TOMODACHI GLA 2.0 Tokyo Program Held
The TOMODACHI GLA 2.0 Tokyo Program was held from December 22 to December 24, 2025. Serving as the culmination of the program that began with the Onagawa component in September, this Tokyo session brought participants together in person once again to deepen their global perspectives and present their final outcomes.
For the first time in approximately three months since the Onagawa program, all participants reunited face-to-face. After an extended period of online preparation, meeting in person allowed participants to reaffirm team cohesion and align their mindset toward the Tokyo program’s objectives: gaining a global perspective and delivering the final presentations. Ice-breaking activities helped establish a foundation for active and open discussion.
As part of a corporate site visit focused on global media perspectives, participants visited Fuji Television Network, Inc. Mr. Yuki Tanaka, Commentator at the News Bureau, shared powerful messages drawn from his experience as a foreign correspondent, including “It is better to regret trying than to regret not trying” and “Careers are not linear.” One participant, Hayato Nakamura, reflected, “I was particularly struck by Mr. Tanaka’s story about traveling to Hong Kong during its 1997 handover simply because he wanted to see it with his own eyes. His willingness to turn curiosity into action was truly inspiring.” The visit, which also included an office tour, offered participants a firsthand understanding of the responsibility of disseminating information and the role of media organizations.
At the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) office, participants engaged in small-group dialogues with staff members from diverse backgrounds. Through conversations about personal roots, international experiences, and career paths, participants gained a more concrete understanding of what it means to work globally. Aoi Ishii, one of the participants, shared, “I used to think that building a career meant staying with one company long-term, but this session made me realize there are many paths, and changing roles to match one’s skills and interests is also a valid option.” Some teams challenged themselves by participating in English-language sessions, deepening their learning despite language barriers.
As the culmination of the program, participants delivered their final presentations based on the theme, “What Kind of Glocal Leaders Will Be Needed in 2075?” Each team integrated local insights gained in Onagawa with global perspectives developed in Tokyo to propose their own vision of leadership. Despite the tense atmosphere, the presentations were highly praised for their strong logic and passion, clearly reflecting the teamwork forged through overcoming challenges during the preparation period.
Following the final presentations, a reception was held with judges, parents, USJC members, and TOMODACHI alumni. Participants had the opportunity to engage directly with working professionals and corporate representatives, receiving valuable feedback on their future careers and leadership development. In the closing speech delivered on behalf of the participants, Yuna Otsuka shared, “I usually take time to organize my thoughts before speaking, but in this program, there were people who accepted and empathized with my ideas in any form. I realized that this alumni community is a place where I truly feel comfortable being myself.”
The program concluded with a moving finale, as participants reflected on their three-month learning journey and celebrated one another’s growth.
