If you’re looking to establish deeper ties to Japan in Chicago, here are some good places to start.
Japan is one of the most advanced countries in the world – and there are lots of chances to find it in Chicago, whether you’re an anime fan, looking to teach English there, looking to expand your business there, or a combination of the three.
Consulate
The first place to go is, of course, the consulate, for all your visa/diplomatic needs. One floor below their main office is the Japan Information Center, which occasionally holds speech contests, cultural events, has a library full of books about Japan, and is the place to go to get registered for the JET program, where young people can take up temporary residency in Japan and teach English.
Japanese America Society of Chicago
One of many places where you can learn Japanese in the city, JASC offers Japanese language classes (and EFL for Japanese speakers) year round, as well as occasional cultural events.
Japanese American Service Committee
Just like the Japanese American Society, the Service Committee provides language classes on Japanese and EFL, as well as classes on judo, cooking, classical dance, taiko drumming and more. They are also much more vocal on contemporary issues related to the Nikkei and Nisei experience like their colleagues at the Japanese American Citizenship League. They also collect oral histories of the community with their partners the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society.
Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chicago
A key organization in the business community, especially those looking to connect with Japanese partners or the Chicago offices of Japanese companies. They also started a program for Japanese Futabaki schools, which are available to children of JCCC members and supported by the Japanese government.
Japanese External Trade Organization
One of six regional offices of JETRO around the United States, they provide a range of services to US companies looking to expand their businesses to Japan, or Japanese companies looking to set up business in the US. They also assist Japanese companies at trade shows like the National Restaurant Association show, which happens each May at McCormick Place.
The Midwest U. S.-Japan Association
Mostly for large corporations, senior policy makers and other top folks. The Association meets alternatively in the US and Japan each year to review economic (and otherwise) relations between the American Midwest and Japan, and talk about possible progress over the next year.
Osaka-Chicago Sister Cities Committee
(full disclosure: I volunteer for the committee) Osaka and Chicago have been sister cities for over 45 years. The committee, an all-volunteer group, is organized under Chicago’s Sister City International. Among their programs is a cheering station in the Chicago marathon, and events remembering the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake, among many other events.
Further away
Once you’re in Japan, it’s useful to get in touch with the Illinois Asia-Pacific Office of Trade an Investment in Tokyo, run under the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The department is in charge of raising Illinois’ business profile around the world and encourage foreign direct investment (FDI) into the state, along with assisting Illinois companies in getting set up abroad. The American Chamber of Commerce of Japan (ACCJ) has chapters in Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo. The US has an embassy in Tokyo, as well as consulates in Fukuoka, Nagoya, Naha, Osaka, and Sapporo.