TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference II:

“U.S.-Japan Relations in the South: Transforming

Communities for the Future”

April 8 - 10, 2016

The Highland Dallas

Dallas, Texas

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Program Schedule ………………………………………………. 1

Session Descriptions …………………………………………….. 4

Speaker Profiles …………………………………………………. 6

Student Delegate Profiles …………..………………………….. 11

Supplemental Information …………..………………………….19

Press Release

English .…………………………………………………...…. 20

Japanese ………………………………………………...…… 22

Organization and Sponsor Information …………...………….. 25

Conference Staff Profiles ………………………...…………….. 26

Notes ………………………………………...…………………... 27

TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference II:

“U.S.-Japan Relations in the South: Transforming Communities for the Future”

The Highland Dallas | Dallas, Texas

April 8 - 10, 2016

1

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, APRIL 8TH

3:00 – 4:30 PM Student arrival and hotel check-in

5:00 – 5:30PM TOMODACHI Introduction and Conference Orientation (Opus 2)

5:30 – 6:30PM Getting to Know Each Other (Opus 2)

7:00 – 9:00PM Welcome Dinner (Various Restaurants)

SATURDAY, APRIL 9TH

8:00 – 8:50AM Breakfast (Opus 2)

9:00 – 9:45AM Welcome and Conference Introduction (Opus 1)

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

Remarks and Introduction by Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd

Takeshi Wakita, President, Daiwa House Texas Inc.

Remarks

Tetsuro Amano, Consul General of Japan in Houston

9:45 – 10:45AM SESSION 1

“An Overview of the U.S.-Japan relationship (past, present, future)”

SPEAKER: Ambassador Tom Schieffer,

Introduction By: Suzanne Basalla, U.S.-Japan Council

MORNING COFFEE BREAK (Opus Gallery)

2

11:00 – 12:00PM SESSION 2

“Japanese investments, cultural imports and Texas communities”

Aki Marceau, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation*

Rebecca Cowle, Texas Central Rail

Glen Gondo, Gondo Company Incorporated

Javier Moreno, Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

(*) Indicates session moderator

12:00 – 1:15PM LUNCH (Opus 2)

“Japanese-Americans in Texas and Arkansas: History and Legacy”

SPEAKER: Donna Cole, Cole Chemical

1:30 – 2:00PM SESSION 3

SMALL GROUP BREAKOUT DISCUSSIONS

FACILITATOR(S): U.S.-Japan Council Conference Leads

2:00 – 2:45PM SESSION 4

“Conversation with Young Professionals: How they learned the hard way”

Kenyon Mayeda, TDW + Co.

Miki Sankary, Goby, LLC

Dana Heatherton, Shell Oil Company

2:45 – 4:15PM SESSION 5

“Building Global Careers: Skills, Pathways and Continuing Opportunities”

Miki Sankary, Goby, LLC

Kuriko Hasegawa Wong, Fleishman Hillard

Dana Heatherton, Shell Oil Company

Suzanne Basalla, U.S.-Japan Council

Kenyon Mayeda, TDW+Co

Aki Marceau, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation

AFTERNOON BREAK (Opus Gallery)

4:30 – 5:45PM SESSION 6

“Communicate Like a Pro: Effective Communication and Self-

Presentation”

SPEAKER: Kuriko Hasegawa Wong, Fleishman Hillard

3

6:30 – 8:00PM Cross-Cultural Networking Reception

The Meadows Museum, Southern Methodist University

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

Tetsuro Amano, Consul General of Japan in Houston

8:00PM Dessert (For students only)

The Highland Dallas

SUNDAY, APRIL 10TH

8:30 – 9:30AM Breakfast (Opus 2)

9:30 – 10:45AM SESSION 7 (Opus 1)

“Responses to the Great East Japan Earthquake: Operation

TOMODACHI and the TOMODACHI Initiative”

Suzanne Basalla, U.S.-Japan Council*

Irene Hirano Inouye, President, U.S. – Japan Council

Admiral Patrick M. Walsh, former Commander of the Pacific Fleet,

U.S. Navy (Ret.)

(*) Indicates session moderator

10:45 – 12:00PM SESSION 8

“Leadership Exploration and Development Workshop”

SPEAKER: Dr. Bill Tsutsui, Hendrix College

12:00 – 1:30PM CLOSING LUNCH (Opus 2)

“Where do I fit in the U.S.-Japan Relationship? Conference Reflection &

Wrap-Up”

SPEAKER: Dr. Mya Fisher, U.S.-Japan Council

2:00PM Conference concludes. Students depart to return to school.

2:30PM Shuttle to the airport departs hotel.

4

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

SESSION 1: “An Overview of the US-Japan relationship (past, present, future)”

This session is designed to give participants an overview of the U.S.-Japan relationship.

Ambassador of the United States to Japan Tom Schieffer will offer perspectives on the key areas of

the U.S.-Japan relationship then discuss the current state of the relationship and discuss areas of

challenge and opportunities for growth moving forward.

