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Update from Team TOMODACHI
April 2015
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TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference Series Kicks Off in Silicon Valley
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 The first TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference took place in Silicon Valley, California from April 10 to 12. This marked the beginning of a series of regional conferences that will bring together Japanese and American undergraduate and graduate students interested in U.S.-Japan relations for leadership training, skills building sessions, and informative panel discussions. Thirty university students, including Japanese university exchange students currently studying in the United States, participated in the inaugural conference, which focused on entrepreneurship and innovation.
The program began with informal small group dinners for participants with representatives of Daiwa House California and the Daiwa House Industry Headquarters in Tokyo. The conference continued the next day with a panel discussion featuring Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos and the Consul General of San Francisco Masato Watanabe, roundtable discussions with U.S.-Japan Council members who are active leaders and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, and a communications workshop for the participants. On the last day of the conference, U.S.-Japan Council Chairman of the Board of Councilors and Stanford University Professor Emeritus, Daniel Okimoto, gave a lecture on the history of Japanese Americans and his own experience growing up in the United States.
In addition to panel discussions and roundtables, the students also had an opportunity to network with speakers and guests throughout the conference and at a reception. Read More>>
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The Latest on TOMODACHI Programs and Activities
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TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program Visits the United States
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 TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program mentees participated in the annual U.S. Trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City from March 20 to 30. The program showcased women leaders in the United States while inspiring and empowering the young participants. While in Washington, D.C., the 38 Japanese university women met with women leaders in the United States such as Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI2), and attended a panel about women’s leadership, work-life balance, and mentorship featuring U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) President Irene Hirano Inouye, USJC Council Member Leona Hiraoka, and Dr. Sachiko Kuno, Co-Founder, President and CEO of the S&R Foundation. Following the programming in Washington, D.C., the group traveled to New York City to visit MetLife, Inc. for a tour and presentation by Maria Morris, Executive Vice President of Global Employee Benefits at MetLife. Participants left the United States enthusiastic about taking on the challenges of become the next female leaders in Japan. More>>
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TOMODACHI Alumni in Boston Commemorate March 11th Anniversary Event
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 On March 31, three TOMODACHI alumni took the stage at a U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) event commemorating the Great East Japan Earthquake in Boston, Massachusetts. This inspiring night, called “Updates from Tohoku & A Night of Remembrance: A Journey to a New Life,” was generously hosted by the Fish Family at the Berklee College of Music. Megumi Ishimoto, TOMODACHI NGO Leadership Program supported by J.P. Morgan alumna, inspired the full house with an update on Women’s Eye, an NPO that she founded. Shun Kumagai (saxophone) and Takeru Saito (piano), who are currently studying at the Berklee College of Music on the TOMODACHI Suntory Music Scholarship Fund, also attended and closed the event with a rousing performance. More>>
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Register Now for the 2015 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference!
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 The 2015 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference will be held from November 9-10, 2015 in Tokyo at the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel (with select programming before and after these dates). The conference will highlight the importance of the enduring partnership of our two countries and of working across sectors and generations to envision and achieve a more vibrant and dynamic U.S.-Japan relationship that benefits both countries as well as the greater Asia-Pacific region. For more information on the conference, click here
- To register for the 2014 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference, click here
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Japanese Clean Energy Professionals Visit the United States and Learn About Smart Communities on the TOMODACHI U.S.-Japan Clean Energy Local Partnership Program
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 From April 5 to 15, Japanese young professionals visited Sacramento, San Francisco, and Denver on the TOMODACHI U.S.-Japan Clean Energy Local Partnership Program. During this program, developed to further the objectives of the Tohoku Green Communities Alliance established by President Obama and Prime Minister Noda in 2012, participants visited smart communities, toured energy efficient buildings, and learned about leading-edge renewable and smart energy systems in the United States. On April 17, after returning to Japan, the participants presented their experiences and what they had learned about U.S. clean energy technology and policy, and how these efforts might be applied in their home communities. More>>
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Japanese and American Children Communicate Through Music on the TOMODACHI Very Young Composers Fukushima-New York Program
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From March 19 to 26, the TOMODACHI Very Young Composers Fukushima-New York Program was held in New York City, bringing together Japanese and American youth aged 10-15 to communicate through the language of symphonic music. The 18 participants not only had opportunities to attend a Philharmonic performance and work on their compositions in workshops, but also spent quality time interacting with each other and with their homestay families. The program concluded with a live public performance of the children’s music pieces by the Philharmonic Teaching Artists and Philharmonic musicians, as well as meeting with special guests such as Hollywood Actor Alec Baldwin. More>>
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Social Entrepreneurs and Community Leaders Hone Leadership Skills on TOMODACHI Social Innovation in Seattle Scholars (SIIS) Program
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 Twenty-five Japanese social entrepreneurs and community leaders selected for the TOMODACHI Social Innovation in Seattle Scholars (SIIS) Program successfully completed a five-week experiential leadership training program in Seattle, Washington from February 23 to March 28. The program included site visits to the Bullitt Center (the newest sustainable building in Seattle), the Northwest Center, Theo Chocolate, and FareStart. Furthermore, under the leadership of U.S.-Japan Council mentors, the scholars collaborated on diverse projects for companies and institutions such as Microsoft, Unleesh, Goodwill, Junglecity, and the University of Washington. These projects helped scholars gain real world experience, and from the process of working in a group, learn about collaboration and leadership. More>>
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New! Take a Look at the Updated TOMODACHI Video!
