Japan-United States of America Relations

On March 22, the participants of FY 2022 TOFU program visited the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to pay a courtesy call on H.E. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, Ambassador of the United States to Japan. Ambassador Emanuel told the participants that he hopes that the participants gain a new perspective by visiting the United States and meeting a variety of people in the country. He wished them his best and said that the visit to the United States at such a young age would allow them to feel the world is smaller than they may have thought.

On March 15 for the 1st group and 22 for the 2nd group, the participants of the TOFU program visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan to pay a courtesy call on Ms. YOSHIKAWA Yuumi, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs. Ms. Yoshikawa underscored the importance of gaining first-hand experience of the US at a younger age and hoped the program would offer them an opportunity to think of Okinawa’s future. Furthermore, she stressed the vicinity of Okinawa to the international society within Japan and stated that MOFA would like to continuously support Okinawa’s efforts in strengthening its international traits. There was a valuable exchange of opinions between the participants and Ms. Yoshikawa who took a number of questions from the participants.

On March 15 for the 1st group and 22 for the 2nd group, the participants of the TOFU program visited the Prime Minister’s Office to pay a courtesy call on Mr. SHIKATA Noriyuki, Cabinet Secretary for Public Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office. Mr. Shikata, introducing his own experiences, highlighted the diversity of the US and importance of experiencing it on their own. He wished a great success to the participants.

On March 16 for the 1st group and 23 for the 2nd group, the participants of the TOFU program visited the US Congress and had a meeting with staff of US congressmen. The staff briefed on the function and role of US congress and congressmen/women as well as the significance of Japan-US alliance for the US. Answering the participants’ questions, the staff introduced their experiences and favorite moment in the career. The participants attended a tour of the congressmen/women’s office and Congress itself, guided by the Congressmen’s staff.

On March 16 for the 1st group and 23 for the 2nd group, the participants of the TOFU program visited the Japanese Embassy in Washington D.C. to pay a courtesy call to Mr. MATANO Motosada, Political Minister at the embassy and had a meeting with young staff there. Mr. Matano addressed a speech on the position of Japanese people in the international society based on relevant statistics and concrete examples. He encouraged the participants to proactively engage with the global community using English and find the joy of encountering new people and experiences. The participants also had a valuable meeting with young staff at the embassy with a frank exchange of opinions.

On March 17 for the 1st group and 24 for the 2nd group, the participants of the TOFU program visited the Center for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS, and had a meeting with Mr. Nicholas Szechenyi, Senior Fellow, the Japan Chair and deputy director for Asia at the Center for CSIS. Mr. Szechenyi briefed on the recent development pertaining to the current security situation surrounding Japan and its impact over the issues of U.S. military installations in Okinawa. He also underscored the importance of mitigating impacts of Okinawan local communities and increasing people-to-people exchange between the local residents and the US Forces in Okinawa. He praised the participants’ courage to visit the US and underscored the significance of having direct and frank discussions with US officials. He also encouraged the participants to engage the people-to-people exchange proactively.

On March 17 for the 1st group and 24 for the 2nd group, the participants of the TOFU program visited State Department of the US to pay a courtesy call on Mr. Joel Ehrendreich, Director, Office of Japanese Affairs. Mr. Ehrendreich, introducing his own experiences in Okinawa as a former US Consular General in Naha, stressed that people-to-people exchange is the foundation of Japan-US alliance and encouraged the participants to continue the engagement with exchange between the two countries and participate in dialogues between the two countries proactively.

After the courtesy call, the participants had a role-playing workshop to understand the value of Japan-US alliance and the bilateral relations with officials at Japan Desk. Each participant joined either the Japan team of the US team and experienced how Japan and the US cooperate to solve problems when they are faced with difficult challenges in the diplomatic realm. Participants thanked the officials for the arrangement by stating that they will consider what they can do to further promote people-to-people ties and maintain the robust alliance.

On March 24, the second group visited the US Department of Defense to pay a courtesy call on Ms. Grace Park, Acting Director of Japan team at DoD. She stated that with the severe security situation around Japan the role that Japan plays in the region is particularly important for the regional and international security situation. On top of that, she underscored that the US government seriously take care of mitigating impacts of US military installation in Okinawa. The participants, in return, appreciate the warm welcome by DoD and stated that they would make use of what they learned in the program in the future. The participants walked through Pentagon guided by Ms. Park.

On March 18 for the 1st group and 25 for the 2nd group, the participants of the TOFU program attended an exchange program with US students who takes Japanese class under Japanese Plus program run by an NPO organization, Globalize DC.

In the program, the TOFU participants made a presentation to introduce Okinawan music, dialect and culture such as Eisa, Okinawan traditional dance. Furthermore, the Japan-America Society of Washington DC presented the Japanese and American students the history of cherry blossoms in Washington D.C. which were donated by Japan years ago. The presentation was welcomed with a number of questions, especially by American students. The TOFU participants had a great time with American students at similar age, exchanging frank opinions on cultures of their home countries both in English and Japanese.

On March 18 for the 1st group and 25 for the 2nd group, the participants of the TOFU program visited Georgetown University and attended a guided campus tour by students of the Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS). The MSFS students had visited Japan with Kakehashi programs and they encouraged the participants of the TOFU program, younger generations who will lead the future society, to widen their horizons by studying abroad and proactively engaging global exchange programs.

On March 20 for the 1st group and 27 for the 2nd group, the participants of the TOFU program visited Japanese delegation to the UN to pay a courtesy call on Japanese officials working for UN organizations. The first group paid a courtesy call on Ms. NAKANO Kayo, a UNDP(United Nations Development Programme) official and Ms. NAKAMITSU Izumi, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. The participants asked a number of questions pertaining to international affairs, security, and issues of US military installations in Okinawa based on the lessons they learned through the programs and discussions with other participants to reflect on the program. Ms. Nakamitsu and Ms. Nakano provided explanations from the UN perspectives. The participants also paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Yamanaka at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN.

On March 20 for the 1st group and 27 for the 2nd group, the participants of the TOFU program visited the official residence of Japanese Consular General in NY. The first group paid a courtesy call on Mr. David Janes, a former Chief Advancement Officer, Office of the President, at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) and President and CEO of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Foundation (OIST Foundation.), while the second group paid a courtesy call on Mr. Joshua Walker, the President and CEO of Japan Society. They also paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Mori, Japanese Consular General in NY. Mr. Janes told stories of his engagement with Japan an Okinawa as well as briefs on Okinawa’s internationalization and growth pertaining to OIST. Mr. Walker, introducing his experiences of growing up in Japan, encouraged the participants to engage with Japan-US relations as a “citizen diplomat”. The participants had a fruitful discussion with Ambassador Mori, Mr. Janes and Mr. Walker.

On March 20 for the 1st group and 27 for the 2nd group, the participants of the TOFU program attended a UN tour to learn various organizations in the UN and visit the chambers of Security Council, Economic Social Council, and General Assembly. They also studied the concepts of SDGs, Disarmament and nonproliferation and various challenges that the global society is now facing.