Japan America Society of Southern California upcoming events

2026 WLC Conference: (Thursday, December 10, 2026)

Fri, 11 Dec 2026 00:30:00 GMT

We invite you to an inspiring and empowering evening with Michele Lando, acclaimed communications strategist, #1 Amazon best-selling author, and motivational speaker. Drawing on her extensive experience helping leaders navigate complexity and change, Michele will share practical insights and actionable strategies to help professionals create greater capacity, clarity, and calm, even in the midst of chaos.

Date & time:

Thursday, December 10. 2026

4:10pm Registration

4:30pm Conference
6:30pm Networking Reception

Conference Venue:
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
725 S. Figueroa Street, 36th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90017

Admission:
$20 JASSC Member / $50 Non-members

Speaker

Michele Lando

CEO & Founder, Skilset Communications, Inc.

Michele Lando is the CEO / Founder of Skilset Communications, Inc, and is a highly successful communications strategist. She is the best-selling author of Create Demand For Your Brand. Her TEDx talk, “How to Align Your Purpose, Passion and Profit”, was inspired by her book.

In support of companies achieving their goals and enhancing their cultures, Michele

authors and delivers keynotes, customized training, facilitated workshops and Master

Class Series'. She works with senior executives, emerging leaders and Fortune 500 teams,

guiding them to most effectively lead and communicate to drive consistent business

results.

To ensure a maximized return on investment, all of her consulting, training and coaching

is tailored to each client. Since launching in 1994, those clients have included American

Express, Bank of America, Cisco Systems, Kaiser Permanente, Metropolitan Water District,

Pacific Life, and Visa, to name a few.

Michele grew up in Los Angeles, is a graduate of UCLA, and continues to reside in

Southern California. As a sales strategist prior to establishing Skilset, she was amongst the

top 2% of female earners nationally by age 28.

SPONSORS

SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS

The Women’s Leadership Counts (WLC) 2025 conference is an excellent opportunity for sponsors to provide a platform for a diverse audience of professional women and men to receive inspiration and empowerment to achieve their career and personal goals. Sponsorship benefits include:

Brand Differentiation – Strengthen your organization’s brand and build brand awareness
Corporate Culture – Enhance your organization’s global diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
Connections – Build a global professional network and gain access to influential leaders and decision-makers

About Women's Leadership Counts

In 2014, the Japan America Society of Southern California's Women's Leadership Counts (WLC) initiative was created as a first-of-its-kind initiative to provide a platform for women in business on both sides of the Pacific to engage in professional and leadership development.

Together with our partner organizations, business executives and community leaders, the WLC will create a network that inspires action and moves the needle on women's leadership.

WLC's Mission Statement

To provide an inclusive and diverse platform for women in business to engage in professional and global leadership development.

Who Should Attend

Current and future corporate, business, academic, non-profit and entrepreneurial women and men leaders who value the U.S-Japan collaboration and wish to expand their networks.

Why You Should Attend

LEARN from global leaders – Understanding the culture of the parent company, management, or client from Japan or overseas is key to having a successful career.

DISCOVER your potential – Build leadership and management skills and navigate through unique corporate culture in a professional environment.

INVEST in yourself – Exchange ideas as well as challenges you are facing with peers and mentors, and learn tactics to advance your career.

BUILD your professional network – Meet a diverse group of women and men representing a wide variety of industries.

Benkyoukai 2027 (Friday, February 05, 2027)

Sat, 06 Feb 2027 01:00:00 GMT

Registration opens in mid-December 2026

What is the "Benkyoukai"?

The Japan Bowl® of California "Benkyoukai" is a free virtual study and cultural exchange program hosted by the Japan America Society of Southern California for high school students studying Japanese.

For 2027, the Japan America Society of Southern California is offering Benkyoukai sessions to students of all proficiency levels (Levels 2, 3, and 4), free of charge.

While Benkyoukai is designed to support students preparing for the National Japan Bowl®, any high school student studying Japanese is welcome to participate, regardless of whether they plan to compete.

Session Schedule

Session 1: Friday, February 5 | 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (PT)
Session 2: Friday, February 12 | 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (PT)
Session 3: Friday, February 19 | 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (PT)
Cultural Day: Friday, February 26 | 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (PT)

*Schedule subject to change
*Students are welcome to participate even if they cannot attend every session.

Session Details

Each session will feature original lectures by Japanese university students on a wide range of topics related to Japanese society, culture, and current trends.

After each presentation, participants will be divided into small breakout rooms by language proficiency level to practice conversational Japanese with the university students and other attendees.

Who Can Participate in the "Benkyoukai"?

Benkyoukai is open to high school students across North America who are studying Japanese.
Due to limited capacity, registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please Note:
Benkyoukai is mainly intended for students studying for the National Japan Bowl®. While some parts of the presentations may be challenging for beginners, conversation practice will be organized by proficiency level.

*The content of Benkyoukai may be recorded and could be shared externally.

What is "Cultural Day"?

Cultural Day is the final session of Benkyoukai, designed for participants to enjoy a fun and engaging cultural lecture as a reward for all their hard work. We invite a special guest speaker from either Japan or the U.S. to present on a fascinating topic related to Japanese culture.

▼ Cultural Day Guest Speaker

Misato Wheeler
Founder of IKIGAI MATCHA®, a Japan-born matcha lifestyle brand

Misato Wheeler is the founder of IKIGAI MATCHA®, a Japan-born matcha lifestyle brand. Through the Japanese concepts of ikigai and matcha, she inspires people to nurture both mind and body while embracing a healthier, more meaningful lifestyle.

A mother of two, Misato will relocate to Maryland, USA, in Spring 2027. She is the Founder and Representative of the International Matcha Advisor Association, a Certified Kanagawa Prefecture Tour Guide, an Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan exhibitor, and an Ambassador for the Kanagawa–Maryland Sister State Relationship. She also has extensive experience collaborating with luxury brand events.

Program Sponsors

Learn More About Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ)

Japan Currents 2027: Save the Date (Tuesday, March 16, 2027)

Tue, 16 Mar 2027 22:30:00 GMT

Please save the date and stay tuned for more information, including the conference theme, speakers, and registration details.

More details coming soon!

Please note that the information below is tentative and subject to change.

Tuesday, March 16, 2027

3:30 PM Registration Begins
4:00 - 6:00 PM Seminar
6:00 -7:00 PM Networking Reception

In-person attendance is strongly encouraged for local participants.
Virtual participation via Zoom is available for non-local participants during the Seminar only.

Time Zones for Virtual Attendees:
• Eastern Time (ET): 7:00–9:00 PM
• Japan Standard Time (JST): Wednesday, March 17, 8:00–10:00 AM

Location
Loyola Marymount University – University Hall
1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Admission
Free

Parking: Paid parking is available on campus ($15 per vehicle, payable onsite).

Japan America Society of Southern California upcoming events

2026 WLC Conference: (Thursday, December 10, 2026)

Benkyoukai 2027 (Friday, February 05, 2027)

Japan Currents 2027: Save the Date (Tuesday, March 16, 2027)

Please note that the information below is tentative and subject to change. Tuesday, March 16, 2027

Please note that the information below is tentative and subject to change.

Tuesday, March 16, 2027