SESSION 2: “Japanese investments, cultural imports and Texas communities”

This session will explore how Japanese cultural imports and economic investments in different

sectors are transforming communities across Texas. Speakers will represent a broad spectrum of

sectors including transportation, technology, and food. Topics will focus on the motivations and

considerations of companies that partner with Japan on development projects in areas such as high

speed rail. How do cultural imports like Japanese cuisine shape attitudes about Japan, Japanese

culture in these communities? And what have been the benefits, successes and challenges of moving

large Japanese companies into different parts of the United States? What are their impacts in the

present and what are the implication of these projects and others like them for the future, here in the

South?

LUNCH: “Japanese-Americans in Texas and Arkansas: History and Legacy”

The featured lunch speaker will highlight the history of Japanese-Americans in the United States,

particularly focusing on their treatment during World War II. The goal is for the students to learn

broadly about Japanese-Americans as a U.S. ethnic community, and their contributions to the

American war efforts (e.g. the 442nd Infantry Regiment). In particular, students will learn about the

internment of Japanese-Americans by the government and how those experiences have shaped the

lives and prospects of JAs in 21st century America.

SESSION 4: “Conversation with Young Professionals - How they learned the hard way”

College doesn't prepare you for everything. Learn from our mistakes, observations, and

collective insight we've gained over the years working for large corporations so that you can

differentiate yourself from your peers and succeed in the working world.

SESSION 5: “Building Global Careers: Skills, Pathways and Continuing Opportunities”

What does a career with an international focus look like? What skills are transferable to

international careers? What does leadership with an international perspective look like? This session

will bring together professionals from a variety of fields to talk to students about global careers.

Students will be exposed to diverse employment markets, career pathways and to discuss concrete

skills needed to pursue careers in general and internationally oriented ones in particular. The small

5

group discussions will be a chance for the students to discuss with the speakers their ideas for future

careers as well as ask questions about the value of a global perspective or cross-cultural skills in the

speaker's field.

SESSION 6: “Communicate Like a Pro: Effective Communication and Self-Presentation”

From a job interview to an impromptu small talk with a big boss on an elevator, being a savvy

and professional communicator is both beneficial and crucial to your career success in the U.S. and

around the world. Learn from a public relations and public speaking practitioner the critical skills to

express yourself in an effective, concise and articulate manner through a hands-on interactive

session.

SESSION 7: “Responses to the Great East Japan Earthquake – Operation

TOMODACHI and the TOMODACHI Initiative”

In this session, U.S. Navy Admiral (Ret.) Admiral Pat Walsh will share his experience as the

military commander in charge of all U.S. military support to Japan during the triple disaster of

March 11, 2011. He will discuss Operation Tomodachi in the broader context of U.S.-Japan defense

and security relations, and provide his on the ground perspective of events in the crucial days in the

wake of the disaster. U.S.-Japan Council President Irene Hirano Inouye will share how her

organization partnered with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to create a public-private partnership to

provide more sustained recovery for Tohoku through investing in the next generation. She will also

talk about how the TOMODACHI Initiative has broadened its scope to address U.S.-Japan relations

beyond the Tohoku region as well.

SESSION 8: “Leadership Workshop”

In this session, students will be encouraged to reflect on their own leadership qualities and skills.

The speaker will discuss definitions of leadership, how it operates and is meaningful in the

professional world. Students will think about the type of leader they want to be in their future

profession/field as well as the ways they can exemplify and enact leadership now.

CONFERENCE REFLECTION & WRAP-UP: “Where do I fit in the U.S.-Japan Relationship?”

This facilitated discussion will give students an opportunity to reflect on the conference and how

they can apply what they’ve learned during the conference to their personal and professional lives.

Students can share the ways they intend to support the U.S.-Japan relationship in the future. It will

also be an opportunity for students to share with one another additional international exchange,

professional development or U.S.-Japan opportunities that may be of interest to their peers.

6

SPEAKER PROFILES

The Honorable Tetsuro AMANO Consul General, Consulate General of Japan in Houston Consul General Amano, has had a successful and long career of civil service for the

Government of Japan. He graduated from the University of Tokyo with a degree in Liberal

Arts in 1980. He then spent some time at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. In

2000, he had his first posting as Consul and then Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong.

He then went on to serve as Counselor at Japanese Embassies in Norway, Iraq, Myanmar,

and Australia. In 2008, he had the unique distinction of being the Director for Japanese

National Overseas Safety Division at the Consular Affairs Bureau. Prior to being located in Houston, Consul-

General Amano served as Consul-General of Japan in Philippines. Since arriving in Texas, Consul-General Amano

has been working hard to advance the relationship between the Southern community in the United States and Japan.

Suzanne BASALLA Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, U.S.-Japan Council Suzanne Basalla serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S.-

Japan Council. From March 2010-September 2012, Suzanne served as Senior Advisor to

Ambassador Roos at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. In that capacity, she supported the

Ambassador on the full portfolio of security, economic, political and cultural issues in the

U.S.-Japan relationship. She has been involved in the creation and development of the

TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership established between the U.S. Embassy

and the U.S.-Japan Council. Previous to her Embassy assignment, she was Director for Japan

in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She served 13 years as an officer in the United States Navy. Her

assignments included service on the staff of Commander, Seventh Fleet on board the USS BLUE RIDGE based in

Yokosuka, Japan. In 2008, she received the inaugural Ryozo Kato Award for service to the U.S.-Japan Alliance.

