Japan--Alaska's Old and Reliable Trading Partner: Since statehood in 1959, Japan remains among Alaska's largest trading partners.

• Author: Salov, Alex
• Position: International Trade

From statehood in 1959 until 2011, Japan was, by far, Alaska's largest trading partner. In 2011 China's growing appetite for natural resources reshaped the trade rankings and the Middle Kingdom established itself as the largest buyer of Alaska's export commodities. Japan did not suddenly reduce or abandon its trade with Alaska--it remains a consistent customer with potential to grow.

Japan is the third largest economy in the world, home to a populous middle class. Per capita income in Japan is similar to that in the United States. An important characteristic of the Japanese economy is its high dependence upon supply of natural resources from abroad. Currently, Japan is the largest importer of LNG (liquid natural gas) in the world, largest importer of food products, second largest importer of coal, and among world's top importers of other natural resources. Being one of the world's largest importers, Japan tries to diversify the origins of their supplies. Alaska, with its geographic proximity and the reputation of being a reliable partner, continues to play an important role in Japan's international imports mix.

Traditionally, Japan's main export commodity from Alaska is seafood. According to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, in 2008, after China, Chile, and Thailand, the United States (predominantly Alaska) was the fourth largest seafood exporter to Japan. Annual Alaska seafood exports to Japan vary from $500 million to $600 million and, according to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, due to the fact that some of the seafood processing is done in the Lower 48, total annual seafood exports reach $700 million or more when the outside processing is included. Some of the seafood items are not conventional to the American palate yet are considered to be high-valued delicacies in Japan. For example, marinated herring roe, "kazunoko," is a traditional New Year dish; pollock roe, "mentaiko," is very popular in pasta sauces; and "ikura," salted salmon roe, is the food item associated with affluence and luxury, while being commonly discarded by sports fishermen in Alaska. Other types of seafood exported to Japan include "surimi," ground pollock used for fish-cakes or imitation crab meat; king crab; snow crab; sockeye salmon; cod; rockfish; and other products. While Japan's younger generation consumes more and more meat every year, according to the UN statistics, per capita consumption of meat in the United States is 2.5 times larger than...