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Update from Team TOMODACHI
February 2015
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Alumni Gather for the Inaugural TOMODACHI Career Panel on Medicine and Research Science with Special Guests TOMODACHI Aflac Fellows and U.S. Embassy Diplomats
 On February 13, ten middle school, high school, and college students gathered in Tokyo for a roundtable discussion on careers in medicine that was sponsored by Aflac International, Inc. and supported by The Prudential Foundation. Students met two fellows who had participated in the TOMODACHI Aflac Program, Dr. Yosuke Hosoya and Dr. Junjiro Ohshima, and learned about the life-changing experiences they had during their program in Atlanta. Dr. Ohshima, through his observation of the interdependence among doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and social workers in the American medical system, noted that he learned the importance of “the involvement of various medical personnel for each and every patient.”
The roundtable set the stage for the inaugural TOMODACHI Career Panel on Medicine & Research Science. Over thirty students gathered to hear about the experiences of five inspirational panelists from a wide variety of fields, including Oncology, Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Psychology, Engineering, and Disaster Management. The panelists spoke about how they became interested in their respective fields, which role models and mentors were influential in their lives, and the types of opportunities that are available in their fields. Participants enjoyed this opportunity to hear about diverse experiences, as the panel was comprised of men and women, Americans and Japanese, and doctors and researchers. The event was also attended by corporate representatives and Embassy officials. Read More>>
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The Latest on TOMODACHI Programs and Activities
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Chef Nobu and Chef Jean-Georges Impress Guests at Charity Dinner Event in Tokyo with Proceeds to TOMODACHI
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On January 17, Nobu’s Japan held its third charity dinner event at Nobu Tokyo and donated all proceeds to TOMODACHI. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa invited one of the world’s most recognized chefs, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, to join as a guest chef. Similar to the previous charity dinners, this event marked the climax of an episode of Nobu’s Japan, a TV documentary series about the re-discovery of Japan’s culinary culture as seen through the eyes of the world’s top chefs. In this episode, Chef Nobu and Chef Jean-Georges traveled to Yamaguchi prefecture in western Japan to experience the dynamic culinary tradition that has been shaped by the region’s bountiful seas, citrus groves, and farms. More>>
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TOMODACHI High School Women Career Mentoring Program in Fukushima Concludes with Powerful Messages from Participants
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The fourth and final phase of the TOMODACHI High School Women Career Mentoring Program took place from January 31 to February 1 at a cultural center in Iwaki City, Fukushima. The high school women participants, who are in their junior year, delivered presentations to their fellow sophomore students. They shared the powerful lessons and experiences they gained through this six month program, in which they engaged with female professionals and exchange students from all over the world. More>>
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TOMODACHI Alumni Attend Kobe Mirai Kaigi, Discuss the Future of Disaster Affected Areas in Japan
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The inaugural Kobe Mirai Kaigi began on January 31, where six TOMODACHI alumni attended, two of whom presented to a diverse audience of over a hundred attendees gathered in one of Kobe’s refurbished factories, which had been converted into a community center. The adults in the audience were impressed with the alumni’s presentation skills, the activities they had accomplished, and the poise of the students. “It’s critical for Japanese to learn these skills while they’re still young,” commented a business professional from Tokyo. “We’re not taught to stand out or have our own opinions. Even I don’t feel I can confidently stand in front of a crowd this size and present my dreams and achievements.” More>>
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U.S.-Japan Council Women’s Networking Event Emphasizes the Importance of Networks and Mentorship
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On February 4, over 25 female professionals gathered in Tokyo for an evening of networking. The diverse group included TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program (TMWLP) mentors, high level U.S. Embassy staff, female corporate executives, prominent U.S.-Japan Council members, and members of the TOMODACHI team, including U.S.-Japan Council President Irene Hirano Inouye. One TMWLP mentor who is planning to run for elected office in Tokyo cited her participation in the TOMODACHI program as a key motivator in her decision. During the event she met several other women interested in helping her achieve her political aspirations, and she is now interested in establishing a women's advisory committee for her campaign. More>>
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Voices of the TOMODACHI Generation
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Nao Saito is an alumna from the 2014 TOMODACHI Summer Coca-Cola Educational Exchange Program and while in the United States, she "...gained various life changing experiences. It gave me an opportunity to view Japan, my own country, from the outside."
This spring, she will start her freshman year at Tohoku University of Art and Design in Yamagata Prefecture along with two other alumni. More>>
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Eri Fumoto is an intern at the TOMODACHI Initiative Tokyo office. She is from Tokyo, was born in Germany and grew up in England. She has been interning for TOMODACHI for seven months, and has quietly but firmly taken the reins of supporting the new interns joining in the fall, winter and spring.
