TOMODACHI – U.S. Embassy Go For Gold Sports Leadership Program
The TOMODACHI-U.S. Embassy Go for Gold Leadership Program aims to increase the understanding and knowledge of the sports industry in the United States, with a focus on facility management, community engagement, and business of sports management among Japanese youth. The goal of the program is to encourage participants to be global leaders in their respective fields and utilize their knowledge acquired in the United States to advance the sports industry in Japan and promote the importance of collaboration between the two countries. The program consists of three components: a virtual program, two-week travel to the United States, and a final presentation in Tokyo, Japan.
TOMODACHI – U.S. Embassy Go For Gold Sports Leadership Program 2024-25
Schedule
- Orientations: December 7th – 8th, January 19th, February 9th
- U.S. Study Tour: February 25th – March 11th
- Final Presentations & Awards Ceremony in Tokyo: March 14th
TOMODACHI – U.S. Embassy Go For Gold Sports Leadership Program 2023-24
Schedule
- Orientations: December 10th, January 21st, February 18th
- U.S. Study Tour: February 27th – March 12th
- Final Presentations & Awards Ceremony in Tokyo: March 15th
Orientations
Delegates of the Year Two TOMODACHI – U.S. Embassy Go for Gold Sports Leadership Program met for the first time on December 10 in the Tokyo metropolis. This was the first of three orientation sessions scheduled in preparation for their trip to the United States departing in February 2024.
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December Orientation：Introductions and Hearing from the Experts in the Field
- Remarks by U.S.-Japan Council and U.S. Embassy Tokyo
- Panel 1: Power of Sport: Differences between Japan and the United States (Featuring Speakers Tom Byer, Hideyuki Andy Hata, and Janelle Sasaki; Moderated by Daichi Oshimi)
- Panel 2: Building the Next Generation in Sports Leadership: Education and Youth Development in Sports (Featuring Speakers Kaoru Nakazawa, Soichiro Sano, Ryotaro Tsutsui, and Tomohiko Yoshida; Moderated by Rei Yamashita)
- Leadership Workshop by Yoichi Suzuki
January Orientation:
- Introduction of USJC and TOMODACHI Initiative, and pre-departure preparation session
- Presentation preparation
U.S. Study Tour
Final Presentations & Awards Ceremony
Hosted by the U.S.-Japan Council in partnership with the U.S. Embassy Tokyo and in collaboration with leading sports industry partners LA84 Foundation in Los Angeles and LeadOff Sports in New York, this year’s TOMODACHI – U.S. Embassy Go for Gold Sports Leadership Program wrapped up its journey of a lifetime with an afternoon reception on Friday, March 15th, 2024 in the Roppongi Hills Club in the Tokyo metropolis. Read More>>
TOMODACHI – U.S. Embassy Go For Gold Sports Leadership Program 2022-23
Schedule
- Virtual Orientations: December 17th, January 21st, February 11th
- U.S. Study Tour: February 26th – March 12th
- Final Presentations in Tokyo: March 13th
Virtual Orientations
Two of the three online orientations for the first 10 program participants were held on January 21 and December 17, 2022. The orientations also serve as preparation for the students to learn about facilities management, community involvement, and the business of sports management in the U.S. at the end of February. In preparation for their departure, students gathered for two virtual orientations warming up. Read More>>
December Orientation: Introductions
- Welcome by U.S.-Japan Council and U.S. Embassy Tokyo
- Speeches by Mentors Dr. Munehiko Harada and Dr. Daichi Oshimi on Current State of Sports Business in Japan
- Remarks by U.S. Trip Partners LA84 Foundation and LeadOff Sports
January Orientation: Hearing from Experts in the Field
- Panel 1: Power of Sports: Differences between Japan and the United States (Featuring Speakers Tom Byer and Jon Omori; Moderated by Janelle Sasaki)
- Panel 2: Building the Next Generation in Sports Leadership:
Education & Youth Development in Sports (Featuring Speakers Shintaro Sato and Kaoru Nakazawa; Moderated by Daichi Oshimi
January 21: Watch a video of the second orientation session from here.
February Orientation
- Cross-Cultural Workshops
- Presentation Preparations
U.S. Study Tour
Final Presentations & Awards Ceremony
On March 13, ten Japanese university students selected to participate in the first round of the TOMODACHI – U.S. Embassy Go for Gold Sports Leadership Program returned from their training in the U.S. and gave their final presentations in Tokyo. The students were divided into three teams, each providing a presentation in English on “Management of Sports Facilities,” “International Games such as the Olympics and Inheriting Legacies,” and “Business Operations and Fundraising in the Sports Industry,” based on what they learned during their training in the U.S. Read More>>
Partnering Organizations
•LA84 Foundation
LA84 Foundation is a nationally recognized leader in support of youth sport programs and public education about the role of sports in positive youth development. With 40 years of experience, the Foundation has supported thousands of Southern California youths ports organizations through grantmaking, while also training coaches, commissioning research, convening conferences and acting as a national thought leader on important youth sport issues. LA84 levels the playing field so that sport is accessible to all children, while elevating the field of youth sports as an integral part of American life.
•LeadOff Sports
LeadOff Sports is a professional sports agency headquartered in New York City, which delivers custom designed services and marketing programs configured to promote clients’ business objectives with an extensive network and vast international experience. As a multi-faceted agency, LeadOff Sports engages teams, leagues and corporations with strategic business development initiatives. LeadOff Sports also serves as a conduit between North America and Asia in creating partnership, marketing, branding, and athlete representation opportunities between the two continents.
Related Information
• Announcement from U.S Embassy about the program
• Press release
• Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles welcomes Go for Gold Delegation
• LeadOff Sports, New York Study Tour
• LA84 Foundation, Los Angeles Study Tour
• PR Times Article
