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Update from Team TOMODACHI
September 2015
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Eight Japanese Nursing Students Return after Hands-on Training and Eye Opening Experiences on the TOMODACHI J&J Disaster Nursing Training Program
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 "[Going to the United States on this program] was an amazing experience, and I learned a lot," said Natsumi Miyakawa from the Ishinomaki Red Cross Nursing School. "But this is not just for me. Many students applied to this program, and only eight of us were selected. It is our responsibility to share our experiences, give back to our communities and our country."
Natsumi's is just one of the passionate voices that belong to the nursing students from Miyagi Prefecture who participated in the TOMODACHI J&J Disaster Nursing Training (DNT) Program’s U.S. Study Trip this August. Sponsored by the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, this program supports capacity building of nurses in the Tohoku region by focusing on the field of disaster medicine.
For its inaugural year, the TOMODACHI J&J DNT Program took eight nursing students from Miyagi prefecture to New York and Washington D.C. from August 10 to 24. In New York, the students (who had all experienced the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake), met with 9/11 families and first responders, and listened to their stories while sharing their own experiences. They also met with Japanese medical professionals to learn about the issues surrounding mental health, as well as fellow nursing school students at well-known universities.
In Washington, D.C. the participants learned about the way the United States handles disasters and different types of disaster preparedness, from natural disasters to terrorism to infectious diseases. They experienced hands-on training, donning and doffing suits in case of an Ebola Outbreak, and also connected with fellow nursing students at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, the Uniformed Services University Health Sciences Center Daniel Inouye School of Nursing, and the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine. The two-week long study trip culminated with an evening reception hosted by Children's National Health System, where the students shared their experiences and lessons learned from the program, as well as presenting their ideas for applying their new knowledge to their studies and career goals. More>>
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The Latest on TOMODACHI Programs and Activities
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TOMODACHI Alumni: Register Now for TOMODACHI Generation Summit
Beyond 2020 Vision: Going Global with the U.S. Japan Partnership
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TOMODACHI alumni who are university students and/or young professionals are invited to join this inaugural TOMODACHI Generation Summit on November 8, 2015 in Tokyo. The program includes inspirational keynote plenary sessions, hands-on skills building workshops, alumni activity presentations, and various networking opportunities. There will be a reception in the evening at which participants will have an opportunity to meet U.S.-Japan Council members, presenters, and other TOMODACHI alumni to broaden networks and strengthen people-to-people relationships.
For more information, click here
- Register for the TOMODACHI Generation Summit here (Deadline: October 21)
- Register to volunteer at the TOMODACHI Summit (TOMODACHI Alumni High School Students only) here
This TOMODACHI Generation Summit is made possible by the generous support of the Prudential Foundation, sponsor of the TOMODACHI Alumni Leadership Program.
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Major League Baseball Hall of Famers Hold Baseball Clinic at the TOMODACHI Ishinomaki City Baseball Stadium
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On August 17, 250 little leaguers – of whom 50 were from Tohoku – had a rare opportunity to learn the fundamentals of baseball from Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Famers Randy Johnson, Tony LaRussa, 2001 World Series Hero Luis Gonzalez, and former Japanese professional baseball pitcher Kenjiro Kawasaki at the TOMODACHI Ishinomaki City Baseball Stadium. This stadium had been destroyed by the 3.11 tsunami and was reconstructed by TOMODACHI with funding provided by Major League Baseball. The baseball legends emphasized the importance of teamwork, practice, and respect for their coaches and teammates. More>>
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TOMODACHI Fund for Exchanges Grassroots Programs Continue to Make a Powerful Impact in the United States
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Funded by the TOMODACHI Fund for Exchanges, which was made possible through the generous contributions of Toyota Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Hitachi, Ltd., the following programs connected diverse communities across both the U.S. and Japan through people-to-people connections. This newsletter highlights two of seven grassroots exchanges supported by the TOMODACHI Fund for Exchanges this summer.
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Six middle and high school students from Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture traveled to St. Louis, Missouri for a cultural exchange program on the TOMODACHI St. Louis Ishinomaki Friendship Program. More>>
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Eight middle school players and two coaches from Ofunato, Iwate, traveled to California for a homestay and baseball exchange on the San Diego-Ofunato Baseball Exchange Program. More>>
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These grassroots programs are unique in terms of program participants, locations, and activities, and are all bound by the common goal of providing young Japanese and Americans with the opportunity to cultivate their global mindsets by being exposed to a different culture.
