Business, tourism ties with Japan touted

Monday, May 24, 1999 | 11:29 a.m.

A year ago, the best way to get from Tokyo to Las Vegas was to fly to Los Angeles or San Francisco and then catch the short flight to McCarran International Airport.

Today, between two airlines, there are six nonstop flights a week between the two cities and executives with Northwest Airlines and Japan Airlines are looking at adding to the schedule.

Three Nevadans who had roles in convincing the airlines to fly directly to Las Vegas were saluted at the Japan-America Society of Nevada's inaugural awards dinner. Former Gov. Bob Miller, Councilman Arnie Adamsen and Robert Jitchaku, one of the co-founders of the local Japan-America group, were honored Saturday.

Akiyoshi Isoi, president of JCM-American Corp., a company that has more than 90 percent of the market share in bill validators in the United States, also was honored by the organization, which fosters relations between Nevada and Japan through business and cultural exchanges. JCM-American is building a new Las Vegas headquarters building.

Miller, who did not attend the dinner, led a delegation to Tokyo and Taipei, Taiwan, last June. While in Tokyo, Japan Airlines announced twice-weekly air service to Las Vegas that began in October. JAL has since added two more flights while Northwest, which began service in June, has two of its own.

Tony Sanchez, an associate of Miller's, accepted the award and credited the organization with helping to keep Japan the top overseas market to Las Vegas, even during a shaky economic period.

Adamsen, whose trips to Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand and the Philippines have generated political controversy in his bid win a mayoral election, found himself among supporters of his work with the Las Vegas Sister Cities Association Inc. Adamsen and Jitchaku, who is affiliated with Zipang Productions, an event producer, accompanied Miller on the Japan trip.

Jitchaku, who also is works with CNH Funding, a real estate mortgage company, has taken the lead in the Japan-America Society's annual Japan Festival, a cultural event conducted in the fall.

Isoi's company, Japan Cash Machine, took off when it partnered with International Game Technology to place bill validators on slot machines. Since then, his company has branched out to petroleum, banking, vending and amusement applications.

The Japan-America Society of Nevada has about 350 members and is affiliated with 70 corporations that are capitalizing on business relationships established in their monthly meetings.

Miller

Adamsen