Mr. Haruto Okabe

Japan Representative

As the Japan Representative, he leads the Foundation’s new Japan strategy and works with civil-society leaders to strengthen the country’s social impact ecosystem and deepen ties between Japan and the United States.

Before joining USJF, he earned a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, concentrating in international relations and philanthropy. His thesis, conducted in partnership with USJF, combined quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze structural challenges and solutions for philanthropy in Japan (recipient of the school’s Best Client Collaboration Award).

While at Harvard, he interned with the Agastya International Foundation in India, evaluating its experimental science education program for middle-school students. He also pursued a secondary field in humanitarian assistance at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Prior to graduate study, he worked at Bain & Company, a management consultancy, in Tokyo and Dubai, advising governments, corporations, and nonprofits on management challenges. As a member of the Social Impact Team, he contributed actively to the firm’s social impact thought leadership.

Mr. Okabe received his BA in International Relations from the University of Tokyo, where he focused on international migrant protection and international law and interned at UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.

Outside of work, he volunteers with Social Venture Partners Tokyo, a venture philanthropy network, where he leads ongoing support for Recovery in Sapporo, a nonprofit helping women facing trauma, disabilities, and addiction.

Originally from Machida, Tokyo, he now lives in central Tokyo and enjoys cooking, listening to music, and strolling through Shinjuku Gyoen, a scenic historic garden in the heart of the city.