The U.S.-Japan Council

Updates

Save the Date for the 2012 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference

October 4th - 7th, 2012 in Seattle, Washington

TOMODACHI Initiative

TOMODACHI is a public-private partnership that supports Japan's recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and invests in the next generation of Japanese and Americans in ways that strengthen cultural and economic ties, and deepen the friendship between the United States and Japan over the long-term. TOMODACHI is led by the U.S.-Japan Council and U.S. Embassy in Tokyo with the support of the Japanese government.

For more information, including how to get involved, visit www.usjapantomodachi.org. TOMODACHI is also on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here to read a Kyodo News story from the February 3rd event in Tokyo, Japan.

2012 Delegates in Los Angeles for JALD Orientation January 20-21, 2012

Click here to learn more about the 2012 Delegates and the Japanese American Leadership Delegation Program.

Events

International Trade Reception at APEC 2011 in Honolulu, Hawai'i

The U.S.-Japan Council and the APEC 2011 Hawai’i Host Committee co-hosted an international trade reception at the Bishop Museum on Friday, November 11th to celebrate the continued strength of the U.S.-Japan relationship. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and U.S. Senate President Pro Tempore Daniel K. Inouye all made remarks. Click here for more information.

US & Japan in the News

Japan PM Noda delays decision on trade pact

The Washington Post, 11/9/2011

With Global Dreams, Japanese Startups Take on Silicon Valley
The Washington Post, 2/3/2012

Japan-U.S. Preliminary talks on Trans-Pacific FTA to begin Tues.
Mainichi Daily News, 2/33/2012

Mayor to Residents of Evacuated Japanese Town: Come Home
Los Angeles Times, 2/2/2012

Tokyo Exchange Temporarily Halts Trading of Scores of Stocks
CNN, 2/2/2012

Sony's Hirai Will Replace Stringer as CEO as Company Seeks to Engineer Turnaround
The Washington Post, 2/1/2012

E-Newsletter Archive

People News & Events

Higa Industries Reopens Wendy's in Japan

Wendy's has made its return to Japan, under the guidance of U.S.-Japan Council Board Member Ernest Higa. The fast food chain, which closed its 71 stores in 2009, marked its return with the opening of a restaurant in Tokyo's Omotesando neighborhood. Mr. Higa hopes that a combination of traditional menu items and new specialties will fuel an expansion to 100 locations within five years. Japan Today's interview with Mr. Higa about succeeding in the Japanese market can be found here.

Board of Councilors Member George Takei to Premiere in Internment Camp Musical, Allegiance

Actor and USJC Board of Councilors Member George Takei has announced the premiere of his next project. Allegiance - A New American Musical tells the original story of the Omura family, sent to an internment camp following the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Mr. Takei, best known for portraying Hikaru Sulu in the Star Trek television series and movies, has called the project "the culmination of my life's work." He has devoted much of his work to enhancing the understanding of the Asian American experience, including participating in Allegiance readings and workshops since 2009. Alliegiance debuts at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre on September 16, 2012. More information on the production is available at the Old Globe's website here.