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September 2025 Issue

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.
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TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program: U.S. Study Program in Southern California Fosters Leadership and Cross-Cultural Understanding

From August 13 to 23, 2025, the TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program held its U.S. training in Southern California, centered around Los Angeles. This year, 20 Japanese high school students spent 11 days exploring the region’s rich history and diverse culture. Through site visits, discussions, and hands-on experiences, the students developed new perspectives on leadership and deepened their understanding of the strong relationship between Japan and the United States.
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TOMODACHI Goldman Sachs Music Outreach Program Hosts One-Day Workshop

On July 21, 2025, the TOMODACHI Goldman Sachs Music Outreach Program held a one-day workshop in Tokyo for children from child welfare and single-mother support facilities. A total of 78 children, ranging from first graders in elementary school to third-year high school students, participated from 19 facilities across Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, Ibaraki, and Shizuoka. They were joined by 38 facility staff members and 16 Goldman Sachs employee volunteers.
The workshop, conducted in collaboration with 30 cast members from the U.S.-based nonprofit HEART Global, invited participants to create a 15-minute performance of song and dance in just three hours. The program aims to bring hope and confidence to children through the arts, encourage them to experience the joy of new challenges and collaborative creation, and broaden their perspectives through interaction with people of different ages and cultural backgrounds. It also forms part of Goldman Sachs’ employee volunteer initiatives.
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TOMODACHI Tanaka Sangyo Agricultural Exchange Initiative 2026: Application Open

The TOMODACHI Tanaka Sangyo Agricultural Exchange Initiative is an 8-month leadership development program that brings together 20 undergraduate level students from partner institutions in Niigata, Japan and Texas, the United States. The program focuses on agriculture as a central subject to explore sustainability, innovation, and practice cross-cultural collaboration, while fostering leadership skills.
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TOMODACHI Alumni Highlight: Ayano Hirose, from TOMODACHI Next Generation Summit 2025

This month’s alumni highlight features Ayano Hirose, one of six speakers at the TOMO Voice Speech Contest during the Next Generation Summit 2025. Ayano is an alumna of The Toshizo Watanabe Endowed Scholarship. Speaking on this year’s theme, the “derukui network,” she shared how her study abroad experience at the University of California, Berkeley deepened her passion for Japanese American history and strengthened her voice as a leader.
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TOMODACHI Alumni Highlight: Hisashi Kojima, from TOMODACHI Next Generation Summit 2025

This month’s alumni highlight features Hisashi Kojima, one of six speakers at the TOMO Voice Speech Contest during the Next Generation Summit 2025. Hisashi is an alumnus of the TOMODACHI Microsoft iLEAP Social Innovation and Leadership Program 2017. He is a doctoral student in information science at Saga University, where he studies search engine technologies. Inspired by his hobby of playing piano, he is developing a product called “Pianura” that allows people to enjoy the piano visually as well.
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TOMODACHI Opportunities

U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL (Japan) Program Coordinator
The Program Coordinator will work closely with Managers, Directors, and other senior staff to provide administrative support in the development, coordination and execution of assigned programs that support and promote USJC’s mission. This position is responsible for the administrative and operational functions required to coordinate activities, manage events, and provide administrative and staff support for assigned programs, which include new and existing USJC signature, regional, and other educational programs in various areas.

This is a full-time position based in the U.S.-Japan Council Tokyo office which allows teleworking. This will be a one year contract for the first five years and renewed every year. A Japanese native and fluency in English is required. USJC does not sponsor visas for working in Japan.

For more information and to apply, click here.

TOMODACHI Initiative Program Intern
The internship at the TOMODACHI Initiative offers an exciting environment where interns will be exposed to the non-profit, corporate, and government fields simultaneously. Responsibilities include creating and drafting documents, translation, website management, social media management, newsletter development support, public speaking, communication with program participants, designing presentations and posters, and event planning and operations. Interns generally work remotely, but may occasionally be asked to assist with in-person tasks at the office or support events as needed.

U.S.-Japan Council Development Intern
The Development Intern will assist the Development Manager in fundraising and organizing events for business leaders for the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC). Responsibilities include drafting documents in Japanese and English, translation, writing newsletter articles, creating presentations and promotional materials, and providing administrative support for event planning and management. The position is primarily remote, but may require office work and on-site event support as needed.

Alumni Intern
The Alumni Social Media Intern will assist the Director of Programs and Partnerships for the U.S.-Japan Council and the TOMODACHI Alumni Program Manager in the area of programming, social media and other marketing and communications for the TOMODACHI Initiative Alumni Leadership Program as needed. Reports to the Director of Programs and Partnerships for the U.S.-Japan Council. This position requires conveying and dispersing information from TOMODACHI Alumni Affairs to the TOMODACHI alumni community, as well as the broader U.S.-Japan Council community.

Please see here for details on the above intern recruitment information.

Update from Team TOMODACHI - September 2025

For donors, supporters, and friends of the TOMODACHI Initiative and the TOMODACHI Generation.

Led by the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo , the TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership 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 and leadership programs.