U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL
2021 Annual Report

THE U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONSHIP IN 2021:
Forging Meaningful Connections
in a Changing World

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U.S.-JAPAN COUNCILTABLE OF CONTENTSLETTER FROM SUZANNE BASALLAAND PAUL YONAMINE............................................................................ 3
ABOUT THE U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL.........................................................4HIGHLIGHTS AND FEATURED SPEAKERS.........................................5
THEMES AND PROGRAMMING..............................................................6
Climate & ESG....................................................................................................6
Leadership & Education...................................................................................7
Business & Politics.............................................................................................8
USJC’S COMMEMORATIONS AND HONORS................................. 10
NEXT GENERATION LEADERSHIP....................................................... 11
MEMBERSHIP ................................................................................................. 14
USJC LEADERSHIP........................................................................................ 17
SPONSORS....................................................................................................... 20

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Dear Friends,
As we worked to navigate and adapt to another year of the pandemic in 2021, the U.S.-Japan Council actively engaged
with our influential community of leaders to address growing areas of concern to the bilateral relationship. Our 2021
Annual Report captures how the Council highlighted purpose-driven leadership and cultivated the next generation ofleaders while focusing on increasingly urgent issues such as climate change and sustainability, and diversity, equity
and inclusion. In many respects, embracing virtual spaces presented us with more opportunities to expand our reach
to wider audiences across sectors and generations and far beyond major metropolitan areas.
USJC was privileged last September to present a climate-focused, Bilateral Boardroom online conversation between
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Japan’s then-Minister of the Environment KOIZUMIShinjiro. A second virtual Bilateral Boardroom in November brought us face to face with other respected government
and private-sector executives, including Larry Fink, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock,
Inc., and Toshiaki Higashihara, Representative Executive Officer, Executive Chairman & CEO and Director at Hitachi,Ltd., who shared insights on the strategic advantages of pursuing sustainability and enacting change for societal
benefit.
In 2021, we also commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake with several previous
American and Japanese ambassadors and other leaders reflecting on joint efforts to support, rebuild and revitalize
the Tohoku region. This spirit of cooperation led to the creation of the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private
partnership administered by USJC to invest in the next generation. Nearly 10,000 young leaders in Japan and theUnited States have participated to date in TOMODACHI’s exchanges, demonstrating the resilience of the bilateralfriendship and fueling our hopes for the future.
Indeed, TOMODACHI was one of the many achievements of our late founding president, Irene Hirano Inouye. With
the ceremonial presentation last October of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, the Japanese
government acknowledged Irene’s significant contributions to promoting relations and understanding between our
two nations, including through her leadership of the Council.
Building on the vision of our founders, we are extremely proud of what USJC accomplished in 2021. Our successes
were made possible with the generous support and engagement of our sponsors and donors, as well as our partners
and the “beating heart” of the Council -- the USJC community of members. Working together, we can continue todrive meaningful connections, foster deeper ties and spur innovative collaboration, further strengthening the U.S.Japan relationship.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Basalla, President & CEOPaul Yonamine, USJC Board Chair

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U.S.-JAPAN COUNCILABOUT THE U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL

OUR MISSIONTHE U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL develops and connects diverse leaders to create astronger U.S.-Japan relationship. Founded by Japanese Americans, the Council brings
together leaders of the United States and Japan from across backgrounds, sectors, andgenerations to partner for a better future for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

OUR PURPOSE• We are a unique community that brings together Japanese American and otherleaders of the United States and Japan, strengthening ties between the two countries.
• We bring together a network of diverse leaders across sectors for meaningful
collaboration, creating deep and lasting relationships.
• We develop the next generation of leaders by offering life-changing experiences thatinspire participants to contribute to a stronger U.S.-Japan relationship.
• We believe in service and are committed to action in areas where our multicultural
perspectives and experiences can make a difference.
The U.S.-Japan relationship continues to demonstrate its relevance and fundamental rolein the Asia-Pacific region. The partnership between the U.S. and Japan is a driving force
behind economic growth, while the security alliance maintains peace and stability in theregion. Built on shared values such as innovation and resilience, the contemporary U.S.Japan relationship continues to evolve and develop new frontiers for collaboration.

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U.S.-JAPAN COUNCILHIGHLIGHTS & FEATURED SPEAKERS
65,700NEW YOUTUBE VIEWS
VIEWERS SPENT

5,185 HOURS

WATCHING USJC’S VIRTUAL PROGRAMS IN 2021
LEARN MORE

LAURENCE D. FINK, Founder,

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
BlackRock, Inc.

TOSHIAKI HIGASHIHARA,

Representative Executive Officer,
Executive Chairman & CEO and
Director, Hitachi, Ltd.

