October 6th-8th marked the 2011 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference - INNOVATE, EDUCATE, COLLABORATE: Moving Forward the U.S.-Japan Partnership. The Washington, DC event featured remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki, Mr. Hiroshi Mikitani (Chairman and CEO, Rakuten, Inc.) and Mr. Yasuchika Hasegawa (President, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited & Chairman, Keizai Doyukai).
The conference affirmed that a new paradigm for U.S.-Japan relations is evolving after the March 11th earthquake and tsunami and through collaboration and partnership, the U.S. commitment to supporting Japan remains strong. The theme and topics of the 2011 Annual Conference reflected that leaders on both sides of the Pacific are seeking innovative solutions and entrepreneurial ideas as well as enhanced cooperation in the Asia Pacific region.
Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, Senate President Pro Tempore and United States Senator (HI)
Keynote Speech
Honorable Hillary Clinton, United States Secretary of State
Welcome
Honorable Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki, Ambassador of Japan to the United States
Visions for the Future of Japan
Mr. Yasuchika Hasegawa, President, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited & Chairman, Keizai Doyukai Mr. Hiroshi Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten, Inc.
Education Panel One – Advancing the Study of Japanese Language
This panel will look at expanding Japanese language programs at both the secondary and university levels by looking at ongoing efforts to promote Japanese instruction in comparison to other quickly expanding and widely studied Asian languages.
Professor William Tsutsui, Dean of Humanities and Sciences, Southern Methodist University (Moderator) Dr. Rosalinda B. Barrera, Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director, Office of English Language Acquisition, U.S. Department of Education Dr. Janet Ikeda, President, Association of Teachers of Japanese & Associate Professor, Washington and Lee University Mr. Christopher Livaccari, Director, Education and Chinese Language Initiatives, Asia Society
Economic Collaboration Panel One - Forging Clean Energy Collaborations
The Energy panel will feature government and business perspectives on clean energy projects, especially in the wake of the nuclear crisis in Japan.
Mr. Erwin Furukawa, Senior Vice President Customer Service Business Unit Southern California Edison (Moderator) Ms. Jane Nakano, Fellow, Energy and National Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies Mr. Osamu Onodera, Chief Representative, Representative Office in Silicon Valley, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan Mr. Gene Rodrigues, Director, Customer Energy Efficiency and Solar, Southern California Edison Dr. Phyllis Yoshida, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia, Europe and the Americas, U.S. Department of Energy
NPO/NGO Sector Panel One - Developing the NGO/NPO Sector in Japan
This panel will explore how best to support Japanese NGOs and NPOs and bring visibility to their work. It is also an opportunity for U.S. and Japanese non-profit leaders to exchange information on best practices within the third sector.
Mr. Gary S. Moriwaki, Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP (Moderator) Ms. Mari Kuraishi, President, GlobalGiving Mr. Kensuke Onishi, CEO, Peace Winds Japan & Chairperson, Civic Force & Director, Japan Platform Mr. Samuel A. Worthington, President and CEO, InterAction
12:30 - 1:45pm Luncheon Session on the Japan Brand
Mr. Frederick H. Katayama, Anchor, Reuters Insider, Thomson Reuters (Moderator) Mr. Christopher Graves, Global CEO, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Mr. John Onoda, Senior Consultant, Fleishman-Hillard
2:00 - 3:15pm Afternoon Plenary on Moving Forward with Recovery
Mr. Frederick H. Katayama, Anchor, Reuters Insider,Thomson Reuters (Moderator) Ms. Suzanne Basalla, Senior Advisor to Ambassador John V. Roos, U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, United States Department of State Mr. Takashi Kawamura, Chairman, Hitachi, Ltd. Mr. Stephen Jordan, Senior Vice President & Executive Director, Business Leadership Civic Center, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
This panel will allow attendees to hear from national and international educational organizations on how best to promote study abroad and other educational exchange programs.
Dr. Judy Sakaki, Vice President, Student Affairs, University of California (Moderator) Ms. Peggy Blumenthal, Senior Counselor to the President, Institute of International Education Mr. Fumio Isoda, Director General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Mr. Paul Miller, Director of Global Initiatives, The National Association of Independent Schools (N.A.I.S.)
The Entrepreneurship panel will allow attendees to share information on best practices as well as learn the current attitudes toward entrepreneurship in Japan, U.S. programs that promote entrepreneurship and first-hand experiences from entrepreneurs in Japan.
Ms. Moni Miyashita, Vice President, M&A Strategy, Investments & Relationships, IBM Corp., U.S. (Moderator)
Mr. Scott Case, CEO, Startup America Partnership
Mr. Ernest M. Higa, Chairman and CEO, Higa Industries Co., Ltd. / Wendy's Japan LLC
Dr. Kathryn Ibata-Arens, Associate Professor, DePaul University
Mr. Allen Miner, Chairman and CEO, Sunbridge Corporation
NPO/NGO Panel Two: Exploring Social Innovation
This panel will offer a broader perspective on the importance of social innovation to the U.S. and Japan in order to creatively solve many of the issues facing our two societies.
Ms. Dianne Fukami, Co-founder & President, Bridge Media, Inc. (Moderator) Mr. Hideyuki Inoue, Associate Professor, Keio University & Founder, Social Venture Partners Tokyo Ms. Shirley Sagawa, Visiting Fellow, Center for American Progress Dr. Britt Yamamoto, Executive Director, iLEAP: The Center for Critical Service
Sponsorship
Platinum Sponsor
Title Sponsors
Signature Sponsors
Premier Sponsors
Arnold & Porter LLC Deloitte LLP EADS North America Mr. Ernest M. Higa ITO EN (North America), Inc. Northrop Grumman Sojitz Corporation
Gold Sponsors
Central Japan Railway Cook Pine Capital, LLC Fox Rothchild LLC Island Insurance Co. Miyako Hybrid Hotel Mr. Roy Yamaguchi Nomura Holding America Osaki Creative The Northeast MAGLEV Tokio Marine Management, Inc.
