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Update from Team TOMODACHI
March 2017
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TOMODACHI Reception and Roundtable Commemorate Sixth Anniversary of Great East Japan Earthquake
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 On March 9, the TOMODACHI Initiative held a reception and roundtable in Tokyo in commemoration of the sixth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. TOMODACHI announced further support for the rebuilding of Tohoku and the fostering of tomorrow’s leaders at the commemoration.
The evening began with a roundtable discussion with U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) President Irene Hirano Inouye, Chargé d’Affaires Jason P. Hyland of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Fukushima Governor Masao Uchibori, and five TOMODACHI alumni from Fukushima prefecture. The alumni shared their aspirations to become tomorrow’s leaders and shape the future of their home prefecture, and Governor Uchibori shared his delight in meeting such ambitious young leaders who want to give back to their communities.
In addition to the roundtable participants, more than 200 distinguished guests attended the reception, including First Lady of Japan Akie Abe and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Motome Takisawa. Representatives from TOMODACHI’s sponsors, partner organizations, and TOMODACHI alumni also attended, as well as the 2017 Japanese American Leadership Delegation. Read More>> |
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The Latest on TOMODACHI Programs and Activities
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Building the TOMODACHI Generation Morgan Stanley Ambassadors Program Successfully Engages Students on Civil Society and Social Challenges
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 The Building the TOMODACHI Generation Morgan Stanley Ambassadors Program successfully concluded in early March after two weeks of intense discussions on civil society. Generously funded by Morgan Stanley, this program was implemented in partnership between The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC) and the U.S.-Japan Research Institute (USJI). The program aims to develop leadership and promote cultural exchange by learning about and developing models of cross-sector partnerships to address social challenges. This year, the program welcomed 21 college students (nine Americans and twelve Japanese), who participated in panel discussions and site visits, while enhancing critical teamwork skills and cross-cultural understanding.
After returning to Japan, the students attended a debriefing session and a reception hosted by Morgan Stanley Japan Holdings Co., Ltd. In his remarks, Chief Administrative Officer David Richards talked about Morgan Stanley’s four core values: Putting Clients First, Doing the Right Thing, Leading with Exceptional Ideas, and Giving Back. The students then asked questions and had interactive discussions about these values during a Q&A session. Read More>> |
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Winners of the 6th US Embassy-Keio SFC-TOMODACHI Entrepreneurship Seminar Visit Silicon Valley
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From February 15 – 23, 2017, the three winning teams of the 6th US Embassy-Keio SFC-TOMODACHI Entrepreneurship Seminar went to Silicon Valley on a study tour, supported by The Boeing Company.
The three teams participated in this study tour with their three respective business plans: “Sake Production by Female Japanese University Students Who Do Not Like Sake” (Niigata University), “Creating a Platform to Cheer Up Youth in Kumamoto” (Osaka University and Osaka City University), and “Creating Jobs in Cambodia by Creating Products Made of Silk from Cambodia” (Rikkyo University). The students were able to improve their business plans with the insights they learned through various site visits during the study tour. Read More>>
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TOMODACHI Social Entrepreneurship Award Recipients Travel to Silicon Valley to Present Their Business Plans
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From March 6 – 9, 2017, the winning teams of the TOMODACHI Social Entrepreneurship Award from the University Venture Grand Prix Competition 2016 (UVGP 2016) traveled to Silicon Valley on a study tour. The winning teams, Keio University and Ritsumeikan University, were joined by a team from the University of Tsukuba, which was also awarded a trip to Silicon Valley at UVGP 2016.
The study tour aimed to develop the students’ business pitching skills, while also offering the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship and improve their business plans. Read More>>
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Upcoming Programs and Events
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Mar. 25 - 31
Apr. 7 - 9
May 1 - 13
May 27 - 28
Jun. 3 - 4
Jun. 24 - Jul. 10
Jun. 29
Jun. 30 - Jul. 8
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TOMODACHI Kakehashi Inouye Scholars Program: University of Hawaii at Manoa students visit Japan
TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference: American & Japanese students develop leadership skills during a three-day conference (Boston)
TOMODACHI Food Innovation for Regional Sustainability in Tohoku (FIRST) Program: Leaders in food and agriculture from Tohoku visit the U.S. (Seattle)
TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program Annual Conference: The final phase of the program targeted for female university students
TOMODACHI Alumni Disaster Resilience Training Program: Participants develop both theoretical and practical leadership skills through workshops (Kobe)
6th TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program: High school students from Southern California visit Japan (Tokyo, Miyagi, Hiroshima, and Kyoto)
TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Program: Award Ceremony
TOMODACHI-Mitsui & Co. Leadership Program: American delegation visits Japan (Iwate and Tokyo)
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TOMODACHI Alumni Activities
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TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Framework’s Inaugural Orientation Takes Place
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On March 10 and 11, 2017, the TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Framework’s inaugural orientation took place for regional mentors, regional leaders, and deputy regional leaders. The TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Framework’s leaders represent seven major regions in Japan and aim to strengthen the network of the TOMODACHI Generation. Participants included a diverse group of alumni, ranging from high school students to young professionals, all representing different TOMODACHI programs. Kaito Manabe, an alumnus of the TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Program and the leader for the Kyushu region, said, “It was very exciting to be able to interact with alumni from other regions. Kyushu has a lot of resources, like tourism. I would like to promote deeper connections among TOMODACHI alumni by uniting all these different resources through TOMODACHI’s programs.” Read More>>
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TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Framework and Alumni Website Launched!
