※Titles and affiliations are at the time of the events.

1. Japanese American Leadership Symposia

March 7, 2019 Symposium (Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto)

“Three Sectors, Three Approaches: Cities that Attract Youth”

Participants

  • Moderator:

    Kirk Masden (Associate Professor, Kumamoto Gakuen University)
    Kaz Maniwa (Senior Vice President, U.S.-Japan Council)

  • Panelists:

    Mariko Silver (President, Bennington College)
    Britt Yamamoto (Founder and Executive Director, iLEAP)
    Kelly Yamasaki (Principal, OZ Architecture)

Symposium Report (2019 JALD)【PDF:6.36MB】

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March 8, 2018 Symposium (Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi)

“The Japanese American Experience: Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the first emigration from Japan to Hawaii”

Participants

  • Moderator:

    Tosh Minohara (Professor, Graduate School of Law and Politics, Kobe University)

  • Panelists:

    Darcy Endo-Omoto (Vice President, Government & Community Affairs, Hawaiian Electric Company)
    David Ono (News Anchor, KABC-TV)
    June Taylor (State Personnel Director and Executive Director, Department of Personnel & Administration, State of Colorado)

  • Guest Presenter:

    Junko Nishida (Cultural advisor, Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii)

Symposium Report (2018 JALD)【PDF:3.3MB】

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March 6, 2017 Symposium (Kanazawa, Ishikawa)

“Culture and Community Engagement: A Japanese American Perspective”

Symposium Report (2017 JALD)【PDF:3.6MB】

Participants

  • Moderator:

    Masayuki Sasaki (Distinguished Professor, Doshisha University)
    Irene Hirano Inouye (President, U.S.-Japan Council)

  • Panelists:

    Leslie A. Ito (President and CEO, Japanese American Cultural & Community Center)
    Ken Russell (Commissioner, City of Miami))
    Wendy Takahisa (Executive Director, Office of Community Relations, Morgan Stanley)

  • Discussant:

    Matsutaro Fukumitsu (President, Fukumitsu Sake Brewery)

The symposium was featured in Issue 61 of the Japan Foundation’s online publication “Wochi Kochi Magazine.”

Culture and the Arts as the Driving Force for Revitalization of Regions and Communities - Taking a look at the activities of Japanese Americans and the initiatives of the Creative City of Kanazawa (Part.1)External link

Culture and the Arts as the Driving Force for Revitalization of Regions and Communities - Taking a look at the activities of Japanese Americans and the initiatives of the Creative City of Kanazawa (Part.2)External link

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March 7, 2016 Symposium (Kobe, Hyogo)

“Toward a Secure Society : Challenges in Diversity and Inclusion”

JALD Symposium Report (2016)【PDF:2.4MB】

Participants

  • Coordinators:

    Kaoru Kurusu (Professor, Graduate School of Law, Kobe University)
    Irene Hirano Inouye, President (U.S.-Japan Council)

  • Panelists:

    Bruce A. Harrell (City Council President, City of Seattle)
    Bruce E. Hollywood (Fellow, White House Leadership Development Program)
    Kiyo A. Matsumoto (U.S. District Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York)

  • Commentator:

    Koichiro Bansho (Commanding General, Western Army, JGSDF Retired Advisor at Marubeni Corporation)

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March 9, 2015 Symposium (Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima)

“Aging and Dementia: Cooperation between the U.S. and Japan from research to health care”

JALD Symposium Report (2015)【PDF:1.2MB】

Participants

  • Coordinators:

    Atsushi Sunami (Advisor to the President; Deputy Director of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Program, Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies)
    Irene Hirano Inouye (President, U.S.-Japan Council)

  • Panelists:

    Richard Morimoto (Bill and Gayle Cook Professor of Biology, Northwestern University)
    Robin Yasui (Director of Geriatrics, Denver Health)
    Linda Taira (Senior Manager, Communications, Boeing Defense, Space & Security)

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March 10, 2014 Symposium (Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka)

“Japanese Americans making a difference in their community by “Economic development” and “Leadership” and in U.S.-Japan relations”

JALD Symposium Report (2014)【PDF:1.1MB】

Participants

  • Moderator:

