Dow Chemical Japan to Continue Support for the TOMODACHI Initiative for the 8th Year
August 11, 2021
U.S.-Japan Council (Japan)
Dow Japan
Dow Chemical Japan to Continue Support
for the TOMODACHI Initiative for the 8th Year
(Photo) University Students Visiting the Dow Texas Innovation Center, USA
Dow Chemical Japan Ltd. (Head Office: Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo; President: Eriko Sakurai) has announced the continuation of their partnership with the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) (Office: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director, Suzanne Basalla) and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. Born out of support for Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, the TOMODACHI Initiative invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and cultural exchanges, as well as leadership programs. The extension of this partnership will mark the eighth year that Dow Japan has supported TOMODACHI. Dow Japan has been supporting the TOMODACHI Initiative since 2014.
Dow invests in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education worldwide, under “Creating Tomorrow’s Innovators” as one of the priority areas that guide their actions in supporting the community. Through its partnership with the TOMODACHI Initiative, which began in 2014, Dow Japan has continually supported the development of female leadership within the sciences guided by the shared belief that exchanges between the next generation of both Japanese and American leaders will lead to further innovation in the fields of science and technology.
41 students have participated in the TOMODACHI STEM @ Rice University Program, which was generously funded by Dow Japan from 2017 onward. Every year, the Program offered 10 Japanese female undergraduate students who studied the sciences the opportunity to participate in a research internship in the United States for 5 weeks. Participants visit the Dow Texas Innovation Center in Houston, USA, and interact with scientists in Dow’s employee resource groups (ERGs), internal diversity networks that supports the success of women and Asians in the field.
Although the 2020 program was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recruitment for the 2021 program has begun. Through the new TOMODACHI-STEM Women’s Leadership and Research Program hosted by the TOMODACHI Initiative, Dow Japan will continue to offer Japanese female undergraduate students who are focused on the sciences the opportunity to engage in cultural exchange and research with their American counterparts.
In order to inspire the next generation of women, Dow’s female employees have contributed as volunteers at other TOMODACHI programs, namely the TOMODACHI High School Women Career Mentoring Program in Fukushima as well as the TOMODACHI High School Women Career Mentoring Online Program in Tohoku supported by the TOMODACHI Combini Fund.
Eriko Sakurai, President of Dow Japan, said, “We are honored to continue this long-term partnership with the TOMODACHI Initiative, which shares our vision of nurturing the next generation. Fostering a stronger workforce that will solve future issues is an important issue in both Japan and the United States. Dow will continue to invest in fostering the next generation, particularly to further the success of women in STEM.”
“We are truly grateful for Dow’s continued support of the TOMODACHI Initiative and their support of our vision,” said Suzanne Basalla, Representative Director of the U.S.-Japan Council (Japan). “We are extremely honored to be able to contribute to the development of the next generation of female leaders in STEM through this partnership with Dow. We are confident that the skills and the network that students will develop through this program will assist participants in the process of growing into outstanding leaders who will lead Japan and the world.”
About the TOMODACHI Initiative
The TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, with support from the Government of Japan. Born out of support for Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, TOMODACHI invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and cultural exchanges, as well as leadership programs. The initiative seeks to foster a “TOMODACHI Generation” of young American and Japanese leaders who are committed to and engaged in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, appreciate each other’s countries and cultures, and possess the global skills and mindsets needed to contribute to and thrive in a more cooperative, prosperous, and secure world. Visit us at www.tomodachi.org.
About Dow Japan
Dow Chemical Japan was established in 1974. Together with Dow Toray Co., Ltd., approximately 850 people in 5 major sites, including 3 manufacturing sites (Komatsu, Chiba, Fukui), serve customers in the consumer care, infrastructure, mobility, and packaging industries. Dow operates 19 manufacturing sites in 9 countries in the Asia Pacific region; delivered approximately $8.2 billion in sales in 2020.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, and leading business positions to achieve profitable growth. The Company’s ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company, with a purpose to deliver a sustainable future for the world through our materials science expertise and collaboration with our partners. Dow’s portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer care. Dow operates 106 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 35,700 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $39 billion in 2020. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.
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Contact Information:
U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) TOMODACHI Initiative
(Email: tomodachi@usjapancouncil.org）
Sawanobori, Public Affairs, Dow in Japan
(Phone: 03-6436-7670, Email: rsawanobori@dow.com)