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On March 9, 2017, the TOMODACHI Initiative announced the launch of the “ TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Framework,” an effort to further strengthen support for the “TOMODACHI Generation” of 21 st century leaders. This new Framework will introduce leaders in seven regions across Japan: each region will have at least one university student serving as the regional leader, one high school student as the deputy regional leader, and one young professional as the regional mentor. Along with this announcement, TOMODACHI also launched its brand new TOMODACHI alumni website. The website contains the latest updates on TOMODACHI alumni’s activities, information about programs and events for TOMODACHI alumni, and the biographies of members of the TOMODACHI Generation.
To access the new TOMODACHI alumni website, click here. |
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Apply Now: Recruiting High School TOMODACHI Alumni from Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima for the TOMODACHI U.S.-Japan Youth Exchange Program!
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The TOMODACHI U.S.-Japan Youth Exchange Program promotes cultural awareness and sensitivity among Japanese and American high school students by focusing on service learning and social entrepreneurship. The program brings together a total of 12 high school students, including students from Washington, D.C., the Kanto region (Keio Shonan Fujisawa High School), and TOMODACHI alumni from the Tohoku region. Through experiential learning, the participants will develop projects that they will continue to work on after the program. For more information and to apply, click here.
Application Deadline: 11:59pm, Sunday, April 2, 2017 (JST) |
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Recruiting for the TOMODACHI Alumni Disaster Resilience Training Program: Kobe Workshop!
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The TOMODACHI Alumni Disaster Resilience Training Program is an opportunity for TOMODACHI alumni to not only learn about natural disasters, but also how to protect themselves as well as others if a disaster occurs. This two-day training program is co-hosted by the TOMODACHI Initiative, Japan IsraAID Support Program (JISP), and Peace Boat, and offers both theoretical and practical leadership training that will come in handy in disaster-affected areas. From June 3 to June 4, 2017, the participants will attend lectures on topics such as disaster relief volunteer training, disaster stress management, psychological treatment, outdoor activities, and action plan creation. For more information and to apply, click here.
Application Deadline: 11:59pm, Saturday, April 15, 2017 (JST) |
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Recruitment for TOMODACHI Program Participants
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Please forward and share these opportunities with people who may be interested.
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Now Recruiting for the TOMODACHI Summer 2017 SoftBank Leadership Program
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The TOMODACHI Initiative and SoftBank Group Corp. are pleased to announce the “ TOMODACHI Summer 2017 SoftBank Leadership Program” that will take place from July 21 to August 10, 2017 (dates are tentative). Fully funded by Softbank Group Corp., this program will send 100 Japanese high school students from the disaster affected prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima to the University of California, Berkeley for an intensive three-week workshop focused on community service and leadership development. 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. For more information and to apply, click here.
Application Deadline: Sunday, April 2, 2017 |
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Recruiting for the 2017 TOMODACHI-Mitsui & Co. Leadership Program!
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We are now recruiting 10 American and 10 Japanese young professionals from the public and private sectors to participate in the 2017 TOMODACHI-Mitsui & Co. Leadership Program! The TOMODACHI-Mitsui & Co. Leadership Program contributes to building a “TOMODACHI generation” of creative thinkers and driven doers who are invested in the future of U.S.-Japan relations, understand and appreciate cultural differences, and possess the globally-oriented skills and mindset needed to thrive and make a difference.Generously funded by Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and entering its fifth year, the exchange program 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. Selected through a competitive process, participants represent geographic and professional diversity. For more information, click here.
Application Deadline:
American Delegation: Thursday, April 13
Japanese Delegation: Thursday, April 20 |
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Marketing & Communications Manager (Tokyo Office)
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The U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) and the TOMODACHI Initiative is seeking a Marketing & Communications Manager that will develop and implement a comprehensive strategic communications program to develop the profile and brand of TOMODACHI among a diverse audience and stakeholders, including senior corporate executives, government leaders, recipients of support, donors, press and the general public. For more information and to apply, click here.
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Intern, U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) & TOMODACHI Initiative (Tokyo Office)
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The U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) and the TOMODACHI Initiative is seeking unpaid interns for this Spring and Summer. U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) and TOMODACHI offers an exciting environment for interns to be exposed to non-profit, corporate, and government fields. Responsibilities for interns include creating and drafting documents, translation, website management, social media management, newsletter development support, public speaking, communication with program participants, designing presentations and posters, and event planning. For more information and to apply, click here.
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