    Irene Hirano Inouye (President, U.S.-Japan Council)

  • Panelists:

    Carrie Okinaga (General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, First Hawaiian Bank)
    Keiko Orrall (State Legislator, Massachusetts State Legislature)
    Brad Miyake (Acting City Manager, City of Bellevue)

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March 10, 2013 Symposium (Fukushima-shi, Fukushima)

“Towards Common Ground: Connecting Diverse Voices for the Future”

JALD Symposium Report (2013)【PDF:2MB】

Participants

  • Moderator:

    David Slater (Director, Institute of Comparative Culture / Associate Professor, Cultural Anthropology, Sophia University)

  • Coordinator:

    Irene Hirano Inouye (President, U.S.-Japan Council)

  • Panelists:

    Marion Friebus-Flaman (School Principal, Thomas Dooley Elementary School)
    Emily Murase (Executive Director, San Francisco Department on the Status of Women)
    Kelly Ogilvie (Founder, Chairman, President and COO, Quemulus, Inc.)
    Mitsuo Yamakawa (Director, Fukushima Future Center for Regional Revitalization, Fukushima University / Head Director, Fukushima International Association)

Ms. Irene Hirano Inouye contributed an article to the Japan Foundation’s online publication “Wochi Kochi Magazine.”

Sharing "Voices" of Fukushima with the Young Japanese American LeadersExternal link

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March 5, 2012 Symposium (Sendai, Miyagi)

“Empowering Civil Society for the Future of Japan”

Participants

  • Moderator:

    Hideyuki Inoue (Founder, Social Venture Partners Tokyo / Associate Professor, Keio University)

  • Coordinator:

    Irene Hirano Inouye (President, U.S.-Japan Council)

  • U.S. Panelists:

    Barbara Hibino (CEO and Founder, OpenWebU, Inc.)
    Mark Mitsui (President, North Seattle Community College)
    Susan Onuma (Partner, Kelley Drye and Warren LLP)
    Paul Watanabe (Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Massachusetts-Boston)

  • Japanese Panelists:

    Akiko Benimura (Sendai-Miyagi NPO Center)
    Masako Inaba (President, Yui net Co., Ltd.)
    Kazuma Watanabe (Representative Director, Wakatsuku Association)

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March 7, 2011 Symposium (Osaka-shi, Osaka)

“Breaking Out of the Comfort Zone: Role of Education in the Era of Global Competition”

Symposium Program details【PDF:2.9MB】

Participants

  • Moderator:

    Shingo Ashizawa (Professor, Organization for International Collaboration, Meiji University)

  • Coordinator:

    Irene Hirano Inouye (President, U.S.-Japan Council)

  • Panelists:

    Val T. Iwashita (Headmaster, Iolani School)
    William Tsutsui (Dean and Professor of History, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Southern Methodist University)
    Phyllis Campbell Chairman (JPMorgan Chase & Co., Pacific Northwest)

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March 3, 2010 Symposium (Minato-ku, Tokyo)

“Leadership : Values in Career, Community and Culture”

Symposium Program details【PDF:669 KB】

Participants

  • Moderator:

    Aiko Doden (Senior Commentator, Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

  • Coordinator:

    Irene Hirano Inouye (President, U.S.-Japan Council)

  • Panelists:

    Stuart J. Ishimaru (Acting Chairman and Commissioner, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
    Moni Miyashita (Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions Strategy, Investments and Relationships, IBM Corporation)
    Jan Yanehiro (President, Jan Yanehiro, Inc.)

