Los Angeles, CA – The U.S.-Japan Council (USJC), in partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the U.S.-Japan Foundation, proudly announces the launch of Kibou (Hope) for Los Angeles (KLA) — a cross-cultural program empowering youth in Altadena, California through lessons in resilience, leadership, and community rebuilding.
Inspired by the success of USJC’s TOMODACHI Kibou for Maui initiative, KLA is designed to support youth and the community in Altadena as they recover from recent wildfire devastation. The program will send a delegation of high school students to Japan, where they will engage with survivors and recovery experts from the Tohoku region, which was devastated by the 2011 Great East Earthquake and tsunami.
“This is about turning tragedy into transformation,” said Audrey Yamamoto, President & CEO of the U.S.-Japan Council. “By connecting Altadena’s next generation of leaders with the Tohoku region in Japan that has rebuilt and thrived after disaster, we are creating a powerful opportunity for healing, learning, and future leadership.”
The initiative is made possible through generous support from the Los Angeles Dodgers and the U.S.-Japan Foundation. Additional support is being provided by The Hamai Group, Ori-gen, Sycamore Tree Capital Partners, and the Sakanashi Family, in loving memory of Mark Sakanashi, who believed deeply in the potential of Altadena’s youth.
Program Highlights:
- Youth Delegation: Ten Altadena high school students will take part in a five-day immersive program in Japan, led by Odyssey Nature Japan, a nonprofit founded by Miku Narisawa, a TOMODACHI alumna and survivor of the 2011 disaster.
- On-the-Ground Experiences: Participants will visit recovery sites, engage in workshops on disaster preparedness and resilience, and participate in cultural exchanges with Japanese peers.
- Special Connections: Youth will have the unique opportunity to visit the hometowns of Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani and Rōki Sasaki, both of whom were impacted by the Great East Earthquake, and witness firsthand the region’s journey of recovery.
For updates and more information about Kibou (Hope) for Los Angeles, visit usjapancouncil.org or follow the U.S.-Japan Council on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.
About the U.S.-Japan Council
Founded by Japanese Americans, the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) is the premier organization dedicated to strengthening U.S.-Japan relations through people-to-people connections. USJC cultivates and connects leaders at every level in the United States and Japan who are committed to a strong and enduring global partnership through transformative leadership initiatives, innovative exchange programs, and impactful events.