KAREN KELLEY, Senior FSO and East

Asia Bureau Senior Advisor for Diversity& Inclusion, U.S. Department of StateJOHN KERRY, Special Presidential

Envoy for Climate

KATHY MATSUI, General Partner,

MPower Partners

CHRISTINE HARADA, Executive

Councilor at Clean Energy for Biden

KRYSTAL KA‘AI, Executive Directorof the White House Initiative on Asian
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and PacificIslanders (WHIAANHPI)CAROLINE KENNEDY, United States

Ambassador to Japan, 2013–2017

SHINJIRO KOIZUMI, Ministerof the Environment Overseeing Climate
ChangeERIKA L. MORITSUGU, Deputy
Assistant to the President and AA and
NHPI Senior Liaison

GENERAL PAUL M. NAKASONE,

Commander, U.S. Cyber Command,and Director, National Security Agency/
Chief, Central Security Service

KANJI YAMANOUCHI, Ambassador,

Consul General of Japan in New YorkU.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL 202 1 ANNUAL RE P ORT

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THEMES AND PROGRAMMING
CLIMATE & ESG
BILATERAL BOARDROOM: U.S.-JAPAN LEADERSHIP IN ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISISIN AUGUST, A VIRTUAL BILATERAL BOARDROOM event featured a fireside chat moderated by President and

CEO Suzanne Basalla between Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and KOIZUMI Shinjiro, then-Ministerof Environment Overseeing Climate Change. The two leaders touched on a variety of issues such as the importanceof the U.S.-Japan relationship in the context of climate change and the role of U.S.-China climate
LEARN MORE
cooperation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oXNrb6PNgIBILATERAL BOARDROOM: PURPOSE-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP
IN U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONSIN SEPTEMBER, THE SECOND BILATERAL BOARDROOM OF 2021

explored ESG leadership through conversations with Larry Fink (Chairman and CEO ofBlackRock, Inc.) and Toshiaki Higashihara (Representative Executive Officer, Executive
Chairman & CEO and Director, Hitachi, Ltd.). This was followed by a discussion withthree USJC Council Leaders representing different sectors about the possibilities of ESGcentered leadership on the grassroots level, moderated by Lori Teranishi. Additionally,
Melanie Nakagawa, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Climate
and Energy on the National Security Council provided a special update on climate,following the recently concluded COP26 conference in Glasgow.

LEARN MORE

“Deepening the mutual understanding of Japan and America is an essential missionof the U.S.-Japan Council and for myself, and raising awareness of the youth isparticularly important. This is also what is expected of the U.S.-Japan Council.”— HON. KOIZUMI SHINJIRO“I want to thank the U.S.-Japan
Council for having this opportunity
to talk. It comes at a moment that
the United States-Japan relationshipI think really is strong, and it’s very
important that it be strong. We aredoing so many things, collaboratingin many areas from regional
security to the international
political crises, the global economic
and finance matters and on and on.
There is just a huge amount that we
can and must do together.”JAPAN PERSPECTIVES WEBINAR SERIES EXPLORES CLIMATE,
ESG AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSTHE THREE-PART JAPANPERSPECTIVES WEBINAR series

convened leaders and experts
representing key fields to shareinsights on critical issues in a virtual
format. The first installment of theseries took place on January 27 andfocused on climate change, withspeakers addressing key challenges
to energy and environmental
sustainability, and how the Biden and Suga administrations were taking action throughpolicy measures and initiatives.
LEARN MORE

—HON. JOHN KERRY

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THEMES AND PROGRAMMINGLEADERSHIP & EDUCATIONJAPANESE AMERICANS AND JAPAN: LEGACIESTHIS SERIES OF VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS highlights
the importance of cultural identity through the personal andprofessional stories of noteworthy Japanese American leaders
within our community. Each of the diverse career journeys
illustrated the crucial role of Japanese Americans in the context
of the U.S.-Japan relationship and how Japan has contributed
to Japanese American identity and community. The Legacy
series was produced and moderated by Council Leaders.
LEARN MOREREGIONAL WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP“I’ve had such a great appreciation for the people-topeople and business-to-business relationships the U.S.Japan Council has... nurtured, but also, in my case, reallyprobably ignited.”—PHYLLIS CAMPBELLUSJC MEMBERS CONTINUED TO ENGAGE in the
Regional Women in Leadership (RWL) series, funded by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Held in collaboration
with Brown University’s Office of Global Engagement, an
event, titled “Advancing Women in Leadership,” featured
a keynote fireside chat moderated by Dr. Adobe Paloma,
Assistant Provost of the Office of Global Engagement at
Brown University. She was joined by Dr. Gail Cohee, Directorof the Sarah Doyle Center for Women and Gender. Topics of
discussion included strategies that facilitate the inclusion andadvancement for all women across different industries and theimportance of authenticity in storytelling.

JAPANESE AMERICAN STORYTELLING PROGRAM
DURING ITS FIRST FULL ACADEMIC YEAR of
operation in 2021 since its Autumn 2020 launch, the U.S.Japan Council’s “Japanese American Storytelling Program”(JASP) completed 50 presentations to universities in Japan.
Capitalizing on the now widespread use of distance learning
among universities in Japan, JASP expanded the program’s
geographic reach, presenting to university student audiencesin Okinawa, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka and Shizuoka,
as well as over 10 schools in the Tokyo/Kanto region. JASP
received television news exposure on December 18, when JASP
speaker and Program Co-Leader Steve Sugino’s presentation at
Gunma University was covered by local media.

