Upon landing at Nashville Airport (Tennessee) on a domestic flight from Boston, passengers quickly stood up as soon as the seatbelt sign was turned off. Adjusting my watch to Central Time, an hour behind Eastern Time, I overheard a commotion between an elderly couple seated in front of me. The gray-haired, slightly stooped grandmother was arguing with her husband about the time difference. “This is America! There’s no such thing as a time difference here, don’t be ridiculous,” she exclaimed. It seemed this might have been their first time traveling by plane domestically. Judging by the group’s dynamic, it looked like a tour group visiting Nashville to attend the Grand Ole Opry.
The Grand Ole Opry, a legendary country music concert held in Nashville, is a sacred destination for fans of country music. Across the U.S., there is a vast audience for country music, which I’m convinced is one of the few truly “Made in USA” cultural exports that hasn’t gained traction in Japan.

Country music originated when European immigrants arrived on the East Coast, crossed the Appalachian Mountains, and created a blend of mountain music, French Cajun influences, Irish-inspired bluegrass from Kentucky, southern blues, hillbilly, and gospel. This diverse mix was broadcast nationwide from WBM Radio in Nashville, Tennessee. In the 1950s, it gave rise to stars like Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, and Hank Williams, eventually spreading across the U.S. alongside rock ‘n’ roll, championed by Memphis-born Elvis Presley and others. The era of WBM’s establishment coincided with the emergence of the electric guitar, which contributed to the evolution of both rock and country music. Today, the Ryman Auditorium, a historic music hall cherished by the working-class audience of yesteryears, remains a prominent landmark in downtown Nashville. During the annual fan fair, the city’s live music venues are flooded with performances from popular stars.
Despite its immense popularity in the U.S., Japanese audiences know very little about country music. Perhaps it’s akin to Americans being largely unaware of Japan’s enka music. In Nashville, even taxis are adorned with musical notes, showcasing the city’s pride as the capital of country music. When discussing country music with Japanese people, the common response is, “Isn’t that cowboy music? Westerns with guns and ten-gallon hats?” Not exactly, but I guess that’s the prevailing image!

Mr. Hisashi Iwase
Life Science Innovation Advisor at the Japan Analytical Instruments Manufacturers’ Association (JAIMA),
and President & CEO of BioDiscovery Inc. Born in 1951, Tokyo.
Graduated from the Department of Industrial Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Nihon University.
Mr. Iwase’s extensive career in managing and marketing analytical and bioscience instruments includes
positions at Merck Japan, Waters Japan, Millipore Japan, PerSeptive Biosystems Japan, Applied Biosystems,
Varian Technologies, and Agilent Technologies. In 2001, he established BioDiscovery Inc., and since 2013,
he has served as a Life Science Innovation Advisor for JAIMA.