Welcome to the first edition of the USJF Quarterly Newsletter for 2026. The year is already off to an active start across the United States-Japan Foundation network, with new grants, leadership developments, and conversations on the policy and social challenges shaping our shared future. In this issue, we highlight recent initiatives, research, and collaborations that continue to strengthen connections between the United States and Japan.
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In the Spotlight
USJF Announces 2025 Fourth Quarter Grantees
The 15 projects supported in this quarter advance U.S.-Japan cooperation across a range of concrete issue areas, including public health and stroke prevention, refugee and youth education, gender-based violence prevention, LGBTQ leadership development, humanitarian demining, philanthropy and nonprofit law reform, economic security research, civil society engagement around the G20, and regional dialogue in East Asia. Read more
US-Japan Leadership Program (USJLP)
Four USJLP Fellows Return to Japanese Diet Following General Election
USJLP Fellows Taro Kono, Motohisa Furukawa, Akihisa Shiozaki, and Arfiya Eri were re-elected to Japan's House of Representatives, showcasing diverse political expertise. Read more
Community News
Our Community News section highlights events, announcements, and milestones from the USJF network.
Leading American Foundation CEO Tiffany Benjamin Joins USJF Board
Tiffany Benjamin, CEO of the Humana Foundation, joins the United States-Japan Foundation board, bringing her expertise in American philanthropy to foster global collaboration.
Philanthropy and Social Impact Leader Roger H. Nozaki Joins USJF as Senior Advisor
Roger H. Nozaki joins the United States-Japan Foundation as a senior advisor, bringing his extensive experience in philanthropy and social impact to strengthen the social sector in Japan.
USJF Vice President Tomoyuki Watanabe announced his retirement effective December 31, 2025, marking an end to his impactful tenure since joining in 2012.
In January, we launched the USJF Forum, a new series featuring short reflections from experts across the USJF community. Each Forum explores timely issues while showcasing the Foundation’s role in fostering dialogue and exchange across the Pacific.
Can One Election Reshape Japan? The Takaichi Supermajority
11 USJLP Fellows reflect on Japan's 2026 snap election that granted Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi a historic supermajority, and what it might mean for the state's domestic and foreign policies.
In the recently launched USJF Research series, we share commissioned works that bring dialogue and exchange of ideas across sectors.
Leveraging Lessons from Japan: Improving US Housing Outcomes
Indivar Dutta-Gupta (USJLP 2024, 2025) examines how the U.S. can adapt Japan’s successful housing and social policies to address its own deepening crisis of affordability and homelessness.
Room for Reform: The Legal Framework for Nonprofit Organizations in Japan
The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) proposes legal reforms to enhance Japan's nonprofit sector, aiming to improve regulatory practices and promote civic participation.
The Grantee Profile series showcases the people and organizations making a difference with support from USJF.
Mapping a Wonderful Ecosystem: How NAJAS Is Building the Infrastructure for U.S.-Japan Civil Society
NAJAS is creating an interactive online hub to enhance collaboration among Japan-related organizations, simplifying navigation and fostering connections within the U.S.-Japan civil society ecosystem.
In Trends & Trendsetters, we spotlight emerging issues and best practices shaping the nonprofit sector in both countries.
The Human Cost of the Digital Divide: Japan and the U.S. Face Different Sides of the Same Crisis
Explore the digital divide crisis faced by nonprofits in Japan and the U.S., highlighting capacity challenges and innovative solutions to bridge the gap in digital transformation.
As always, we are grateful to the many partners, grantees, fellows, and friends who make up the USJF community on both sides of the Pacific. Your work and collaboration continue to strengthen the connections that sustain U.S.-Japan engagement. Thank you for staying connected with us, and we look forward to sharing more updates in the months ahead.
— USJF Communications Team
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