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THEMES AND PROGRAMMING
BUSINESS & POLITICSCONVERSATION WITH GENERAL PAUL M. NAKASONE
On January 11, the U.S.-Japan Council hosted an exclusive “off-the-record” interview with General Paul M. Nakasone,
Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, and Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service. General
Nakasone is currently the highest-ranking officer of Japanese and Asian American heritage in the United States Army.
Moderated by Presenting Sponsor Deloitte’s US Chief Executive Officer Joe Ucuzoglu, the discussion covered global
security and business; leadership development and talent acquisition; and the General’s personal story and JapaneseAmerican heritage.

A CONVERSATION WITH DR. SIDDHARTH MOHANDAS
USJC CORPORATE DONORS ATTENDED an intimate, off-the-record
conversation with Siddharth Mohandas, Deputy Assistant Secretary of
Defense for East Asia on July 22. During the virtual event, Dr. Mohandas
shared his insights into the U.S.-Japan relationship, and how to best utilize
our strong alliance in the coming years as the political climate and security
environment in the Indo-Pacific evolves. Dr. Mohandas offered insight intosome of the Biden Administration’s and Department of Defense’s policies andplans focused on maintaining peace and stability in the region.

BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD
THE U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL
BUSINESS ADVISORY BOARD(BAB) convened for quarterly

virtual meetings in 2021, providing
an opportunity for industry leadersfrom diverse fields to speak on key
topics and network with one another.
Among the events, USJC welcomed
Dr. Robert Alan Feldman (Professor of Tokyo University of Science and Senior Advisor to Morgan Stanley MUFG
Securities Co., Ltd.) and Dr. Mieko Nakabayashi (Professor at the School of Social Sciences of Waseda University
and Distinguished Fellow of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation) to exchange insights on the new Biden
administration.

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THEMES AND PROGRAMMING
BUSINESS & POLITICSSILICON VALLEY JAPAN PLATFORM (SVJP)THE SILICON VALLEY JAPAN PLATFORM (SVJP) is an

initiative of the USJC and the Asia Pacific Initiative (API). SVJP aims
to connect the technological dynamism of Silicon Valley with the current and future needs ofdigital transformation in Japan through trusting, collaborative relationships. SVJP is co-chaired
by Dr. Daniel Okimoto, Professor Emeritus, Stanford University (Member and former Chairof the USJC Board of Councilors) and Mr. James Kondo, President, Asia Pacific Initiative andChairman, International House of Japan (USJC Council Leader), with Mr. Jon Shalowitz servingas President.
In 2021, SVJP continued with online programming aimed to engage current and future corporate
members and the SVJP community. Towards the end of the year, SVJP was able to host two
hybrid events. The first was an Executive Roundtable featuring Dr. Lloyd Minor, The Carl andElizabeth Naumann Professorship for the Dean of the School of Medicine, Stanford University.
Dr. Minor discussed the areas where Stanford’s School of Medicine sees the most progress interms of digital healthcare and the steps they take when exploring collaborative partnerships.
In November, SVJP’s flagship event, the Annual Retreat, took place with high-level executives
from their corporate member community traveling to Kyoto for a two-day meeting. Speakers
joining online included Dan Schulman, President and CEO of PayPal; Eric Yuan, Founder and
CEO of Zoom; Nicole Perlroth, NY Times reporter and best selling author on cybersecurity; KR
Sridhar, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Bloom Energy; and Ali Ghodsi, CEO and Co-Founderof Databricks.
SVJP introduced a newsletter which serves as a platform for SVJP community members tocollectively learn more about the themes of SVJP programming. It provides a mix of news,
interviews, and deep dives into key topics surrounding business, technology and Japan.
LEARN MORE

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USJC’S COMMEMORATIONS & HONORSREMEMBERING 3.11
In partnership with the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC
and the U.S Embassy in Tokyo, the USJC community, other U.S.Japan-related organizations, and other advocates of the U.S.-Japanfriendship gathered for an event titled “Remembering March 11,
2011: Looking Back, Looking Forward” in March to symbolize theUnited States standing together in solidarity with Japan and tounderscore the importance of our alliance, friendship, and sharedvalues. The event’s first panel featured former ambassadors John V.
Roos and Ichiro Fujisaki, who served during the 2011 disaster John V.
Roos (former United States Ambassador to Japan) and Ichiro Fujisaki(then-Japanese Ambassador to the United States), who served during
the 2011 disaster, with former Senior Foreign Service Officer Karen
Kelley moderating. A second panel convened other former Japaneseand American ambassadors to discuss U.S.-Japan friendship,including Caroline Kennedy, Kenichiro Sasae, Shinsuke Sugiyama
and Thomas Schieffer. TOMODACHI alumni Ryota Konno and Miyu
Sugita, who are both from the Tohoku region, also expressed their
gratitude for the TOMODACHI program.
LEARN MORE

IRENE HIRANO INOUYE COMMEMORATED BY JAPAN AND UNITED STATES GOVERNMENTS
On October 7, USJC’s founding
president, the late Irene Hirano
Inouye, was honored in a ceremony
awarding her the Order of the
Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck
Ribbon. Irene’s daughter andMember of the Board of Councilors
Ms. Jennifer Hirano accepted thedecoration on her behalf. Consul
General MUTO Akira hosted
a conferment ceremony at his
residence that brought together
Irene’s family and local community leaders. Consul General MUTO
presented the award, highlighting ways that Irene worked tirelessly
to strengthen and advance the relationship between JapaneseAmericans and Japan, and was instrumental in the founding anddevelopment of the U.S.-Japan Council.
On July 24, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden dedicated a room in the Chiefof Mission Residence in Tokyo in honor of USJC founders Senator
Daniel K. Inouye and Irene Hirano Inouye, recognizing theirsignificant contributions to U.S.-Japan relations.
Photo Courtesy U.S. Embassy Tokyo

