公益財団法人 米日カウンシル－ジャパン

U.S.-Japan Council (Japan)

2023 年度事業報告

2023 Business Report公益財団法人 米日カウンシル－ジャパン

Business Report 2023

I.

OVERVIEWAs the U.S.-Japan Council (Japan), Koeki Zaidan Hojin Beinichi Kaunshiru Japan” in Japanese (herein“Foundation”) completes its eleventh business year of operations, it has achieved many of its key
charitable objectives through an active and dynamic set of programs, further developed its people-topeople network in Japan and continued to build a sustainable organizational foundation.
In the fourth year of the pandemic of COVID-19, the Foundation resumed to manage programs in faceto face as well as online functions.
Through activities organized and overseen by the Foundation and supported by the implementing
assistance of collaborating partners, hundreds of young people in Japan and the United States
participated in the TOMODACHI Initiative. Many of these young TOMODACHI participants foundtheir experiences to be transformative and life-changing. Meaningful international contact createdmultiple unique bonds between participants, and program content sparked new interests and confidence
within these young people. In total, the Foundation administered 12 unique TOMODACHI programs in2023 in the fields of education and leadership development, participated by 169 young people fromboth Japan and the United States.
As an extension of the TOMODACHI Initiative, the Foundation offers TOMODACHI Alumni
Programs for over 10,000 TOMODACHI program participants since inception. In 2023, theFoundation offered 53 activities under the TOMODACHI Alumni Leadership Program, attended by atotal of 835 alumni, to give them experiences, exposure and skills to enhance their leadership.
The Foundation has also worked in other areas of U.S.-Japan people-to-people exchange, including
engagement with business leaders, legislative leaders, NGO leaders, and others with a shared interest inU.S.-Japan relations. The Foundation, together with the U.S.-Japan Council in the United States, held
the 12 th Annual Conference in Washington D.C. in November, 2023, and nearly 600 leaders acrosssectors attended from both the United States and Japan, and enjoyed the wide array of discussions on
today’s overriding priorities. The Foundation’s networking and general education programs included
the Business Advisory Board, which brought together 206 Japanese and American leaders over thecourse of three in-person meetings throughout the year to discuss areas of mutual interest in U.S.-Japan
relations. The Japanese American Storytelling Program, where the Foundation’s members give
positive educational messages to Japanese youths, 35 unique speakers provided a total of 64
presentations by working with 49 universities in Japan, reaching approximately 1,700 students in one
year across two semesters (Spring and Fall).

II.

PURPOSEThe purpose of the Foundation is to promote people-to-people ties between Americans and Japanese of
all generations as a crucial aspect of the U.S.-Japan relationship, as well as to strengthen educational,
cultural, and economic ties and deepen the long-term friendship between the United States and Japan.
The Foundation’s core business is to manage the TOMODACHI Initiative (the “TOMODACHIInitiative” or “TOMODACHI”), a public-private partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo that

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nurtures the next generation of Japanese and Americans through three types of programs: educationalprograms; cultural exchange programs in sports, music and the arts; and leadership programs. TheFoundation also manages TOMODACHI Alumni Programs targeting those who have experienced
TOMODACHI programs, to provide opportunities to engage and inspire one another, and keep
developing their leadership skills.
In 2023, the Foundation managed and administered the selection of the activities described in thisreport, which were funded through the Foundation. The TOMODACHI Initiative also receives support
from the U.S.-Japan Council (U.S.) based in Washington, D.C., for activities funded through theseparate tax-exempt U.S. entity.

III. ACTIVITIESA.

CHARITABLE ACTIVITY - TOMODACHI Educational Programs

Educational programs serve to enrich and inspire young Japanese and Americans through exposure toeach other's countries. Through a broad set of programs, the TOMODACHI Initiative aims to engage
young Japanese and Americans through academic and exchange opportunities and thereby strengthen
overall U.S.-Japan relations. Three (3) TOMODACHI Educational Programs were conducted by theFoundation’s support during 2023 including the following.

TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Program
TOMODACHI-UNIQLO Fellowship
TOMODACHI KAKEHASHI Inouye Scholars Program
B. CHARITABLE ACTIVITY – TOMODACHI Cultural Programs
Cultural programs provide gateways for Japanese and Americans to learn about and to develop
enduring interest in each other's countries. TOMODACHI collaborated with existing cultural exchange
partners, and supported some new and innovative activities. One (1) Cultural Programs within theTOMODACHI Initiative that the Foundation funded during 2023 included the following.
TOMODACHI Goldman Sachs Music Outreach Program
C. CHARITABLE ACTIVITY – TOMODACHI Leadership Programs
TOMODACHI promotes programs that help the next generation of young leaders gain the skills andexpertise necessary to guide them towards success and help them make a positive difference for theircommunities, for their countries, and for the entire world. This year’s programs included leadershipprograms for high school and college students. Eight (8) Leadership Programs supported by theFoundation included the below programs.
Building the TOMODACHI Generation: Morgan Stanley Ambassadors Program

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Business Report 2023

TOMODACHI J&J Disaster Nursing Training Program
TOMODACHI-STEM Women's Leadership and Research Program
TOMODACHI Boeing Entrepreneurship Seminar
TOMODACHI Story Jam for Youth with Disabilities
TOMODACHI Toshizo Watanabe Leadership Program
TOMODACHI - U.S. Embassy Go for Gold Sports Leadership Program
TOMODACHI Summer SoftBank Leadership Program 2.0
D. CHARITABLE ACTIVITY - TOMODACHI Alumni Leadership Programs
The TOMODACHI Alumni Leadership Program builds upon the initial TOMODACHI experience toinspire and empower the young people of Japan and America, giving them the experiences, skills, andconfidence to achieve their dreams and contribute to a better world. The Foundation offers the alumni
community with a range of opportunities to engage and inspire one another to build strong, enduring
relationships.
TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Framework engaged and connected alumni in six (6) regions acrossJapan and five (5) regions in the United States with the Alumni Regional Representatives (RRs) fromeach region led their own activities respectively with support from Core Committee (CC) members - a
new role/opportunity developed in 2023 for more alumni to get involved.
With 2023 TOMODACHI Programs completed, over 10,000 members are now considered a part of theTOMODACHI Generation. They range in age from 14 to 40 and come from across Japan and theUnited States. In 2023, 835 TOMODACHI alumni participated in 53 activities and opportunities
including the following, of which 23 programs were organized and led by alumni themselves.
Programs included below:● TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Framework○ Orientation with 11 Regional Representatives (6 Japan + 5 US)○ Welcomed 9 new Regional Core Committee Members (4 Japan + 5 US)○ Workshop with Regional Representatives and their Core Committee Members inWashington DC in November 2023
○ 12 Regional events in Japan: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Kansai, Kyushu, Okinawa○ 13 Regional events in USA: New England, New York, Washington DC, South
California○ 10 TOMODACHI Monthly Huddles (April 2023 - January 2024)● TOMO-KIN Career Talks○ Spring (March 2023) featured Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance, Corporate
Vice President Masataka Fukuda○ Summer (July 2023) featured new USJC Japan Executive Director Mark Ikeno○ Fall (October 2023) featured Apple CEO Ryo Akima○ Winter (December 2023) was an end of year Bonenkai Celebration● Next Generation Summit 2023
○ 160 participants attended in Tokyo on July 1st 2023
○ 14 alumni speakers shared their experiences○ 16 industry experts gave speeches and held workshops, including high-level executivesand government officials from both the United States and Japan公益財団法人 米日カウンシル－ジャパン

