On December 9 and 10, the U. S. Soybean Export Council held its 29th Annual Soybean Outlook Conference at the Tokyo American Club. The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) has operated an office in Japan since 1956, symbolic of the long and enduring relationship between these two trade partners. The first day of the conference was for the oil and feed industry and the second day was for the food soybean industry, including a press conference and mini trade show. The U.S. Embassy’s Agricultural Minister-Counselor, David Miller, and Agricultural Senior Attaché, Elizabeth Autry, gave opening remarks and participated in related activities. Speakers at the conference noted that the 2013 U.S. soybean crop is both 7% higher in oil content than the 2012 crop. And of particular importance to the Japanese soy food industry, was news that U.S. non-GMO soybean production is trending upward on increased acreage and greater yielding varieties.