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NEXT GENERATION LEADERSHIPTHE TOMODACHI INITIATIVE“Part of our charge as the
TOMODACHI Generation
is to redefine the future of
U.S.-Japan relations but also
empower other young people
to break down barriers and use
their voices.”— TRISTAN NORMAN

The TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership
between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy inTokyo, with support from the Government of Japan. Bornout of support for Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan
Earthquake, TOMODACHI invests in the next generationof Japanese and American leaders through educational andcultural exchanges as well as leadership programs.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many
TOMODACHI programs were held online, continuing toprovide various opportunities to the next generation ofleaders from both sides of the Pacific in 2021. Below are just asample of the programs.
LEARN MORE

“I lost many things in the Great East Japan Earthquake,but the TOMODACHI program helped me to turn thisexperience into an opportunity.”— HINAKO MURAKAMIEMPOWERING YOUNG LEADERS
WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH STORYTELLINGLEADERSHIP TRAINING AND CULTURALEDUCATION
Thirteen junior high and high school students from Iwate,
Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures heard from MUFG
Chairman Kanetsugu Mike at the beginning of the 10th
TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program.
During this six-week virtual program, students learned
about the history of Japanese Americans during a leadershiptraining session conducted by the Japanese American
National Museum in Los Angeles and also met Californian“host families” online.

TOMODACHI’s inclusive programming continued during
the pandemic through the TOMODACHI Story Jam for
Youth with Disabilities program. Ten Japanese and American
university students showcased video projects, which had
been developed over the course of an eight-week programon storytelling. Representatives from the program sponsor
company, Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Embassy and USJC
and other guests joined to encourage and be inspired by theparticipants.

TOMODACHI GOES REGIONAL
With almost 10,000 alumni from over 300 TOMODACHI
programs since inception, the power of the TOMODACHI
Generation is its network, with high engagement ofstudents and young professionals who are inspired to stayconnected and become active leaders in their communities.
The TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Framework leverages
representatives across Japan and the United States to reachand connect with alumni as they continue on their journey.
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NEXT GENERATION LEADERSHIPEMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM

THE U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL’S
EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM(ELP) identifies, cultivates andempowers a new generation of JapaneseAmerican leaders. Emerging Leadersparticipate in leadership education,
design and implement original USJC
programming, and develop powerful,
lifelong personal and professional
friendships. A new cohort of leaders
aged 24-35 is selected annually to
become USJC Associates, and join
program alumni in strengthening
the U.S.-Japan relationship for future
generations of leaders. Each classhas become engaged with and mademeaningful contributions to USJC andthe ELP community.
In its twelfth year, the 2021 program brought together 13
young Japanese American professionals for a series ofvirtual engagements. The cohort participated in a leadershiporientation program and networked with senior JapaneseAmerican leaders. Throughout the year, alumni organized
events to allow members of the ELP community to connect
with each other, including the Kaiwa Series program to learn
leadership skills from role models, a financial seminar, a
Kohaku Uta-Gassen Singing/Lip-Syncing Competition and a
Shinnenkai to celebrate the new year.

The program is guided in part by the ELP Steering
Committee, which was established in 2016 to ensure ELP
alumni are coordinated, engaged, and aligned in theircontributions to USJC and U.S.–Japan relations. In addition
to its regular online meetings, the ELP Steering Committee
held an in-person strategic retreat in Los Angeles in
December.
The ELP community benefits from active support from key
corporate and individual sponsors whose contributions,
mentorship and engagement enrich the ELP experience. This
year, USJC Board Members partnered with ELP to develop
and pilot a new mentoring program.
LEARN MORE

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NEXT GENERATION LEADERSHIPWATANABE SCHOLARSHIP ENABLES
U.S.-JAPAN EXCHANGESTHE TOSHIZO WATANABE STUDY Abroad Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to undergraduate

and graduate students for a semester or year-long study abroad in the United States or Japan. A generous endowment
gift of $10 million from Mr. Toshizo (Tom) Watanabe to the U.S.-Japan Council makes it possible to award scholarships tostudents for those with leadership potential and for whom study abroad would not be possible without financial support.
The students selected in 2020 were given the option to defer until Spring 2022, due to the impact of COVID on schools andprograms. Scholars also enjoyed a virtual Young Professional Panel and networking event, where they heard about careers,
mistakes made and collective insights. The panel featured members of the USJC and alumni of the Emerging Leadership
Program (ELP).

NEXT GENERATION SUMMIT
IN DECEMBER, THE COUNCILHIGHLIGHTED THE U40 (under 40) members of the
USJC community including TOMODACHI alumni
and Watanabe Scholars during the two-day Next
Generation Summit. Topics of discussion included
breaking through both mental and physical barriers
to create change and issues of importance throughout
the different regions of Japan. Alumni also had theopportunity to hear how government leaders value
the impact of TOMODACHI.

