u.s.-japan research institute (usji) fy2015 operation report

U.S.-Japan Research Institute (USJI)

FY2015 Operation Report

1. Overview ............................................................................................................................................ 2

2. Our Research Activities .................................................................................................................... 3

(1) Research Projects......................................................................................................................... 3

(2) Disseminating Research Findings............................................................................................... 4

(3) Establishment of Networks and Researcher Database ............................................................11

3. Community Building Efforts.......................................................................................................... 13

4. Human Resources Development .................................................................................................... 14

(1) Student Workshops.................................................................................................................... 14

(2) Intern Program .......................................................................................................................... 15

(3) Delegation of Japanese Students to the Center for the Study of the Presidency and

Congress (CSPC) International Fellows Program ....................................................................... 15

(4) Implementation of the Building the TOMODACHI Generation (BTG) .............................. 16

(5) KAKEHASHI Project －Exchange Program for Promoting Understanding of Japan ..... 18

5. Other Operations............................................................................................................................. 20

U.S.-Japan Research Institute

2

1. Overview

The U.S.-Japan Research Institute (USJI) is an American NPO that was established in Washington D.C. in

April 2009 by five Japanese universities (Kyoto University, Keio University, University of Tokyo,

Ritsumeikan University, and Waseda University). We were granted tax-exempt nonprofit organization status

under category 501(c)(3) from the U.S. government in April 2010. We currently operate as an organization of

nine universities following the addition of three universities (Kyushu University, University of Tsukuba, and

Doshisha University) in April 2012, and one university (Sophia University) in April 2015.

In our research activities, we focused on global problems that form the axis of the U.S.-Japan relationship,

namely “environment/energy,” “security,” and “regional cooperation/integration.” We organized research

projects accordingly for each topic. In FY2014, we executed three projects. We disseminated the results of our

research by holding two USJI Weeks and several USJI Seminars, among other events. We also organized the

USJI International Symposium “Building a New ‘Economic and Financial Order’ in the Asia-Pacific Region”

in Tokyo. For each event, we disseminated research outcomes to not only participants but society at large by

making summaries, presented materials, and videos available via the USJI website and other media.

Additionally, we began USJI Voice last year as a mechanism through which researchers with

USJI-sponsoring universities can provide policy recommendations on timely topics. We took this step with an

eye to raising USJI’s presence within the United States, and this year, we publicized 12 recommendations.

We also participated in seminars and events organized by other organizations in the Washington D.C. area.

We provided reports on those events to people affiliated with USJI sponsors and the American and Japanese

governments through newsletters. In addition, we disseminated details on the latest research conducted by

personnel from USJI-sponsoring universities in the form of monthly research reports.

In our community building efforts and human resources development, we focused on nurturing and

increasing Japanophiles/pro-Japanese groups by providing opportunities for exchanges and dialogues to

young researchers specializing in U.S.-Japan relations, students having an interest in those relations,

employees of local subsidiaries of Japanese companies, and others. Better recognition of our activities in

Washington D.C. has led to an increase in undertakings by organizations and the American and Japanese

governments for which we either co-host or provide cooperation. The following are major undertakings by

other organizations that USJI co-hosted or supported in FY2015.

・Delegation of Japanese Students to the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC)

Presidential Fellows Program

・Implementation of “A Capitol Hill Forum on Japan” with the US-Asia Institute (USAI), the National

Bureau of Asian Research (NBR), and the Center for the National Interest

・Implementation of “Building the TOMODACHI Generation (BTG)” with The Washington Center

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2. Our Research Activities

(1) Research Projects

During FY2015, we organized the following nine research projects with focus on three main issues; namely,

“environment/energy,” “security,” and “regional cooperation/integration.”

1) Environment/Energy

Research Theme: Plant Science Research for Global Food Security

Term: July 2015 – March 2017

Research Leader: Hiroshi Ezura (University of Tsukuba)

Research Theme: Refugees that Refuse Repatriation

Term: April 2014 – March 2016

Research Leader: Mikiyasu Nakayama (University of Tokyo)

2) Regional Cooperation/Integration

Research Theme: Socio-economic Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific


Research Leader: Toru Oga (Kyushu University)

3) Others (Politics, Economy, Society, Education, Medical Treatment, Religion, etc.)

