Discovering Japan’s Nonprofit Sector: Exploring Opportunities for U.S.-Japan Collaboration
Date: February 23, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM (PST)
Location: Virtual
Registration: If you have questions about this event or would like to attend, please contact us at [email protected].
While many USJC members are familiar with corporate Japan, the country’s nonprofit and social sector often remains a mystery. What social issues are Japanese NPOs tackling—and how do they compare to those in the U.S.? Why is individual giving so low in Japan? And what does it really mean to serve on a nonprofit board there?
In this session, Mio will provide a foundational overview of Japan’s nonprofit landscape, exploring key differences and surprising similarities with the American nonprofit sector across five dimensions: social issues, funding, people, governance, and public trust. We’ll also highlight some unique grassroots movements—like the nationwide “Kodomo Shokudo” (children’s cafeterias) network and “Charity Santa”—that showcase Japanese-style social innovation.
Whether you’re curious about giving back to communities in Japan, exploring cross-border collaboration, or simply want to understand this often-overlooked part of Japanese society, this session will equip you with the knowledge and questions to go deeper.
Featured Speaker
Mio Yamamoto
Executive Director
World in You
Mio Yamamoto is the Executive Director of World in You, a nonprofit in Japan dedicated to strengthening nonprofit governance, developing boundary-spanning leaders, and fostering global collaboration. With over 20 years of experience bridging nonprofit, corporate, and global communities, she connects Japanese NPOs with international resources, expertise, and partnerships.
Her passion for bridging the social and business sectors began in college. After working at Sumitomo Chemical and McKinsey & Company, and supporting social entrepreneurs through Social Venture Partners Tokyo, Mio co-founded World in You (formerly WIT) in the wake of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. She has led the organization as Executive Director since 2013.
Mio currently serves as a Board Member of NPO Asuiku, which supports children affected by poverty and disaster, and as an Independent Director at Daiki Aluminium Industry Co., Ltd. She holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a BA in International Relations from the University of Tokyo.
Mio has been a USJC member since participating in the Emerging Leaders Program in 2014. Based in the U.S. for 15 years—primarily in Boston—until 2024, she has long supported social entrepreneurs in Japan while building bridges across the Pacific.