In April 2015 she will begin work at a global company in Japan. The TOMODACHI staff will be extremely sad to see her go, but are encouraged that she and her next generation will be entering the work force with a passion to support others and drive change where change is needed. More>>
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Upcoming Programs and Events
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Feb 23 - Mar 28 Twenty five social entrepreneurs and community leaders will travel to Seattle, Washington for experiential leadership training on the TOMODACHI Social Innovation Scholars Program
Mar 3 – 14 Four groups of 25 Japanese university students will travel to the United States, visiting Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, California, and partner city on a ten-day study tour as part of the TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars Program
Mar 4 Tokyo mentees of the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program will participate in a financial literacy workshop hosted by MetLife employees
Mar 6 Fukuoka mentees of the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program will participate in a financial literacy workshop hosted by MetLife employees
Mar 6 – 8 Tohoku high school participants from across TOMODACHI programs in 2014 will gather in Tokyo for leadership training on the TOMODACHI BEYOND Tomorrow Global Leadership Academy 2015
Mar 10 – 15 The Winners of the TOMODACHI Social Entrepreneurship Award at the University Venture Grand Prix Competition will visit Silicon Valley and San Francisco, CA and meet with influential venture capitalists and startup accelerators
Mar 10 Osaka mentees of the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program will participate in a financial literacy workshop hosted by MetLife employees
Mar 13 Naha mentees of the TOMODACHI MetLife Women's Leadership Program will participate in a financial literacy workshop hosted by MetLife employees
Mar 14-18 UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai
- TOMODACHI alumni will present at the Public Forum, "TOMODACHI Raw Voices" on Mar 14
- TOMODACHI Executive Director, Laura Winthrop Abbot, will speak about TOMODACHI as a case study for supporting young women's entrepreneurship and economic empowerment in post-disaster situations on Mar 18
Mar 19 – 26 Nine young composers between the ages of 10 to 15 from Fukushima will travel to compose music with support from Philharmonic Teaching Artists and Orchestra musicians on the TOMODACHI Very Young Composers Fukushima-New York Program
Mar 20 - 30 Mentees from Tokyo, Osaka, Naha, and Fukuoka will travel to Washington, DC and New York City on the TOMODACHI MetLife Women's Leadership Program U.S. Trip
Mar 21 TOMODACHI Softbank Leadership Program alumni will lead a gathering in Sendai. Click here for more
Mar 21 TOMODACHI and Tohoku High School Kataribe students will gather in Sendai for the Action is a Message project. Click here for more
Mar 24 The New York Philharmonic will perform pieces created by composers from the TOMODACHI Very Young Composers Fukushima-New York Program at the Lincoln Center in New York City
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Recruitment for TOMODACHI Program Participants
Please forward and share these opportunities to people who may be interested.
TOMODACHI-Mitsui & Co. Leadership Program
 Generously funded by Mitsui & Co., Ltd., this program advocates bicultural exchange and provides participants with unique access to leaders in the U.S.-Japan arena, and the opportunity to broaden their perspectives to enhance work or initiatives in their professional fields. For more information and to apply, click here
- The American Delegation will travel to Sendai and Tokyo in Japan from July 3-11, 2015. Application Deadline: April 10, 2015.
- The Japanese Delegation will travel to Detroit, Michigan and Washington, D.C. from September 13-21, 2015. Application Deadline: April 17, 2015.
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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 of the future.
Application Deadline: April 20, 2015 for Japan; May 4, 2015 for United States. For more information, click here
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TOMODACHI Food Innovation for Regional Sustainability in Tohoku (FIRST) Program
 Recruiting Japanese students and professionals: TOMODACHI Food Innovation for Regional Sustainability in Tohoku (FIRST) Program invests in the future of food innovation in Japan, with particular focus on the Tohoku region. Approximately ten participants from Tohoku will be selected to travel to Seattle, Washington from June 6 to June 19, 2015 to take part in a two-week training that amplifies their capacity to transform the food system in Tohoku and throughout Japan. Application Deadline: April 5, 2015. For more information, click here
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TOMODACHI MUFG 2015 International Exchange Program
 Recruiting American students in California: The 4th TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program will take 20 American high school students from California to various cities in Japan from June 27 to July 12, 2015, where students will experience a homestay with a Japanese family, visit cities affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, as well as educational and cultural visits to the cities of Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Kyoto. Application deadline: March 30, 2015. For more information, click here
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TOMODACHI Internship Program
 This internship program, administered by Temple University, Japan Campus, enables American 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 the Fall of 2015: April 1, 2015. For more information, click here
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TOMODACHI Career Opportunities
Current Executive Director of the TOMODACHI Initiative, Laura Winthrop Abbot, will be relocating to the U.S.-Japan Council’s Washington, DC office in May 2015 to become Senior Vice President. As such, we are recruiting for a new Executive Director for the TOMODACHI Initiative in Tokyo.
U.S.-Japan Council, TOMODACHI Initiative
Executive Director, Tokyo Office
TOMODACHI Initiative, administered by the U.S.-Japan Council, seeks 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.
To apply, please send CV (resume) and cover letter to: EDTOMODACHI@usjapancouncil.org subject line, “Executive Director, TOMODACHI Initiative”. Review of applications will begin February 23, 2015. Preferred start date April 1, 2015.
For more information and to apply, click here
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