The North Carolina Japan Center was established in  July 1980 by Governor James B. Hunt to strengthen the state's academic, economic, scientific, and cultural ties with Japan. In its many aspects, the Center serves as a focal point for interaction between Japanese and North Carolinians. It is a statewide  resource intended to assist all citizens, universities, companies, and public and private institutions in relations with the Japanese. The North Carolina Japan Center works to inform the people of the state about modern Japan and its people. It also provides information and resources for Japanese citizens  living in North Carolina. There are now seven chapters of the Center at other North Carolina universities which spread the effort more uniformly across the state.