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Update from Team TOMODACHI
January 2015
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TOMODACHI Honda Cultural Exchange Program Participants Return to Japan After Ringing in the New Year in California
 From December 25 to January 8, twenty high school students from Miyagi prefecture participated in the TOMODACHI Honda Cultural Exchange Program in Los Angeles, California. The students had an opportunity to participate as part of the lead float in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day, a parade which usually draws 700,000 onlookers and more than the 55 million television viewers from around the world. Each of the students brought items from their hometowns in Tohoku to display as part of the Japan-themed float. The students also experienced homestays with local families, visited American companies, explored the University of California, Los Angeles campus, and engaged with local high school students.
The students kicked-off their stay in Los Angeles by participating in several community projects that are supported by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., which enabled them to experience first-hand the importance of public service in American culture. Later that evening students were welcomed by their host families, who included Steve Morikawa of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., and several U.S.-Japan Council members including Henry Ota and Dr. Susumu Ito, a member of the all Japanese-American 442nd Regiment during World War II.
Prior to the Rose Parade, the students met with several American military officers who took part in Operation Tomodachi, the disaster relief and humanitarian assistance mission to support Japan in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Read More>>
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The Latest on TOMODACHI Programs and Activities
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TOMODACHI Alumni Kick-off the New Year with Professional Development
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From January 10 to 11, 2015, TOMODACHI alumni from across five TOMODACHI programs from Fukushima, Iwate, and Tokyo prefectures gathered in Tokyo to participate in a professional development session as part of the TOMODACHI Alumni Leadership Program supported by Prudential Financial, Inc. The purpose of this program is to expand the TOMODACHI Generation and build the leadership skills of young Japanese and Americans who have already participated in a TOMODACHI program. The one and a half day training focused on developing stronger project management skills, and all alumni received a certificate of completion upon finishing their training. Read More>>
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TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholars Visit New York City and Washington, D.C.
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Three Japanese university students who are currently participating in the TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholars Program visited Washington, DC and New York City from January 4 to 10, 2015. Through this program, students receive financial support to study abroad for one year at a U.S. university. This year’s participants are attending Carnegie Mellon University; the University of Hawaii, Manoa; and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While in New York, the students visited Sumitomo offices and did an overnight homestay with Sumitomo employees. While in DC, the students attended meetings at the Embassy of Japan and Sumitomo's DC office, and met with Congresswoman Donna Edwards’ (D-MD) staff. Read More>>
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Students from Takata High School Visit Crescent City to Reunite with American Counterparts on the TOMODACHI-Takata High School 2015 Delegation
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Building on the successful visit by a Del-Norte High School delegation to Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture in February 2014, a Takata High School delegation visited Crescent City, California from January 4 to 14, 2015 to reunite with Del-Norte High School. The 18-person delegation participated in various cultural exchange activities, including attending classes at the local high school and a homestay. The principal and city official who chaperoned the students had opportunities to present the current situation in Rikuzentakata to the local community in Crescent City. This trip strengthened Takata High School and Del-Norte High School students’ commitment to working together to build a long-lasting sister-city relationship. Read More>>
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TOMODACHI Social Entrepreneurship Award at the University Venture Grand Prix Competition Hosted by METI
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On December 20, 2014, the University Venture Grand Prix (UVGP) competition hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) awarded the TOMODACHI Social Entrepreneurship Award to the Dreampharos team from Japan Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (JAIST).
The three winning groups who were awarded the UVGP grand prize, the Teacher’s Award, and the TOMODACHI Social Entrepreneurship Award will travel to Silicon Valley, California in March 2015 to meet with various influential venture capitalists, local startups, large corporations, nonprofits, and fellow student entrepreneurs. Read More>>
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Voices of the TOMODACHI Generation
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Jonathan Abbott is a participant of the TOMODACHI Emerging Leaders Program 2014. He founded a nonprofit, KidArt International, which invites Japanese students to explore new ways of self-expression through art and encourages them to be creative and try new things. More>>
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Ayano Yabuki is an intern at the TOMODACHI Initiative Tokyo office. She is from Iwaki, Fukushima and began interning in September 2014. In April 2015, she will start working at Alpine, a Japanese manufacturer with facilities headquartered in Iwaki, Fukushima. More>>
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Upcoming Programs and Events
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Jan 31 - Feb 1 One hundred twenty female high school students in Fukushima will present their experience on the TOMODACHI High School Women Career Mentoring Program to their fellow students in the final phase (step 4) of this program
Jan 31 - Feb 1 TOMODACHI alumni from Fukushima and Osaka/Kobe will participate in a two day conference at the Kobe Mirai Kaigi and present as speakers on their projects as part of the TOMODACHI Alumni Leadership program. For more information, visit our Facebook page
Feb 4 TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program alumni will join current participants and businesswomen leaders at a networking reception
Feb 13 TOMODACHI will host a career panel in Tokyo for middle school to university students interested in the field of medicine and research science. For more information, click here
Feb 14- Mar 2 Twenty Japanese university students will join their American counterparts in Washington, DC for a civic engagement leadership-based curriculum on the Building the TOMODACHI Generation Program
Feb 21, 22, Mar 1 TOMODACHI Coca-Cola Educational Homestay Program 2012-2014 alumni from Tohoku will meet in Miyagi, Fukushima, and Iwate prefectures to discuss and share their experiences on their programs
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 alumni activities 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 TOMODACHI alumni will present at the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction Public Forum in Sendai
Mar 19 – 26 Five to seven 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 New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers (VYC) 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 24 The New York Philharmonic will perform pieces created by composers from the TOMODACHI New York Philharmonic Very Young Composers (VYC) Program at the Lincoln Center
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Recruitment for TOMODACHI Program Participants
Please forward and share these opportunities to students who may be interested.
Study Abroad in Japan on the TOMODACHI Bridging Scholarship Program
TOMODACHI Bridging Scholarship program awards stipends of $2,500 (for students on semester-long programs) or $4,000 (for students on academic year programs) to U.S. college students planning to study abroad in Japan.
Application Deadline: April 8, 2015. For more information, click here
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TOMODACHI Suntory Music Scholarship Fund for Fall 2015
 The TOMODACHI Suntory Music Scholarship Fund 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. Application deadlines are approaching so apply now! More »
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TOMODACHI-UNIQLO Fellowship for Fall 2015
 The TOMODACHI-UNIQLO Fellowship provides a world-class educational experience to Japan’s next generation of business and fashion leaders. Eligible Japanese students must apply now to receive financial support for pursuing graduate studies at three top-notch U.S. educational institutions: The Stanford Graduate School of Business; Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT); and Parsons The New School for Design. Individuals interested in the Fellowship must first apply directly to each educational institution. More »
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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: February 15, 2015. For more information, click here
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