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American Foster Youths Come To Japan to Create a Brighter Future for the Foster Care System in Japan and the United States
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From August 30 to September 6, four young leaders who graduated from the U.S. foster care system visited Japan to share their stories and connect with Japanese youth from similar backgrounds on the TOMODACHI Foster Youth Leadership Program. During their stay in Japan, the U.S. International Foster Care Alliance (IFCA) participants visited youth shelters, independent living homes, and large-scale group homes to deepen their understanding of the Japanese child welfare system and to build new connections with the Japanese foster care community. The program culminated with the “Japan-U.S. Youth Summit in Tokyo,” which was attended by over 100 people that are involved in foster care in both the United States and Japan. More>>
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Young Americans Launch the TOMODACHI High School Women Career Mentoring Program in Fukushima 2015 with a Song and Dance Workshop
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The TOMODACHI High School Women Career Mentoring Program in Fukushima 2015 kicked off part one of four in Tokyo from August 10 to 13. Funded through the TOMODACHI Combini Fund, which is supported by Lawson and FamilyMart Co., Ltd. convenience stores, this four-part career support program takes place during a six-month period and provides 116 female high school students from Fukushima prefecture with career support and an opportunity to meet with female role models. Over the course of the four part program, the students meet with international students and young professionals from various age groups, nationalities, and backgrounds to gain exposure to different ideas and career options while developing leadership skills that will open doors for them in the future. Furthermore, 24 TOMODACHI alumni participate in this program as mentors and program assistants, providing support and encouragement to the students throughout this career mentoring program. More>>
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Tohoku High School and University Students Participate in TOMODACHI H-LAB TOHOKU 2015, Thanks to the TOMODACHI Combini Fund
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From August 14-22, one hundred high school and university students from the Tohoku region participated in a nine-day liberal arts educational program on the TOMODACHI H-LAB TOHOKU 2015. H-LAB is a summer school seminar created for Japanese high school students by university students from the United States and Japan. This year was the first year the program was held in Tohoku, thanks to generous support from the TOMODACHI Combini Fund, which is supported by Lawson and FamilyMart Co. Ltd. convenience stores. The high school students challenged themselves by taking seminars taught in English and explored fields they had never studied before. The participants connected with each other through a reflection period and team-building activities. Many of the students looked back at their nine-day journey and shared that it was a life-changing experience they will treasure. More>>
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WAW! MetLife Symposium: Alumni Advancing Gender Equity
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"I want to be a game-changer who could change the system because of my added value to the workplace.” – TOMODACHI Alumna
On August 27, eleven TOMODACHI alumni participate in a symposium entitled, "Challenges on Gender Diversity: Women and Men" hosted by MetLife, Inc. as an official side event of WAW! Tokyo 2015 Shine Weeks. The Japanese government aims to increase female managers by 30% by 2020, and the Symposium speakers offered guests and TOMODACHI alumni insights into leadership challenges and strategies for gender equity. TOMODACHI alumni participated actively in the Q&A sessions, identifying strategies and solutions for success in the Japanese corporate world. More>>
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TOMODACHI Suntory Music Scholarship Fund
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This TOMODACHI Suntory Music Scholarship Fund creates opportunities for young Japanese musicians to study at prestigious music schools in the United States. Three students were selected to receive the 2015 TOMODACHI Suntory Music Scholarship Fund and have begun their Fall semester at Berklee and the Juilliard School of Music.
