Welcome to JCD!
 

The Japanese automobile industry began expanding into the United States in the late 1970s, with Detroit, Michigan as its center of operations. Japanese business people served as a bridge between American and Japanese businesses in Detroit. However, following the bankruptcy of several major automakers in 2009, the city of Detroit, already in a state of disrepair, was finally forced into financial bankruptcy in 2013. At the same time, the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) also went bankrupt. The DIA is known for its collection of American art, making it the sixth largest in the United States. It also houses numerous works by famous Impressionist artists, including Cézanne and Van Gogh.

 

The Japan Business Society of Detroit (JBSD) stepped up to raise $3.2 million in donations for the DIA, hoping to contribute to the revitalization of the city of Detroit by reviving the DIA, which has such precious arts and cultural assets. A permanent Japanese gallery opened at the DIA in November 2017, and the opening event successfully attracted an impressive 7,000 visitors by showcasing a wide variety of traditional Japanese performing arts and craft culture.

 

The Japan Cultural Development (JCD), are a group under JBSD that began working at the end of 2016 to plan and execute events related to Japanese culture with DIA as our main partner. Starting with the Hinamatsuri (Girl's Day) in March 2017, the Japan Gallery Opening Event in November 2017 was a memorable event that surprised and impressed many local residents. Since then, JCD continued to promote friendly exchanges between Japan and the United States through culture, organizing annual Hinamatsuri events and performances by Japanese cultures.

 

JCD will continue to strive to provide inspiring Japanese cultural events to the Michigan community.