[Held on 7/1 (Wed)] Corporate Competitiveness Deciphered from the Reality of U.S. Lobbying ~ The Ways of Capitol Hill and Implications for Corporate Strategy ~ [Makaira Public Policy Study Group]

Makaira Public Policy Institute, the in-house research institute of Makaira Corporation (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Koichiro Fujii; Representative Director & COO: Akira Takahashi; hereinafter 'Makaira'), will hold the Makaira Public Policy Study Group on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. This time, the theme is 'Corporate Competitiveness Deciphered from the Reality of U.S. Lobbying ~ The Ways of Capitol Hill and Implications for Corporate Strategy ~.' We will welcome Ms. Yuri Unno, Representative of Penn Quarter Consulting, and Mr. Masashi Adachi, Member of the House of Councillors. Event details and registration: https://makairaworld.com/topics/20260606-2/ [Held on 7/1 (Wed)] Corporate Competitiveness Deciphered from the Reality of U.S. Lobbying ~ The Ways of Capitol Hill and Implications for Corporate Strategy ~ [Makaira Public Policy Study Group] ◆Event Overview◆ While the U.S. market is a major market for Japanese companies, the trend of 'Regulation as Strategy' is intensifying, where the government influences market structures and competitive conditions themselves through policies and regulations, as exemplified by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and economic security-related measures. In this environment, Japanese companies are required not only to passively perceive and respond to regulations but also to proactively engage in institutional design by linking their own businesses and technologies to U.S. policy agendas and national strategies. Therefore, in this event, we will invite Ms. Yuri Unno, who led Toyota's government affairs activities in Washington D.C. for 25 years, to learn the strategic essence of U.S. lobbying from practical knowledge. Furthermore, we will invite Mr. Masashi Adachi, a member of the House of Councillors, to examine the direction of institutional design that balances ensuring transparency with practical effectiveness regarding the lobbying system, a topic of ongoing debate in Japan. ============================================ Corporate Competitiveness Deciphered from the Reality of U.S. Lobbying ~ The Ways of Capitol Hill and Implications for Corporate Strategy ~ [Makaira Public Policy Study Group] Date & Time: 7/1 (Wed) 19:00 - 21:00 (Networking reception until 21:30) Venue: Hibiya area (Details will be provided only to confirmed participants) Organizer: Makaira Public Policy Institute Fee: Free Registration: Please apply via the Google Form on Makaira's website. https://makairaworld.com/topics/20260606-2/ Registration Deadline: Friday, June 26 *Applications after the deadline will not be accepted. **Important** Due to venue capacity, we may have to decline participation if applications are numerous. Only those who can attend will receive the details on the day via email. Please note that only those who receive this notification can participate. ******** Program: [Part 1] Keynote Speech 　　Yuri Unno, Representative, Penn Quarter Consulting [Part 2] Panel Discussion 　Theme: How Should Japanese Companies Implement Lobbying? - Building a Government Affairs Function in U.S. Business - 　As discussions on the ideal lobbying system progress in Japan, we will examine the direction of institutional design that balances ensuring transparency with practical effectiveness in Japan, incorporating perspectives from a lobbyist who knows the field, a politician who decides policy, and academia. 　〇Panelists 　　Yuri Unno, Representative, Penn Quarter Consulting 　　Masashi Adachi, Member of the House of Councillors 　　Others (to be confirmed) 　〇Moderator 　　Koichiro Fujii, Representative Director & CEO, Makaira Corporation [Part 3] Networking Reception (Optional) ============================================ Yuri Unno Yuri Unno Representative, Penn Quarter Consulting Visiting Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), U.S. Think Tank After completing her master's degree in International Relations at George Washington University, she joined G7 Group, a U.S. investment consulting firm. Subsequently, she worked for 25 years at the Washington D.C. office (Government Affairs Department) of Toyota Motor North America. She was engaged in lobbying activities related to U.S. government and congressional trade policies and bills affecting Toyota's business. After leaving the company in 2024, she continues to be based in Washington, leveraging her experience and network to provide advisory services to Japanese companies operating in the U.S. and government agencies. Her new book, 'Washington Game: The 'Winning Strategy' for Japan's Comeback, Revealed by a Toyota Lobbyist,' is scheduled for release on July 1. ▶Company Website https://www.pennquarterc.com/home-japanese Masashi Adachi Masashi Adachi Member of the House of Councillors Born on September 27, 1959, in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City. Spent his early childhood in Fukui City, Sakai City, and Takatsuki City due to his father's job transfers. Graduated from Rakusei Junior and Senior High School in Kyoto and the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo. Joined Sumitomo Corporation. While at Sumitomo Corporation, he graduated from New York University School of Law and obtained a New York attorney license. After leaving Sumitomo Corporation, he worked at a foreign law office while serving as secretary to his father-in-law, House of Representatives member Shinji Sato. Ran as a proportional representation candidate for the House of Councillors in 2007 and 2010 but was defeated. Subsequently, he was elected as a runner-up in the proportional representation district for the House of Councillors in 2014, and was re-elected consecutively in 2016 and 2022, currently serving his third term. Since being elected to the House of Councillors, leveraging his experience at a trading company in international logistics and railway vehicle exports, legal affairs and crisis management, and international legal work at a U.S. law firm, he served two consecutive terms as the first Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Division of the Liberal Democratic Party. He has held various positions including Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in the 4th Abe Cabinet, Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Diplomacy in the Suga Cabinet, Chairman of the House of Councillors Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, Chairman of the House of Councillors Committee on Cabinet, and Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications in the Ishiba Cabinet. Currently, he is involved in policy formulation as a Director of the House of Councillors Budget Committee and Vice-Chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council. He is well-regarded as a practical politician who can decipher the complexly interconnected social structures in areas such as transport policy (railways, ports, logistics), energy, telecommunications, real estate, welfare, and economic security from reality and the field, and implement solutions. He resumed his hobby of kendo after 33 years and achieved the rank of 6th dan last year. Koichiro Fujii Koichiro Fujii Representative Director & CEO, Makaira Corporation As a specialist in public strategic communication focusing on the technology industry and non-profit sector, he covers a wide range from regional revitalization to international relations. After working primarily on international policy at the Science and Technology Agency, the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, he engaged in policy advocacy and public relations for corporations and non-profit organizations at the PR firm FleishmanHillard Japan K.K. Subsequently, as an Executive Officer and Director of Public Policy at Google LLC, he led the company's public policy advocacy and support activities related to the internet in Japan, as well as recovery support activities for the Great East Japan Earthquake. Director of the Information and Communications Policy Forum (ICPF); Member and Vice-Chair of the Toyama Prefecture Growth Strategy Council; Director of the International Public Relations Network (IPRN); Graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo, North