Japan-United States of America Relations

On March 19, the participants of FY 2023 TOFU program exchanged opinion with Mr. John Nylin, Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs, U.S. Embassy Tokyo, Brigadier General George B. Rowell IV, Deputy Commander, United States Forces Japan, and Mr. Miyamoto Shingo, Deputy Director General, North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Nylin reiterated his appreciation to the people of Okinawa for their support for Japan-U.S. relations and encouraged the participants to gain a wide range of experiences through the visit to the United States. Brigadier General Rowell stated that the bilateral relations has become closer and closer over the past two or three decades and the Japan-U.S. Alliance has come to play more important roles in the international society than ever, and he hopes the participants to use this visit to deepen their understanding and further consider on various things. Mr. Miyamoto said that he looked forward to seeing the visit will provide the participants with an opportunity to deepen their understanding on Japan-U.S. relations and hoped the participants to share what they learned through the visit with their friends.

On March 19, the participants visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan to pay a courtesy call on Mr. HOSAKA Yasushi, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mr. Hosaka encouraged the participants to see the reality of the Japan-U.S. Alliance in the U.S. and to work globally in the future. He hoped that the participants will drive the globalization of Okinawa vigorously. There was a vibrant exchange of opinions between the participants and Mr. Hosaka who took a number of questions from the participants.

On March 19, the participants visited the Prime Minister's Office and paid a courtesy call on Chief Cabinet Secretary Mr. Hayashi. Mr. Hayashi encouraged the participants, saying that he hoped that the exchange of opinions with various people in the U.S. would give them an opportunity to think about the future of Okinawa, and that this experience would also give them an opportunity to think about their own future.

On March 20th, the participants visited the Embassy of Japan in the U.S. and exchanged views with young embassy staff. Participants asked many questions and engaged in a lively exchange of views. On the 21st, they paid a courtesy call on Ambassador YAMADA Shigeo, Japanese Ambassador to the U.S.. Ambassador Yamada explained the importance of people-to-people exchanges and trust in diplomacy, how the Japan and the U.S., as equal partners, take a leadership in the international community etc. He took questions from the participants and explained to them what he values as a diplomat and how to organize domestic opinions and conduct diplomacy.

On March 21, the participants visited the Department of Defense (DOD) and paid a courtesy call on Ms. Jessica Cox, acting Principal Director, East Asia Security. Ms. Cox explained the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance in an increasingly challenging security environment, the role the alliance plays not only for the Japan-U.S. relationship but also for the regional and international community, and the importance of diversity in an organization. Participants asked questions about the significance of the concentration of U.S. military facilities and areas in Okinawa, nuclear deterrence, and other issues, and a fruitful exchange of views took place.

On March 21, the participants attended an exchange program with local students studying Japanese at Columbia Heights Educational Campus, Washington DC.
During the program, the participants gave presentations to the local students introducing Okinawan culture and other topics. Both Japanese and U.S. students attended a lecture on diplomacy given by an official of the Embassy of Japan in the U.S., and exchanged opinions with each other in both English and Japanese.

On March 22, the participants visiting the U.S. paid a courtesy call on U.S. Congresswoman Jill Tokuda. Congresswoman Tokuda explained the challenges and significance of being a woman on the front lines of politics and the importance of diversity in Congressional debates based on her unique perspective. The TOFU participants also exchanged views with staffers of Senator Mazie Hirono’s office, who encouraged them to make the program a fulfilling one, saying that exchanges such as the TOFU program would deepen mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. The participants were guided by congressional staffers on a tour of the U.S. Capitol.

On March 22, the participants visited CSIS and exchanged views with Senior Fellow Nicholas Szechenyi. Mr. Szechenyi explained the recent security situation in the region surrounding Japan, its impact on the U.S. military base issues in Okinawa, and how to simultaneously pursue the maintenance of deterrence and the mitigation of impacts on Okinawa. He stressed the importance of visiting the U.S. like the participants and candidly exchanging opinions with U.S. officials to foster mutual understanding and trust between the two countries. The participants asked many questions and engaged in a lively exchange of opinions.

On March 22, the participants visited the State Department and paid a courtesy call on Deputy Assistant Secretary Ms. Camille P. Dawson. Ms. Dawson stated that it was wonderful that the participants had the courage to participate in the TOFU program, as people-to-people connections are the foundation of a close US-Japan relationship, and that this mission would create opportunities for mutual understanding between the US and Japan. The participants then had the opportunity to learn how the U.S. and Japan are working together to address the challenges they face in the international community through a workshop on U.S.-Japan relations and foreign policy issues prepared by the State Department's Japan Desk.

On March 23, the participants visited Georgetown University and had a campus tour guided by students from the graduate school. During the program, the participants had an opportunity to interact with students who had recently visited Japan as part of the KAKEHASHI Project and to experience the active exchange between Japan and the U.S.. In addition, professors and students from Georgetown University encouraged the participants to consider study abroad and international exchange as options for the future.

On March 25, the participants visited the official residence of the Consul-General in NY to pay a courtesy call on Ambassador MORI Mikio, President of the Japanese American Association to NY Koji Sato, Executive Vice President of the US-Japan Council Fred Katayama. President Sato and Executive Vice President Katayama spoke about the history of Japanese Americans in the U.S. and noted that the close U.S.-Japan relationship has been shaped by the continuous efforts of their predecessors. They encouraged the program participants to grow into globally-minded people and to take risks and try new things.

On March 25, the participants visited the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations and paid a courtesy call on Ms. Nakamitsu Izumi, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. Ms. Nakamitsu explained the role and functions of the United Nations for international peace in the midst of an increasingly severe security environment, as well as efforts on which the United Nations is currently working for a better future. Afterwards, the participants paid a courtesy call on Ambassador YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN, who explained his work at the UN and Japan's various efforts to realize peace in the world. The participants asked many questions about peace, the base issues in Okinawa, and other issues, and a lively exchange of opinions took place.

On March 25, the participants attended a tour of the United Nations. During the tour, the participants were briefed on the various organizations of the UN and visited the Chambers of the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and the UN General Assembly. They were also briefed on the concept of SDGs, disarmament, non-proliferation, and other issues that must be accomplished by the international community.