Ms. Suzanne Basalla
President and CEO
USJC Management & Staff
The Council maintains offices in Washington, DC and Los Angeles, CA. It also has staff based in San Francisco and Tokyo, Japan. U.S.-Japan Council staff members are responsible for administering programs, implementing the decisions of the Board of Directors and promoting the Council’s mission and organizational goals.
Alison Aadland
Public Relations Manager
Wendy Abe
Director of External Relations, Hawaii Office
Shane Graves
Director of Program Development, DC Office
Aya Hashimoto
Director of Programs, TOMODACHI Initiative
Yumi Hiroshima
Head of Programs, Silicon Valley Japan Platform
Jill Kashiwagi
TOMODACHI Women’s Leadership Program Manager, TOMODACHI Initiative
Hiromi Kato
Administrative & Office Manager, TOMODACHI Initiative
Grace Kim
Program Manager, DC Office
Aya Maher
Director of Communications, DC Office
Allison Murata
Program Manager, Los Angeles Office
Merissa Nakamura
Membership Engagement and Regional Coordinator, DC Office
Sonoko Plummer
Director of Administration
Miki Sankary
Development Manager
Jon Shalowitz
President, Silicon Valley Japan Platform
Yukari Shishido
Alumni Coordinator, TOMODACHI Initiative
Terri Swetnam, PhD
Chief Operating Officer
Kana Takagi
Program Assistant, TOMODACHI Initiative
Junko Tsuda
Executive Director, U.S.-Japan Council (Japan)
Kaoru Utada
Director, Programs & Partnerships
Nana Watanobe
Program Coordinator, TOMODACHI Initiative
Laura Winthrop Abbot
Executive Vice President
Click here to learn about the USJC (Japan) and TOMODACHI Initiative staff based in Tokyo.