Donna COLE

President and CEO, Cole Chemical & Distributing, Inc. Donna Fujimoto Cole founded the company in 1980, at the age of 27 with $5000, divorced,

with a four year old daughter. After working for Goldking Chemical for four years and

owning 3 percent of the company, the partners started del Rey Chemical International where

Ms. Cole was named VP for Sales and a 26 percent owner. Subsequently DuPont, Exxon,

Monsanto and Shell encouraged Donna to start her own business because they appreciated

the responsiveness, honesty, market intelligence and sourcing in short supply. Ms. Cole has

experience with start ups, joint ventures, acquisitions and divestures in the chemical

manufacturing, distribution, warehousing and packaging areas. Cole Chemical's revenues are in excess of $80

million supplying chemicals, synthetic lubricants, fuels and specialty chemicals with supply chain management

services to the aerospace, automotive, refineries, petrochemical, specialty chemical plants, personal care, and electric

utility industries. In 2009, Houston Woman Magazine named Donna one of Houston's 50 most influential women.

She has served on many national, regional, advisory boards and currently serves on the Center for Asian Pacific

American Women, Advisory board for University of St. Thomas, Rice University’s Chao Center for Asian Students,

and the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council Board. She is a Co-Founder of Pantheon of Women, a

production company telling stories of strong women in film and television to change the way men treat and perceive

women and how young girls see themselves.

7

Rebecca COWLE Outreach Manager, Texas Central Rail Rebecca Cowle, a proud alum of Texas A&M University, is the Outreach Manager for Texas

Central. She brings her experience in non-profit fundraising and international infrastructural

development to assist in liaising with local stakeholders and elected officials in both North

Texas and along the Dallas-Houston corridor. She also actively participates in the

development of outreach strategies to develop and cultivate initiatives that support efforts to

bring high-speed rail to Texas. Previously, she has worked for the World Affairs Council of

Dallas/Ft Worth as well as for the Global Cold Chain Alliance’s World Food Logistics

Organization’s International Programs team in Washington DC.

Glen GONDO

Gondo Company Incorporated Mr. Glen Gondo is an established Houston businessman with a record of community service.

Throughout his career he has served an impressive list of corporate clientele and stayed

engaged in the civic leadership of dozens of organizations. Mr. Gondo has served on

numerous board including the Asia Society, Greater Houston Partnership, Greater Houston

Convention and Visitors Bureau, Asian Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and the World

Trade Organization. Additionally, he served as Chairman of the Mayor’s International Affairs

& Development Council. In 2013 Glen was awarded the Spring Imperial Decoration of the

Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette medal by the Japanese government for his outstanding commitment

to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. Mr. Gondo has been married for more than

40 years to his wife, Kathleen, and has a son, Robert.

Dana Fujiko HEATHERTON Marketing Coordinator, Shell Oil Dana Fujiko Heatherton works for Shell Oil in Houston managing the brand programs and

marketing analytics for Shell and Unocal 76 gas retailers on the east coast. For the past 9

years Dana worked in Finance and Oil Trading in Los Angeles and Houston. In her spare

time she is actively involved with the U.S.-Japan Council and recently helped lead the

Council’s Regional Women’s Leadership Networking Series in Houston. Last year she

participated in the TOMODACHI-Mitsui Leadership Program which sent her to Tokyo and

Sendai. Dana is a graduate of UCLA and majored in American Literature and Culture. She

lives in Houston with her husband and 2 year old son Kazuo.

Irene Hirano INOUYE

President, U.S.-Japan Council Irene Hirano Inouye is President of the U.S.-Japan Council. Through her work at the Council,

she also administers the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership with the U.S.

Embassy in Tokyo that invests in young Japanese and Americans while supporting the

recovery of the Tohoku region. She is the former President and founding CEO of the

Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, a position she held for twenty years.

A recipient of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Public Administration from the University

of Southern California and an honorary doctorate degree from Southern Methodist

University, Ms. Hirano Inouye has extensive experience in non-profit administration, community education and

public affairs with culturally diverse communities nationwide. Ms. Hirano Inouye's professional and community

activities include serving as Trustee and immediate past Chair, Ford Foundation; Trustee and immediate past Chair,

Kresge Foundation; Trustee, Washington Center; and Trustee, Independent Sector. She was married to the late U.S.

Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii.

8

Aki MARCEAU Land Use and Sustainability Manager, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation Aki Marceau is the land use and sustainability manager for the Honolulu Authority for

Rapid Transit (HART), a semi –autonomous agency responsible for the design,

development and operations of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. She is a member of the

2013 U.S.-Japan Council Emerging Leaders and 2014 TOMODACHI Mitsui & Co. Ltd.

Leadership programs. Born in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, and raised in Delaware, Virginia,

and Massachusetts, Ms. Marceau has a keen interest in strengthening ties within the transportation and energy

industries between the United States and Japan. She received a Master of Regional Planning (M.R.P.) from Cornell

University and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Haverford College. In her free time, she enjoys aerial arts and creative

writing.