Research Theme: Translational Research Based on Molecular Craniofacial Developmental Biology

and Development of Related Clinical Activities in Dentistry


Research Leader: Ichiro Takahashi (Kyushu University)

Research Theme: Japanese Diplomacy amid a Shift in the U.S.-China Balance of Power


Research Leader: Takashi Terada (Doshisha University)

Research Theme: Recovery from the “Japanese Disease”: Can Japan Come Back?


Research Leader: Keiji Nakatsuji (Ritsumeikan University)

Research Theme: U.S.-Japan Partnership towards the Formation of “Asian Higher Education Area”

Focusing on ASEAN

Term: May 2015 – March 2016

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Research Leader: Yasushi Hirosato (Sophia University)

Research Theme: American Foreign Policy After Obama and Its Implication to Asia


Research Leader: Toshihiro Nakayama (Keio University)

Research Theme: Rejuvenating Japan’s Economy and Industries – Abenomics in the Long Run

Term: October 2015 – March 2016

Research Leader: Takashi Hikino (Kyoto University)

(2) Disseminating Research Findings

We held our two USJI Weeks and several USJI Seminars in Washington D.C. We also organized a USJI

International Symposium in Kyoto. We made summaries, presented materials, videos, and other items for these

events available via the USJI website and other media.

1) USJI Week

① September 2015 USJI Week

We organized the following nine events, in which some 500 people participated.

Period: September 9 to 15, 2015

Overall Theme: Challenges and Opportunities for future Japan

Event 1

Seeking for an Effective Framework of International Legal Order in

the Asia-Pacific Region

Time and date: 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., September 10, 2015

Place: Conference Room, East-West Center in Washington

Participants: Approx. 30

Event 2

A New Era for the Asia-Pacific: Challenges for U.S.-Japan Relations

Time and date: 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., September 10, 2015

Place: Carlton Ball Room, The St Regis Washington


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Event 3

Networking Reception


Place: Chandelier Room, The St Regis Washington


Event 4

Help or Hinder? The AIIB and Outlook for Asian Development


Place: Auditorium, Wilson Center


Event 5

Japan-US Partnership towards the formation of Asian Higher

Education Area focusing on ASEAN


Place: Conference Room A, 2000 M Street, NW Lower Level,

Conference Center


Event 6

Japan's Asia policy and the US Rebalancing: Challenges and

Opportunities



Conference Center


Event 7

Japanese Political Economy under PM Abe: How Abenomics and

TPP are Advanced (Students only)


Place: USJI DC Office


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Event 8

Translational Research Based on Molecular Craniofacial

Developmental Biology and Development of Related Clinical

Activities in Dentistry


Place: National Institutes of Health


Event 9

World War II and the Experience of Japanese Americans



Conference Center


② February 2016 USJI Week

We organized the following nine events, in which some 200 people participated.

Period: February 22 to 29, 2016

Overall theme: A New Era for Japanese Society

Event 1

Establishing a Global Partnership for Sustainable Development:

Emerging opportunities for international collaboration on SDG’s

Time and date: 10:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., February 23, 2016

Place: Washington Office, Japan Society for the Promotion of

Science 2001 L St., NW, Suite 1050, Washington DC 20036


Event 2

Refugees Unwilling to Return: Cases of the Indian Ocean Tsunami,

Great East Japan Earthquake, Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy

Time and date: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., February 24, 2016




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Event 3

Plant Science Research for Global Food Security

Time and date: 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., February 24, 2016




Event 4

[Seminar for Students] Election Campaigning: Japanese-style versus

American-style


Place: USJI DC Office,1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite

801, Washington, DC 20006


Event 5

Environment and Energy Policies in East Asia





Event 6

Rejuvenating Japan's Economy and Industries - Abenomics in the

Long Run





Event 7

Competing or Complementing Economic Visions?: Regionalism and

the Pacific Alliance, TPP, RCEP, and the AIIB


Place: Auditorium, Wilson Center One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300

Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20004


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Event 8

Building the TOMODACHI Generation: Engaging U.S. and Japanese

University Students in Social Problem-Solving


Place: The Washington Center Residential and Academic Facility

1005 3rd Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

Event 9

[Seminar for Students] US-Japan Relations in Geo-Economic

Regionalism in Asia: The Rise of the TPP and AIIB


Place: USJI DC Office, 1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 801,

Washington, DC 20006


2) USJI Seminars

Speakers included researchers affiliated with a U.S.-Japan think tank and USJI-sponsoring universities.

