Cultural
Cultural programs in sports, music and the arts provide gateways for Japanese and Americans to learn about and to develop enduring interest in each other’s cultures. The TOMODACHI Initiative collaborates with many long-standing and prestigious cultural exchange programs, as well as with American and Japanese athletes, artists, musicians, and entertainers.
Whether it is teaming up with Major League Baseball to bring the joy and fundamental values of sports to children or helping young performers and artists to share their work, TOMODACHI is devoted to fostering an intercultural conversation between Japan and America.
Featured Programs
TOMODACHI Partnership with Major League Baseball
The Japanese people love baseball as much as Americans do. That’s why Major League Baseball (MLB) and TOMODACHI teamed up to provide American and Japanese children an opportunity to learn about the importance of communication and teamwork. This includes holding baseball clinics and providing baseball equipment to youth teams in the Tohoku area.
TOMODACHI x NIKE GO GIRL PROJECT
This program is a unique, cross-cultural exchange for marathon runners. Twelve female collegiate athletes from the U.S. and twelve female collegiate athletes from Japan who were affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake live and train together to deepen their friendship and to inspire each other.
Japan-America Grassroots Summit
This program helped three groups of high school and middle school students from the disaster-affected cities of Minamisanriku, Kesennuma, and Ishinomaki attend the Japan-American Grassroots Summit in North Texas on Aug. 28- Sep. 3, 2012. The Japan-America Grassroots Summit is an annual large-scale meeting of Japanese and American citizens, which seeks to strengthen bilateral relations by fostering friendships between people of both countries.
Sports Camp of America
This program provides young children with an opportunity to experience an American-style summer camp. In August 2012, 40 children between the ages of 6 and 12 from Minami-Sanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, participated.
Yamakiya Taiko Group
The Yamakiya Taiko Group traveled to the United States and performed in Washington, DC and Baltimore from April 9-16, 2012 as part of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival celebration.
Other Activities & Events
Glenn Miller Orchestra Charity Concerts
The Glenn Miller Orchestra put on two charity concerts in Kesennuma City, Miyagi on Nov. 25, 2012. During the first concert, the orchestra performed with students from Tsuya Junior High School (Kesennuma) and Seiwa Gakuen High School (Sendai). With the support of the TOMODACHI Initiative, Kesennuma’s junior jazz orchestra Swing Dolphins was the opening act for the second performance.
Young Americans Tohoku Tour
A group of talented young Americans conducted workshops for young people in Tohoku, consisting of singing, dancing, and pantomiming songs to open children’s hearts, help them gain confidence, and motivate them to learn different languages and cultures.
Fukushima Kids Attend NBA Basketball Camp
The TOMODACHI Initiative partnered with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Japanese non-profit organization Frontier Minamisoma to sponsor the participation of 20 middle school students from Fukushima prefecture at the NBA Youth Camp in Tokyo on Jun. 15-17, 2012.
NBA Basketball Clinic
Children received encouragement and coaching from NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo, current NBA players Corey Brewer (Denver Nuggets) and Vladimir Radmanovic (Atlanta Hawks), and former NBA player Yuta Tabuse at a basketball clinic at Shiogama Daisan Junior High School in Miyagi Prefecture on Jun. 12, 2012.
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Members of the New York-based Orpheus Chamber Orchestra conducted a music workshop for 100 students at Shukoh Middle School in Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture on May 31, 2012. The Orpheus musicians performed a Rossini overture and discussed their musical careers and experiences with students and faculty.
Women’s Soccer Clinic
The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team took to the soccer field and led an event for Japanese youth in Sendai, Japan on Mar. 27, 2012. Members of the U.S. Women’s National Team emphasized how young women can accomplish their goals through dedication and hard work.