Kenyon MAYEDA Account Supervisor, TDW+Co Kenyon Mayeda is an Account Supervisor and leads the Los Angeles office for TDW+Co,

specializing in reaching diverse communities through social media, digital, and experiential

marketing tactics. He has worked with fortune 50 brands to execute programs targeting

Asian, Hispanic, and African American audiences across the country. Prior to TDW+Co,

Kenyon worked at Cathay Bank focused on retail banking operations, Community

Reinvestment Act strategy, and leadership development. He attended the University of San

Francisco and has a degree in Business Administration. During his free time, Kenyon is an

avid outdoorsman whether hiking, biking, camping, or climbing.

Javier MORENO

Manager, Corporate Communications, Toyota Motor North America,

Inc. Javier Moreno is manager of corporate communications at Toyota Motor North America,

Inc. in Plano, Texas. He is responsible for developing Toyota’s communications and

external affairs strategies as the company prepares to establish a new North America

headquarters in North Texas. He also provides strategic direction and support to the

communications team at Toyota’s Latin America & Caribbean region headquartered in São

Paulo, Brazil. Since joining Toyota in 2005, Moreno has held various positions in marketing, research, government

affairs media and community relations at Toyota’s affiliates in California, Kentucky and New York. In December

2013, PRNews named Moreno to its annual list of 30 under 30 People to Watch. Moreno was born in San Juan,

Puerto Rico and currently resides in Dallas, Texas.

Miki SANKARY

Sustainability Consultant, Goby, LLC Miki Sankary is a Sustainability Consultant at Goby Inc., a green building tech firm based in

Chicago. Miki has delivered various building sustainability initiatives such as LEED for

Existing Building Certifications. She founded The Generation Green (GenG) Project, a non-

profit initiative to inspire students to explore careers in sustainability. She finds innovative

ways to share sustainable best management practices locally and abroad. Miki currently

serves as a Board Representative to her local U.S. Green Building Council - Illinois Chapter,

and was awarded by the Chicago Scholars Foundation as one of the “35 Under 35” young professionals impacting

the Chicagoland community. She received her B.A. in Political Economy and Conservation Resources from the

University of California, Berkeley. Miki was chosen for U.S. Japan Council’s Emerging Leadership Delegation this

past year and now serves as a Midwest Representative on the Membership Committee for the USJC.

9

Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER

Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan

J. Thomas Schieffer is the founder and CEO of Envoy International LLC, a consulting firm

that provides a wide range of advice to companies with international interests. He served as

U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 2005-2009 and Ambassador to Australia from 2001-2005.

Prior to his diplomatic service Ambassador Schieffer was an investor in the partnership that

bought the Texas Rangers Baseball Club in 1989. He oversaw the building of the Club’s

new home, The Ballpark in Arlington, and served as President of the franchise from 1991-

1999. Following his diplomatic service, Ambassador Schieffer was presented with the Order

of Australia by the Governor General of Australia in 2006 and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun by

the Emperor of Japan in 2013. He was also decorated by six agencies and departments of the United States

government for his service. Ambassador Schieffer attended the University of Texas, where he earned a B.A. in

government, an M.A. in international relations, and studied law. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1979.

Dr. Bill TSUTSUI

President, Hendrix College William M. (Bill) Tsutsui is president and professor of history at Hendrix College located

in Conway, Arkansas. He previously served as dean of Dedman College of Humanities and

Sciences at Southern Methodist University from 2010 to 2014. He holds degrees from

Harvard, Oxford, and Princeton universities. Prior to joining SMU, Tsutsui spent seventeen

years at the University of Kansas, where he served as Acting Director of KU’s Center for

East Asian Studies, Chair of the Department of History, founding Executive Director of the

Confucius Institute at the University of Kansas, and Associate Dean for International Studies in the College of

Liberal Arts & Sciences. An award-winning classroom teacher, Tsutsui is the author or editor of eight books,

including Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of Monsters and Japanese Popular Culture and

Globalization. He has received Fulbright, ACLS, and Marshall fellowships, and was awarded the inaugural Bridges

to Friendship Award of the Japan America Society of Greater Austin in 2015.

Takeshi WAKITA

President, Daiwa House Texas Inc. Mr. Wakita began his career with Daiwa House as a sales advisor for the single family home

department in Japan. In 2004 Mr. Wakita began working in real estate development as an

appraiser, performing property evaluations and successfully completing the purchase and

sale of commercial properties throughout Japan. In 2011, he was appointed President of

Daiwa House California, where he provided leadership supervising the

acquisition, development and asset management of more than $500 million worth of

properties throughout the US. He also oversees the development of new business lines for Daiwa House Texas

Inc., including single family home building and logistics properties. He graduated from Doshisha University in

Kyoto with a Bachelor of Law degree.

