Jay Klaphake is an American-trained legal educator with over 25 years of experience teaching international law, management, negotiation, and comparative legal systems in Japan. He has held faculty appointments at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, where he served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Global Studies, and adjunct appointments at Doshisha University, Osaka University, Kwansei Gakuin Law School, Ryukoku Law School, and Michigan State University College of Law.

In addition to his academic career, Klaphake has served as Chief of Staff and trusted advisor to the CEO of a Tokyo-based consultancy specializing in AI, design, and change management, and earlier worked as a political campaign manager, lobbyist, and as an aide to U.S. Representative Collin Peterson in the House of Representatives. He is also the founder and executive producer of TEDxKyoto, Japan’s largest TEDx event, and serves as TEDx Ambassador for Japan and as a trustee of Kyoto International School.

He holds a J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law and a B.A. from Macalester College.