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November 2025 Issue

The TOMODACHI Women’s Empowerment Program 2025 Has Launched　

The TOMODACHI Women’s Empowerment Program was newly established in 2025. Over the course of approximately six months, ten female undergraduate students from across Japan will develop the leadership skills necessary to become the next generation of leaders capable of thriving in the international community. The program focuses on deepening self-awareness, communicating effectively, cultivating community, leading with resilience and lifting as you climb.
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Award Ceremony Held for the 12th Cohort of the TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Program

On October 14, 2025, the award ceremony for the 12th cohort of the TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Program was held online, with approximately 30 participants, including representatives from Sumitomo Corporation, the U.S.-Japan Council, and university officials.
During the ceremony, Mr. Makiko Eda, Managing Executive Officer, Chief Sustainability, DE&I Officer, Chief Administration Officer, Chief Compliance Officer of Sumitomo Corporation, and Mr. Henry Takata, Representative Director of U.S.-Japan Council (Japan), delivered remarks, sending their encouragement to the 12th cohort, who have already begun their studies abroad, marking an official milestone in the program. Following this, Mr. Eda presented certificates to each member of the 12th cohort individually.
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TOMODACHI Alumni Highlight: Christian Park, from TOMODACHI Next Generation Summit 2025

Christian (Sunwoo) Park, an alumnus of the 2022 TOMODACHI Boeing Entrepreneurship Seminar, co-founded the Matsuo Lab startup Deepreneur, working with Japanese companies using generative AI. He left Deepreneur and now founded UNCHAIN Inc. in the U.S. to advance organizational transformation and AI safety, and is also developing emotionally responsive companion robots inspired by his dream of creating Doraemon.
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TOMODACHI Opportunities

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 - November 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.