Mr. Wataru “Charlie” Utsunomiya will be the new Japan country director for U. S. Wheat Associates beginning June 1. I am so glad we can call him Charlie.

Mr. Utsunomiya started his career as a grain trader with Japan’s Marubeni Corporation and has held various management positions with the company for 30 years. Mr. Utsunomiya is currently chairman of Columbia Grain, Portland, Ore. He also served as president and CEO of Rice Milling Company, a Marubeni subsidiary, general manager of Marubeni’s oilseeds, fats and oil department and assistant general manager of its foodstuffs division among other positions. He has commodity export experience in the Asian, South American, African and the Middle Eastern markets and has served four assignments in the United States over 13 years.

Every year, with one recent exception, Japan imports more wheat from the U.S. than any other country.