JAPAN — Washington State Secretary of State Steve Hobbs says a recent trade mission to Japan helped strengthen the state’s longstanding economic relationship with the country while opening new opportunities in industries ranging from aerospace and technology to gaming, agriculture and professional sports.
The trade relationship between Washington and Japan is worth $11 billion and supports 25,000 jobs.
The goal of the trip, according to Hobbs, was to elevate Washington’s local businesses on the world stage.
“The success of our homegrown businesses translates to the success of our local economy, benefiting all Washingtonians,” Hobbs said.
The trade mission spanned 11 days from May 16 through May 27. This was Hobbs’ third trade mission to Japan since 2023, where his office was able to represent a broad range of Washington state’s key industries.
In the past, trade missions were primarily focused on the Tokyo Game Market, but this mission also made connections and opened doors to other sectors, including aerospace and manufacturing, sustainable aviation fuel, agriculture and sports.
“Japanese consumers have demonstrated interests in sectors that are major drivers of economic growth in Washington state. This includes wine, shellfish and tabletop gaming,” Hobbs said. “On this mission, we were able to make connections on behalf of Washington winemakers and Washington sports teams, which were a first for our office. We are confident we have initiated friendships that will continue to grow into the future.”
All of this is in addition to the existing business relationships between Japan and Washington state that bolster both economies. For example, Boeing has a strong presence in both places and supports an aerospace supplier industry that employs more than 100,000 people in Washington state. Several other major companies with significant footprints in both places include Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo.
“Our relationship with Japan is unique in the fact that they are major importers of many of the products that Washington state is known for. Japan is Asia’s biggest importer of wine, hay, dairy … and frozen french fries. Japanese consumers are some of the most avid gamers in the world,” Hobbs said. “Japan and Washington state also bolster each other’s aerospace and tech economies. Japan is home to the largest concentration of Boeing suppliers outside the U.S., and Japanese companies like Nintendo, Sony and Pokémon have all put down roots in Western Washington, where we have a thriving creative economy.”
In 2025, the Japanese government committed to investing $550 billion in the U.S. economy and has actively been looking for opportunities since. An added purpose of the trade mission, Hobbs said, was to show Japanese officials that Washington is the right place to invest.
“While making new connections is important, so is fostering existing relationships. Aerospace, tech and tabletop gaming are all markets that are predicted to grow in the future, and we want to emphasize to our international counterparts that Washington state will continue to be an enthusiastic business partner,” Hobbs said.
On the trip, Hobbs and other representatives were accompanied by seasoned experts in U.S.-Japan relations and Japanese culture. They ensured the group understood communication norms and business practices specific to Japan, helping navigate cultural differences and strengthen trust between all parties.
In exchange, Hobbs and his team gifted Japanese business leaders products that he felt represented the “Best of Washington State” including Washington wine, smoked oysters, Quinault salmon, Starbucks coffee, Chukar cherries, Almond Roca, and Magic: The Gathering cards.
Hobbs led the trade mission alongside state Reps. Chris Corry, R-Yakima, and Sharon Tomiko Santos, D-Seattle, as well as representatives from the Washington Department of Commerce, Impact Washington, Boeing, Economic Alliance Snohomish County and the Clallam Economic Development Council.
Representatives from Washington’s gaming industry also accompanied the trip, including Indipro Games, iQ Pictures, Lone Shark Games, Dream Compendium, Night Crew Games, Coin Flip Games, Monzee Games, Fun First Productions and Zac Makes Games. Representatives from the Seattle Seahawks also attended, including retired defensive end Cliff Avril.
The Seahawks’ inclusion was intended to connect with the team’s overseas fan base, known as the 12s, and foster a relationship with the Japan American Football Association, with the intent of continuing the partnership and exploring future opportunities.
According to Hobbs, JAFA was excited about the opportunity to collaborate with the Seahawks, including the possibility of a future game in Japan and ways the team could support young athletes.
Hobbs said the mission was met with an overwhelmingly positive reception, as is typical during visits by Washington delegates. While the United States and Japan continue to maintain strong ties, Washington state specifically has had connections with the country since the 1800s.
“Senior Japanese government officials and leaders of major corporations consistently emphasized that the U.S.-Japan partnership continues to deepen,” Hobbs said.
On the first day of the trip, Hobbs met with senior leaders from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Boeing Japan, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Subaru.
“The meetings with senior leaders at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Subaru reinforced the depth of the partnership between Washington state’s aerospace industry and Japan,” Hobbs said. “At each company, we discussed their critical role in Boeing’s global supply chain. Their contributions, including wings, engines and other essential aircraft components, are fundamental to Boeing aircraft, and the conversations reaffirmed the strength of these longstanding relationships and their continued commitment to Washington state.”
Hobbs also highlighted Washington’s leadership in sustainable aviation fuel and explored opportunities for collaboration with Japanese industry partners to advance aviation sustainability and innovation.
In addition, the delegation met with the presidents of Boeing Japan and Microsoft Japan, as well as the president of Nintendo, who joined from the company’s headquarters in Kyoto.
“During these conversations, both sides emphasized the strong economic partnership between our countries and our shared commitment to innovation. We were able to identify areas where we can continue to work together,” Hobbs said.
Hobbs added that a particularly memorable part of the trip was attending a reception at the U.S. ambassador’s residence, where he met with leading figures from across Japan.
As a self-described gaming enthusiast who even has his own gaming convention, OrcaCon, Hobbs said his time at the Tokyo Game Market was particularly memorable. There, Washington game makers were able to showcase their products directly to Japanese consumers.
“We were excited to return to this market to continue building our reputation as a region with a world-class creative economy,” Hobbs said.
Looking ahead, Hobbs said there is strong momentum to continue deepening the relationship between Washington state and Japan.
A key takeaway, he said, was the eagerness of Japanese government and business leaders to explore opportunities in Washington state.
“On our trip, we consistently heard that the success of our relationship is built on trust and our sustained engagement with our Japanese partners,” Hobbs said. “Every conversation reinforced that outcomes of this scale are only possible by continuing to deepen relationships over time.”
Going forward, Hobbs said the focus will be on translating that goodwill into tangible opportunities.
Another key priority is bringing more Japanese partners and decision-makers to Washington state so they can see firsthand the opportunities and business climate available throughout the state.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
