January 2023 Issue
Scholarship Program Started Recruiting Ten Scholarship Students

TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Program started recruiting for ten scholarship recipients on January 10, 2023. 

This program, implemented in 2014 as part of its social contribution activities to resolve these issues, provides an annual scholarship of 1.8 million yen per student to exchange students studying at U.S. universities for one year. Sumitomo Corporation aims to nurture next-generation leaders with an international perspective and has supported a total of 67 students in the U.S. over the past nine terms.

In addition, during their study in the U.S., the scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to spend about five days at Sumitomo Corporation of America, headquartered in New York. In addition, Sumitomo Corporation employees with overseas experience will serve as mentors and support the scholars' study abroad experience by keeping in regular contact with them online.

Applicants must apply for the scholarship at their home universities and submit a letter of recommendation from their universities. The acceptance or rejection will be notified through their universities around the beginning of May.
For information on the scholarship application guidelines, please find from here.  

Eight cohort students gave a presentation upon returning to Japan

What Students Learned in the Disaster Nursing Training Program

The final presentation of the Tomodachi J&J Disaster Nursing Training Program was held online on December 11. This year's theme of this six-month program is to develop leadership skills, care for themselves as responders, and treat the emotional and psychological damage of all those involved in disasters. During the program, the participants learned new things daily, allowing them to connect with new like-minded people. Read More>>

Students Gathered Virtually for Orientations

TOMODACHI - U.S. Embassy Go for Gold Sports Leadership Program's ten students who participated in the program will be departing to the United States to learn about facility management, community engagement, and the business of sports management. Preparing for the departure, students gathered in the two virtual orientations. Students are gradually warming-up for next month's departure. Read More>>

Challenged Singing and Dancing

The TOMODACHI Goldman Sachs Music Outreach Program was held on October 26, 2022, and lasted seven days, with approximately 480 students participating in a song and dance workshop.
The children who participated had a lot of fun and said, “It was so much fun. I felt closer to overseas,” with big smiles. Read More>>

TOMO-KIN December Event Reflected 2022

TOMO-KIN event provides networking and fun learning experiences for TOMODACHI Alumni. In the December event, a fun raffle and light refreshments were expressing U.S-Japan relations.  The participants inspired each other and hoped to meet at the next opportunity. The next TOMO-KIN is scheduled for March. Stay tuned for the announcement.  Read More>>

Survey: Next Generation Summit 2023

The Next Generation Sumit is an opportunity for TOMODACHI alumni to reconnect with fellow alumni, learn together and inspire each other. The Summit consists of interactive workshops, inspirational speeches, and networking opportunities. We'd like to hear what topics/themes you are interested in so that we can create the Summit that fits your needs! Access the survey here: https://forms.gle/3TBfkHzcEo77v6Lz5

Alumni Highlight

Ayaka Ueda is an alumna of the TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program. She found that anyone can be a leader, and leading others is not limited to certain people. 
She bravely gave a speech in English at the 2022 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference. As a leader of the next generation, she urged the audience to think about what each of us can do to make our society a better place. Read More>>

TOMODACHI Opportunities 


Executive Director, U.S.-Japan Council (Japan)
The Council seeks a talented, dynamic individual for the position of Executive Director, U.S.-Japan Council (Japan). The Executive Director will provide leadership and empower the team who conducts the Council’s general programs and of the TOMODACHI Initiative. This will include responsibility for the implementation of program goals and objectives, providing leadership and oversight of program development and management, fundraising, communications, and operations. The Executive Director will be based in the Metropolitan area (teleworking from home is permitted) and manage the staff in Japan and will work closely with the U.S.-Japan Council (U.S.) staff in the United States.
For more information and to apply, click here.

Interns, U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) & TOMODACHI Initiative (remote)
The U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) and the 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. 
For more information and to apply, click here.
 
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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Update from Team TOMODACHI - January 2023

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.