The Essence of ALC… As Told Through a Night of Karaoke
When thinking about how to best encapsulate this year’s Advanced Leaders Collective (ALC) program, it struck me that our last night… a very late night of songs sung at a karaoke bar, is probably the best personification of everything that makes ALC special.
What is ALC?
Sitting in Wave 808 Karaoke Lounge, I looked around at a mix of new class members and returning ones who had spent the week helping each other grow, both personally and professionally. Through a short but intense program and conference, our group shared stories, opened up fully, and built incredibly deep connections. And that’s ALC. At its core, we’re a growing group of now more than 60 US and Japan-based leaders spanning generations, backgrounds, professions, and industries. Each year, we gather at the USJC Annual Conference with additional programming that sparks meaningful discussion, new ideas, and connections that tie members closer to each other and to USJC.
Now, while karaoke is more of an afterword or a final punctuation after a long week of connecting and growing, in watching the sequence of events happen through the night, I realized that each thing that happened really personifies all the unique character qualities of this group…
Real Connections… And No Shame
Let’s just say this wasn’t a group that was shy about singing in front of others. But here’s the real takeaway: regardless of pitch, rhythm, or even the ability to stay on beat (no names will be given), everyone was a singer that night. That’s because, through ALC, these people had spent the time building relationships that go beyond the professional. It’s a connection, a bond, and a community that carries over even into the karaoke lounge.
Japanese Song, English Song, Japanese Song, English Song
One thing that stood out that night was the rhythm of the songs—Japanese hits followed by American classics, then back again. To me, this was a reminder of what ALC is all about: building a community that’s intentionally both American and Japanese.
That’s what USJC is about. These relationships become the groundwork for collaboration that lasts well beyond titles or roles. As careers evolve and lives change, those connections stay. You might not find the opportunity to work with someone today, but the relationship you build now is what makes that possible later. And within ALC, that bond isn’t just between individuals—it’s between our members in the U.S. and Japan, connected through genuine friendship and shared purpose.
A Bigger Room
Perhaps the most noticeable change this year was the size of the room—bigger, fuller… and a lot louder. That’s because we welcomed 22 new members into the ALC family.
Jaclyn Funasaki
Taku Furusato
Andrew Takuya Garrett
Joshua Ishibashi
Rie Kijima
Kazuyo Kato
Kyla Kitamura
Meiko Kotani
Lianna Sachiyo Kushi
Nozomi Michiki Morgan
Neal Murata
Paige Norris
Jordan Odo
Shiori Okazaki
Elisabeth Tamiko Ooka
Keith Sakuda
Mai Taira
Tatsuki Tomita
Hideaki Roy Umetsu
Sam Ushio
Ema Ryan Yamazaki
Each person brings their own story, passion, and perspective—strengthening what makes ALC so special. With every new class, we’re not just growing in numbers; we’re growing in connection, in impact, and in our shared commitment to bridging the U.S. and Japan. We’re excited to keep the momentum going into the future!