How to Look at North Korea: Current State of the Kim Jong-un

Regime

Time and date: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., June 17, 2015

Place: USJI DC Office

Participants:14

Speaker: Atsuhito Isozaki (Keio University)

Sadayuki Sakakibara (Head of Japan Business Federation) Lecture

(USJI cooperation event)

Time and date: 10:00 a.m., June 29, 2015

Place: Hall of Flags, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Speaker: Sadayuki Sakakibara (Head of Japan Business Federation)

Japan-US Cooperation: A Vision for Collaboration in Cyberspace to

Ensure Peace and Security across the Asia Pacific (USJI

jointly-hosted event)



Conference Center

Participants: 60

Speakers: Motohiro Tsuchiya (Keio University), Roy Kamphausen

(NBR), Robert G. Sheldon (CSIS)

Cosponsors: Embassy of Japan, The National Bureau of Asian

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Research

Diversification of Leadership: The Path that Asian-American State

Legislators Have Walked (USJI-supported event)


Place: Ritsumeikan University Kinugasa Campus

Speakers: Sylvia Luke (Hawaii House of Representatives), Raj

Mukherji (New Jersey House of Representatives), Sharon Tomiko

Santos (Washington House of Representatives), Hubert Vo (Texas

House of Representatives), Donald Wong (Massachusetts House of

Representatives), Eileen Hirano Inouye (President of U.S.-Japan

Council)

Beyond the Limits to Growth—New Ideas for Sustainability from

Japan— (USJI jointly-hosted event)

Time and date: 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., October 26, 2015

Place: The Brookings Institution

Speakers: Hiroshi Komiyama (Chairman of Mitsubishi Research

Institute, founder of USJI, former President of the University of

Tokyo), Mireya Solis (The Brookings Institution)

Cosponsor: The Brookings Institution

USJI Closed Round Table

Time and date: 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., October 29, 2015

Speakers: Aiji Tanaka (Waseda University / USJI operational

advisor), James Schoff (Carnegie Endowment for International

Peace), Ian Rinehart (Congressional Research Service)

Waseda-UC Berkeley Seminar on Political Economy in Asia-Pacific

(USJI cooperation event)

Time and date: 1:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., December 10, 2015

Place: Waseda University

Participants: 44

Speakers: Shujiro Urata (Waseda University), Chikako Ueki

(Waseda University/USJI operational advisor), T.J. Pempel (UC

Berkeley), J.P. Boyd (Waseda University), V.K. Agarwal (UC

Berkeley), Yukiko Fukagawa (Waseda University)

10

e-Ageing as a new US-Japan partnership issue


Place: 2000 M Street NW, Washington, D.C.

Speakers: Toshio Obi (Waseda University), Naoko Iwasaki (Waseda

University), Daniel Bob (Sasakawa USA), Matthew Goodman

(CSIS)

Assessing the TPP’s impact on Japan’s economic recovery and

U.S.-Japan relations

Time and date: 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., March 17, 2016

Place: The Brookings Institution

Speakers: Shujiro Urata (Waseda University), Arata Kuno (Kyorin

University), Hideyuki Miura (Kyorin University), Mireya Solis (The

Brookings Institution)

3) USJI International Symposium

On December 9, 2015, we held a

USJI International Symposium in

Tokyo titled “Building a New

‘Economic and Financial Order’ in the

Asia-Pacific Region,” with

approximately 500 visitors. This

symposium featured keynote speeches

by Akira Amari (minister in charge of

economic revitalization), Wendy Cutler

(former Assistant U.S. Trade

Representative), and a panel discussion

by eight invited participants, among

them Ichiro Fujisaki (former Japanese Ambassador to the United States), Glen S. Fukushima (former president

of the American Chamber of Commerce, Japan), and Mireya Solis (senior fellow in the Brookings Institution).

