Around 80 professionals are gathered at the Muirfield Village Golf Club for breakfast. Grilled salmon, miso soup and rice are on the menu.
Hideki Matsuyama, winner of the 2014 Memorial Tournament, answers questions from Yoshihiro Hidaka, president and CEO of Hidaka USA. Both gentlemen speak in Japanese. Even before the conversation is translated into English, more than half the room understands what’s being said and responds with applause, nodding or laughter.
This kind of scene could only play out in Dublin, Ohio. That’s largely due to the fact that nearly 2,200 Japanese nationals live in Dublin, the largest Japanese community in Ohio.
What draws Japanese people to Dublin, of all places? For one, Dublin is home to 25 Japanese businesses. And that’s no surprise, considering Japan is the No. 1 foreign investor in Ohio, with businesses providing about 71,000 jobs, or 30 percent of all employment from foreign companies in the state.
Dublin resident Hidekazu Kogure and his family are among the many Japanese nationals who call Dublin home. Kogure moved here from Tochigi, Japan in 2013 along with his wife and two children, ages 8 and 4. They made the move so Kogure could begin working as an engineer at Nidec Elesys Americas Corporation on Tuller Road.
“Dublin is the first place we have lived in America,” says Kogure. “My favorite part about living here is that it is safe.”
The Kogure children are experiencing grade school for the first time in Dublin City Schools. Doug Baker, public information officer for the district, says the district welcomes students from other countries with open arms.
“The diversity of our student population is one of the district’s greatest strengths,” says Baker. “Our students have the opportunity to attend school with children from around the world.”
The district’s English Language Learning (ELL) Department has more than 1,400 students enrolled, representing around 45 countries and speaking more than 60 different languages. The top languages currently spoken by students in the program are Japanese (representing around 20 percent of ELL students), Spanish, Arabic, Telugu, Korean and Chinese. Conversely, Japanese language classes are offered to English-speaking students who wish to learn.
“The influence of Japanese culture can be found throughout our schools,” Baker says. “Japanese I, II, III and Honors Japanese IV are offered at our high schools. We have Japanese clubs for students, there are Japanese moms’ clubs at some elementary schools and our Taiko drumming group is visiting and performing in Japan this summer.”
Another champion of Japanese culture in Dublin is the Japan-America Society of Central Ohio. A nonprofit organization headquartered at the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center, JASCO strives to bring Japanese American communities together through sharing knowledge and providing a forum for informed discussion about Japan-U.S. relations. It also provides helpful resources for Japanese nationals living in Ohio, including a guide that explains schools, medical services, driving safety and other cultural considerations for the area.
“JASCO provides a sense of ‘home’ feeling for Japanese families living in Dublin,” says Akisa Fukuzawa, executive director for JASCO. “We also serve as a great resource for all residents through our cultural programs and events. JASCO hosts an annual speech contest with high school and university students, as well as a career fair to introduce JASCO’s excellent corporate members from both Japanese and American companies to students and job seekers.”
Naturally, there are challenges in moving to another country. Adjusting to a new culture – at the workplace, in school or around your neighborhood – takes time and patience. The City of Dublin strives to make all residents feel welcome.
“In Dublin, we take great pride in the fact that we are home to more than two dozen Japanese companies and more Japanese citizens than any other city in the state of Ohio,” says Dublin Mayor Michael Keenan.
That sentiment is reflected through the City’s involvement in celebrations of Dublin’s Japanese community, including the Memorial Tournament breakfast with Matsuyama and JASCO’s Annual Reception and Golf Outing Fundraiser. Dr. Kazuyuki Katayama, consul-general of Japan in Detroit, is a frequent visitor to Dublin for events such as these.
“International relations require a great amount of work to be successful,” says Katayama. “The leaders of businesses, government and the individual residents of Dublin as well have worked hard to form a special relationship with Japan.”
Meanwhile, for the Kogure family, Dublin is starting to feel like home. They’ve even warmed up to one of America’s – and Ohio’s – favorite pastimes: football. They are excited to cheer on their 8-year-old this fall when he takes to the field.
Sarah McQuaide is a public information officer for the City of Dublin. Feedback welcome at smcquaide@dublin.oh.us.