10

Admiral Patrick M. WALSH

Former Commander of the Pacific Fleet, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Admiral Walsh, a Dallas native, retired from the Navy in 2012 after serving as the 59th

Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, where he commanded the largest fleet in the

world. While in the armed forces, Admiral Walsh held consecutive assignments as one of the

highest-ranking officers in the U.S. Navy from 2007-2012. Admiral Walsh commanded the

Joint Support Force, Operation TOMODACHI, in response to the Great East Japan

Earthquake, tsunami and radiological crisis. He received the ‘Grand Cordon- Order of the

Rising Sun’ form the government of Japan. After retiring from the Navy, he joined Academic Partnerships as the

President of Strategic Programs, where he worked with servicemen and women who want to advance their higher

education goals from public universities, with online degree programs designed to fit the requirements of a dynamic,

professional career. In 2014, he joined iSIGHT Partners, a Dallas-based cyber security company that is a global

leader in cyber intelligence and security. Additionally, he is the General Manager for ThreatSPACE that provides

graduate level cyber training opportunities for commercial industry and government agencies. He is a 1977 graduate

of the U.S. Naval Academy, and holds Master of Arts and Doctorate degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and

Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Kuriko Hasegawa WONG

Vice President, FleishmanHillard Based in Houston, Kuriko Hasegawa Wong is Vice President at FleishmanHillard, an

international public relations agency, where she provides communications counsel to clients

in the United States and Japan. Her clients include AT&T, Direct Energy and Carnival

Cruise Lines. She enjoys occasional international projects like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,

and spent two months at FleishmanHillard's APAC headquarters in Hong Kong where she

secured new business with Infiniti. After growing up in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka prefecture,

she moved to the United States at age 16 as a high school exchange student in upstate New York. Upon returning to

Japan and completing high school, she became a Texan, attending the University of Houston and later establishing

her communications career in the Lone Star State. She is also a dedicated first-kyu aikido-ka and President of

Pensadores de Houston, a Spanish-speaking Toastmasters club, a public speaking professional organization.

11

STUDENT DELEGATE PROFILES

Shawn Afshar

University of North Texas Biology, Chemistry,

Secondary Ed. and Japanese

Shawn is a senior at the

University of North Texas

(UNT) in Denton. Majoring in

biology with minors in

chemistry, secondary education, and Japanese, Shawn is

an aspiring teacher. As a participant in the Teach North

Texas program at UNT, upon graduation he will be

certified to teach biology for grades 7 through 12 at any

high school in Texas. He has formally studied Japanese

language for more than two years, and has recently

shifted focus towards working with Japanese people and

their language. In the future, he hopes to work as an

assistant language teacher for the Japan Exchange and

Teaching Program (JET) before returning to UNT to

study linguistics, with a focus on ESL.

Shawn enjoys his time exchanging

language and culture with the Japanese

students studying English at UNT’s

Intensive English Learning Institute.

Cindy Arellano

University of Texas at

Arlington Biology and Education

Cindy is a graduating senior

at studying biology at the

University of Texas at

Arlington. She is also

pursuing a teaching certification in Science 7-12 and is

spending this semester student teaching to gain

experience. On campus she is involved in many

multicultural organizations including the Japanese

Culture Society of which she is the president. Cindy has

always taken an interest in learning different languages

and cultures, with a particular interest in Japanese

culture from a young age. UTA does not offer Japanese

language classes, but many are students interested in the

culture, and therefore the club has been able to grow

over the years. She has been trying to learn Japanese on

her own for many years now. At UTA

even though she is a biology major

she has also studied other languages

included Korean for two years, and

Mandarin Chinese for one.

Alexandra Buchanan Richland Community

College

Global Business &

Japanese

Alexandra is currently a

first year college student

from Dallas, Texas. Her

dream is to be an English teacher in Japan and to

reform the current English curriculum in Japanese

schools for higher fluency. She has been to Japan two

times and is looking forward to going back. In her free

time, she enjoys swimming, playing double bass, and

stargazing. Her strongest passion

besides teaching English is baking

bread and pastries but she does not

enjoy eating them due to her dislike of

milk.

Heather Cook

University of Texas at

Austin Communication Sciences

and Disorders and Japanese

Heather’s interest in Japan

began when a Japanese

family from JAXA moved

next door to her family in Houston. In the future, she

hopes to obtain a master’s degree to become a speech-

language pathologist that works with bilingual children.

After graduation this spring, she plans to spend a gap

year abroad. Heather spent the past two summers in

Tokyo, studying abroad then returning as an intern and

staff member for her program. Her

career goal is to facilitate exchange and

research between the two national

organizations for speech-language

pathology in Japan and America.

12

Miyu Fujita

Arkansas Tech University

Hospitality Management

Miyu is from the city of

Nagoya, located in the

middle part of Japan.

Growing up, she lived very

close to the beach and

always misses it. She is an international student

pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at Arkansas Tech

University, which is in the small town of Russellville.

This year she is a junior studying Hospitality

Management. She is planning to get a job in the hotel

industry after graduation. She enjoys watching movies

and dramas during her free time. Miyu is a student of

martial arts, having trained in kendo for 12 years. At

Arkansas Tech University she works as a Japanese

tutor, helping students learn

Japanese. At school she is also

President of the Japanese Student

Association.

