Professional Background

Nick joined Komatsu Ltd. in 1988. In 1995, he was stationed in Jining, Shandong Province, China, for two years to build a new factory. In 2007, he became the plant manager in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. After returning to Japan in 2011, he became the Administrative GM of Ibaraki Plant and the Manufacturing Engineering GM in Tokyo HQ.  In 2017, he became the Osaka plant manager and the Awazu plant manager as an executive officer before assuming his current position.

Education

Bachelor of Engineering Science, The University of Osaka.

Community Involvement

Komatsu operates numerous factories across the United States, employing 8,000 people. While it imports products and parts from other countries, exports from the United States exceed imports by approximately $1 billion. The company began full-scale operations in Wisconsin after acquiring mining machinery manufacturer Joy Global (P&H) in 2017, and five years later completed construction of a mining headquarters in Milwaukee through new investment, contributing to Wisconsin's employment and economic development.

Rooted in Komatsu’s founding principles, the Milwaukee operations are committed to strengthening the local community through strategic support of organizations focused on basic needs, education, environmental stewardship, and community development. Key partners include but are not limited to Hunger Task Force, Habitat for Humanity, FIRST Robotics, and the Milwaukee Parks Foundation. This commitment is reflected in both corporate contributions and a robust employee volunteer program.

Connection to the JASWI Mission

Okamoto was first stationed in the United States in 2008, and although he was based in Chattanooga, he always attended Japan-America Society meetings in Nashville, where he met friends and interacted privately with them to share information about being an expatriate. After returning to Japan in 2011, he dreamed of living in the United States again with his family, and in 2021, his wish came true when he was stationed in Milwaukee. His past experience as an expatriate made him keenly aware of the importance of connections with Japan, and he strongly supports the philosophy of JASWI. He is also an active participant in the Milwaukee Japanese Society and provides advice at its meetings.

Personal Interests

He enjoys running, reading, walking with his family, and listening to any kind of music.

Fun Fact

Originally from Osaka Prefecture, he has moved 12 times since joining the company in 1988, and has always lived with his family after getting married. His two children have gone on to college in the US, and he now lives with his wife. As he worked as a painting engineer, he holds a painting technician license and a first-class color coordinator qualification in Japan.