These panelists engaged in a discussion on “international political and economic order in the Asia-Pacific

Region led by the U.S. and Japan.”

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4) USJI Voice

To raise USJI’s presence within the United States, we are publicizing policy recommendations on timely

topics that were prepared by researchers of USJI-sponsoring universities. In FY2015, these recommendations

were distributed by e-mail and posted on the Internet (four were issued in both English and Japanese, and two

were issued in English).

5) USJI Newsletter

We particpated in seminars and other events organized near Washington D.C. by the United States Senate

Committee on Foreign Relations, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Edwin O. Reischauer Center for

East Asian Studies of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, Embassy of

Japan, Brookings Institution, Henry L. Stimson Center, and others. On 21 occasions, we issued information on

these events that was unavailable from media sources to people affiliated with USJI sponsors and the American

and Japanese governments.

6) USJI University Research Reports

As a rule, we send details on the latest research by USJI-sponsoring university researchers to registrants on the

USJI Database on a monthly basis.

(3) Establishment of Networks and Researcher Database

1) Establishing networks

Vol. Author Title Issuance date

7 Haruo Hayashi

(Kyoto University)

Multinational Cooperation in International Disaster Risk

Reduction

April 28, 2015

April 28, 2015

8 Yuichi Hosotani

(Keio University)

Right to Collective Self-Defense and the U.S.-Japan

Alliance

July 6, 2015

July 7, 2015

9 Akira Furukawa

(Ritsumeikan

University)

The Third Arrow of Abenomics

July 15, 2015

July 15, 2015

10 Tadashi Otsuka

(Waseda

University)COP21 and Japanese Climate Change Policy

November 24,

2015

December 3,

2015

11 Yasuhiro Ueki

(Sophia

University)

Rethinking Security Council Reform

January 15,

2016

12 Mitsuyo Ando

(Keio University)

International production/distribution networks and mega

FTAs

March 23, 2016

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We expanded our information-sharing, co-hosting of events, and other forms of collaboration by building

networks with the following major think tanks, universities, and other organizations in the United States.

Research institutes and foundations: Center for a New American Security (CNAS), The Council on Foreign

Relations (CFR), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Carnegie

Institution for Science, The Brookings Institution, National Institutes of Health (NIH),

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Carnegie Endowment for

International Peace, US-Asia Institute (USAI), The National Bureau of Asian Research,

Center for the National Interest, Heritage Foundation, The Maureen and Mike Mansfield

Foundation, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, etc.

Universities: George Washington University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, American

University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, University of Maryland, Yale University, Columbia

University, Harvard University, Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, City

University of New York, Cornell University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania,

University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Rutgers University, University of Idaho, University

of Windsor, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los

Angeles, University of Washington, Montclair State University, Thomas Jefferson School of Law,

University of Virginia, National War College, others

Government organizations: Embassy of the United States, Department of State, Department of Agriculture,

Department of Education, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Congressional

Research Service, JETRO, JICA, JSPS/JST, CULCON, others

American enterprises/organizations: Intel, The Washington Post, iRobot, IBM, World Bank, International

Monetary Fund, United States-Japan Foundation, S&R Foundation, Japan Commerce Association of

Washington, others

2) Building a database

As is shown below, the number of people registered in our database has reached approximately 6,700 (3,700

in the U.S., 3,000 in Japan).

706357238

642633

215

908

U.S. residents政府・政府系団体

シンクタンク

メディア

企業

大学

学生

その他

383

57

171

778682

452490

Japanese residents政府・政府系団体

シンクタンク

メディア

企業

大学

学生

その他

Government, government-affiliatedorganization

University

Private company

Media

Think tank

Student

Other

Government, government-affiliatedorganization

University

Private company

Media

Think tank

Student

Other

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3. Community Building Efforts

We contributed to the building of an industry-academia-government community centered on U.S.-Japan

relations primarily in Washington D.C. We held Networking Receptions during the USJI Week (September 2015

and February 2016), and we provided opportunities for exchange and discussion to scholars and researchers

specializing in U.S.-Japan relations, students having an interest in those relations, employees of local

subsidiaries of Japanese companies, and others.

