TOMODACHI Reception

On November 13, about 130 guests gathered at the residence of U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy to celebrate the partnerships and progress of the TOMODACHI Initiative.

The reception welcomed ten alumni from recent TOMODACHI programs, ranging from high school students from Tohoku to young professionals working in Kyushu, who traveled from their respective regions for this special evening. Two of the alumni, Kazuma Tamura, a high school student from Iwate prefecture who participated in the TOMODACHI 2014 MUFG International Exchange Program; and Sachiho Tani, a university student from Hyogo prefecture who took part in the TOMODACHI-MetLife Women’s Leadership Program 2013, spoke to the audience. Mr. Tamura discussed how his experience with the Great East Japan Earthquake pushed him to work with disaster-prevention activities, and how TOMODACHI enabled him to meet a diverse group of people, helping him articulate his ideas to more individuals worldwide. Ms. Tani talked about her journey to find her own identity, how TOMODACHI broadened her perspective by exposing her to different leadership styles, and how she is determined to become a strong global leader.

The reception also celebrated seven Strategic Partners, who have generously contributed one million dollars or more to the TOMODACHI Initiative. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and SoftBank Corp. are continuing their multi-year commitment to TOMODACHI. Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., Goldman Sachs Japan Ltd., the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies in Japan and McKinsey & Company, Inc. are joining as new Strategic Partners.

In her speech, Ambassador Kennedy highlighted TOMODACHI’s new partnership with Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) to sponsor a new internship program for American students in Japan. This program was created as a direct response to President Obama and Prime Minister Abe’s commitment to facilitate internship opportunities and increase student exchanges between the two nations.

USJC President Irene Hirano Inouye discussed the strong, positive impact of TOMODACHI which not only transforms the lives of young people, but also extends to host families, the employees of sponsor companies, partner institutions and those who are part of the TOMODACHI participants’ communities.

Among the attendees were several distinguished guests that included former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Ambassador Tom Schieffer and Vice Minister Shinichi Yamanaka from Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.