The US-Japan Foundation is proud to announce the newest class of Delegates to the US-Japan Leadership Program (USJLP). The purpose of USJLP is to develop a network of communication, friendship and understanding among the next generation of leaders in the U.S. and Japan. The Program aims to foster a continuing dialogue among rising stars in leadership from a variety of backgrounds and professions. It starts this process by bringing together some 20 young leaders, ages 28-42, from each country for two intensive weeklong conferences over two years, with discussions revolving around historical and current issues in bilateral relations, as well as issues reaching beyond our two countries. Through serious conversation as well as recreation and shared cultural activities it seeks to nurture lifelong friendships.
Once selected for the Program, members gain lifelong access to the unique pool of USJLP talent and are able to engage in activities that take place throughout the U.S. and Japan, from intellectual gatherings to informal meetings. After nineteen years, the USJLP network boasts 431 members in both countries. Prominent members of the Program include: Foreign Minister Taro Kono, National Security Council Senior Director for Asia Matthew Pottinger, member of Japan’s House of Representatives Motohisa Furukawa, renowned violinist Midori Goto and pianist Gohei Nishikawa, Claire Chino (Managing Executive Officer, Itochu Corporation), Johnathan Capehart (The Washington Post), Nikole Hannah-Jones (The New York Times Magazine), CNN anchor John Berman, medical journalist Dr. Mona Khanna, newscaster/reporter Tomoko Kubota, composers Todd Frazier and Christopher Theofanidis, racing driver Keiko Ihara, architect Satoshi Okada, NASA astronaut Dan Tani, actor Tetsuya Bessho, U.S. Congressman Michael Waltz (Florida), California State Senator Benjamin Allen, Nevada State Attorney General Aaron Ford, former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Mark Brzezinski, and Olympic silver medalist Yuko Arimori.
The pool of candidates for seats at the 2019 conference was extremely competitive. In addition to leadership criteria, selections for each class aim to shape the unique delegation of first and second-year participants with a diverse representation of professions, geographic areas and perspectives. In total, 21 new Delegates (8 Americans and 13 Japanese) will join 23 returning second year Delegates for the Program’s 20th Annual Conference in Japan from July 21-28, 2019. The Class of 2019-2020 will convene for their second conference next summer, to be held July 11-18, 2020 in Seattle. Delegates will be joined by Fellows (alumni) on the final two days of each conference, creating new and strengthening existing inter-class bonds.
Click here to view all 44 Delegates to the 2019 Japan Conference
2019-2020 American Delegates:
- Courtney Beale, Consul General and Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate General in Merida, Mexico, U.S. Department of State
- Melissa Boteach, Vice President, Income Security & Child Care/Early Learning, National Women’s Law Center
- Sewell Chan, Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times
- Aisha Fukushima, RAPtivist / Singer / Speaker, RAPtivism
- CDR Micah Murphy, Commanding Officer, USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), U.S. Navy
- Harper Reed, Entrepreneur; Founder & CEO, Modest, Inc.; Director’s Fellow, MIT Media Lab
- Karin Tanabe, Author, St. Martin’s Press
- Andrew Tryba, Founder & CEO, Think3; Founder & CEO, Crossover; Co-founder & CEO, RideAustin; CEO of Engine Yard, DNN Corp, Kayako, Bizness Apps, FogBugz, School Loop, Agemni, and SLI Systems; Board Member, Texas Central High Speed Rail; Founder, Japanese Heritage Academy
2019-2020 Japanese Delegates:
- Ayako Hatano, Associate Human Rights Officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Haruka Horii, Violinist; Composer/Arranger; Educator
- Takafumi Horii, Area Head, Near East, Middle East & Africa (NEMEA), Emerging Markets Business Unit, Takeda Pharmaceuticals
- Eijiro Imai, Managing Director, Farallon Capital
- Junko Miyazawa, Manager, Strategic Planning Unit, Machinery Group CEO Office, Mitsubishi Corporation
- LCDR Tomoaki Nakano, Lieutenant Commander, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
- Sawa Nakagawa, Founder & Partner, ThreeArrows Impact Partner
- Kunihiro Nishimura, CEO / Founder, Xcoo, Inc.
- Yuko Osaki, Director, Gender Equality Bureau, Cabinet Office
- Manabu Ozato, Creative Producer, Hakuhodo, Inc.
- Dai Tamesue, Sports Commentator; Coach; CEO, Athlete Society; Board Member, J-League
- Emily Wang Fujiyama, Video Journalist, Associated Press
- Mai Yaguchi, Deputy Director, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)