U.S. Training and Report Out Session for Building the TOMODACHI Generation: Morgan Stanley Ambassadors Program
From August 3 to 19, 2025, the Building the TOMODACHI Generation: Morgan Stanley Ambassadors Program was held in Washington, D.C., bringing together nine university students from Japan and six from the United States. The program consisted of lectures, site visits, panel discussions, and interactive sessions with experienced professionals. Its aim was to deepen participants’ understanding of civil society and to learn about strengthening cross-sector partnerships in order to address social issues in both Japan and the United States.
During the first week, participants engaged in dialogue with leaders from diverse sectors including government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporate foundations. They visited institutions such as Washington Tennis & Education Foundation, The U.S. Capitol, The U.S.-Japan Business Council, and NBC News. In the second week, participants were divided into three teams and challenged to develop innovative, civil society–driven solutions to pressing social issues facing Japan. Alongside project work, students took part in workshops focused on leadership development, social entrepreneurship, networking and public speaking, and servant leadership. On the final day of the program, August 15, presentations were given to a panel of judges. The first team proposed an initiative to promote women’s participation in Japanese politics. The second team presented a project aimed at encouraging women’s involvement in the STEM field. The third team proposed a project to strengthen connections between the elderly and local communities. As a result of the judging, the team that proposed the project to promote women’s participation in the STEM field won first place.
On August 19, the Japanese participants visited Morgan Stanley’s Tokyo office for a debriefing session, which was also joined online by several students from the United States. One of the Japanese participants, Erika Tohata from Tsuda University, shared her experience: “Through this program, I found the potential of cross-cultural understanding, and now I believe ‘nothing is impossible.’ At the presentation, our team was awarded first place. I believe it wasn’t the result of one person’s effort, but the combined contributions of everyone, working together like pieces of a puzzle. In the future, I want to use what I learned in this program to do social business that supports children who are living in poverty.” The debriefing session included a fireside chat with Mr. David Richards, Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer of Morgan Stanley Japan. He discussed the company’s core values, shared his thoughts on the significance of the U.S.-Japan relationship, and highlighted the importance of globally minded young people as valuable future leaders—offering encouraging words to the participants who had just returned to Japan. The session concluded with a networking opportunity between the students and Morgan Stanley employees. In her closing remarks, Ms. Azusa Koike, Executive Director of Company Management at Morgan Stanley Japan, shared three messages with the students: staying open-minded and curious, understanding oneself, and embracing authenticity.