Business Report 2023

● TOMODACHI Newsletter Alumni Highlight (interviews)○ 10 alumni interviewed by fellow alumni with their articles featured in the monthly
Alumni Newsletter, monthly TOMODACHI Newsletter, and biweekly USJC
Newsletters.
● Events with U.S. Consulates and Embassy of Japan○ 4 regional events held in Japan with support from the U.S. Consulates in Sapporo,
Osaka-Kobe, Fukuoka, and Naha.
○ Regional event held at the Japanese Consulate in Boston, led by TOMODACHI Alumni
Regional Representative of the New England Region○ 15 TOMODACHI Alumni attended the USJC Business Advisory Board over threemeetings to interact with
○ U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Raymond Greene attended the Next Generation
Summit 2023, met with students in a meet and greet, and gave remarks at the Reception.
○ Former Ambassador MUTO Akira, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
attended the Next Generation Summit, met with students beforehand in a meet and greet
and provided remarks.
E. CHARITABLE ACTIVITY – Networking/General Education
In addition to TOMODACHI activities, the Foundation engages in networking activities and relatedgeneral education activities to build ties between Americans and Japanese in key areas of therelationship.
1. USJC Annual Conference
The Foundation, together with the U.S.-Japan Council (US), held the USJC Annual Conference inWashington D.C., themed as “Building a Sustainable, Secure and Inclusive Future Together.” It
brought nearly 600 individuals together for the twelfth Annual Conference. It strengthened
bilateral bonds through programming that explored how the United States and Japan can work
together and learn from one another to enact meaningful change and produce solutions.
Two TOMODACHI alumni made presentations at the closing plenary of the conference.
2. Business Advisory Board
The Business Advisory Board (BAB), founded in 2014, continued to create further ties with thebusiness sector and the U.S.-Japan Council, continued with additional activities in 2023. The BAB
is led by successful executive leaders who have worked in the United States and Japan, and it held
three in-person meetings per below in 2023 and a total 206 members and guests participated.
29th BAB Meeting (February 22, 2023):
Mr. Naoyuki Agawa, Emeritus Professor, Keio University(Moderator) Ms. Jenifer Rogers, General Counsel Asia of Asurion Japan Holdings“Is the Japan-U.S. Alliance As Solid As Ever? ~Impact of Bipolarization of America and Japan’s
Reluctance to Fight”
30th BAB Meeting (May 23, 2023):
Mr. Charles D. Lake II, Chairman and Representative Director, Aflac Life Insurance Japan /公益財団法人 米日カウンシル－ジャパン

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President, Aflac International“Aflac’s Creating Shared Value (CSV) Management Strategy”
31st BAB Meeting (August 30, 2023):
Mr. Shigeru Ariizumi, Financial Services Agency (FSA), Government of Japan“Japan’s Economic Future – From a Financial Sector Perspective”

3. Japanese American Storytelling Program (JASP)
Program engaging U.S.-Japan Council leaders (members) to convey positive educational messages
to youth at universities in Japan. Reflecting the diversity of our presentation themes, JASP Speakers
range from next generation young leaders to senior executives, and Nikkei Sansei and Yonsei, ShinIssei, Shin Nisei, Bi-Racial/Multi-Ethnic Nikkei, from both the private and non-profit sectors, basedin Tokyo, Okinawa, Hawai’i, and the Mainland United States.
Overarching themes include tolerance and empathy for immigrants, overcoming discrimination andprejudice, strength of diversity in society, and building bridges between the US and Japan. Thesethemes are communicated through personal family history narratives.
Since inception in the Fall of 2020, JASP has delivered over 180 personal storytellings to more than
4,700 students attending over 50 universities throughout Japan. In 2023, 35 unique speakers
provided a total of 64 presentations by working with 49 universities in Japan, reachingapproximately 1,700 students in one year across two semesters (Spring and Fall).

IV.

