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Update from Team TOMODACHI
February 2016
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Students Present Lessons Learned to Fellow Students at the Final Phase of the TOMODACHI High School Women Career Mentoring Program
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From January 30 to 31, 2016, the fourth and final phase of the TOMODACHI High School Women Career Mentoring Program supported by the TOMODACHI Combini Fund was held at a cultural center in Iwaki-city, Fukushima. At this event in which 103 high school sophomores attended, the female participants who are all currently in their junior year of high school, had an opportunity to present their lessons and experiences they gained through this six month program at an event in which 103 high school sophomores attended. In addition to the high school students, TOMODACHI alumni, exchange students, and business executives from TOMODACHI donor companies such as Kikkoman Corporation, attended the event.
Funded by the TOMODACHI Combini Fund, this four-phased program provides mentoring and career advice to 120 female high school students from Fukushima prefecture, exposing them to options they may never have had otherwise. Read More>>
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The Latest on TOMODACHI Programs and Activities
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TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program Reunion Held in Los Angeles, California
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On February 13, 25 alumni who participated in the 2nd and 4th TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Programs (summer of 2013 and 2015) attended a reunion in Los Angeles, California. The venue was filled with approximately 70 people, including students and their family members, representatives from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and U.S.-Japan Council members (Mr. and Mrs. Dennis R. Sugino and Mr. Stan H. Koyanagi).
A wrap up video from the 2015 program was shown and a discussion followed, with alumni sharing their experiences in Japan. One Japanese alumna who had participated in the first TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program in summer 2012, currently studying abroad in Los Angeles, also joined the reunion. Another alumni shared, "This program is wonderful. It changed my perception on life. Now I would like to work in the field of international relations and act as a bridge in U.S.-Japan relations." Read More>>
Applications are now open for Japanese high school students in Tohoku for the 2016 program! For more information, click here.
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Students Attend an Orientation for the TOMODACHI Suntory Fukushima Mirai Music Program in Iwaki
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On February 28, the TOMODACHI Suntory Fukushima Mirai Music Program kicked off with music performed by students from Futaba Mirai Gakuen, who have been selected as members of the inaugural group to take part in this program. Each of the students spoke, expressing their interest in music and their excitement to travel to New York and learn more about the world of music and music composition. The performances were followed by a workshop led by composer, conductor and musician Takehito Shimazu.
The TOMODACHI Suntory Fukushima Mirai Music Program is a year-long program that will provide students with an opportunity to not only further their skills as musicians, but to become global citizens through the power of music. As part of the program, the students will travel to New York in August 2016 to join the New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers Program and will be exposed to larger concepts connected to music theory and music composition.
Through music workshops and homestays, the students will gain invaluable skills to build confidence, friendship and hope that they will bring back to their communities in Fukushima. Read More>>
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Twenty Two TOMODACHI Alumni Met with Influential Japanese Business Executives at the U.S.-Japan Council Business Advisory Board Reception
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On February 18, 22 alumni representing nine TOMODACHI programs attended the 5th U.S.-Japan Council Business Advisory Board held at IBM Japan in Tokyo. This was the first time the TOMODACHI Alumni were invited to this exclusive, high-level event, made possible by Mr. Paul Yonamine, President, IBM Japan Ltd. and Chair of the Board of Councilors for U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) and Mr. Masaaki Tanaka, Senior Advisor, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. and Vice-Chair of the Board of Councilors for USJC.
 “The event was truly inspiring. Through the course of meeting distinctive, ambitious people, I allowed myself to think about my passion and dream in an elaborated new sense. In times of forging new ideas and getting a broader sense of the TOMODACHI Generation, it is vital that opportunities like this are not missed,” said Kanji Yamamoto, an alumnus of the TOMODACHI U.S.-Japan Youth Exchange Program.
The Business Advisory Board is comprised of business leaders in Japan with extensive experience in the United States, and American business leaders working in Japan. They are invited to advise USJC leadership on innovative programs, with the aim to diversify membership and expand the Council's impact in Japan. Read More>>
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TOMODACHI Disaster Resilience Leadership Training brought together alumni aspired to be leaders in their own communities
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Share Your Message -- Five Years After the Great East Japan Earthquake
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Request for Participation: TOMODACHI Initiative Social Media Campaign
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On this fifth year since the occurrence of the Great East Japan Earthquake, TOMODACHI would like to solicit messages of encouragement to and from Tohoku. The photos and messages posted on social media will be shared by TOMODACHI and the photos that are emailed to us will be posted on the TOMODACHI website and social media platforms. For more information, click here
To Participate:
EMAIL us your photo in .jpg format to tomodachi@usjapancouncil.org;
TWEET your photo with #TOMO311 so it can be shared on TOMODACHI’s twitter;
INSTAGRAM your photo with #TOMO311 and #TOMODACHI.
Post your photo on social media or email your photo today!