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YUTA YAMAGUCHI is a lead trumpet player from Sapporo who previously attended Berklee’s five-week Summer Performance Program in Boston. He had the opportunity to study privately with Tiger Okoshi who thinks highly of his abilities. Having studied the trumpet for 11 years, he has played in Big Bands attended the Hokkaido Groove Camp for 10 years. He majored in Engineering at Kitami Institute of Technology and is switching over to Berklee to pursue his dream of playing the trumpet. Read More>>
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KUMPEI IKI is a clarinetist who currently attends the Koyo Conservatory, a Berklee International Network school in Japan. He loves old swing music but also loves creating his own sounds. When asked what he will bring to Berklee he answered: “my Japanese samurai culture.” He wishes to collaborate with American musicians and create a fusion of American and Japanese music. Read More>>
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MIO ISHIKAWA is a ballerina who currently majors in Economics at Keio University. She will be transferring to the Juilliard School of Music where she looks forward to learning in an environment where “traditional and new approaches to ballet and other art forms live together and inspire each other.” In the future, she wishes to become a bridge between ballet and society. Read More>>
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Recruitment for 2016 Scholars will begin shortly. Individuals interested in the scholarship must apply directly to each U.S. educational institution. For more information, click here
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Three TOMODACHI-UNIQLO Fellows Embark on their Studies in the United States
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This fall, three fellows were selected to receive the TOMODACHI-UNIQLO Fellowship, which provides a world-class educational experience to Japan’s next generation of business and fashion leaders. The selected fellows are:
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HIROKO HIRAKI was a Supervisor for the Merchandise Headquarters Import Division at Amina Collection, which sells and promotes international folklore items in Japan. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Global Fashion Management at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York from this Fall. Read More>>
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EIKO NAKANO worked at McKinsey & Company Japan as a business analyst and was on a temporary assignment at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT). Through the TOMODACHI UNIQLO Fellowship, she is pursuing a master’s degree at the Stanford Graduate School of Business this Fall. Read More>>
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NAOYO TOKI is a freelance journalist who has written runway reports from Paris, London, and Tokyo fashion weeks conducting interviews that have been featured in numerous media publications. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Global Fashion Management at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York this Fall through the TOMODACHI UNIQLO Fellowship. Read More>>
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Japanese Doctor Selected and Begin Fellowship in Atlanta, Georgia Under the Auspices of the TOMODACHI Aflac Program
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Launched in June 2013, the TOMODACHI Aflac Program takes Japan-based pediatric cancer specialists to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia, to observe and share best practices related to the care and treatment of children with cancer. The program lays the foundation for broader understanding of research and treatment protocols for childhood cancer and enhances communication and cooperation between U.S. and Japan cancer specialists. More>>
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This year, Dr. Hirozumi Sano was selected for year three of the TOMODACHI Aflac Program. He currently serves as Chief of Pediatrics at Sapporo Hokuyu Hospital. More>>
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TOMODACHI on Television Series, Nobu's Japan on Discovery Asia
Celebrity Chefs Nobu Matsuhisa and José Andrés Team Up in a Charity Dinner in Support of the TOMODACHI Initiative
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Filmed by the Discovery Network, Nobu's Japan is a television series that is currently being broadcasted on Discovery Asia. In this second episode that will air in Japan on October 3 from 19:00-19:30, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa of NOBU Restaurant and Jose Andres, Spanish cuisine celebrity chef, travel to Nagasaki, Japan to discover regional Nagasaki cuisine, a fusion of Chinese and Western influences. This adventure culminates in a charity dinner at Nobu Tokyo, with proceeds donated to the TOMODACHI Initiative. More>>
- To read more about the charity dinner on July 20, 2015, click here
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Register Now for the 2015 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference!
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The 2015 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference will be held from November 9-10, 2015 in Tokyo at the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel (with select programming before and after these dates). The conference will highlight the importance of the enduring partnership of our two countries and of working across sectors and generations to envision and achieve a more vibrant and dynamic U.S.-Japan relationship that benefits both countries as well as the greater Asia-Pacific region. For more information on the conference, click here
- To register for the 2015 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference, click here
Volunteer at the U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference!
TOMODACHI Generation Summit participants and TOMODACHI alumni are invited to volunteer at the USJC Annual Conference on November 9 and 10. You must be older than 20. For more information, click here (Deadline: September 30)
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Upcoming Programs and Events
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Oct. 2 Ten-month mentorship program for Japanese female university students and Japanese female mid-career professionals launched in TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program: Fukuoka
Oct. 23 Ten-month mentorship program for Japanese female university students and Japanese female mid-career professionals launched in TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program: Naha
Nov. 6 Second session on Financial Literacy for the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program: Fukuoka
Nov 8 TOMODACHI alumni will gather in Tokyo for inspirational keynote plenary sessions and hands-on skill building workshops at the inaugural TOMODACHI Generation Summit
Nov 9-10 The 2015 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference will highlight the importance of the enduring partnership between the U.S. and Japan
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Upcoming Programs and Events
Please forward and share these opportunities with people who may be interested.
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Japanese Undergraduate Students: Apply Now to the 2016 TOMODACHI STEM Program @ Rice University
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The 2016 TOMODACHI-STEM @ Rice University Program is a five-week research internship program from February 21 to March 27, 2016 for 10 Japanese undergraduate students majoring in science & engineering (S&E). Held at Rice University in Houston, TX, the program will enable students to gain real world experience with S&E research, provide an introduction to U.S. higher education and provide opportunities for cultural engagement and collaboration with U.S. students.
For more information, click here (Application Deadline: October 16. 2015)
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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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