TOMODACHI RISE Awards Ceremony Commemorates 2020 Regional Leaders and Regional Mentors’ Commitment to Community and Beyond

On March 28, 2021, the TOMODACHI RISE Awards Ceremony was held online to commemorate the 2020 Regional Leaders and Regional Mentors who participated in the TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Impact for Social Empowerment (RISE) Leadership Program. The event was an opportunity for former and current Regional Leaders and Mentors to gather with representatives from the U.S. Consulates. The event was moderated by Kirari Miura, a 2019 TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Leader.

The event began with opening remarks by Shiho Onoe, Executive Director of Gibraltar Life Insurance Co., Ltd., representing the Prudential Group.

Participants reflected on the 2020 alumni activities and shared their memories throughout the year. Eight Regional Leaders received certificates of completion at the ceremony and expressed their gratitude to their Regional Mentors and supporters. They also took the opportunity to share their experiences and reflect on their growth as Regional Leaders.

Maho Kitano, the 2020 Regional Leader of the Kansai-Chugoku-Shikoku region, commented that it was initially extremely challenging for her to take on her role as the Regional Leader during the pandemic since she was not able to meet her mentor, Miki Sakata, in person. However, she was able to hold two successful events thanks to Ms. Sakata’s generous support that included sharing personal updates during the weekly call.

Rika Yonamine, the Regional Leader of the Okinawa Region, commented that she was concerned that the topic she wanted to address was too sensitive. However, she was able to discuss ideas with her mentor, Sarah Arao, and confidently execute two successful events. As a result of this experience, she was able to expose herself to new leadership styles as she planned her events with a group of alumni who were similarly passionate about the topic.

The second half of the event included the regional quiz. Participants were able to learn fun facts about each region and the prizes were given to the top three winners.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the TOMODACHI RISE Awards ceremony was held online for the second time. It was a wonderful opportunity for Regional Leaders and Regional Mentors across Japan to gather and commemorate each other’s commitment to each respective region. Hiroshi Ogasawara, Portfolio Management Manager at Prudential Holdings of Japan, Alicia Edwards, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe, and Aya Toyama, Public Affairs Assistant at the U.S. Consulate General Naha also joined the event. The program is made possible with generous funding from Prudential and with support from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and the U.S. Consulates across Japan.

The event was held as a part of the TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Framework, the TOMODACHI Generation Alumni Leadership Program supported by Prudential.