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MEMBERSHIPTHE U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL COMPRISES members and supporters who are committed to the mission of theorganization. Included in these ranks are top leaders from major corporations, academia and research, politics and law, as
well as entrepreneurs and thought leaders.
LEARN MORE

COUNCIL LEADERS
Members 40+ Years Old

MEMBERSHIP BREAKDOWN BY COUNTRY

471
ASSOCIATESMembers Under Age 40

186

USA

600

JAPAN

81

FRIENDS OF THE
COUNCIL

27
There are 3 other members based outsideof the U.S. and Japan.

TOTAL: 684

Membership Breakdown By Sector[ Business ]

501

14

[ government ]87[ nonprofit ]96

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MEMBERSHIPMEMBERS FORUM
The Members Forum in October allowed
members to share their visions for USJC’s
future and gave them an opportunity tohear from USJC leadership. The event
featured a panel discussion that focusedon elevating the Asian American, Native
Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.
Guest speakers were Erika L. Moritsugu,
Deputy Assistant to the President andAA and NHPI Senior Liaison and Krystal
Ka’ai, Executive Director of the WhiteHouse Initiative on Asian Americans,
Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders(WHIAANHPI). The discussion wasmoderated by ELP alumni Stephanie Nitahara. Programming was followed by member led updates, a special video titled“Art Heals” produced by the Artists & Creatives Affinity Group and a series of virtual breakout sessions that allowed
attendees to network with one another.

MEMBER EVENT HIGHLIGHTS MENTAL
WELLNESS DURING PANDEMIC
Attendees gathered virtually on January 18 for an
event that explored ways to manage mental wellbeing and health in a time of extraordinary trauma
and crisis. As the pandemic led to a startling increasein depression in both Japan and the United States,
this webinar shared the importance of mental healthand self-care in isolating times. Speakers included
USJC Associate Leader Reverend Cristina Moon, anordained Rinzai Zen priest, and Dr. Sean Sullivan, an
expert in digital mental therapeutics, with Council
Leader Rika Nakazawa moderating the conversation.

HAWAII REGION GATHERS FOR PAU HANAWITH CENTRAL PACIFIC BANKThe Hawaii region held its first in-person networking event in
two years in December. The “pau hana” (after-work party) was
hosted by Central Pacific Bank at the heart of downtown Honolulu
where over 30 USJC members gathered. The much-anticipated
opportunity to reconnect in person also gave members a chance tomeet USJC President & CEO Suzanne Basalla and Chair of USJC’s
Board of Directors Paul Yonamine (Executive Chairman of Central
Pacific Bank).

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MEMBERSHIPMEMBER-DRIVEN
AFFINITY GROUPS

Climate Changefamily-owned businesses

Shin Issei

Media and Marketing

artists and creatives
Some of our Affinity Groups of 2021

OUTREACH AND ALLYSHIP COMMITTEEIn response to change and uncertainty marked by a global
pandemic and renewed calls for social justice, USJC’s U40(under 40) community launched the Outreach & Allyship(O&A) Committee to facilitate critical conversations, educational
webinars and empowering programs under the mission of
supporting the creation of a more equitable future for all.
In 2021, the Committee held monthly discussions on topics
including racism, LGBTQ activism and more. In October,
the Committee also hosted a virtual workshop addressing
uncomfortable conversations in the workplace.
LEARN MORE

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educators

The U.S.-Japan Council’s
Affinity Groups are member-led
initiatives, connecting leaders
through discussion-based
networking opportunities
built around shared interests,
professional fields, identities andmore.

Mental Wellness

SHIN-ISSEI AFFINITY GROUP BRINGSTOGETHER JAPANESE MEMBERS IN
THE U.S.
The Shin-Issei Affinity Group held its formal kick-off
event on March 9. This event brought together about
150 USJC Leaders and guests across the U.S. andJapan who identify themselves as Shin-Issei: the newgeneration of Issei Japanese Americans. The group wasformed with a mission to contribute to USJC and the
U.S.-Japan relationship with bilingual and biculturalcompetences.
LEARN MORE

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS(AS OF DECEMBER 2021)
THE U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS consists of leaders from across the United States and inJapan who provide their expertise in establishing and guiding the Council’s mission and activities.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS (U.S.)
BOARD OFFICERSPaul K. Yonamine, Chair; Executive Chairman, Central Pacific Bank
Suzanne Basalla, President and CEO, U.S.-Japan Council
Tomoko Kizawa, Vice Chair; Partner, Deloitte LLP
Susan Morita, Vice Chair; Partner, Arnold & Porter
Dennis R. Sugino, Vice Chair & Investment Committee Chair; Founder,
Kansa Advisory LLC
Tasha Yorozu, Secretary; Managing Attorney, Yorozu Law Group, PC

David Nishida, Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair; Chief
Operating Officer, ORIX Corporation USA
Phyllis Campbell, Immediate Past Chair; Chair, JPMorgan Chase &Co., Pacific Northwest
Kazuhiro Gomi, Development Committee Chair; President and CEO,NTT Research, Inc.
Todd Guild, Senior Advisor to Vice Chairman, Suntory Holdings
LimitedBOARD MEMBERSDavid Kenji Chang, Co-Founder, AN
Capital Partners

Norman Nakasone, Retired Senior Vice
President, Central Pacific Bank

Susan Eichor, President & COO, aio

Andrew Ogawa, Managing Partner andFounder, Quest Venture Partners

James Higa, Managing Partner,
Offline Ventures
Leona Hiraoka, Principal Officer, Zwig
Yuko Kaifu, Nominating & GovernanceCommittee Chair; President, Japan House
Los Angeles
Joshua Morey, President, The J. Morey
Company, Inc.

