Ms. Yuko Kaifu

Ms. Kaifu is the President of JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, which is a public diplomacy initiative launched by the Japanese government. Prior to joining JAPAN HOUSE in January 2016, she was Managing Director in the Corporate Communications Department of MUFG Union Bank. She started her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. During her service at the Ministry, she was also appointed official interpreter for Her Majesty the Empress, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Japan. After she served as Consul at the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles from 2001 to 2007, she left the government to work as Vice President of the Japanese American National Museum where she was charged with U.S.-Japan programs until she joined MUFG Union Bank in 2009. She has served on the boards of the Nisei Week Foundation, International Visitors Council of Los Angeles, Japan Business Association of Southern California, and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. She also serves as a member of the Advisory Board of UCLA Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies. She received a B.A. from Nara Women’s University and an M.A. from Queen’s University in Canada.