Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Program Selected 10th Cohort Students.

Ten students have been selected to participate in the TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Program for the 10th cohort 2023. The scholarships are available to undergraduate students participating in exchange programs at partner universities and were selected after a rigorous selection process from among students recommended by each university.
 
Students from different backgrounds from different regions, from Hokkaido to Kyushu, will study abroad at different universities with their own faculties to study various fields, including economics, international education, international politics, commerce, biomedical sciences, and engineering.
 
Ms. Hinako Hayashi of Kyushu University, who is studying abroad at Northern Arizona University, majoring in economics and business administration, explained her goals, "I would like to work to create new businesses, such as infrastructure projects, from a business perspective so that everyone in the world can enjoy the happiness that we take for granted. Therefore, in this study abroad program, I would like to acquire some knowledge and an international perspective to achieve this goal in the United States."
 
In addition, Ms. Kotono Shimizu, who is studying international studies at New York University, said, "My goal for studying abroad is to deepen my understanding towards the issue of racial discrimination in the U.S., especially Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Hate, through majoring in the interdisciplinary field of American Studies. Moreover, by minoring in Journalism, I aim to learn the power of media and how it has been and is related to the issue of racism. I strongly desire to learn and understand the U.S. not only from such an academic perspective but also from a practical perspective by living in the city of New York, one of the biggest cities in the country."
 
Other than studying, studying abroad will allow students to meet people they have never met before and make them aware of many things in their daily lives. We can only increase our capacity to draw out the best in ourselves by seeing, hearing, talking, and feeling. We want to know the student's growth and success after the one-year exchange program.

TOMODACHI Boeing Keio SFC Entrepreneurship Seminar Activities

The TOMODACHI Boeing Keio SFC Entrepreneurship Seminar held a “Nishi no Kai” in Kyoto on April 30. The “Nishi no Kai” is an opportunity for face-to-face interaction and fieldwork with fellow participants in the seminar, which is usually held online. Also, on May 7, an online “Boeing Engagement” seminar was held. Ms. Nell Breckenridge, Director of Strategy and Market Development at Boeing Global, spoke on “Value. Ms. Breckenridge asked the audience to find their own Value by asking, “What motivates you? and “Why are they important to you?” She then introduced the process of digging deeper, “Spend time finding out why the values you think are important are important to you. She concluded by inspiring students by saying, “Don’t be afraid to get started. Read More>>

TOMODACHI Initiative Intern: Akari Hama

Akari Hama started her internship with TOMODACHI in August 2022. She says it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet and connect with people from TOMODACHI program alumni to business leaders of different fields. She feels valuable to support an organization that is an important bridge between the U.S. and Japan. She is a third-year student at Sophia University, and her internship experience made her alter her major to international business and economics. We asked what was her life-changing experience doing an internship with TOMODACHI. Read More>>

From Riverbanks to Conversations: TOMODACHI Alumni Embrace Service and Dialogue in Spring Spectacular

TOMODACHI alumni conducted three events in April and May. In Washington, D.C., embracing their commitment to community service and environmental stewardship, alumni gathered together for a clean-up initiative on the banks of the Potomac River on Earth Day, April 23. 

On April 29, the city of Urasoe in Okinawa transformed into a lively hub for TOMODACHI alumni and alumni exchanging stories, updates, and ideas on various topics.

On May 6, 2023, Yumiko Miura, the Regional Representative of the Hokkaido Region, organized a luncheon meetup event for TOMODACHI alumni with special guests Hon. Toko Serita, Statewide Coordinating Judge for Problem Solving Courts (NY) and Yasuko Terashita, Public Engagement Coordinator at the Consulate General of the United States in Sapporo.
Read More about alumni events here.

Announcing the Venue, Next Generation Summit 2023

Join us at the Next Generation Summit 2023 that will take place in the innovation center of Tokyo: Shibuya! Amway Japan has kindly offered to host us in their beautiful space, and we are grateful for their support. 

For the first time in three years, we will bring everyone together in-person and provide you opportunities to learn together through panel discussions, interactive workshops and alumni speeches. Find out more about it below and be sure to sign up! 

Date: July 1st, 2023 (Saturday)

Time: 2:00 pm - 7:30 pm (Summit 2 pm-5:30 pm / Reception 6 pm-7:30 pm)

Platform: Hybrid (In-person and online) [Max 200 people in-person]

Venue: Amway Japan (7-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)

Registration Form: here

2022 TOMODACHI Annual Report

Our Annual Report is now available. Please learn more about our activities in 2022, what was accomplished through our activities, and the program alumni's impressions. Please see the report here.