Mark Okada, Co-Founder & Managing
Partner, Sycamore Tree CapitalPartners L.P.

Scott Sato, CEO, Tricor Japan
Yoshiteru (Terry) Suzuki, President
and Chief Executive Officer, ORIX
Corporation USA
Ann Teranishi, President and CEO,American Savings Bank

Yoko Otani, Audit Committee Chair; Partner,
Straterix Inc.

Rona Tison, Executive Vice President,
Corporate Relations and PR, ITO EN, North
America, Inc.

Curtiss Takada Rooks, Assistant Professorof Asian Pacific American Studies, Loyola
Marymount University

William Tsutsui, Program Development
Committee Chair; University President andCEO, Ottawa University

BOARD OF DIRECTORS (JAPAN)
BOARD OFFICERS
Suzanne Basalla, Representative Director;
President and CEO, U.S.-Japan Council

Royanne K. Doi, Representative Director;
Corporate Governance Specialist

Ryuichi Katayama, Internal Auditor

Stan Koyanagi, Member of the Board of
Directors, Managing Executive Officer,
Global General Counsel, ORIX Corporation

Takashi Ohde, Advisor, Gakushuin
Women’s College Institute of International
Studies

Henry Seiichi Takata, Representative
Director, Syn Tech Japan Co., Ltd.

Gary Moriwaki, Partner, Windels Marx
Lane & Mittendorf, LLP

Jenifer Rogers, General Counsel Asia,
Asurion Japan Holdings G.K.

BOARD MEMBERS
Miyuki Tani, Executive Director, Morgan
Stanley Capital K.K.

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U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL

BOARD OF COUNCILORS(AS OF DECEMBER 2021)
THE U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL’S DISTINGUISHED BOARD OF COUNCILORS consists of leaders who are recognized fortheir life-long contribution and commitment to strengthening U.S.-Japan relations. Their expertise and guidance directs theCouncil’s mission and activities.

BOARD OFFICERS (U.S.)
Ernest M. Higa, Chair; Chairman, President& CEO, Higa Industries Co., Ltd.
Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, Vice-Chair;
President & CEO, Mineta & Associates, LLC;
Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce; Former
U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Takeshi Niinami, Vice-Chair;Representative Director, President & CEO,Suntory Holdings Limited
Masaaki Tanaka, Vice-Chair, Former
Representative Director and Deputy
President, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group,
Inc.; Former Chairman, President and CEO,Nippon Paint Holdings Ltd.

Ken Inouye, Assistant to the Vice Chancellor
for Administration, University of Universityof Hawai’i West O’ahu

George Takei, Actor, Hosato Enterprises, Inc.

His Excellency Ryozo Kato, Former
Ambassador Extraordinary andPlenipotentiary of Japan to the U.S.

Toshizo Watanabe, President, Toshizo
Watanabe Foundation

Masaharu Kohno, Former Special
Representative of the Government of Japanfor the Middle East and Europe; Special
Envoy of the Government of Japan for the
Middle East Peace

Dr. Keith Terasaki, Chairman, Terasaki
Family Foundation

Akio Yamaguchi, General Manager,
IBM Japan
Kristi Yamaguchi, Founder, Always Dream
Foundation
Roy Yamaguchi, Chef and Restaurateur, Roy’s

Hiroko Kuniya, Journalist; Goodwill
Ambassador for Japan, UN Food andAgriculture Organization

Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, 2012 Nobel Laureate;
Director, Center for iPS Cell Research andApplication, Kyoto University

BOARD MEMBERS

Kanetsugu Mike, Chairman, Mitsubishi UFJ
Financial Group, Inc.

HONORARY MEMBERS

Naoyuki Agawa, Distinguished Visiting
Professor, Doshisha University

Tsuyoshi Nagano, Chairman of the Board,
Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.

Honorable George Ariyoshi, Former
Governor, State of Hawaii

Gerald Curtis, Burgess Professor Emeritus of
Political Science, Columbia University

Dr. Daniel Okimoto, Ph.D., DirectorEmeritus, Shorenstein APARC; FSI Senior
Fellow and Professor Emeritus of Political
Science, Stanford University

His Excellency Yasuo Fukuda, Former Prime
Minister of Japan

Kentaro Okuda, President and Group CEO,
Nomura Holdings, Inc.

