U.S.-Japan Council Newsletter (June 12th, 2014)

USJC JAPAN WEEK 2014 WRAP-UP

Thank you to all U.S.-Japan Council Members and friends who attended events during last month’s Japan Week. A recap of the week, including photos, is posted on our website:

//www.usjapancouncil.org/programs/program/japan-week

A video of the USJC/ACCJ Women in Business Summit is available courtesy of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan here:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK128QtIRGE

ADMIRAL HARRY B. HARRIS TO SPEAK AT 2014 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

We are pleased to announce that Admiral Harry B. Harris, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, will be speaking at this year’s USJC Annual Conference in Honolulu. Admiral Harris joins previously-announced keynote speakers Marillyn A. Hewson, President & CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation and Masami Iijima, President & CEO, Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

Admiral Harris also participated in a panel of Japanese American leaders at last year’s Annual Conference.

Join us in Honolulu for this year’s Annual Conference October 9-11!

APPLICATIONS DUE SUNDAY FOR 2014 EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM

Time is running out to apply for the 2014 TOMODACHI Emerging Leaders Program (ELP)! The application window closes on Sunday, June 15.

This three-day program has been described by program alumni as life-changing and transformative and we hope you will share this opportunity with your networks.

Young Japanese American professionals 24-35 years of age are encouraged to apply. Applicants must reside in the United States or Japan, and must be available to travel to Honolulu for the U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference October 8-12, 2014.

For more information about ELP, see the flyer here.

More information about sponsoring the TOMODACHI Emerging Leaders Program is available here.

UPDATE FROM ADAM MORIWAKI (ELP 2013)

Greetings from New York! It has been eight months since I participated in the Emerging Leaders Program and I am happy to report that our class and other ELP alumni have been staying in close touch.  Recently, a number of us attended the Japanese American Association Annual Gala as well as the Japan-America Student Conference Alumni Event at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in New York City (coordinated by my ELP classmate, Yuuki Shinomiya). The USJC and ELP programs have inspired me to become even more active in the Japanese American community.  This June, I attended the Japanese American Association Annual Scholarship Dinner, mingled with high school and grad students and enjoyed the talk given by the evening’s keynote speaker, Bobby Valentine.

The U.S.-Japan Council and Emerging Leaders Program have also significantly enhanced my professional network and given me access to mentors who I hope will help me in pursuit of a career in public service. I look forward to continuing these relationships and to strengthening the bonds between the United States and Japan across all sectors.

I’d like to promote an upcoming USJC Culinary Diplomacy event that will take place this fall in New York. Led by ELP alumni and USJC Associate Members, we are planning a culturally-significant, interactive and fun evening where we will display how Japanese cuisine breaks down borders. It will be at a cool venue, open to current and prospective USJC members, featuring well-known and up-and-coming chefs and restaurateurs. Although this event will occur in New York City, we encourage USJC Members, staff, friends, family and anyone interested in Japanese culinary arts to attend. Please let a USJC staff member know if you have any comments or suggestions about USJC’s Culinary Diplomacy programming.

We are also quite busy organizing a collaborative golf fundraiser that will take place at the Montclair Golf Club in Montclair, New Jersey on September 8.  Stay tuned for further details and start practicing!

As we approach the 2014 ELP application deadline, I would like to wish all of the ELP applicants the best of luck and encourage those who are not accepted this year to apply again next year as the ELP is truly an amazing program. Few other programs that I have been associated with create such a tight-knit group of people based on common bonds, as well as grant you the ability to learn from and connect with the substantial and influential network that the USJC provides.

-Adam Moriwaki

TOMODACHI NEWS CORNER

THE FIRST GROUP OF TOMODACHI INOUYE SCHOLARS PREPARE TO DEPART FOR JAPAN!

On Monday, June 16, students from DePaul University will head to Japan for their ten-day visit to Japan as part of the TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars program. While in Japan, this group, led by USJC Member Kathryn Ibata-Arens, will visit Tokyo and Kyoto, engage with peers at Ritsumeikan University on topics such as “Ancient meets modern”, meet USJC members and TOMODACHI alumni and participate in a volunteer project, all while experiencing and observing Japanese culture. 

The second group of 25 students, from Loyola Marymount University and led by faculty member and USJC Member Curtiss Rooks, will depart for Japan on June 23. They will visit Tokyo and Hiroshima and throughout their visit explore topics related to diversity, leadership and public service. They will also spend time with students from Sophia University. 

The final two groups, from University of Hawaii and University of Massachusetts Boston, will go to Japan in late July. Students from the partner universities in Japan will come to the United States in 2015 for a reciprocal exchange. 

These exchanges honor the legacy of Senator Daniel K. Inouye. USJC staff have been working in collaboration with Japan Foundation and the Laurasian Institution on the implementation of this program. 

Meet the DePaul TOMODACHI Scholars and follow their blog: https://japan2014.depaul.edu/

EVENT

SAVE THE DATE – WEDNESDAY, JULY 9TH, 2014 ON CAPITOL HILL IN WASHINGTON, DC

The U.S.-Japan Council in collaboration with the United States-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON) present:

A Public Policy Program on Legislative Exchanges: Members of Congress, staff and other participants of legislative exchanges, as well as representatives of organizations that lead such programs, will come together to highlight the current state of legislative exchanges. They will discuss the challenges and successes of these exchanges and ways of strengthening ties between members of the United States Congress and the Japanese Parliament. 
Time: 4-6:30PM

Capitol Hill Summer Legislative Networking Reception: This reception will bring together Members of Congress and a diverse group of DC area leaders from all sectors of U.S.-Japan relations for an evening of legislative networking and exchange.

Please direct inquiries to Mya Fisher, Program Manager by email ([email protected]) or phone (202-223-6854).

OPPORTUNITIES

SEEKING ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR THE TOMODACHI INITIATIVE (FULL-TIME, TOKYO-BASED)

Working under the direction of the Executive Director of TOMODACHI, the Administrative Assistant is responsible for organizing and managing the day-to-day administration of TOMODACHI, including office administration and bookkeeping.  The Administrative Assistant will work closely with teams from the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in the implementation of this mission, and may work out of both the U.S. Embassy and the U.S.-Japan Council’s office in the Akasaka Park Building, Tokyo.  Application Deadline: June 15

See the TOMODACHI website for more information.

U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (FULL-TIME, TOKYO-BASED)

The Director of External Affairs is responsible for developing, implementing and managing the day-to-day implementation of the Council’s external relations, communications, and development plans. Fluency in Japanese and English is required. We seek a candidate who is committed to the goals of the organization and can bring experience in external relationships including communications, stakeholder relations, and fundraising, primarily with corporate and major donors that have vested interest in U.S.-Japan relations. We seek a candidate who will work closely with board leadership and supporters in the implementation of organizational plans. 

This position offers an opportunity to make an impact in a growing non-profit and an opportunity to network with prominent leaders at the forefront of Japan-U.S. relations.

See the full listing for more information.

U.S. & JAPAN IN THE NEWS