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Upcoming Programs and Events
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May 7-15 University of Alaska (UAA) students will travel to Rikuzentakata to participate in a joint project with Iwate University students on the TOMODACHI UAA-Iwate Kakehashi Program
May 8 Ten TOMODACHI alumni will attend the Pacific Vision 21: Building a New U.S.-Japan Partnership meeting in Tokyo, organized by co-chair, former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda
May 30 Mentees and Mentors from Tokyo, Osaka, Naha, and Fukuoka will meet for the annual TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program Conference in Tokyo
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Recruitment for Upcoming TOMODACHI Programs
Please forward and share these opportunities with people who may be interested.
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Apply to be a mentor or mentee for the 2015-2016 TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program
 The TOMODACHI MetLife Women's Leadership Program, a 10-month mentorship program which pairs highly-motivated Japanese female university students with female mid-career professionals to encourage networking, is currently recruiting mentors and mentees for the 2015-2016 program. Participants will be recruited from Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Naha and will be invited to visit Washington, D.C. and New York City in spring 2016 to meet with business leaders, government officials, and nonprofit leaders.
Application Deadline: June 26, 2015. For more information, click here
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TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology Leadership Academy
 The TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology Leadership Academy is an annual one-week, cross-cultural Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) exchange and leadership program for 16 high school students and eight teachers from Japan and the United States. In August 2015, program participants from both countries will work together in Tokyo to develop a disaster-resilient, smart community for the future.
Application Deadline: April 20, 2015 for Japan; Open through May 4, 2015 for United States. For more information, click here
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TOMODACHI Internship Program
 This internship program, administered by Temple University, Japan Campus, enables American university students to participate in internships in Japan in a wide variety of sectors, including government, financial services, NPO/NGO, media, entertainment, fashion, journalism, IT, and consulting. Application Deadline for internships in spring 2016 is October 1, 2015. For more information, click here
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TOMODACHI Career Opportunities
U.S.-Japan Council, TOMODACHI Initiative
Executive Director, Tokyo Office
The U.S.-Japan Council is seeking a talented, dynamic individual for the position of Executive Director, TOMODACHI Initiative. The Executive Director of the TOMODACHI Initiative is responsible for the implementation of the goals and objectives of the initiative, providing leadership and oversight of program development and management, fundraising, communications and operations for TOMODACHI. The Executive Director will be based in Tokyo and manage the TOMODACHI staff in Japan (currently 8 people), and will work closely with the Senior Vice-President and U.S.-Japan Council staff in the United States. The Executive Director will have the primary responsibility for day-to-day liaising with the U.S. Embassy leadership and staff.
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U.S.-Japan Council, TOMODACHI Initiative
Marketing & Communications Manager/Specialist, Tokyo Office
Working under the direction of the Executive Director of the TOMODACHI Initiative in Japan, the Marketing & Communications Manager/Specialist (exact title to be confirmed based on experience of the candidate) plays a critical role in developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic marketing strategy to build and develop the profile and brand of the TOMODACHI Initiative among a diverse audience, including senior corporate executives, government leaders, recipients of support, other donors and the press. The Marketing & Communications Manager/Specialist will work closely with teams from the U.S.-Japan Council in the United States and Japan, and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo in the implementation of this mission.
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