His Excellency Yohei Kono, Former Speakerof the House of Representatives of Japan

John Onoda, Principal, iQ 360

Honorable Doris Matsui, U.S. House ofRepresentatives, State of California

His Excellency Ichiro Fujisaki,
President, Nakasone Peace Institute;
Former Ambassador Extraordinary andPlenipotentiary of Japan to the U.S.
Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita, Founder & CEO,
Quality Electrodynamics; Chief Technology
Officer, Canon Medical Systems Corporation,
MRI Division
Glen S. Fukushima, Senior Fellow, Center
for American Progress
Honorable Colleen Hanabusa, Attorney
and Former Member, U.S. House ofRepresentatives, State of Hawaii
Kazuo Hirai, Senior Advisor, Sony Group
Corporation
Jennifer Hirano
Yosuke Jay O. Honjo, CEO & Founder, ITO
EN US Group
Masami Iijima, Counselor, Mitsui & Co.,LTD.
Noriyuki Inoue, Chairman of the Board& Chief Global Group Officer, Daikin
Industries, Ltd.

18

W. Douglas Parker, Chairman & CEO,American Airlines
Gill Pratt, Chief Scientist and Executive
Fellow for Research, Toyota Motor
Corporation; Chief Executive Officer, Toyota
Research Institute, Inc.
Susan H. Roos, Partner and CAO,
Geodesic Capital
His Excellency Kenichiro Sasae, President,
The Japan Institute of International Affairs(JIIA); Former Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the U.S.
Honorable John Thomas Schieffer,
President & CEO, Envoy International, LLC;
Former Ambassador Extraordinary andPlenipotentiary of the U.S. to Japan
Isao Takashiro, Chairman and CEO, Japan
Airport Terminal Co., Ltd.

Honorable Mazie Hirono, U.S. Senate, Stateof Hawaii

Honorable Mark Takano, U.S. House ofRepresentatives, State of California

BOARD OF COUNCILORS(JAPAN)
Kathy Matsui, Chair; General Partner,
MPower Partners

BOARD MEMBERS
Daniel Fujii, President & CEO, Trust CapitalCo., Ltd.
William Ireton, Head of Production (Japan),Sony Pictures International Productions
Merle Aiko Okawara, Chairman, DELSOLE
Corporation

THE U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONSHIP IN 2021: FORGING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS IN A CHANGING WORLD

2021

U.S.-JAPAN COUNCILLEGACY COUNCIL
USJC’S LEGACY COUNCIL includes members of the Board of Directors and select members of the Board of Councilors whocompleted full terms of service on the Board. It was established to recognize the invaluable contributions of Board members, past,present and in the future, and to encourage previous Board members to remain active leaders at USJC.
Tom Iino, Chair; Director, First Choice Bank
Donna Cole, CEO & President, Cole
Chemical and Distributing, Inc.
Tracey Doi, CFO and Group Vice
President, Toyota Motor North America

Stephen Kagawa, CEO, The Pacific Bridge
Companies

Allen Okamoto, Owner-Broker, T.
Okamoto & Co.

Frederick H. Katayama, Anchor andProducer, Reuters TV, Thomson Reuters

Paul Niwa, Associate Professor, Journalism,
Emerson College

Russell Kawahara, Partner, Atsumi & Sakai

Susan Onuma, Partner, Ingram Yuzek
Gainen Carroll & Bertolotti, LLP

Sho Dozono, President, Dozono
International

Dayne Kono, Chairman, Chicago, Masuda
Funai

Atsuko Toko Fish, Founding Trustee, Fish
Family Foundation

Colbert Matsumoto, Chairman, Island
Holdings, Inc.

Dennis Y. Teranishi, President & CEO,
Pacific International Center for HighTechnology Research

Michael K. Hirai, Director - Client
Development, Barrow, Hanley,
MeWhinney & Strauss

Moni Miyashita, Chief Strategy Officer,
Valo Health

Jan Yanehiro, President, Jan Yanehiro, Inc.

Robert Ichikawa, Partner, Kobayashi
Sugita & Goda

Wally Tsuha, President, Tsuha Foundation

Jill Nishi, Principal Consultant, JTN
Consulting

MANAGEMENT & STAFF

THE U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL’S STAFF based across the United States and in Tokyo, Japan. USJC staff members

are responsible for administering programs, implementing the decisions of the Board of Directors and promoting theCouncil’s mission and organizational goals.
LEARN MORE

U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL 202 1 ANNUAL RE P ORT

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2021

U.S.-JAPAN COUNCILSPONSORS
THE U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL (U.S.) AND U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL (JAPAN) are supported by the generous

contributions of our corporate, individual and foundation donors who share the goal of strengthening U.S.-Japan relations
through people-to-people connections. We gratefully acknowledge the following who generously supported the Council’s
many educational and networking programs.

PLATINUM SPONSORSTITLE SPONSORSTHE TOSHIZOWATANABE
FOUNDATION

20

THE U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONSHIP IN 2021: FORGING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS IN A CHANGING WORLD

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U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL

SIGNATURE SPONSORSANDREW & MARCUS
OGAWA

JOHN & SUSAN
ROOS

PAUL & LYNDA
YONAMINE

PREMIER SPONSORSSUZANNE & JOHN
BASALLARANDALL
CHAFETZ

DAVID KENJI
CHANG &JAIME SUGINOROYANNE K.
DOI

F

r D g Pr d c r

PHYLLISCAMPBELLRICK & SUSANEICHORDIANNE
FUKAMIYASUKO & TODDGUILDRUSSELL & YUKO
KAWAHARATOMOKOKIZAWAYUMI & EIICHIROKUWANA

U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL 202 1 ANNUAL RE P ORT

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2021

U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL

PREMIER SPONSORS (CONTINUED)KATHY M.
MATSUIAKIKOMIKUMONORMANNAKASONE

YOKO
OTANI

JENIFER ROGERSSCOTT SATORYOTA SEKINE& FAMILY

DENNIS R. SUGINO& LINDSEY K. SUGINO®

HENRY SEIICHITAKATAHIROKO & MASATANAKAMIYUKITANIGOLD SPONSORS
Adobe Inc.

