
Overview
The Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) program provides the opportunity for a select group of Japanese American leaders from across the United States to travel to Japan to engage with Japanese leaders in the business, government, academic, non-profit and cultural sectors. The trip also allows Japanese leaders to gain a greater understanding of multicultural America through the experiences of a diverse group of Japanese Americans. Upon their return, delegates collaborate with JALD alumni, the local consulates, the U.S.-Japan Council and local and national community organizations to continue strengthening ties between the United States and Japan.
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) represented in the United States by the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC and seventeen consulate general/consular offices is the sponsor of the program. The U.S.-Japan Council provides administration and organization for this program. The program began in 2000 and 227 delegates have participated to date.
We are thrilled to announce the individuals selected to participate in the 2025 Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD). Following a pre-trip orientation in Los Angeles from January 31 to February 1, these outstanding leaders will engage in a series of high-level meetings and exchanges in Tokyo and Hiroshima from February 28 to March 8.
ELLEN KAMEI (Mountain View, CA)
Mayor
City of Mountain View, CA

Ellen Kamei is the Mayor for the City of Mountain View, CA. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Ellen represents over 86,500 residents, nationally and internationally known corporations, and a thriving small business community. She is the daughter of a Chinese and Puerto Rican American mother and a Japanese American father born at Heart Mountain Incarceration Camp. A government affairs professional, Ellen has worked at every level of government including Capitol Hill, the City of New York, and the California State Assembly. Currently, she is part of the External Affairs Team for AT&T California. Ellen is a Silicon Valley Business Journal Women of Influence and League of California Cities Peninsula Division Immediate Past President, which represents thirty-six cities in the Bay Area. Ellen earned her MPA from the University of Pennsylvania, BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government.
Prefecture in Japan of ancestral origins: Wakayama.
JASON MIYASHITA (Tamuning, Guam)
Managing Director
Raymond James

Jason Miyashita is a Managing Director and Senior Vice President, Investments at Raymond James and a Senior Institutional Consultant of Raymond James Institutional Consulting Services. Raymond James Institutional Consulting Services is recognized as one of the premier investment consulting firms worldwide, with consulting relationships in excess of $1.5 Billion in assets under management. Entering the financial services business in 2003, Jason has worked with clients in the Asia-Pacific region since 2005. He joined Smith Barney in 2005, transitioned into the Guam office in 2006, and merged with Morgan Stanley in 2008. He was instrumental in starting the Raymond James Guam Office in 2015. As investment consultant to assets totaling over $1.75 Billion, his clients include public funds, corporations, foundations and endowments, and ultra-high net worth investors. Jason was born and raised on the island of Guam. He graduated with a B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business with concentrations in Accounting, Finance and Strategic Management in Philadelphia, PA. From there he worked in New York, NY at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Real Estate Assurance and Business Advisory Services Group. Presently, he is living and working in Hagatna, Guam and Honolulu, HI. Jason’s experience of living in the islands adds significant depth to the team’s ability to serve the many cultures of the Pacific Islands. Jason is proficient in Japanese, sensitive to Asian cultures and customs, and knowledgeable about Asian business practices.
Prefecture in Japan of ancestral origins: Ibaraki.
ROGER NOZAKI (Providence, RI)
Vice President for Strategy & Programs
Barr Foundation

Roger Nozaki brings experience across corporate, nonprofit, academic, and government sectors. He is currently vice president for strategy & programs at the Barr Foundation, which has core programs in arts, climate, and education. He served as a senior policy advisor in the U.S. Department of Education, working to advance equity, innovation, and quality in higher education. He also spent nearly nine years at Brown University, where he served as a dean and oversaw three centers. He previously worked for the Hitachi and GE foundations in several roles, including as executive director of the GE Foundation. Roger serves on the US-Japan Council program committee and has served on several boards including those of Independent Sector and Innovations in Civic Participation, which he chaired; and committees such as the Council on Foundations Corporate Committee and the Connecticut College President’s Leadership Council. Originally a Midwesterner, Roger lives in Rhode Island with his wife and has three adult children. He holds degrees from Princeton and Brown Universities, with graduate coursework in business from Georgetown University.
Prefecture in Japan of ancestral origins: Tokyo.
ELISABETH TAMIKO OOKA (Bloomfield, NJ)
President & COO
Furumoto Realty Inc.

