PHOENIX, AZ (September 10, 2025) — Governor Hobbs and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) announced today the opening of a new Arizona Trade and Investment office in Japan. The new office, a part of the Arizona Commerce Authority, is located in Tokyo, Japan, and will serve as a platform to increase economic collaboration and foreign direct investment opportunities between Arizona and Japan, one of Arizona’s largest trading partners. The Japan trade office marks the third Arizona trade and investment office strategically located in Asia, advancing Arizona’s global competitiveness in a key region for technology innovation.

“Arizona’s new trade and investment office in Japan represents an exciting opportunity to strengthen collaboration across high-tech sectors and expand growth opportunities for Arizona-based businesses,” said Governor Hobbs. 

Companies operating in Arizona with headquarters or a presence in Japan span semiconductor, automotive, and mining industries such as Fujifilm, Toyota Motors North America, JX Advanced Metals, NRS Logistics America, Pentagon Technologies, and Komatsu.

“We are excited to open Arizona’s new trade and investment office in Japan, one of Arizona’s largest trading partners,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “Trade between Arizona and Japan grew more than 23% over the last five years while Japan is one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment in Arizona. My thanks to Governor Hobbs and our Legislature for their leadership to grow this important partnership.”

Japan is one of Arizona’s largest trading partners. In 2024, total trade between Arizona and Japan reached $3.7 billion, a historic high. 

Arizona ranked second for metal ore exports and fourth for computer equipment and communications equipment exports to Japan in 2024. Japan was Arizona’s largest export market for pharmaceuticals and medicines and third-largest for navigational, measuring, electromedical and control instruments; metal ores; and communications equipment in 2024. Arizona ranked first for industrial machinery imports from Japan in 2024. Japan was Arizona’s top import source for products in the industrial machinery; other general-purpose machinery; and metalworking machinery industries.

The Arizona Commerce Authority has selected Tsutomu (Tom) Hashimoto as the director of the Arizona Trade and Investment Office in Japan. Mr. Hashimoto brings over 42 years of business experience with more than 30 years at Sumitomo Corporation and was previously an advisor with JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization).

The ACA has hosted multiple Japanese delegations with business and government leaders over the last year, most recently in February 2025 and November 2024, in which the ACA and local partners showcased Arizona’s business climate, education and workforce advantages, and identified opportunities to strengthen ties between Arizona and Japan.

The ACA operates Arizona trade and investment offices in Japan, Taiwan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and Israel.

Media Contact

Alyssa Tufts, Arizona Commerce Authority, [email protected]

About the Arizona Commerce Authority

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create - attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on X @azcommerce.