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Update from Team TOMODACHI
November 2014
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TOMODACHI Initiative Announces New Partnerships at Reception Hosted by Ambassador Kennedy
 On November 13, approximately 130 guests gathered at the residence of U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy in Tokyo to celebrate the partnerships and progress of the TOMODACHI Initiative.
The reception welcomed ten alumni from recent TOMODACHI programs, ranging from high school students from Tohoku to young professionals working in Kyushu, who traveled from their respective regions for this special evening. Two of the alumni, Kazuma Tamura, a high school student from Iwate prefecture who participated in the TOMODACHI 2014 MUFG International Exchange Program, and Sachiho Tani, a university student from Hyogo prefecture who took part in the TOMODACHI-MetLife Women's Leadership Program 2013, gave inspirational speeches in front of the assembled guests. Alumni participation in the event was made possible as part of the TOMODACHI Alumni Leadership Program supported by Prudential Financial, Inc.
The reception also celebrated seven Strategic Partners, who have generously contributed one million dollars or more to the TOMODACHI Initiative. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and SoftBank Corp. are continuing their multi-year commitment to TOMODACHI. Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., Goldman Sachs Japan Ltd., the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies in Japan and McKinsey & Company, Inc. are joining as new Strategic Partners.
In her speech, Ambassador Kennedy highlighted TOMODACHI's new partnership with Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) to sponsor a new internship program for American students in Japan. This program was created as a direct response to President Obama and Prime Minister Abe’s commitment to facilitate internship opportunities and increase student exchanges between the two nations.
USJC President Irene Hirano Inouye discussed the strong, positive impact of TOMODACHI which not only transforms the lives of young people, but also extends to host families, the employees of sponsor companies, partner institutions and those who are part of the TOMODACHI participants' communities. Read More>>
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The Latest on TOMODACHI Programs and Activities
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TOMODACHI High School Women Career Mentoring Program in Fukushima Brings Exchange Students and Young Professionals to Discuss Options for Future
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On November 1-2, the second phase of the TOMODACHI High School Women Career Mentoring Program in Fukushima was launched. One hundred and twenty Fukushima girls gathered to hear from 20 exchange students from 11 countries, including the United States, as the exchange students shared their experiences and explained why they decided to study abroad, and the steps they took to come to Japan. Many of the students presented stories of having to persuade their parents in order to study in Japan. In addition, young female professionals attended the sessions to speak about various career fields. This four-step program provided mentoring and career advice for 120 female high school students from Fukushima prefecture, providing them with exposure and options they may never have had otherwise. Read More>>
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High School Students from the U.S and Japan Reunite on the TOMODACHI US-Japan Youth Exchange Program and Conclude with a Reception in Tokyo
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On Friday November 14, the American and Japanese participants of the 2014 TOMODACHI US-Japan Youth Exchange Program gathered in Tokyo to present their experiences on the program. The American students from Washington, DC were at the end of their two-week program in Japan, and had recently returned from the disaster-affected areas of Tohoku, where they had learned from local non-profits. Participants shared their stories in front of U.S. Embassy Tokyo Deputy Chief of Mission Jason Hyland and U.S.-Japan Council President Irene Hirano Inouye. Senior Vice President of Global Relations for Mitsubishi Corporation, Satohiro Akimoto, representing the TOMODACHI Fund for Exchanges donor companies (Toyota Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation and Hitachi, Ltd) shared his own story of coming to the United States for the first time and how that experience greatly impacted his own life. Read More>>
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First TOMODACHI Sumitomo Scholars Began Begin Classes in the United States
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TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholars Program provides scholarships to high-achieving university students with financial need to enable them to study abroad for one year. Sumitomo Corporation’s support is aimed at helping to develop globally-minded young leaders who will serve as active bridges between Japan and the United States.
The following three scholars were selected in 2014 and began classes this fall:
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Yukako Hirakawa is currently studying at University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) as an exchange student from Keio University. "I have a dream to be a journalist who reports on issues around the world. I hope I can someday act as a bridge between the US and Japan by reporting the news about both countries." More>>
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Ayaka Ogita is from Tohoku University is currently studying at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa in Honolulu. When accepting the scholarship, she vowed to commit herself to better understanding the mentalities and histories of American and Japanese people, in order to facilitate connections and further her own future. More>>
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Kazunari Tanabe is from Keio University and is currently studying at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "My future goal is to contribute to enhance a standard of living for world citizens and stabilize international economy with my strong understanding of economics." More>>
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NGO Leaders Attend Humanitarian Response Workshop, a Part of the TOMODACHI NGO Leadership Program Supported by J.P. Morgan
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From October 27 to 31, the Humanitarian Response Workshop – part of the TOMODACHI NGO Leadership Program supported by J.P. Morgan – was held at the National Women’s Education Center in Saitama, Japan and brought in disaster response experts from the United States. Twenty-six NGO leaders from Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea gathered to learn new disaster response skills and build upon their knowledge of topics that included quality control and accountability, security management, monitoring and evaluation, and building networks to help in future disasters. Read More>>
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Upcoming Programs and Events
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Dec 25-Jan 8 Twenty high school students from Tohoku visit California to participate in the Rose Parade and cultural exchange activities on the TOMODACHI Honda Cultural Exchange Program
Jan 4-10 TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corp Scholars visit Sumitomo Corporation in New York City and U.S.-Japan Council at Washington, DC
Jan 4-14 Ten to twelve students from Takata High School in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture will visit Del Norte High School in Crescent City, California to cement a sister school relationship (reciprocal visit from TOMODACHI-Del Norte High School 2014 Delegation to Rikuzentakata)
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Recruitment for TOMODACHI Program Participants
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Special Thanks to Our Newest Donors!
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