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Upcoming Programs and Events
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Feb 21 – Mar 27 Ten Japanese university students visit Houston, Texas on the 2016 TOMODACHI-STEM @ Rice University Program in Houston, Texas
Feb 22- Mar 25 Twenty five Japanese social entrepreneurs and community leaders will participate in an experiential leadership training in Seattle, Washington on the TOMODACHI Social Innovation in Seattle Fellows (SIIS) Program
Mar 4 The TOMODACHI Initiative will host an event remembering the 5th year of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
Mar 4 Lumina Learning Session 3 of the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program takes place at Osaka and Naha
Mar 4-6 Sixty-three TOMODACHI alumni will gather in Tokyo for the TOMODACHI Generation Global Leadership Academy
Mar 4-13 Twenty three students from Emerson College (Boston, Massachusetts) will travel to Tokyo and Kyoto as part of the TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars Program
Mar 11 Lumina Learning Session 3 of the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program takes place at Tokyo and Fukuoka
Mar 19-27 Twenty one students from University of Hawaii Hilo will travel to Tokyo and Sapporo as participants of the TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars Program
Mar 19-25 Ten Japanese participants of the TOMODACHI STEM Program @ Rice University Program will travel to Washington, DC for meetings with researchers and science experts, as well as leadership training activities
Mar 20-27 Two of the TOMODACHI Sumitomo Scholars will visit New York City and Washington, DC for a week-long leadership program hosted by Sumitomo Corporation of Americas
Mar 22-29 Mentees of the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program visit Washington, DC and New York City
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Recruitment for TOMODACHI Program Participants
Please forward and share these opportunities with people who may be interested.
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Japanese High School Students: Apply Now to the 5th TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program
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 TOMODACHI Initiative and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) are recruiting Japanese students to participate in the 5th TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program!
Twenty high school students from the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures) will be selected to participate. This program will send these students to Los Angeles, California and its suburbs to participate in a two-week program from July 23 to August 6, 2016. (Application Deadline: March 31, 2016) Read More>> |
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Japanese High School Students: Apply to the TOMODACHI SoftBank Leadership Program
 Applications are open for Japanese high school students from the disaster-affected prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima to participate in the TOMODACHI Summer 2016 SoftBank Leadership Program that will take place from July 21 to August 11, 2016 (dates are tentative). Fully funded by the SoftBank Group, this program will send 100 Japanese high school students to the University of California, Berkeley for an intensive three-week workshop focused on global leadership development and community service. The goal is for the participants to utilize what they learned on the program to strengthen their local communities in Tohoku and to become active leaders after returning to Japan. (Application Deadline: March 31, 2016) Read More>>
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American and Japanese Young Professionals: Apply Now to the TOMODACHI Mitsui & Co. Leadership Program
 Generously funded by Mitsui & Co., Ltd., this program advocates bicultural exchange, provides young professional participants with unique access to leaders in the U.S.-Japan arena, and offers them an opportunity to broaden their perspectives to enhance their work or initiatives. For more information and to apply, click here.
The American Delegation will travel to Tokyo and Fukushima, Japan from July 1-9, 2016. Application Deadline: April 8, 2016.
The Japanese Delegation will travel to Detroit, Michigan and Washington, DC from September 11-19, 2016. Application Deadline: April 15, 2016.
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Tohoku Nursing Students: Applications Open for the TOMODACHI J&J Disaster Nursing Training Program 2016
The TOMODACHI J&J Disaster Nursing Training Program aims to support capacity building of nurses in the Tohoku region by focusing on the field of disaster medicine. For year two of this program, twelve nursing students and four mentors from Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima will be selected. The program consists of three components: a Pre-Trip Seminar, U.S. Study Tour, and a Post-Trip Symposium. Read More>>
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For TOMODACHI Alumni: TOMODACHI Alumni Learning Journey on Leadership
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 A two-day program on leadership development will be provided for TOMODACHI alumni in Tokyo on April 23-24, 2016. The Learning Journey lays a foundation for alumni to realize their leadership potential and provides networking support after the program. (Application Deadline: March 31, 2016)
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Apply Now: TOMODACHI Suntory Music Scholarship Fund for Fall 2016
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 Apply for the TOMODACHI Suntory Music Scholarship Fund, which creates opportunities for young Japanese to attend three of the most prestigious music schools in the United States: The Juilliard School; Berklee College of Music; and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Individuals interested in the scholarship must first apply directly to each educational institution. For more information, click here.
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Recruiting for the TOMODACHI Disability Leadership Program at UMass Boston
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 Applications are open for young Japanese people to study in Boston!
This intensive five-month disability leadership and advocacy training program for Japanese nationals with disabilities takes place in Boston, Massachusetts from August to December 2016. The goal of the program is to train young Japanese people with disabilities to become stronger and more confident leaders of the next generation. Read More>>
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TOMODACHI Career Opportunities
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Executive Director, U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) -Tokyo Office
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The Council seeks a talented, dynamic individual for a newly-created position of Executive Director, U.S.-Japan Council (Japan). The Executive Director will provide leadership and oversight of the Council’s general programs and activities and of the TOMODACHI Initiative. This will include responsibility for the implementation of program goals and objectives, providing leadership and oversight of program development and management, fundraising, communications and operations. The Executive Director will be based in Tokyo and manage the staff in Japan and will work closely with the U.S.-Japan Council (U.S.) staff in the United States.
For more information and to apply, click here.
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Special Thanks to Our Newest Donor!
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Sponsors (contributed $100,000 to $1 million)
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