Welcome to the final edition of the USJF Quarterly Newsletter for 2025. As the year draws to a close, we reflect on a season marked by collaboration, leadership, and creativity across our network. From celebrating local innovation through the Young Mayors of Japan Award to advancing cross-border learning through new grants and partnerships, this issue highlights how the United States-Japan Foundation continues to connect people and ideas that drive positive change.
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In the Spotlight
Local Leadership and Global Exchange Take Center Stage at USJF’s Young Mayors of Japan Award
USJF hosted the inaugural Young Mayors of Japan Award Ceremony and Round Table Discussion on October 29, 2025, at the Toshi Center Hotel in Tokyo. The event brought together leaders from government, academia, and the media to celebrate the achievements of Japan’s emerging municipal leaders and to highlight the essential role of local revitalization in strengthening Japanese democracy. Read more
US-Japan Leadership Program (USJLP)
USJF Announces Second Year of Annual Social Impact Stipends for Leadership Program Members
USJF announced the second annual social impact stipend recipients for projects covering topics such as climate change, misinformation, gender bias, and disaster resilience. Read more
Call for Applications and Nominations: USJLP 2026–2027
Applications and Nominations for the Class of 2026-2027 are open until January 5, 2026. Read more
Community News
Our Community News section highlights events, announcements, and milestones from the USJF network.
U.S.-Japan Global Impact Grant Launches to Empower Sister Cities as Catalysts for Change
With Sister Cities International, USJF launched the U.S.-Japan Global Impact Grant, a new initiative for innovative, community-led responses to shared global challenges. Watch the information session recording here for more information, or apply here by December 31, 2025.
USJF Now Taking Nominations for Second Annual PhD Dissertation Award in Japanese Studies
USJF is accepting nominations for the 2026 Richard J. Samuels Dissertation Award, honoring excellence in social sciences research on Japan accepted between January 1, 2025, and June 13, 2026. Completed nominations are due by June 15, 2026, and should be emailed to scholars@us-jf.org.
We also launched theUSJF Researchseries, a new platform for sharing commissioned work that brings fresh perspectives to U.S.-Japan relations. Each paper reflects our commitment to open dialogue, transparency, and the exchange of ideas across sectors.
America’s Foreign Aid Retrenchment: Implications for US-Japan Cooperation
With Peace Winds America, this paper examines how the recent shift in U.S. foreign aid policy has put millions at risk and created important implications for Japanese interests and future U.S.-Japan development cooperation.
Japan: the Indispensable Ally, Except in U.S. Academia...
Dr. Adam P. Liff, a professor of East Asian international relations at Indiana University, explores the accelerating decline of Japan-focused foreign policy expertise in U.S. academia and underscores the need for renewed investment in the next generation of scholars.
Shizuoka University and the University of Pittsburgh collaborate through storytelling to address demographic decline, sharing insights and solutions for communities in Japan and the U.S.
Hitotsubashi University's DAR program provides essential support and sanctuary to at-risk democracy advocates in Asia, fostering resilience and promoting democratic ideals amid authoritarian threats.
Advocacy Without Fear: Quiet Shifts in Nonprofit Voice
Delve into how Japanese and U.S. nonprofits adapt advocacy strategies to navigate political challenges, emphasizing relationships, research, and cultural context for impactful change.
The Foundation has officially opened our new headquarters in Washington, DC, near Dupont Circle. We held a reception with more than 100 guests to mark the milestone on Thursday, December 4, joined by Japan's ambassador to the U.S., Shigeo Yamada. We are using the building, a converted townhouse, as a showcase for the wide-ranging talent in the USJLP network, with Fellow-created art on the walls, a reading room with Fellow-written books, and a listening room for Fellow-composed and performed music. Stop by sometime to take a look, read, or listen.
As we look ahead to 2026, we extend our warmest thanks to everyone who has been part of the USJF community this year: our partners, grantees, fellows, and friends on both sides of the Pacific. Your work and collaboration make our shared mission possible. Wishing you a peaceful and inspiring holiday season, and we look forward to all that the coming year will bring.
— USJF Communications Team
United States-Japan Foundation 1816 Jefferson Place NW Washington, D.C. 20036 USA
