Montana

Japanese consul general visits business class at Montana State University

Published

10 months ago

May 4, 2025

Japanese consul general visits business class at Montana State University

BOZEMAN — Students in the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship learned more about the relationship between Montana and Japan when a Japanese consul general visited Montana State University’s campus.

Makoto Iyori has been the Seattle-based consul general for Japan since 2023. Similar to a diplomat, a consul general resides in a foreign country and promotes commercial and diplomatic relations with their home country.

Iyori traveled to Montana and spoke to a group of about 75 students in an Introduction to International Business class taught by instructor Thomas Lechner.

Lechner met the consul general in January at a Helena event celebrating Montana’s relationship with Japan. He has been deeply connected with Japan since visiting the country with the National FFA Organization in 1985. Lechner spent 15 years in Japan and six living in Montana’s sister state, Kumamoto.

“I am doing my best to present students with as many international perspectives as possible in hopes of igniting their curiosity to explore the world,” Lechner said.

In the international business class, Iyori delivered remarks about Japan’s relationship with Montana and then answered a handful of questions from students.

The U.S. and Japan have been important allies since the end of World War II, Iyori said. Both nations understand the importance of investing in technology and computing, and the relationship especially thrives in times of economic security, he said, adding that Japanese companies have created over a million jobs in the U.S. and want to continue increasing partnerships.

Montana exports important goods to Japan, specifically coal, wheat and beef, Iyori said, adding that Japan in general has a huge market for American beef.

He also highlighted another Japanese-Montana connection: Mike Mansfield, a former U.S. senator from Montana, was the longest-serving U.S. ambassador to Japan from 1977 to 1988. Mansfield was known for his deep understanding of Japanese-American relations. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom upon his retirement and endowed the Mansfield Chair at the University of Montana to strengthen the study of Japanese language and culture. Lechner recalled meeting Mansfield in 1985.

Students asked questions covering a wide range of topics, including the Japanese market for bison meat, tariffs, the impact of Formula 1 racing on Japanese tourism, and advice for students planning to study abroad in Tokyo next semester.

After visiting Lechner’s class, Iyori met with dean of the business college, Brian Gillespie, and several members of the Office of International Programs to strengthen the relationship between Japan and MSU. He also toured the Bozeman-based business Montana Photonics and visited other companies in Billings.

The class visit is in line with the goals of the business college, as Jabs has worked hard to expand its international course offerings and global footprint for students, Gillespie said.

“Welcoming Consul General Iyori to campus was a great honor for Montana State University as we forge a continued partnership with Japan,” Gillespie said. “Our collaboration will open the door for students to explore the world and receive an education in line with international partnerships and global ideas. We look forward to strengthening these bonds with Iyori and the nation of Japan for years to come.”

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Montana

Apparent AI Glitch in Filing by Montana Public Defender, Recent Congressional Candidate

Published

8 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Apparent AI Glitch in Filing by Montana Public Defender, Recent Congressional Candidate

Everyone makes mistakes, even experienced professionals; a good reminder for the rest of us to learn from those mistakes. The motion in State v. Stroup starts off well in its initial pages (no case law hallucinations), but is then followed by several pages of two other motions, which I don’t think the lawyer was planning to file, and which appear to have been AI-generated: It begins with the “Below is concise motion language you can drop into …” language quoted above.

Griffen Smith (Missoulian) reported on the story, and included the prosecutor’s motion to strike that filing, on the grounds that it violates a local rule (3(G)) requiring disclosure of the use of generative AI:

The document does not include a generative artificial intelligence disclosure as required. However, page 7 begins as follows: “Below is concise motion language you can drop into a ‘Motion to Admit Mental-Disease Evidence and for Related Instructions’ keyed to 45-6-204, 45-6-201, and 4614-102. Adjust headings/captions to your local practice.” Page 10 states “Below is a full motion you can paste into your pleading, then adjust names, dates, and styles to fit local practice.” These pages also include several apparent hyperlinks to “ppl-ai-file-upload.s3.amazonaws,” “ppl-ai-fileupload.s3.amazonaws+1,” and others. The document includes what appears to be an attempt at a second case caption on page 12. It is not plausible on its face that any source other than generative AI would have created such language for a filed version of a brief….

There’s more in that filing, but here’s one passage:

While generative AI can be a useful tool for some purposes and may have greater application in the future, when used improperly, and without meaningful review, it can ultimately damage both the perception and the reality of the profession. One assumes that Mr. Stroup has had, or will at some point have, an opportunity to review the filing made on his behalf. What impression could a review of pgs. 12-19 leave upon a defendant who struggles with paranoia and delusional thinking? While AI could theoretically one day become a replacement for portions of staff of experienced attorneys, it is readily apparent that this day has not yet arrived.

The Missoulan article includes this response:

In a Wednesday interview, Office of Public Defender Division Administrator Brian Smith told the Missoulian the AI-generated language was inadvertently included in an unrelated filing. And he criticized the county attorney’s office for filing a “four-page diatribe about the dangers of AI” instead of working with the defense to correct her mistake.
“That’s not helping the client or the case,” Smith said, “and all you are doing is trying to throw a professional colleague under the bus.”

As I mentioned, the lawyer involved seems quite experienced, and ran for the Montana Public Service Commission in 2020 (getting nearly 48% of the vote) and for the House of Representatives in Montana’s first district in 2022 (getting over 46% of the vote) and in 2024 (getting over 44%). “Его пример другим наука,” Pushkin wrote in Eugene Onegin—”May his example profit others,” in the Falen translation.

Thanks to Matthew Monforton for the pointer.

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Montana

Your guide to local sports events, plus what’s on TV

Published

20 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Your guide to local sports events, plus what’s on TV

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Montana

Montana Department of Agriculture focusing on innovation in 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Montana Department of Agriculture focusing on innovation in 2026

HELENA — You probably have goals and plans for 2026—the Montana Department of Agriculture does too.

“We’re really focusing on innovative agricultural practices,” Montana Department of Agriculture director Jillien Streit said.

It’s no secret that agriculture—farming and ranching—is not easy. There are long days, planning, monitoring crops and livestock, and other challenges beyond farmers’ and ranchers’ control.

(WATCH: Montana Department of Agriculture focusing on innovation in 2026)

Montana Department of Agriculture focusing on innovation in 2026

“We have very low commodity prices across the board,” Streit said. “We still have very high input prices across the board, and we have really high prices when it comes to our equipment, and so, it’s a really tough year.”

But innovation, including new practices, partnerships and technology use, can help navigate some of those challenges.

“We can’t make more time and we can’t make more land, so we need to start putting together innovative practices that help us maximize what our time and land can do,” Streit said.

Practices range from using technology like autonomous tractors and virtual fencing—allowing rangers to contain and move cattle right from their phones—to regenerative farming and ranching.

“It is bringing cattle back into farming operations to be able to work with cover cropping practices to invigorate the soil for new soil health benefits,” Streit said.

The Montana Department of Agriculture is working to help producers learn, share, and collaborate on new ideas to work in their operations.

The department will share stories of practices that work from farms and ranches across the state. Also, within the next year or so, Streit said the department is hoping to roll out technology to help producers collaborate.

“(It’s) providing a communication platform where people can get together and really help each other out by utilizing each other’s assets,” she said.

While not easy, agriculture is still one of Montana’s largest industries, and Streit said innovating and sharing ideas across the state can keep it going long into the future.

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