  • Commentator:

    Haruo Murase Chairman (Canon Marketing Japan Inc. / Co-Chair, Committee on U.S. Affairs, Nippon Keidanren)

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March 5, 2009 Symposium (Naha, Okinawa)

“Building New Networks: An Era of ‘Change’ in Japanese American-Japan Relations”

JALD Symposium Report (2009)【PDF:9.9MB】

Participants

  • Coordinators:

    Irene Hirano Inoue (Executive Advisor, Japanese American National Museum)
    Tosh Minohara (Professor, Graduate School of Law and Politics, Kobe University)

  • Panelists:

    Dianne Fukami (Co-founder & President, Bridge Media, Inc.)
    Ken Miyagishima (Mayor, City of Las Cruces)
    Patricia Neilson (Director, Center for Collaborative Leadership, University of Massachusetts-Boston)

  • Commentator:

    Kurayoshi Takara (Professor, University of the Ryukyus)

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March 6, 2008 Symposium (Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka)

“Reconnecting with Japanese Americans -Beyond 100 years of Emigration-”

JALD Symposium Report (2008)【PDF:5.5MB】

Participants

  • Coordinators:

    Irene Hirano (President, Japanese American National Museum)
    Yasushi Watanabe Professor, Keio University

  • Panelists:

    Tom Ikeda (Executive Director, DENSHO: The Japanese American Legacy Project)
    Sachi Koto (Founder, Sachi Koto Communications, Inc.)
    Mark Yamakawa (Executive Vice President/COO, The Queen's Health Systems)

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March 9, 2007 Symposium (Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima)

“Japanese Americans at a Crossroad: Connecting Past, Present and Future”

JALD Symposium Report (2007)【PDF:6MB】

Participants

  • Coordinators:

    Irene Hirano (President, Japanese American National Museum)
    Hiromichi Yamashiro (Professor of History, Graduate School of Letters, Hiroshima University)

  • Panelists:

    Harold Taniguchi (Director, King County Department of Transportation)
    Sandra Tanamachi (Elementary School Teacher)
    Donna Hollingshead (Executive Director in the Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland)

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March 13, 2006 Symposium (Nagoya, Aichi)

“From Art to Business: Japanese Americans in the Professional Arena”

JALD Symposium Report (2006)【PDF:472 KB】

Participants

  • Coordinators:

    Irene Hirano (President, Japanese American National Museum)
    Okiyoshi Takeda (Associate Professor, School of International Politics, Economics and Communication, Aoyama Gakuin University)

  • Panelists:

    Donna Fujimoto Cole (President, Chief Executive Officer, Cole Chemical)
    Philip Kan Gotanda (Playwright, Filmmaker, Professor)
    Craig D. Uchida (President, Justice & Security Strategies, Inc.)
    Frank Buckley (Co-Anchor, KTLA Prime News)
    Karen L. Suemoto (Assistant Professor, Psychology and Asian American Studies, University of Massachusetts-Boston)

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March 7, 2005 Symposium (Kobe, Hyogo)

“Practicing Multicultural Coexistence: From Minorities Perspectives”

JALD Symposium Report (2005)【PDF:992 KB】

Participants

  • Coordinators:

    Irene Hirano (President, Japanese American National Museum)
    Yasuko Takezawa (Professor, Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University)

  • Panelists:

    Terry S. Hara (Captain, Los Angeles Police Department
    Melvin M. Horikami (President, Verizon Hawaii)
    Carol L. Izumi (Associate Dean, Professor of Clinical Law, George Washington, University Law School)
    Mark Makoto Kobayashi (Senior Staff Engineer, Broadcom Corporation)
    Marina Matsubara (Director, Kansai Brazilian Community)
    Lori Lei Matsukawa (Television Anchor and Reporter, KING TV)
    Shizuyo Yoshitomi (Director, Multilanguage Center FACIL)

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March 29, 2004 Symposium (Kyoto-shi, Kyoto)

“Asian American Diversity: Building Coalitions”

JALD Symposium Report (2004)

Participants

  • Coordinators:

    Irene Hirano (President, Japanese American National Museum)
    Yasuko Takezawa (Associate Professor, Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University)

  • Panelists:

    Margaret Cummisky (Legislative Director, Office of Senator Daniel K. Inouye)
    Carole Hayashino (Associate Vice President, Office of Advancement and Development, San Francisco State University)
    Ron A. Mamiya (Judge, Municipal Court of Seattle)
    David K. Mineta (Associate Director, Asian American Recovery Services)
    Curtiss Takada Rooks (Assistant Professor, San Jose state University)

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March 12, 2003 Symposium (Minato-ku, Tokyo)