Zach (John) Gazzaway

Baylor University

Linguistics, Japanese, &

International Studies

Zach is a sophomore at

Baylor University where he

is majoring in Linguistics,

while minoring in Japanese

and International Studies. He is an active member of

both the Japanese Honor Society and Japanese Student

Association. His interest in U.S.-Japan relations

derives from his background growing up in a military

family and experience studying abroad. Growing up,

he has lived in various places including – Japan,

Hawaii, D.C., California, Wyoming, Massachusetts,

and Colorado. Living in these places inspired Zach to

broaden his understanding of multiculturalism.

Studying abroad in Japan, Zach assisted the residents

of Minamisanriku, who were still in recovery from the

Great East Japan Earthquake and

tsunami. After seeing the effects of

his group’s volunteer work, Zach was

further motivated to study the

influence of U.S.-Japan relations on a

larger scale.

Yusuke Horita

University of North Texas

English and Education

Yusuke is originally from

Osaka, Japan. He is an

English major at the

University of North Texas

as an international student from Kansai Gaidai

University. His hobbies are playing the piano and

tennis. With a minor in education, Yusuke wants to

be an English teacher in Japan after graduation.

When he was a school child, he lived in Malaysia

for about 5 years where he also studied English. He

learned that English is not only the language used

all over the world but also a tool to

communicate with many people. He

wants to tell his future students a

great deal about the foreign

countries he has been to.

Holly Hunt

Baylor University

International Studies and

Japanese

Holly is a senior at Baylor

University, majoring in

International Studies with a

minor in Japanese.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she first

went to Japan to study abroad when she was fifteen,

living with a host family for a year in Niigata. In

order to more deeply understand Japanese culture,

she returned to Japan a second time as college

sophomore to study at Hosei University. Last

summer, she interned at Keio Academy of New

York and the International Social

Service of Japan. Her career goals

include getting a Masters in public

administration, and eventually

working for the State Department or

a NPO related to Japan.

13

Yuki KUMAMOTO

University of North Texas

Piano Performance

Yuki is currently working

towards a Doctorate of

Musical Arts degree in piano

performance. She completed

her Master of Music at Stephen F. Austin State

University and a Bachelor of Music at Musashino

Musicae Academia in Tokyo. She has performed

internationally in countries including the United

States, Japan and Germany and has also appeared as a

soloist with orchestras. Yuki believes that music

education takes an important role to enrich lives, and

she has been sharing the idea with youth of the next

generation. She also gives piano lessons to pass old

masters’ artistries and philosophies

onto her many students. Recently,

she was invited by the city of Koga,

Japan to give a master class for

young students by the city of

Tsuyazaki, Japan.

Hsin-Yen (Stephen) LIU

University of Texas at Austin

International Political

Economy and Asian Studies

Hsin-Yen (Stephen) is a senior

studying IRG: International

Political Economy with a minor

in Asian Studies. He immigrated to the U.S. from

Taiwan at a young age. As a child, he harbored an

interest in Japan due to Taiwan’s historical relationship

and close ties with Japan. His major reflects his desire

to link all three of these countries together, and he has

taken many classes on Japanese language, East Asian

cultures, and International Economics, as well as

studying abroad in Japan for a year. Upon graduation,

he hopes to study intellectual property law in order to

deepen trade ties between East Asia

and the United States. He is always

eager to form lasting relationships

with peers across the Pacific, and

looks forward to meeting everyone at

the conference!

Loren MANCHA

University of Texas at San

Antonio

English Loren love for Japan can be

traced back to 2005 when her

father, a U.S. Marine relocated

to Iwakuni, Japan with her

family for two years. She was strongly influenced by the

teachers on the base who were a part of the Department

of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). The teachers

she met inspired connections through education by

bridging the gap between American and non-American

students. It was an amazing experience that allowed her

to see that communication is more than words. She is

majoring in English and wants to teach for the DoDEA

after graduation. Her goal is to pass

on what she has learned and one day

incorporate culture into academic

studies in order to encourage

communication among American and

non-American students alike on one

of these military bases.

Gabrielle MARGOCS

Austin College

Media Studies, East Asian

Language and Culture

Gabrielle (Gaby) is a senior

majoring in Media Studies and

minoring in East Asian

Language and Culture – Japanese. Throughout her

college career, she has traveled to Japan twice. The

most recent time being for a semester in Tokyo where

she studied language and culture, lived with a host

family, and interned at a small publishing company.

Passionate about the positive influential power and

educational value media can have across the world;

Gaby is interested in future work within the production

and distribution of global media. Her hobbies include

reading, cooking, and going to

karaoke with friends. She looks

forward to meeting proactive

colleagues and leaders within the

U.S.-Japan relations field.

14

Ayaka MIMORI

University of Central

Arkansas

Finance

Ayaka was born in Aichi

prefecture and spent her

childhood years growing up

in Saitama. After graduating from high school, she

decided that she wanted to pursue her

undergraduate degree in the United States. She is

majoring in Finance and is expected to graduate in

December 2017. After graduation, she plans to

pursue an MBA to eventually become a Chartered

Financial Analyst. She is looking

forward to meeting the other

students, leaders, expanding her

networks, and broadening her point

of view at the conference.

