About Keidanren USA
Keidanren USA is the U.S. liaison entity for Keidanren, the Japan Business Federation.
Keidanren has been long recognized and respected as the leading voice for Japanese businesses, with a broad membership consisting of 1,523 corporate members, 109 nationwide industrial/sectoral associations, and 47 regional economic organizations located in every 47 prefectures throughout Japan.
Keidanren seeks to establish consensus in the business community on a variety of important domestic and international issues, and works for their steady and prompt resolution.
At the same time, we communicate with a wide range of stakeholders including political leaders, administrators, labor unions, and citizens. We also strive for the resolution of international issues and the development of closer economic relations with various countries through policy dialogue with the governments and economic associations of each country as well as international organizations.
Keidanren USA’s office is located in Washington, DC. Its core mission is to facilitate more engagement by the Japanese businesses with the U.S. policymaking community, and to promote the longstanding and steadily growing economic contributions made by Japanese companies to the U.S. economy (i.e. No.1 foreign investor in the United Staes for 5 consecutive years (2019-2023) creating almost a million quality jobs throughout the nation).
For more information on Japanese businesses’ contributions in the United States, please refer to “Toward A Stronger and More Resilient U.S.-Japan Relationship 2025”.
Teruko WADA
Executive Director
Teruko WADA is the Executive Director of Keidanren USA. As head of Keidanren’s Washington DC office, she leads its public affairs activities in strengthening the U.S.-Japan economic relationship and raising the profile of Japanese businesses in the U.S.
Teruko has extensive experience and knowledge in public policy advocacy both domestic and international throughout her career at Keidanren. Prior to her current position, she was the Director of International Affairs at Keidanren headquarters in Tokyo responsible for trade policy, economic security, relationship building of Japanese businesses with countries such as U.S, EU, and Canada and policy engagement with multilateral organizations/fora including G7/B7, G20/B20, WTO, OECD/BIAC and APEC/ABAC. Prior to her career in the international field, she engaged in policy advocacy mainly in the areas of business legislations (antitrust, corporate, civil law, consumer protections, corporate governance, and financial regulations), taxation, defense/space industrial policies, energy and regulatory reform.
Teruko earned her B.A. in law from Waseda University and LL.M. from the Graduate School of Law and Politics of the University of Tokyo. She was granted the Fulbright Scholarship and received her LL.M. from the Georgetown University Law Center with distinction. She is also admitted to the NY bar.
She is an avid volunteer for Girl Scouting for many years, serving as Chair/President of Girl Scouts of Japan for 6 years (2009-2011 & 2019-2023) and the World Board Member for World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) for 6 years (2011-2017).
Ken KUROKAWA
Director of External Relations
Ken Kurokawa is Director of External Relations for Keidanren USA. He is in charge of outreach and coordination initiatives regarding the U.S.-Japan economic relationship with: U.S. government entities, think tanks, U.S. industry organizations, Japan-related organizations, and U.S. representative offices of Keidanren member companies. Prior to joining Keidanren USA, Mr. Kurokawa was Director of International & Legislative Affairs at the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), where he represented member company interests on technology policy issues such as trade, tax and immigration.
Mr. Kurokawa brings a unique blend of Japanese business experience and U.S. advocacy experience. He spent over seven years working for The Sumitomo Bank Ltd. in Japan, prior to his time at CCIA. Mr. Kurokawa earned his B.A. in Economics at Keio University in Tokyo, and his M.A. in Political Science at American University’s School of Public Affairs.