Bridging Generations: TOMO-KIN x USJC Reverse Mentorship Session at NEC Headquarters

On June 25, 2025, the TOMO-KIN x USJC Reverse Mentorship Session brought together emerging voices and seasoned leaders at the NEC Headquarters in Tokyo, in collaboration between the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) Japan Region members and alumni of the TOMODACHI Initiative programs. The event served as a platform for cross-generational exchange, reversing traditional roles of mentors and mentees to create new and insightful understandings for both young professionals and established individuals.
The session began with NEC’s company overview, in which they shared their over 100 years of company history and recent developments to focus on generative AI. They shared their future ambitions to increase the number of female employees and leaders in the company to increase diversity within the company.

The “Reverse Mentorship” was designed to deepen understanding between generations in the workforce by encouraging established professionals to become active listeners. Through a structured rotation system, mentees—composed of business leaders, diplomats, legal experts, and senior engineers—engaged with TOMODACHI alumni and young leaders across multiple small-group sessions, which rotated its individuals throughout the night. Each round focused on topics relevant to today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, including work-life balance, leadership styles, career mobility, and the role of purpose-driven work.
This unique role reversal sparked meaningful reflection from seasoned business leaders, who had a chance to hear new perspectives from the younger generation.

“It was really interesting as there weren’t as many opportunities to do things like this [event] before. Looking at the challenges that bosses face from the other side was eye-opening,” shared Riley Masunaga, alum of the TOMODACHI KAKEHASHI Inouye Scholars Program (2015).
“Fantastic experience being a mentee for the first time in my life,” said Henry Takata, Representative Director of USJC.
“It was surprisingly consistent across all of my groups… how people communicate with respect. That was a big takeaway. Mentors do not want to be spoken down to; they want to be communicated with as equals,” noted Royanne Doi, Executive Director of TELL Japan.
“I really enjoyed the event—it was a great time to meet people who work in different fields. I learned a lot from them, and it’s a rare opportunity to have a meeting with mentors,” added Daisuke Kasayanagi, TOMODACHI Story Jam Alumnus.

After the round table discussions and experience reflection and sharing by both mentors and mentees, the participants moved into the reception hall of the NEC building. Wrapping up the evening was a group photo and networking reception, giving participants more space to connect informally. Announcements followed about upcoming TOMODACHI and USJC events, including the Next Generation Summit and the 37th Business Advisory Board gathering later this summer, and ending off the night with a raffle of prizes for participants .
Through creating a space that pushed for dialogue, mutual respect, and vulnerability, the TOMO-KIN x USJC Reverse Mentorship Session showed that intergenerational understanding shows the possibility of driving forward thinking leadership and innovation. The event served as a reminder that mentorship does not just go one way, but is instead built on multiple values and gaining mutual understanding that everyone has something meaningful to contribute regardless of age or title.