Kosuke MORIKAWA

University of Arkansas

International Studies

Kosuke is a senior expected to

receive his B.A. in

International Studies this

fall. He is originally from

Tokyo, where he studied at Waseda University until he

transferred Arkansas. At Waseda, he was engaged in

English Parliamentary Debating and received several

awards for his achievements. In Arkansas, he is a

member of the Honors College Ambassadors and

participates in various volunteer activities, such as

leading the Razorback Food Recovery Team. Last

summer, he received scholarships to

study in Besançon, France for a

month, and also took part in a Service

Learning Program in Costa Rica. His

hobbies are traveling, watching sports,

and reading books.

Bao NGUYEN

University of Texas at

Arlington

Physics and Japanese

Bao is originally from

Vietnam. He is a senior

majoring in Finance. He

serves as the Event Coordinator for UTA’s Japanese

Culture Society, a student-driven organization focused

on introducing and promoting different aspects of

Japanese culture through a combination of social and

cultural events. His interest in Japan came from

getting to know a lot of Japanese exchange students

during the first year he spent at another university.

The friendships established from that time encouraged

and allowed him to visit Japan on a short vacation in

2014, which was an eye-opening

experience. The trip deepened his

interest in Japan and its culture even

further, which has become his

motivation to one day return for a

longer time.

Taylor NICHOLAS

University of Texas at San

Antonio

Psychology and Biology

(Pre-Med)

Taylor is pre-med working

on her degree in psychology

with a minor in biology. As an aspiring medical

student, she has been a TA for a medical English

program working with physicians from Mexico, and

has worked in a neurobehavioral research lab at the

U.T. Health Science Center. She has studied

Japanese for two years and hopes to do research in

Japan before medical school. Taylor volunteers with

San Antonio Youth Literacy, an NPO dedicated to

promoting childhood literacy, as

well as with local animal shelters.

When Taylor is not studying for her

upcoming MCAT exam she enjoys

yoga, reading, and of course,

practicing Japanese.

15

Sean NIXON

Baylor University

Finance and Japanese

Sean is a senior from Boise,

Idaho currently attending

Baylor University in Waco,

Texas. He is studying Finance

and minoring in Japanese. He

is part of the Baylor Business Fellows honors business

curriculum. He has studied Japanese for two and a half

years, including a year at Hosei University in Tokyo,

Japan. During that year, he passed the Japanese-

Language Proficiency Test N1 exam. Currently, Sean

serves as president of the Baylor chapter of the

National Japanese Honor Society, as well as historian

for the Baylor Japanese Student Association. In

addition, he works as a grader for the

Japanese program at Baylor. After

graduating this coming May, Sean

will begin work this summer as a

technology consultant at Credera in

the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Elaina OLMO

University of Texas at Austin

Psychology, Japanese, and East

Asia Studies

Elaina is a graduating senior

majoring in Psychology,

Japanese, and East Asia Studies.

In the spring of 2015 she had the

privilege of studying abroad at Sophia University in

Tokyo, Japan for a semester, fully immersing herself

in the language and culture. She is currently writing

an undergraduate honors thesis about depictions of

mental health in Japanese society. She is hoping to

become an English teacher in Japan after she

graduates through one of the many prestigious

teaching exchange programs

offered in Japan. Eventually, she

wants to attend graduate school for

Psychology in Japan, and then enter

the psychiatry or social work field

in the country.

Fuuka OMOTE

St. Edwards University

Business Administration

and Finance

Fuuka is originally from

Tokyo, Japan and is student at

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific

University. Currently, she is an

international student as part of a two year Duel Degree

program. She never stops looking for opportunities to

go to new places and meet people, explore different

cultures and learn different perspectives. Her major is

Business Administration and she is deciding to focus

deeply on Finance at this moment. She wants to

experience internships in the United States and apply

working skills she learned in Japan.

She never sticks to one perspective or

idea and always tries to look at things

differently. She also enjoys working

in a diverse society as it gives her

opportunities to cooperate with

different people.

Ai OZEKI

Arkansas Tech University

Broadcast Journalism

Ai originally from Kanagawa,

Japan is a junior, majoring in

Broadcast Journalism. She

came to Arkansas after

graduating from a junior

college in Japan. She is vice president and secretary of

the Japanese Student Association (JSA), a member of

the International Student Organization and a member of

Alpha Chi National College Honor Society. As a board

member of JSA, she has been in charge of planning and

conducting several cultural events in order to introduce

Japanese culture to people in the Tech community. She

played basketball for 10 years

throughout her school years in Japan

and was sub manager for the team. She

likes to exercise daily at gym. After

graduation, she plans to pursue her

career as a writer for a media company

and travel the world.

16

Katherine REVELS

University of Texas at

Austin

Japanese Language and

Culture

Hailing from Houston, TX,

Katherine developed her

passion for Japan after attending the annual Japan

Festival every year as a child. Currently a sophomore,

Japanese major with a significant interest in journalism

and five years of language study under her belt, she

has spent the last few years participating in Japan-

related art and speech competitions on top of serving

as president of her high school's National Japanese

Honor Society. In the summer of 2013 she was chosen

as a participant in the KAKEHASHI Project, traveling

as a youth ambassador to Japan. She plans to return to

Japan in the 2017-18 school year for study abroad in

both Kyoto and Tokyo. Katherine

wants to become a Broadcast News

Correspondent for East Asia, while

her personal goals lie in language

acquisition, primarily Japanese and

Mandarin Chinese.