GOVERNANCE

The Foundation’s Board of Councilors and Board of Directors continues to operate in compliance withthe Foundation’s Articles of Incorporation.
A. BOARD MEMBERS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS (as of Dec. 31, 2023)
Board Officers:
Suzanne Basalla, Representative Director
President & CEO, U.S.-Japan Council
Henry Seiichi Takata, Representative Director
Representative Director, SynTech Japan Co., Ltd.
Norie Iwamoto, Internal Auditor
Director, Assurance-Technology, Media, and Telecom
Price Waterhouse Coopers Arata LLC
Board Members:
Takashi OhdeAdvisor, Gakushuin Womenʼs College Institute of International Studies
Jenifer Rogers

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General Counsel Asia, Asurion Japan Holdings G.K
Miyuki Tani
Executive Director, Morgan Stanley Capital K.K.
Stephen Hiroshi Sakanashi
Director of Marketing & Global Strategy, Matchbox Technologies
Ayako Kameda

BOARD OF COUNCILORS (as of December 31, 2023)
Board Members:
Daniel Fujii
President & CEO, Trust Capital Co., Ltd.
William Jesus Ireton
Representative Director, Ireton Entertainment Inc.
Merle Aiko Okawara
Chairman, DELSOLE Corporation
Scott Sato
Chairman, Circlace K.K.

Miki Tsusaka
President, Microsoft Japan

B. BOARD MEETINGSThe Foundation held below four Board of Directors meetings and one Board of Councilors meeting in2023 with respective agenda below.
March 14, 2023- Board of Directors meeting (quorum met)
● Approval of the Business Report and “Overview of Situation of the Organization and Its BusinessActivities”, a form filed with the Cabinet Office for the 11th fiscal year (from January 1, 2022 throughDecember 31, 2022, the “11th Fiscal Year”)● Approval of the Balance Sheets and the Profit and Loss Statements (hereinafter the “Financial Statements”),
the Annexed Detailed Statements thereof, and the Inventory of Property for the 11th Fiscal Year
● Approval of holding the general meeting of the Councilors’ Committee by means of written consent anditems to be deemed to have been resolved at and reported to the Councilors’ Committee● Performance Report by Representative Director(s) and Executive Director(s)● TOMODACHI Initiative Update
March 29, 2023 - Board of Councilors meeting (unanimous written consent)公益財団法人 米日カウンシル－ジャパン

Business Report 2023
●
●
●
●

●

Approval of the 2022 Audited Annual Business Report and the Annexed Statement thereof for the 10th
fiscal year (January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022) (the “11th Fiscal Year”)
Approval of the Balance Sheets and the Profit and Loss Statements (“Financial Statements”), the Annexed
Detailed Statements thereof and the Inventory of Property for the 11th Fiscal Year
Election of Directors and Councilor
Report on the Business Plan, the Income and Expenditure Budget and theForecast of Loan and Capital Investment for the 12th fiscal year (fromJanuary 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023) (the “12th Fiscal Year”)
Performance Report by Representative Director(s) and Executive Director(s)June 7, 2023 - Board of Directors meeting (quorum met)
● Approval of Election of the 2023 External Auditor● Quarterly Financial Report● TOMODACHI Initiative Updates● Interim Executive Performance Report
September 6, 2023 - Board of Directors meeting (quorum met)
● Interim Financial Report●●TOMODACHI Initiative Update
Interim Executive Performance Report

December 13, 2023 – Board of Directors meeting (quorum met)
● Approval of 2024 Business Plan
● Approval of 2024 Budget Plan
● Approval of 2024 Forecast of Loan and Capital Investment● Approval of the Date and Location of General Meeting in 2024 of Councilors' Committee● Approval of the Split of Net Income of 2023 Annual Conference● The Year-End Executive Performance Report● Interim Financial Reports as of Sept. 30, 2023
● TOMODACHI Initiative Update

C. ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE
Staff headquartered in the Tokyo Office as of December 31, 2023
Masahiro Ikeno – Executive Director, U.S.-Japan Council (Japan)
Aya Hashimoto – Director of Programs, TOMODACHI Initiative
Kaoru Utada – Director, Programs and Partnerships (USJC US staff)
Hiromi Kato – Finance & Office Manager, TOMODACHI Initiative
Ai Asakura – Program Manager, TOMODACHI Initiative
Chinami Kai – Administrative & Development Manager
Nana Watanobe – Program Coordinator, TOMODACHI Initiative
Yukari Shishido – Program Coordinator, TOMODACHI Initiative

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Kana Takagi – Program Assistant (part time) , TOMODACHI Initiative
Maki Ueyama- Marketing for TOMODACHI newsletters (part time) , TOMODACHi Initiative
D. ACCOUNTING

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E.

DONORS

2023 TOMODACHI Donors:
Amway Japan G.K.
Amway Japan Foundation
Boeing +Chevron+Dow Chemical Japan Limited +ExxonMobil Japan Godo Kaisha
Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. *Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.
Johnson & Johnson K.K.
Kikkoman Corporation
MetLife Insurance K.K.
Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Co., Ltd.＊
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Holdings Co., Ltd.＊
Mitsubishi UFJ Nicos Co., Ltd.＊
Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation＊
Morgan Stanley Japan Group Co., Ltd.＊+
MUFG Bank, Ltd. ＊MUFG Union Bank, N.A.＊
Northrop Grumman Corporation +Prudential Foundation +SoftBank Group Corp.＊+
Sumitomo Corporation
Tanaka Sangyo KKToyota Motor Corporation
The Toshizo Watanabe Foundation+
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo**Donations were received in previous years, but funding is still being used to finance ongoing
TOMODACHI Programming and operations.
+ Donations were received at the USJC US entity.
2023 USJC Sponsors
Advantage Partners, Inc.
AIG Japan Holdings
Amazon Japan G.K.
Amway Japan G.K.
Aoyama Zaisan Networks Co., Ltd.
ANONYMOUS SPONSOR
Bridge Asia Foundation
DELSOLE Corporation
e-solutions, Inc.

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EY Japan
FUJITSU Limited
Google Japan
Higa, Ernest M.
Hitachi Transport System, Ltd.
Houlihan Lokey Corporation
IBM Japan, Ltd.
Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.
Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd.
Japan Industrial Partners, Inc.
Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies in Japan
Juniper Networks
Kawahara, Russell & Yuko
Kikkoman Corporation
KPMG Japan
Lawson, Inc.
Major League Baseball Japan
Microsoft Japan
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
Morgan Stanley Japan Holdings Co., Ltd.
MUFG Bank, Ltd. (MUFG Union Bank, N.A.)
NEC Corporation
Nishimura & Asahi
NTT Group
Oracle Corporation Japan
ORIX Corporation
PAG Investment Management
Palo Alto Networks K.K.
PwC Japan Group
Rogers, Jenifer
ROKI GROUP CO.,LTD.
Shell Japan Limited
Sony Group Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation
Suntory Holdings Limited
Systemsoft (fabbit)/ Apaman
Tanaka, Hiroko & Masa
Tani, Miyuki
THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN
Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.
TOKYU CORPORATIONTOKYU HOTELS Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.
2023 Pro-Bono Donors
Evolution Japan Co., Ltd.
Hayasaka Tax Accountants’ Office公益財団法人 米日カウンシル－ジャパン

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Imperial Hotel, Ltd.
Japan Airport Terminal, Co., Ltd.
Japan Association of Charitable Organizations
KPMG Azsa LLC
SystemsGoOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Tricor K.K.

Note: The corporations, entities and individuals listed above made financial and in-kind contributions
to the U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. Prior year contribution
information is available in the past U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) Koeki Zaidan Hojin Business Reportson the website TOMODACHI (usjapantomodachi.org).

F. CONTACT INFORMATION
U.S.-Japan Council (Japan)
New Otani Garden Court 12F
4-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0094
Tel: 03-4510-3400
URL www.tomodachi.org