The Japan-America Society of Mississippi is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to serving all Mississippi residents and Japanese nationals interested in business and cultural issues in each nation. The Society strives to serve the dual constituency by sponsoring business-related and cultural programs on a wide variety of subjects to benefit both American and Japanese members. The Japan-America Society of Mississippi was founded on May 2, 2002, by Mississippi business, academic, government, and community leaders. It was the consensus of the founding members that the timing to form such an organization was ideal as the state began to host a number of Japanese investments in the state. They also felt that it was necessary to create an environment which will be conducive to further economic growth in the state as well as to broaden the global vision of Mississippi's population.The Japan-America Society of Mississippi is an affiliate of the National Association of Japan America Societies. Ten committees, each lead by one of the members of the Board of Directors, develop, execute, and manage the society's program offerings. The committees that are initially planned include annual events, business council, cultural exchange, education, finance, language, membership, program, publicity, and sister city. The Board of Directors feels that the success of the organization will be based upon the active participation by members and member organizations. The society encourages and solicits participation from each member.