U.S.-Japan Council Newsletter (August 8th, 2013)

2013 USJC 4TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! – WASHINGTON, DC, OCTOBER 3RD-4TH 

Registration is now open for the U.S.-Japan Council’s 4th Annual Conference, held in Washington, DC from October 3rd-4th. This year’s Conference is titled Risk, Reward and Innovation: Opportunities for the U.S. and Japan, and will bring together leading subject experts and visionaries to discuss the long-term benefits of taking risks and daring to move from trusted to innovative courses of action. As the U.S. and Japan remain committed to strong and positive relations, exploring versatile collaborations and partnerships is essential to a successful future.

Keynote Speakers include: Mr. John Strangfeld, Chairman, CEO and President, Prudential Financial, Inc., Mr. Hiroaki Nakanishi, President of Hitachi, Ltd., Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, Recipient of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and Secretary John Kerry, United States Secretary of State (invited).

Conference topics include: global citizenship, higher education, civil society sector, leadership development, media communications, culinary diplomacy, energy entrepreneurship, economic collaboration and navigating the U.S.-Japan relationship in DC and Tokyo.

Register today to lock in early bird rates and guarantee your spot. We look forward to seeing you in Washington this October!

Schedule:

  • October 3rd (5:30 pm – 7:00 pm):  Opening Reception on Capitol Hill
  • October 4th (8:30 am – 7:00 pm):  Annual Conference and Closing Reception at the Capital Hilton

TOMODACHI UPDATE

FUND FOR EXCHANGES FEATURED IN AUGUST NEWSLETTER

This year, TOMODACHI is able to support a dozen programs through generous contributions from Toyota Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Hitachi, Ltd. This Fund for Exchanges allows TOMODACHI to fund a wide range of smaller exchange programs across the United States and Japan and is crucial to building the TOMODACHI Generation.

Read all about our Fund for Exchanges programs and many other summer TOMODACHI activities in this month’s “Update from Team TOMODACHI” – and don’t forget to subscribe to the monthly TOMODACHI update here.

BOYS FROM HAWAII AND ISHINOMAKI BOND OVER BASEBALL

As part of the TOMODACHI U.S.-Japan Baseball Exchange Program, held during July 27-29, 2013 in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, 48 baseball players from Punahou School in Hawaii were invited to Japan to play two games with young baseball players from Ishinomaki. On game day, Ambassador John V. Roos, Ishinomaki City Mayor Hiroshi Kameyama and MLB managing director Jim Small gave speeches. One game was Japan vs. U.S., the other a mix of Japanese and Hawaiian students split into two teams. The language barrier did not seem to faze the students one bit, all speaking the universal languages of baseball and sportsmanship. The boys also toured Ishinomaki, and worked together with chaperones for a beach cleanup. We would like to give a big thanks to USJC Member Duane Kurisu for making this program possible.

EVENT RECAP

PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAM ON ECONOMIC RELATIONS IN DC

On July 31, USJC partnered with the Congressional Study Group on Japan (CSGJ) to present an afternoon panel discussion and congressional reception at the U.S. Capitol. The panel experts represented a range of perspectives from the government, nonprofit and corporate sectors. A reception following the panel featured Senators Mazie Hirono, Ben Cardin, Thad Cochran and Lamar Alexander, as well as numerous Members and Former Members of both Houses of Congress. For more information on the program, click here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

2014 JAPANESE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP DELEGATION APPLICATIONS

Applications are now being accepted for the Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) program. JALD provides the opportunity for a select group of Japanese American leaders from across the U.S. to travel to Japan to engage with Japanese leaders. Upon their return, delegates collaborate with program alumni, the local consulates, the U.S.-Japan Council and local and national community organizations to continue strengthening ties between the U.S. and Japan.

The program began in 2000 and 156 delegates have participated to date. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), represented in the United States by the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C. and seventeen consulate general offices, is the sponsor of JALD. The U.S.-Japan Council provides administration and organization for the program.

Click here to download an application.

Visit the USJC web site for more information on JALD.

HIROSHIMA GOVERNOR HIDEHIKO YUZAKI JOINS USJC

We are happy to welcome the Hon. Hidehiko Yuzaki, Governor, Hiroshima Prefecture, as a Friend of the Council. Governor Yuzaki had previously worked for Japan’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry and in the private sector before his election to the governorship in 2009. We are grateful for the Governor’s support and look forward to working with him in the years to come.

U.S. & JAPAN IN THE NEWS