“Contemporary Society and Civil Society in the United States: Through the Eyes of the Japanese American Community”

JALD Symposium Report (2003)

Participants

  • Coordinators:

    Irene Hirano (President, Japanese American National Museum)
    Yasuko Takezawa (Associate Professor, Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University)

  • Panelists:

    Dale Minami (Attorney / Chair, Civil Liberties Public Education Fund Board)
    Paula A. Nakayama (Associate Justice, Hawaii State Supreme Court)
    Yasuo Sakata (Professor, International Studies, Osaka Gakuin University / Director, International Center, Osaka Gakuin University)
    Kip Tokuda (Director, Family and Youth Services in Seattle’s Human Services Department / Former State Representative)
    Robin S. Toma (Executive Director, Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission)
    Hideo Yamagishi (President, NPO Support Center Japan)

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2. CGP-Japan American National Museum co-organized Symposia

October 1, 2007 Symposium (Tokyo, Japan)

“Is the image of Japan Changing? -Perspectives of Japanese Americans in Media”

Participants

  • Guest Speaker:

    Masaharu Kono (Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs)

  • Keynote Speaker:

    Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Senator / Chair, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation)
    Yasuchika Hasegawa (Chairman, Committee on U.S. Affairs, Nippon Keidanren / President, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Limited)

  • Panelists:

    Sachi Koto (President, Sachi Koto Communications, Inc. / Former CNN Anchor)
    Frank Buckley (KTLA News Anchor / Former CNN National Correspondent)
    Iris Yamashita (Screenwriter of “Letters from Iwo Jima”)

  • Moderator:

    Sadaaki Numata (Executive Director, Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership)

  • Closing Remarks:

    Irene Hirano (President, Japanese American National Museum)

  • Chairperson:

    Yuko Kaifu (Vice President, Japanese American National Museum)

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July 2, 2006 Symposium (San Francisco, U.S.)

“Shifting Japanese American Identities: Views of Japanese Americans and Japanese”

Participants

  • Speakers:

    Glen S. Fukushima (President and CEO, Airbus Japan K.K.)
    Philip Kan Gotanda (Playwright, Filmmaker, Professor)
    Takeya Mizuno (Associate Professor, Toyo University)

  • Moderator:

    Michael Omi (Associate Professor, Chair of Ethnic Studies, UC Berkeley)

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July 2, 2006 Symposium (Los Angeles, U.S.)

“A New Perspective on US-Japan Relations: The Japanese American and Japanese Partnership”

Participants

  • Keynote Speakers:

    Yohei Kono (Speaker, House of Representatives)
    Norman Y. Mineta (Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation)
    Haruo Murase (President and CEO, Canon Marketing Japan, Inc. / Co-Chairman, Keidanren, Committee of U.S. Affairs)

  • Opening Remarks:

    Taro Kono (Senior Vice-Minister of Justice, Japan)
    Scott Sassa (CEO/Founder, W Cubed Media / former West Coast President of NBC-TV)

  • Panelists:

    Seiji Horibuchi (Founder and Co-Chairman, VIZ Media)
    Shiro Inoue (President, Famima Corporation)
    Eric Nakamura (Publisher, Giant Robot)
    Yukiko Ogasawara (President, The Japan Times)
    Jack Sakazaki (President, Japan Sports Marketing)

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May 2, 2005 Symposium (Tokyo, Japan)

"Japanese Americans and the Future of U.S.-Japan Relations”

Participants

  • Guest Speaker:

    Yohei Kono (Speaker, House of Representatives)

  • Keynote Speakers:

    Taizo Nishimuro (Vice Chairman, Nippon Keidanren)
    Daniel K. Inouye (U.S. Senator)

  • Moderator:

    Glen Fukushima (President and CEO, Airbus-Japan)

  • Discussant:

    Yasuko Takezawa (Associate Professor, Kyoto University)

  • Panelists:

    Mitsu Kimata (President, Society for Women's Education and Leadership)
    Gen. Eric K. Shinseki (retired U.S. Army)
    Hideya Taida (Executive Director, Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership)
    George Takei (Chairman Emeritus, Japanese American National Museum)

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