Additionally, to help form a community that can influence policy making by the American and Japanese

governments and corporate decision making, we supported the holding of meetings, roundtables, and other forms

of interaction by opening our meeting rooms in USJI’s Washington D.C. headquarters. The following is a list of

our main contributions here.

1) A Capitol Hill Forum on Japan (co-organized by the US-Asia Institute [USAI] and National Bureau of

Asian Research [NBR])

Target: Persons with the U.S. Congress

Outline: We held four introductory courses called “A Capitol Hill Forum on Japan (Japan 101 Seminar Series

Pre-events)” led by researchers, professionals, and others on the front lines of various fields in Japan in order

to promote better understanding of Japan. Co-organized with various organizations that are based in

Washington D.C., the courses targeted persons connected with the U.S. Congress who have limited knowledge

concerning Japan.

Security and History for Japan

Time and date: 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., August 5, 2015

Place: Dirksen Senate Office Building #437

Participants: 6

Speaker: Koji Murata (President of Doshisha University)

Cooperation: United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Theme: The Japanese Economy -Now and Future-


Place: US-Asia Institute

Speaker: Mitsuru Taniuchi (Professor at Waseda University)

Co-host: US-Asia Institute

Participants: 30

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Theme: Air pollution in Asia

Time and date: November 10, 2015

Place: Wilson Center

Speaker: Toshihiko Takemura (Professor at Kyushu University)

Co-host: Wilson Center

Theme: Establishing a Global Partnership for Sustainable

Development : Emerging opportunities for international

collaboration on SDG’s


Place: JSPS

Speaker: Fumiko Kasuga (Professor at The University of Tokyo)

Co-hosts: Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., START

2) Washin-kai

Target: Young employees of government offices and Japanese companies, particularly those from USJI

sponsors

Outline: We created opportunities for dialogue with American researchers of Japan and others by providing a

setting for individuals to propose policies in such areas as politics, economics, society, and education.

4. Human Resources Development

(1) Student Workshops

With support from the Nissan Global Foundation, we held student workshops led by researchers from

universities near Washington D.C. and from universities collaborating with USJI as well as student workshops

based on student branches (*). A total of nine workshops were held.

* Student Branch

Student Branch is an organization that was launched in FY2015 in order to support the practical

abilities/formation of networks of Japanese students (exchange, full-time) who have a strong interest in

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international relations and U.S. students who are Japanophiles (including potential Japanophiles). Students

take the initiative to implement workshops and events, which the USJI supports.

(2) Intern Program

This program is primarily open to American students who have an interest in U.S.-Japan relations. This year,

we received 11 students at our Washington D.C. office (including students who are continuing from the previous

year). Their main jobs were as follows:

・Supporting the operation of USJI events and preparing summaries

・Proofreading the USJI website and pamphlets in English

・Preparing summaries of events organized by other organizations

・Assisting with administrative tasks for USJI headquarters in Washington D.C.

Number of interns and their affiliations in FY2015 (as of March 22, 2016)

University No. Males Females

University of Florida 1 0 1

Waseda University 2 1 1

Ritsumeikan University 1 1 0

George Washington University 1 0 1

Georgetown University 2 2 0

Kwansei Gakuin University 1 1 0

Keio University 1 0 1

Australian National University 1 1 0

The University of Tokyo 1 1 0

Total 11 7 4

(3) Delegation of Japanese Students to the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress

(CSPC) International Fellows Program

Under the International Fellows Program of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC),

students from top universities in various countries, and mainly the United States, gather in Washington D.C.

twice a year (autumn semester: normally one week in October, spring semester: normally one week in March).