GCA Corporation

Stan Koyanagi

Sachiko Kuno Foundation

Advantage Partners, Inc.

Atsuko Toko Fish

KPMG Japan

Alliance 360°Insurance
SolutionsKazu & Lynda Gomi

Lawson, Inc.

SOURCENEXTCORPORATION

Aoyama Zaisan Networks Co.,Ltd.

Gondo Company, Inc.

Major League Baseball Japan

Hawaiian Host, Inc.

Colbert & Gail Matsumoto

Ernest M. Higa

Mitsui Chemicals America, Inc.

Leona Hiraoka

Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

Tom Iino

Gary S. Moriwaki

Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

Satoru and Hiroko Murase

Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.

Japan House LA Foundation

Ottomanson Inc. / Rumi & MaryFoundation

THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN

Asahi Kasei America, Inc.
Central Japan Railway
Company
Donna ColeDELSOLE Corporation
Dr. Hiroyuki and Mrs. Mikiko
FujitaFUJITSU Limited

22

Japan Industrial Partners, Inc.
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
King’s Hawaiian

Lance Stuart
Takenaka Partners LLC
Tokio Marine America
Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.
TOKYU HOTELS CO., LTD.
Louis Vigden

Palo Alto Networks K.K.
ROKI GROUP CO., LTD.

THE U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONSHIP IN 2021: FORGING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS IN A CHANGING WORLD

2021

U.S.-JAPAN COUNCILCONTRIBUTING BENEFACTORS
Ms. Wendy Abe
Ms. Sheri Bryant
Mr. William Bryant
Mr. Stephen Dyer
Mr. Daniel Fujii
Mr. Mark Fukunaga
Mr. D. Robert Hale
Ms. Christine Harada
Ms. Lynn Hashimoto
Mr. Russell Hata
Mr. Eric Heenan
Ms. Dawn Hewett
Ms. Shirley Ann Higuchi
Mr. Robert Ichikawa
Dr. Fumiaki Ikeno

Ms. Ruth Marie Jarman
Ms. Maki Kaplinsky
Governor Heita Kawakatsu
Ms. Junko Kawazoe
Mr. Tom Kelley
Mr. Derek Kenmotsu
Mr. Moriaki Kida
Ambassador Hans Klemm
and Ms. Mari Kano Klemm
Ms. Mari Kuraishi
Mr. Charles Lake
Ms. Barbara C.
Marumoto-Coons
Mr. Masahisa Mitsunaga
Mr. Edson Mori

Ms. Jean Mou
Ms. Akiko Murai
Mr. Verne Naito
Mr. Eric Nakajima
Mr. Paul Niwa
The Grace Nixon Foundation
Mr. Michael Okabayashi
Mr. Thierry Porté
Mr. Jason Rabbitt-Tomita
Mr. Koji Sato
Ms. Charlene Shimada
Ms. Sandra Shirai
Professor Cindy Shirata
Mr. Steve Sugino
Ms. Linda TairaMr. Stephen Takeda
Mr. George Tanaka
Mr. Michael Tanimura
Ms. Ann Teranishi
Mr. Dennis Teranishi
Mr. Tyler Tokioka
Dr. William Tsutsui
Mr. Yasuhiro Uozumi
Mr. Allen Uyeda
Admiral Patrick Walsh
Mr. Christopher Wells
Mr. Glen Wood
Ms. Akiko Yu Kamata
Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki

GRANTS & CONTRACTS
The Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce andEntrepreneurship (National ACE)

Government of JapanTHE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE toextend a special thank you to all those whohave supported us and contributed to the Irene
Hirano Inouye Memorial Fund. Her legacy lives
on thanks to all of our supporters, volunteers
and community members.

SILICON VALLEY JAPAN PLATFORM
APAMAN Co., Ltd.
East Japan Railway Company
Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.
Japan Post Co., Ltd.
Mitsui Fudosan
Mori Trust Co., Ltd.

NEC Corporation
Sansei Technologies, Inc.
Shinkin Central Bank
Tokyu Land Corporation
Toyota Research Institute

TOMODACHI INITIATIVETHE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE to thank Mr.

Please refer to the 2021 TOMODACHI Annual Report or
http://usjapantomodachi.org/about-us/donors/ for a list of TOMODACHIStrategic Partners, Sponsors and Supporters.

and Mrs. Toshizo Watanabe for their continued
generous contributions that enable The Toshizo
Watanabe Study Abroad Scholarship Program.

THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO THANK the outgoing members of the USJC Board of Directors. Phyllis Campbell,
Susan Eichor, James Higa, Leona Hiraoka, Tomoko Kizawa and Dennis Sugino completed their board service on
December 31, 2021 and will join the Legacy Council.

U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL 202 1 ANNUAL RE P ORT

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www.usjapancouncil.org
contact@usjapancouncil.org
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