Elisabeth Tamiko Ooka is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Furumoto Realty Inc., the first Japanese American real estate brokerage on the East Coast, serving New York City, Westchester County, NY and New Jersey. Founded in 1974, Furumoto Realty Inc. celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. In addition to her leadership role at Furumoto Realty Inc., Ms. Ooka has been deeply involved in the Japanese American community, particularly in the field of taiko drumming. She has performed taiko for over 30 years and currently serves as the Chairperson of Soh Daiko, a New York City-based group and the first taiko ensemble established on the East Coast in 1979. Furthermore, she has contributed to the broader taiko community through her service on the Board of Directors of the Taiko Community Alliance, a North American organization dedicated to empowering the people and advancing the art of taiko, where she served two consecutive terms. Ms. Ooka’s professional background includes participation in the JET Program, during which she spent two years in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, teaching English conversation to high school students. As an undergraduate, she played a pivotal role in founding the Rutgers Asian American Cultural Center, which marked its 25th anniversary in 2024.
Prefectures in Japan of ancestral origins: maternal side from Hiroshima, paternal side from Okayama and Kumamoto.
ANN TERANISHI (Honolulu, HI)
President and CEO
American Savings Bank

Ann Teranishi is President and CEO of American Savings Bank (ASB) and a member of its board. As a former attorney with nearly 20 years of experience in banking, Ann held various leadership roles, including EVP of Operations, where she advanced digital banking services and automation. She also developed an enterprise-wide compliance program, led the retail credit team to best-in-class fulfillment times for consumer loans, and built out the bank’s customer experience approach. Ann is active in the community, mentors emerging leaders, and serves on various boards including the U.S.-Japan Council. Ann holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and economics from Claremont McKenna College and a juris doctorate degree from the UC Law San Francisco. As a college student, she studied abroad at Kansai Gaidai University She resides in Hawaii with her husband, their college-aged daughter, and a teenage son.
Prefecture in Japan of ancestral origins: maternal side from Kumamoto & Niigata, paternal side from Yamaguchi & Hiroshima.
HANAKO WAKATSUKI-CHONG (Portland, OR)
Executive Director
Japanese American Museum of Oregon

Hanako Wakatsuki-Chong is the executive director of the Japanese American Museum of Oregon in Portland, professionally trained as a public historian, political scientist, and museologist. For 17 years, Hanako worked for state and federal agencies at the Idaho State Historical Society, the US Navy, the National Park Service, and the White House Office of the Chief of Staff; holding roles as Interpretive Specialist, Education Specialist, Chief of Interpretation and Education, Superintendent, and Policy Advisor throughout her government career. In 2021, Hanako received the Esto Perpetua Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Idaho State Historical Society for her work in preservation of Japanese American incarceration history in Idaho. She holds a BA in History and BS in Political Science from Boise State University, as well as an MA in Museum Studies from Johns Hopkins University, where she serves as an adjunct faculty member for their Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Museum Studies and Cultural Heritage Management Programs.
Prefecture in Japan of ancestral origins: Hiroshima.
KENDEE YAMAGUCHI (Seattle, WA)
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Trade Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce

Kendee Yamaguchi, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce at the International Trade Administration, was appointed by President Biden to oversee 300 trade professionals across more than 100 U.S. cities connecting to embassies worldwide. With over 20 years of executive management experience, Yamaguchi has worked with government leaders, businesses, and investors globally. She has served as Deputy Mayor of Seattle, Assistant Director at the Washington State Department of Commerce, and Assistant Attorney General. As Executive Director for Snohomish County, she managed an airport housing the world’s largest aerospace facility and established the nation’s first P3 airport terminal. She has also served as a cabinet member to Governors Inslee and Gregoire and held leadership roles at the White House, contributing to the Executive Order creating the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. She holds degrees from American University and Seattle University School of Law.
Prefecture in Japan of ancestral origins: Hiroshima.
AKIRA YAMAMOTO (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
US Japanese Services Group National Leader
Deloitte LLP