There, they discuss U.S. policy with important members of the White House staff and Congress and prepare

papers that are in line with research topics. In addition to the U.S., there are approximately 60 participants every

year from countries such as Japan, Brazil, Canada, Hungary, Mexico and Spain.

Recognizing the program’s value in contributing to the development of next-generation leaders, we have

continued to select and send outstanding students from Japan to the program with support from Toyota Motor

Corporation since 2011. We had originally been sending two students each year, but with support that covers

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ANA airfares to the U.S., we have been able to send three students since FY2014.

In FY2015 we also sent three students, among which the paper written by Yuka Koshino of Keio University

won the grand prize of the International Fellows.

2015-16 delegates

University Name Research topic

1 Keio University Yuka Koshino How Did Obama Embolden China?

—Comparative Analysis of “Engagement” and “Containment” in Post-Cold

War Sino-American Relations—

2 Waseda

University

Fumi Osawa How is civil rights related with the U.S. politics?

Through equal protection among men and women

3 Kyoto

University

Serena

Kaneko

Renewable Energy Policy and Public Opinion

(4) Implementation of the Building the TOMODACHI Generation (BTG)

Co-organized by TWC (The Washington Center) and USJI, Building the TOMODACHI Generation is a short

and intensive two-week program that targets university students in Japan and the United States. It seeks to

develop leadership and promote studies on resolution of social issues on both sides, and cultivate domestic and

overseas leadership skills through continuous communication among the participants. In FY2015, the third year

of the program’s existence, a total of 35 students participated (35 the previous year). This figure was comprised

of 20 students from the nine USJI-sponsoring universities and 15 from American universities

The program is part of the TOMODACHI Initiative, a partnership launched in response to a proposal by John

Roos, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan. It is supported by the TOMODACHI Fund, which was established by

the governments of the United States and Japan as well as a number of private companies, including Toyota

Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd., and Morgan Stanley.

Delegate students from Japan

Affiliation Year Name

Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University 2nd-year Daiki Miyata

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master’s

Faculty of Science, Kyushu University Sophomore Erika Hirose

Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University 1st-year

master’s

Haruka Ueda

Faculty of Law, Kyoto University Sophomore Hiroko Okutani

Faculty of Law, Keio University Sophomore Miki Kadota

Faculty of Law, Keio University Sophomore Wakana Inoue

Faculty of Foreign Studies, Sophia University Senior Yumeko Inoue

Faculty of Liberal Arts, Sophia University Sophomore Haruko Sano

School of Social and International Studies, University

of Tsukuba

Sophomore Yumi Nagae

School of Science and Engineering, University of

Tsukuba

Sophomore Yuki Nishimura

College of Arts and Sciences, The University of

Tokyo

Junior Mihiro Nomura

Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of

Tokyo

1st-year

master’s

Miki Hosaka

Faculty of Economics, Doshisha University Senior Teruki Akao

Faculty of Law, Doshisha University Freshman Asahi Obata

College of Social Sciences, Ritsumeikan University Senior Ryo Saito

College of International Relations, Ritsumeikan

University

Freshman Miharu Mizusawa

College of International Relations, Ritsumeikan

University

Junior Koyuki Tsuji

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Waseda

University

1st-year

doctoral

Kazumi Abe

Graduate School of Advanced Science and

Engineering, Waseda University

1st-year

master’s

Gen Sakaeda

School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda

University

Junior Tatsuhiro Shinagawa

Participating students from the United States

University Year Name

Fitchburg State University Junior Abigail Kennefick

Furman University Junior Christopher Razo

Monmouth University Senior Christopher D'Elia

Quinnipiac University Junior Jessica Hernandez

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Regis University Junior Mikaela Meyer

Regis University Senior Rachel Minter

Rutgers University Senior Mark Swan

Rutgers University Junior Whitney Derman

St. Lawrence University Junior Anna Travers

Stockton University Senior Kareem Primo

University of Iowa Junior Pedro Gutierrez

University of New Hampshire Junior Ryan Justice

University of Puerto Rico Junior Paola Brignoni

University of Puerto Rico Senior Naceli Perez Escobar

University of Puerto Rico Senior Roberto Torres

(5) KAKEHASHI Project －Exchange Program for Promoting Understanding of Japan

The KAKEHASHI Project, which was launched in FY2014 by the government of Japan (Ministry of Foreign

