Masami Tyson, Womble Bond Dickinson Partner and Japan-America Society of Tennessee (JAST) Board Chair, along with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty, spoke at the August 14 reception welcoming Nashville's new Japanese Consul-General, Shinji Watanabe. The event was held at the Tennessee Executive Residence on August 14.

This is Watanabe’s second U.S. assignment, following his 2001-2005 tenure in Denver.