The U.S.-Japan Council will host the 2026 Japan-Texas Economic Summit from May 11-13 at Live! by Loews in Arlington, bringing together around 400 business, government and investment leaders to strengthen economic ties between Japan and Texas.
The three-day invitation-only event comes as Texas continues to attract Japanese investment across advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, energy and digital infrastructure. Sessions will focus on cross-border capital flows, AI infrastructure, data center expansion, energy security and power generation.
The summit takes place against the backdrop of one of the world’s largest bilateral economic relationships. Japan remains one of the largest foreign investors in the United States, with Japanese foreign direct investment stock exceeding $780 billion in recent years. Japanese-owned companies also support close to one million U.S. jobs across sectors including automotive manufacturing, finance, energy and technology.
Trade between the United States and Japan continues to be significant, with annual two-way goods trade exceeding $220 billion. Japan is consistently among America’s top export markets, while U.S. companies continue to expand exports of agricultural goods, energy products, aerospace components and advanced technologies.
Texas has emerged as a key beneficiary of that relationship. According to the Office of the Governor of Texas, Japanese companies invested more than $10.8 billion across 129 projects in Texas between 2014 and 2023, creating more than 20,000 jobs statewide. More than 400 Japanese-owned businesses now operate across Texas, reinforcing the state’s position as a strategic gateway for North American growth.
Additional sectors highlighted in the summit program include semiconductors, space, real estate development, food and beverage, sports and entertainment, and workforce development.
Confirmed speakers include Shigeo Yamada, Hideaki Ohmura, Dustin Burrows, Jane Nelson, Hiroshi Kawano, Toru Matsui, John O’Brien, Tetsuo Ogawa and Takao Tsukui.
“We are seeing a meaningful acceleration of cross-border capital formation between Japan and Texas, particularly in energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital infrastructure,” said Audrey Yamamoto. She said the summit aims to convert that momentum into long-term investment and stronger bilateral partnerships.
The summit is being hosted in partnership with the City of Arlington and the Arlington Economic Development Corporation, with ABeam Consulting serving as organizing sponsor.
As supply chain diversification, AI infrastructure demand and energy security reshape global investment decisions, the summit is expected to provide a timely platform for expanding Japan-Texas cooperation.