Affairs) promotes understanding between Japan and North America of Japanese politics, society, history, and

foreign policy through human exchanges such as inviting and delegating outstanding human resources who are

expected to be successful in various industries in the future. In addition, by unearthing Japanophiles and

pro-Japanese groups, the objectives are to enhance Japan’s diplomatic foundation, have those who are invited

and delegated actively communicate Japan’s diplomatic position and appeal, and to contribute to increased

continued interest in Japan and an improvement in the image of Japan in global society.

USJI participated in this program, welcomed young researchers from the U.S., and delegated young

researchers belonging to USJI-affiliated universities.

1) Welcoming of young researchers from the U.S.

Waseda University welcomed young researchers from the U.S., and provided lectures on policies and the

actual state of the Japanese economy and environmental energy, as well as on U.S.-Japan security.

Group 1

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Invitation period: Wednesday, October 14 to Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Date welcomed by USJI: Thursday, October 15, 2015

Receiving university: Waseda University

Target: 35 young researchers from the U.S.

<Breakdown> National Economists Club (NEC): 11 people

Heritage Foundation: 10 people

Congressional Research Service (CRS): 14 people

Japanese Economy/Environmental Energy

Lecturer: Masahiko Genma (USJI operational advisor, professor at

Waseda University)

Japanese Security

Lecturer: Shuhei Kurizaki (associate professor at Waseda University)

Japanese Foreign Policy

Lecturer: Hideki Yamaji (Senior coordinator, North American Affairs

Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Group 2

Invitation period: Tuesday, November 24 to Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Date welcomed by USJI: Monday, November 30, 2015

Receiving university: Waseda University

Target: 26 young researchers from the U.S.

<Breakdown> Johns Hopkins University: 13 people, George Washington University: 13 people

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Internationalization of Higher Education in Japan, Cooperating with

US Partners

Lecturer: Kazuo Kuroda (professor at Faculty of International

Research and Education, Waseda University)

2) Delegation of students belonging to USJI-sponsoring universities

We delegated students belonging to USJI-sponsoring universities to San Francisco, United States, from

Tuesday, March 8 to Tuesday, March 15. The students visited California State University campuses, Stanford

University, etc. and held presentations for local students based on the theme of “Japan’s Appeal” in order to raise

interest in Japan. In addition, the students were also able to gain experiences that would otherwise be impossible

in a regular exchange program, as they were able to visit local companies and various facilities.

Group 1

Waseda University (24 students), Ritsumeikan University (13

students), University of Tsukuba (13 students)

Places visited: SmartNews (Japanese company), Computer History

Museum, San Jose State University, TANIMURA & ANTLE

(U.S. company), North Salinas High School, Farmer’s Market at

Ferry Building

Group 2

Doshisha University (24 students), Sophia University (13 students),

Keio University (13 students)

Places visited: SALAD COSMO (Japanese company), California

State University, Monterey Bay, TANIMURA & ANTLE (U.S.

company), Stanford University, Computer History Museum,

Farmer’s Market at Ferry Building

5. Other Operations

(1) Making the Washington D.C. Office Available

We supported the activities of young researchers who conduct studies and surveys in Washington D.C. by

making our Washington D.C. office available to them.

21

Name: U.S.-Japan Research Institute (USJI)

Organizational status: Tax-exempt nonprofit public-interest corporation 501(c)(3) (U.S. NPO)

Established: April 14, 2009

Websites: http://www.us-jpri.org/en/ (English)

http://www.us-jpri.org/ (Japanese)

Email address: [email protected]

Address: 1901 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 801, Washington, DC 20006 (USJI Washington

office)

1-104 Totsuka Shinjuku-ku Tokyo 169-8050 Japan (USJI Japan office)

Tel.: +1-202-452-6142 (USJI Washington office)

Tel.: +81-3-5286-8740 (USJI Japan office)

Fax: +81-03-5286-8385

u.s.-japan research institute (usji) fy2015 operation report

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