through the NEXT Young Professionals group, and community engagement activities. With over 120 corporate members and 800+ individual members, JASO combines volunteer-driven passion with professional expertise to facilitate business connections, cultural exchange, and educational advancement throughout the Portland region and beyond.