President Yamaguchi Speaks at JETRO Event in Tokyo for SelectUSA 2026

On March 4, 2026, at the JETRO Headquarters in Tokyo (Akasaka), President Toyokazu Yamaguchi of American Katerra (Yamaguchi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.) took the stage as a featured speaker in the “U.S. Market Entry Seminar 2026: Latest Trends and Key Points on the SelectUSA Program, Visas, and Labor Market”.

Co-hosted by JETRO and the U.S. Embassy’s Commercial Service, the event drew 105 companies and 123 participants interested in investing in the United States. President Yamaguchi shared American Katerra’s firsthand experience establishing a U.S. subsidiary, drawing strong interest from attendees.

SelectUSA is the flagship foreign direct investment (FDI) promotion program led by the U.S. Department of Commerce. It supports companies worldwide looking to expand or establish operations in the United States by providing:

• Up-to-date market intelligence, regulatory guidance, and incentive information
• Direct connections to state economic development organizations (EDOs)
• Federal-level advocacy and policy support

Since its inception, SelectUSA has facilitated over $135 billion in new investment projects and supported more than 105,000 jobs across the U.S. and territories.

JETRO has maintained a long-standing and close collaboration with SelectUSA and the U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

This seminar is part of that ongoing partnership. JETRO actively promotes the SelectUSA Investment Summit (scheduled for May 3–6, 2026, in National Harbor, Maryland) to Japanese companies and organizes business missions, matchmaking events, and on-site visits.

Together with the U.S. Embassy, JETRO provides a comprehensive “one-stop” support system to help Japanese firms successfully enter and grow in the U.S. market.

In his presentation, President Yamaguchi shared American Katerra’s participation as an observer at the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2025 (May 11–14, 2025, Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, Maryland).

Invited by the U.S. Embassy in Japan, the team visited booths of Japanese exhibitors, engaged in discussions on potential collaborations in technology and manufacturing, and attended key networking events such as the State and Local Night Reception.

A particularly valuable moment was the meeting with Japanese Ambassador to the United States Shigeo Yamada, where strategic priorities for Japanese businesses investing in the U.S. were discussed. These connections strengthened ties with Japan’s diplomatic and business communities and directly supported follow-on relationships with Texas state officials and potential suppliers.

The Japanese government positions outward investment to the United States as a key national economic strategy. Through JETRO, it provides robust support for Japanese companies expanding abroad.

Japan has ranked as the top source of foreign direct investment in the U.S. for multiple consecutive years (most recently leading all countries in 2024 with total stock of $819.2 billion). JETRO’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SelectUSA enables joint initiatives such as “Japan Day” at the Summit and coordinated business missions.

American Katerra LLC, established in San Antonio, Texas, in October 2024, is a direct beneficiary of this strong Japan–U.S. economic alignment. Focusing on steel processing, carbon management, Green Carbon Steel, BIM, and AI/IoT-driven next-generation manufacturing, the company has rapidly advanced thanks in part to SelectUSA and JETRO support.

President Yamaguchi emphasized that thorough preparation and building strong local networks are the true keys to success in the U.S. market.

American Katerra plans to participate again in the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit (May 3–6, National Harbor, MD) and will continue expanding operations from its Texas base.

Japanese companies considering U.S. expansion If you’re interested in the SelectUSA program, JETRO support, or learning from a company that has already gone through the process, feel free to contact American Katerra. We’re happy to share real-world insights from our journey.
Under the solid Japan–U.S. partnership, let’s build the future of sustainable manufacturing together!

American Katerra remains committed to delivering “Japanese quality × American challenge” in the U.S. market.