TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program
TOMODACHI Initiative and The Toshizo Watanabe Foundation (Chairman, Toshizo Watanabe) established “the TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program in 2022. The program aims to promote a greater understanding between the United States and Japan and to foster the next generation of leaders in both countries with an international mindset.
In response to the announcement of the new program, Toshizo Watanabe, Chairman of The Toshizo Watanabe Foundation, stated, “Being exposed to other countries and broadening horizons in their youth is such a valuable experience. I expect this program to provide promising Japanese high school students with ‘discovery’ and ‘opportunities’”
With a rigorous selection process, participants from all over Japan have been chosen to take part in training sessions in the United States. During their stay, they will engage with people in the local community, be exposed to the history and diverse cultures of the country, and acquire different perspectives and leadership skills through homestays and site visits.
TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program 2024
TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program: Participants Learned and Reflected on Leadership and Cross-Cultural Understanding in Southern California
The TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program 2024 was held in Los Angeles, California in August. This year’s participants, a group of 20 Japanese high school students, spent 11 days immersed in the diverse culture and rich history of the region. Through various site visits, meaningful discussions, and hands-on experiences, the students developed new perspectives on leadership and deepened their understanding of the close ties between Japan and the United States.
On the first day of the program, the participants visited the Official Residence of Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles and met Consul General Sone and his staff to have enriching conversations on leadership. Then, the program had a chance to invite members and leaders of the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) for a panel discussion which was full of advice for the young leaders. During their stay, they visited several organizations and institutions, including a local high school, Caltech, Japan House, the Japanese American National Museum, the Museum of Tolerance, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Terasaki Institute, and the University of California, Los Angeles.
TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program; Participants attend orientation
On July 7, 2024, the TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program orientation was held online, attended by 20 high school students selected from all over Japan, two teachers, and program staff.
During the orientation, participants who were meeting each other for the first time introduced themselves. Mr. Toshizo Watanabe, who is supporting this program, was introduced, and the training schedule and precautions for participating in the program were explained. In the second half of the orientation, the participants were assigned to groups with whom they will live during the program, and each group had time to discuss homework assignments before their trip to the United States.
TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program 2023
From August 9th to 19th, 2023, the TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program was held. Fourteen high school students selected from all over Japan participated in the program in California.
During the 10-day program, the students visited educational institutions such as the California Institute of Technology and the University of California, Los Angeles, where they had the opportunity to listen to local Japanese students and consider their career paths. Furthermore, they visited cultural institutions such as Japan House, the Holocaust Museum LA, and the Japanese American National Museum, where they learned about the history and diversity of the United States, U.S.-Japan relations, and various leadership styles. At the official residence of the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles, each student introduced themselves and their reasons for participating in the program, and actively asked the Consul General a variety of questions. They also experienced a homestay with local families on the weekend and deepened exchanges with American high school students through a hands-on experience at a local high school. Read More>>
TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program 2022
From August 10 to 20, 2022, the inaugural TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program was held, and fourteen high school students selected from all over Japan participated in the program in California. On the program’s final day, we welcomed Toshizo Watanabe, Chairman of The Toshizo Watanabe Foundation, which supports the program, and Suzanne Basalla, President of the U.S.-Japan Council.
All students made presentations in English about the learnings gained through their time in the program. Seita Horiguchi, reflecting on the program, said, “(I learned that) a leader is someone who notices differences, thinks about and respects other perspectives. This program has strengthened my desire to go abroad in the future.” Read More>>