Akira Yamamoto is the National Leader of Deloitte’s US Japanese Services Group (JSG). He is a seasoned professional with over 36 years of experience, specializing in serving Japanese multinational corporations across sectors like automotive, life sciences, and technology. He spearheaded the transformation and strategic alignment of US JSG across audit, tax, and consulting, establishing the U.S.-Japan corridor as one of Deloitte’s largest bilateral markets. Akira’s leadership extends to his role as a Board Director for the Japan Society, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, and the Nippon Club in New York. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame and is a Certified Public Accountant. Akira is recognized for his contributions to Deloitte’s global and US Asian strategies, solidifying cross-border collaborations and enhancing Deloitte’s market presence.
Prefecture in Japan of ancestral origins: Kanagawa.
DAWN YAMANE HEWETT (Washington, DC)
Partner
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP

Dawn Yamane Hewett is a litigation, arbitration, and investigations partner at Quinn Emanuel, one of the world’s leading disputes firms. She draws on decades of experience in policy and international affairs and her prior service in government as Deputy General Counsel for Strategic Initiatives at the U.S. Department of Commerce to advise clients in a variety of high- stakes disputes, including investment treaty and commercial arbitrations, internal investigations, investigations by government agencies, and national security related matters. Dawn holds degrees from Yale Law School, Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, Trinity College Dublin, and the University of Washington. She is a U.S.- Japan Council Leader, a U.S.-Japan Leadership Program Fellow, and past President of the local Asian Pacific American Bar Association. She also leads the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s Leadership Advancement Program, a professional development program for midcareer AANHPI lawyers. Dawn lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two kids.
Prefecture in Japan of ancestral origins: Hiroshima.
DERICK YANEHIRO (Los Angeles, CA)
Producer
ABC Network News

Derick Yanehiro is an ABC Network News Producer based in Los Angeles, California. He is the lead producer for the series Maui Strong 808, which highlighted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ and the U.S.-Japan Council’s purposeful program, Kibou for Maui. He also covers entertainment and breaking news stories for Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and Nightline. The five-time Emmy winner started his career in New York as an intern at ABC News, served as Assignment Editor and now Producer. Yanehiro believes telling Asian stories matter now more than ever and has made it his goal to spotlight Asian stories in the mainstream media. He is a member of the Asian American Journalists Association and mentors young Asian journalists. Yanehiro is a third generation Japanese American and was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He graduated from Long Beach State University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.
Prefecture in Japan of ancestral origins: Yamaguchi.
Background
The relationship between the U.S. and Japan is considered by many as the most important bilateral relationship in the world, and Japanese Americans are uniquely positioned to help shape it. The connections between Japanese and Japanese Americans are complex. While World War II played a major role in severing ties between Japanese Americans and Japan, today’s opportunities for collaboration and mutual benefit are great and demand a renewed commitment to involving Japanese Americans in U.S.-Japan relations. In their May 2022 Joint Statement, Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden “paid tribute to the history, contributions and cultural heritage of Japanese Americans and concurred to engage next generation Japanese American leaders in the future Japan-U.S. cooperation.” (Joint Statement of the United States and Japan)
The Japanese American Leadership Delegation provides Japanese American leaders with the opportunity to become acquainted or further engaged with Japan and participate in discussions related to the role that Japanese Americans can play in addressing key issues that face both countries, now and in the future.
The first delegation was invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to visit Japan in 2000. It included third and fourth generation Japanese Americans selected from various professional fields including the educational, cultural, philanthropic, legal and political sectors. Since the initial trip, delegations of Japanese American leaders from throughout the United States have visited Japan every year since 2002, except during the pandemic years (2020-2022).
Participants in this program have created an alumni network to ensure that the commitment to strengthening U.S.-Japan relations is maintained. A commitment to follow-up after the trip is a required part of the program.
Program Alumni
JALD alumni have created a network to ensure that the commitment to strengthening U.S.-Japan relations is maintained. There have been JALD national reunions and several alumni groups have traveled back to Japan together to build on and sustain important relationships built on the program. Alumni of the program are invited and encouraged to join the U.S.-Japan Council’s international network of leaders and participate in Council programming and events.
Click here to read about the 2023 delegation’s trip to Japan. Click here for reports from previous classes.
Archives
- 2024 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2023 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2019 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2018 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2017 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2016 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2015 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2014 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2013 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2012 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2011 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2010 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2009 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2008 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2007 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2006 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2005 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2004 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2003 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2002 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
- 2000 Japanese American Leadership Delegation