Irene Hirano Inouye and Senator Daniel K. Inouye envisioned the need for an organization that strengthens U.S.-Japan relations by allowing Japanese Americans to play a leading role in bringing the peoples of the United States and Japan closer together. Along with other Japanese American leaders, they founded the U.S.-Japan Council in 2009.

Since then, the Council has diversified and expanded into a premier U.S. organization bolstering ties at the people-to-people level. Its multi-sectoral and multi-generational membership spans 12 regions across the United States and Japan, and that membership has expanded beyond Japanese Americans to include Japanese and other Americans. 

The U.S.-Japan Council and U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) would like to express our appreciation to those who have served on our Board of Directors as well as our Board of Councilors.

Past Board of Directors

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS consists of leaders from across the United States and in Japan who provide their expertise in establishing and guiding the Council’s mission and activities. 

David Boone
Phyllis Campbell^
Davd Kenji Chang
Donna Cole
Royanne Doi^#
Tracey Doi
Sho Dozono*
Susan Eichor
Atsuko Fish
Glen S. Fukushima*#
Hideki Hamamoto*
Ernest M. Higa*^#
James Higa#
Michael Hirai*
Irene Hirano Inouye†*#
Leona Hiraoka
Yosuke Honjo#
Robert Ichikawa*
Tom Iino^*
Thomas Ikeda*
Stephen Kagawa*
Yuko Kaifu
Frederick H. Katayama*
Ryuichi Katayama
Russell K. Kawahara*
Tomoko Kizawa
Dayne Kono
Sachi Koto*
Stan Koyanagi
Kaz Maniwa*
Colbert Matsumoto*
James Minamoto*
Brad Miyake
Moni Miyashita*
Gary Moriwaki#
Norman Nakasone
Jill Nishi
David Nishida*#
Paul Niwa*
Allen M. Okamoto
Susan Onuma*
Henry Y. Ota*
W. Douglas Parker
Scott Sato^#
Takayoshi Shinjo*
Dennis Sugino
Dennis Teranishi^#
Wallace Tsuha
Laura Winthrop*
Jan Yanehiro
Paul Yonamine*^#
Tasha Yorozu

* – Founding board member
^ – Held Chair position
# – Served on multiple boards

Passed away

Past Board of Councilors

THE DISTINGUISHED BOARD OF COUNCILORS consists of leaders who are recognized for their life-long contributions and commitment to strengthening U.S.-Japan relations. Their expertise and guidance directs the Council’s mission and activities.

Naoyuki Agawa
George Aratani†
Howard Baker†
Thomas S. Foley†
Soichiro Fukutake
Colleen Hanabusa
Yasuchika Hasegawa
Kazuo Hirai
Nobuyuki Hirano
James Hodgson†
Thomas W. Horton
Daniel K. Inouye†
Takeshi Kawamura
Elly Keinan
Yorihiko Kojima
Norman Mineta†
Walter Mondale†
Koji Nagai
Hiroaki Nakanishi†
Hiromitsu Ogawa†
Yoshio Okawara†
Daniel Okimoto*^#
Kunihiko Saito†
Motoatsu Sakurai
Katsuhiko Shirai
Mark Takai†
Paul Terasaki†
Richard Wood†
Shotaro Yachi

* – Founding board member
^ – Held Chair position
# – Served on multiple boards

Passed away