The second annual “International Women’s Day Panel Discussion & Networking Event” was held on March 6 at the Nippon Club (*this event was held in Japanese.) A day to reflect on the achievements of women and to honor their courage and determination, which began in 1904 with a demonstration for women’s suffrage in New York City, In 1975, the United Nations designated March 8 as “International Women’s Day. In Italy, March 8 is “FESTA DELLA DONNA,” means Women’s Day, but it is also known as “Mimosa Day,” a day to thank women and send mimosa flowers, a symbol of love and happiness, to mothers, wives, friends, and business colleagues.

This year’s theme was “The Option of Working Abroad,” and six panelists active in Japan and the U.S. were invited to participate in a very heated discussion based on their own experiences, and to answer questions from the audience during the Q&A session. The discussion was followed by networking. The event was fully booked, and due to popular demand, it will be available on demand from Monday, March 18 through Sunday, March 24.

Panelists
Taiko Otsuka (Partner, Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory LLC)
Aya Komaki (President, Sanrio Entertainment)
Miki Oikawa (President, POLA INC. / Senior Executive Officer, POLA ORBIS HOLDINGS INC.)
Ryoko Mochizuki (Board President, JASSI, Japanese American Social Services, Inc./President, LORMA HR Advisory Service)
Noriko Ito (President, Mizuho Bank USA and Head of Custody Services, Mizuho Americas)
Masaaki Maeda (Vice President & Assistant Secretary, JCCI NY/Nippon Club/JCC Fund)

During the networking session, Ms. Joan Coukos, a female chocolatier from Chocolat Moderne and her husband offered a chocolate sampling. Chocolat Moderne, which opened in New York in 2003, is an up-and-coming chocolate brand that has been called “the modern art of chocolate” for its innovative style that sparkles with the delicate sensitivity of a woman. As Joanne is a lover of Japanese food, The Kimono Collection‘s dark chocolate bonbons are decorated with beautiful colored patterns inspired by Japanese cherry blossoms and vintage kimonos.

We would like to thank the 18 member companies that sponsored this event.

<Gold Sponsors>
Deloitte LLP Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas) MUFG Bank, Ltd.
NTT America, Inc.
Sojitz Corporation of America

<Silver Sponsors>
Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc.
Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation of Americas
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Ltd.

<Bronze Sponsors>
Amnet New York Inc.
DLI North America Inc.
Hotta Liesenberg Saito LLP
IHI Americas Inc.
ITO EN (North America) INC.
KDDI America, Inc.
Panasonic Corporation of North America
Sakura Insurance Agency, Inc.

■ Cooperation with Chocolat Moderne (Chocolate Tasting)