Why it matters: Dallas-Fort Worth remains a top draw for Japanese companies looking to invest more in the U.S., and particularly Texas.
North Texas is home to many major Japanese companies, including the North American headquarters of Toyota, Kubota and NTT Data.
Zoom in: Since Toyota moved into Plano, Japanese grocery stores, restaurants and shops have also moved into the region.
Japan-based retailer Uniqlo has opened several locations in North Texas, and D-FW's only Michelin star was given to a 10-seat omakase.
The intrigue: 7-Eleven has become such a prominent and beloved Japanese experience that many Texans may forget that the convenience store started in Dallas in 1927.
A Japanese holding company bought 7-Eleven in 2005, but the multinational convenience store chain remains headquartered in Irving.
By the numbers: Though there's a heavy Japanese influence on North Texas, the Japanese population here is fairly small — with fewer than 9,000 people counted in U.S. Census Bureau figures.
In addition, about 4,300 Japanese nationals who aren't full-time residents live in the region, per the DMN.
The big picture: Gov. Greg Abbott signed a landmark agreement in July with Aichi Prefecture to boost cooperation in sectors like life sciences, energy and biotechnology.
What to watch: The economic partnership between Japan and the U.S. could face uncertainty as global trade shifts during the Trump administration.
President Biden has until Tuesday to decide whether to stop Nippon Steel from buying U.S. Steel.
