TOMODACHI Tanaka Sangyo Agricultural Exchange Initiative: Climate and Food System Awareness Program: In-person session held in Texas
From March 8 to 15, 2025, the in-person U.S. training of the “TOMODACHI Tanaka Sangyo Agricultural Exchange Initiative: Climate and Food System Awareness Program” was conducted in the state of Texas. Eighteen students selected from universities in Niigata Prefecture and the state of Texas, who had been participating in the program’s online sessions since October 2024, gathered in College Station, Galveston, and Houston. Through lectures, site visits, and hands-on activities, they explored key themes of this program, including agriculture, climate change, sustainability, and leadership.
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TOMODACHI Kibou for Maui Program Welcomes High School Students from Hawaii in Tohoku
From March 16th to 22nd, 2025, the TOMODACHI Kibou for Maui Program was held, and 10 high school students from Lahaina, Islands of Maui, visited the Tohoku region, including Higashimatsushima-shi, Ishinomaki-shi, Onagawa-cho, and Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, to learn about the reconstruction process and also the leadership taken during the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Students interacted with local fishermen, farmers, and community members and participated with TOMODACHI alumni and local high school students.
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TOMODACHI Boeing Entrepreneurship Seminar Final Presentation Held
The 14th TOMODACHI Boeing Entrepreneurship Seminar, which began in September 2024, was a five-month program that provided high school and university students selected from across Japan the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship, primarily through online seminars. Once again, this year, participants from diverse backgrounds and perspectives formed teams and created projects aimed at solving social challenges. As they prepared for the final presentations, they took their first steps toward the future by demonstrating the TOMODACHI Generation’s unique creativity and ability to take initiative.
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Now Accepting Applications for the TOMODACHI Boeing Entrepreneurship Seminar 2025
The TOMODACHI Boeing Entrepreneurship Seminar 2025 is a program designed to equip the next generation of leaders—students from high schools, technical colleges, vocational schools, junior colleges, universities, and graduate schools—with skills in innovation and leadership. While the program has historically contributed to fostering young entrepreneurs, its 15th edition in 2025 introduces a new focus: the integration of STEM education as a key theme.
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Speak Up & Stand Out — Win a Trip to Hawaii with TOMO Voice!
Have you ever stood out — and experienced how a “Derukui” network can bring positive transformation?
The TOMO Voice Speech Contest is back at the TOMODACHI Next Generation Summit 2025, and this year’s theme is:
🌱 “My Derukui Network” 🌱
A celebration of achievement and a safe space to share how a “Derukui” network nurtures resilience, boosts confidence.
🏆 Top 3 Winners Will Be Invited to the USJC Annual Conference in Hawaii this October!
— An incredible opportunity to share your voice on a national stage, connect with leaders, and be part of the TOMO movement in real life.
📌 Apply by: Saturday, May 31, 2025 JST
🔗 Apply HERE
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TOMODACHI Regional Framework: Kansai Region Alumni Event
Kansai region had a networking event with Hawaiian lunch on April 12th.
On a beautiful spring day, 8 alumni enjoyed connecting with each other and discussing future event plans in our community.
We also had a special guest Shotaro Abe, Waseda senior and Kamaclassic founder who sang at the Osaka expo opening ceremony and participated in the 10000 Freude EXPO2025! He said that “I was happy to be able to join the Kansai community and make new friends. The atmosphere after the performance on the ceremony was very emotional and it was a really precious moment”
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TOMODACHI × Okinawa Food Culture: Let’s Cook Kubuirichi & Yushi Dofu Together!
Hello TOMODACHI Alumni!
We’re excited to invite you to a regional cooking workshop where we’ll explore Okinawa’s food culture and food loss together.
In collaboration with “Okaraokara” (led by Anju, a fellow alumna), we’ll cook Kubuirichi using Okinawan soy pulp “meat” and enjoy freshly made Yushi Dofu—a soft local tofu.
Through this hands-on experience, you’ll feel the beauty of local food cycles—and yes, children are welcome too!
Apply here.
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TOMO-KIN Career Talks Held
On April 3, 2025, ‘TOMO-KIN Career Talks’ was held at Google Japan to connect the TOMODACHI Alumni community across industries, regions, and interests. This time’s TOMO-KIN topic, “Reimagining Work: Global Voices, Bold Journeys, and Innovating Beyond Tradition” featured three Google employees in a panel discussion facilitated by Kaoru Utada, Director of Programs and Partnerships. Participants listened to the panel discussion while enjoying delicious omusubi made by Miki Yamada with ‘WaraiMusubi’, who uses ingredients from Tohoku and her family’s rice farm. TOMODACHI Alumni also enjoyed speed networking and a raffle for TOMODACHI prizes.
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TOMODACHI GLA 2.0: Application Open
The TOMODACHI Generation Global Leadership Academy 2.0 will be held under the theme of “What does GLOCAL Leadership mean to you?”
The program will take place on September 27–28 and December 23–24, 2025, in Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture, and Tokyo.
Part ① of the program will be held in Onagawa, a town that suffered extensive damage in the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. Participants will learn about disaster recovery, explore local issues, and consider the role of community-based leadership. The program also provides a space for alumni from various TOMODACHI programs to deepen their understanding of one another and build meaningful relationships.
Part ② will focus on learning from real-life leaders who tackle global and local issues with innovative thinking and a global mindset. Through workshops and interactive sessions, participants will develop creative problem-solving skills and leadership grounded in cross-cultural perspectives.
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TOMODACHI Opportunities
U.S.-Japan Council Development & Program Intern
The Development & Program 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.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Interns, U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) & TOMODACHI Initiative (remote)
The U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) & TOMODACHI Initiative are currently seeking interns. The internship 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 be asked to assist with in-person events as needed.
Please note that this internship is unpaid.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Social Media Intern, TOMODACHI Initiative Alumni (remote)
The Social Media Intern will assist the Director of Programs and Partnerships for the U.S.-Japan Council and the TOMODACHI Alumni Coordinator in the area of 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.
For more information, click here.
Please send applications to alumni@usjapancouncil.org.
Program Intern, TOMODACHI Initiative Alumni (remote)
The Program Intern will assist the Director of Programs and Partnerships for the U.S.-Japan Council and the TOMODACHI Alumni Coordinator in the area of programming for the TOMODACHI Initiative Alumni Leadership Program. 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.
For more information, click here.
Please send applications to alumni@usjapancouncil.org.
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