Makoto SAKAI

University of North Texas

Education

Makoto is from Japan and

currently in Texas for the

academic year studying as an

exchange student from Kansai

Gaidai University. He is majoring in education, and he

wants to be an English teacher in Japan. He believes

that Japanese society needs people who are

globalized so they can work in the world. He wants

to teach Japanese students not only English but also

American culture and society. Moreover, with the

Olympics coming to Japan in 2020. It will be

essential for Japanese to know English and foreign

culture so his time in the U.S. is an opportunity for

him to learn more about both. He would like to

contribute to this conference as a

representative who knows Japanese

culture and studies American culture.

He is also interested in learning more

about American perspectives on

Japan.

Arianna SANTIAGO

Southern Methodist University

Electrical Engineering

Arianna is a third-year electrical

engineering major with a passion

for global creative design. She

has a background in electronics, data analytics, and art.

Last summer she interned at Universal Studios in

Orlando, Florida. There she worked with the Audio

Visual department designing audio experiences for

ride vehicles and where projects often discussed

Universal’s sister park located in Osaka, Japan

She has also interned at AT&T and worked with

international students on English conversation and

writing Her goal is to make a

difference designing for Japanese and

U.S. markets.

Yumi SATO

Texas Christian University

Communication Studies

Yumi spent her whole life in

Japan before coming to Texas

Christian University for one year

as an international student,

majoring in Communication Studies. Her mother is from

Little Rock, Arkansas and her father is from Tokyo,

Japan. In Japan, she attends Aoyama Gakuin University,

and majors in American and British literature. She will

graduate in March 2018. In Japan, she worked at Saint

Germain Bakery where she did accounting, sales and

producing baked goods. She also worked at Amano

Preparatory School, tutoring middle

school students in English and

mathematics. Her duties included

explaining concepts, coaching

academics and correcting work of

middle school students.

17

Reynu SHIRALI

University of Texas at

Dallas

Electrical Engineering

Reynu is a freshman studying

Electrical Engineering. She’s

had an interest in medicine

from a young age that grew exponentially into a

passion for biotechnology. The progression of

medicine and technology go hand in hand, and

facilitating international collaboration will increase the

monetary and resource efficiency of research. Reynu

aspires to facilitate collaboration between Japan and

the United States. Both countries are leaders in

biotechnology and have the potential to collaborate in

many areas, such as genomics and

biomaterials. She is excited to make

connections with people at the

conference who have likeminded

visions, and can assist in turning her

vision of her future into a reality

Hana SUMIYA

University of North Texas

Business Administration in

Marketing

Hana has been interested in

different cultures since she was

little. When she was 13 years

old, she applied for a 2-week homestay program in

Australia and that experience opened her up to the world.

She graduated from Waseda University, with a B.A. in

Ethics in 2013. As an undergraduate, she discovered a

passion and fascination with ethics. After graduating, she

moved to Texas to study human behavior from a

business standpoint because she thinks there are diverse

values, beliefs, and behaviors in the

United States. Currently, she is

working on a Master’s of Business

Administration in Marketing. She also

works at the Sponsored Student Office

at the university to help international

student’s life on campus.

Rika TAKARA

Arkansas Tech University

Mechanical Engineering

Rika was born in Chiba,

Japan and is a student at

Takushoku University

majoring in Mechanical

Engineering on a full

scholarship. She has been studying Mechanical

Engineering at Arkansas Tech University as an

exchange student since the summer of 2014. She is

working on campus as a tutor and student assistant for

the English Language Institute. Her hobbies are

playing the piano and doing tea ceremony. She likes

the outdoors, often hiking, fishing, and playing sports.

Rika loves to do these activities in Arkansas since

there is a lot of nature and state parks.

Her interest is in new mechanical and

aerospace technology. Upon her

return to Japan, she is going to do her

final project with JAXA.

Sotoku TOMOTSUGU

University of Central Arkansas

Business Administration

Born and raised in Japan, Sotoku

grew up surrounded by the

traditional atmosphere of Uji,

Kyoto. He played soccer

throughout elementary and middle

school. As a student attending a local commercial high

school, he learned English and the basics of business,

sparking an interest in foreign languages and cultures

and business. After graduating from high school, he

decided to pursue his bachelor’s degree in the United

States as an international student in Arkansas. He is now

majoring in Business Administration. Sotoku wants to

encourage and help Japanese industries prosper in the

South and share Japanese culture with

Americans. At the conference he wants

to converse with the leaders and

American students in order to learn

more about American culture,

American people’s real opinion about

Japan, and their different perspectives.

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Sai WATANABE

Arkansas Tech University

Journalism

Sai is a Global Media Studies

major from Komazawa

University studying as an

exchange student in Arkansas

where she is taking classed in

Journalism. She loves all kind of creative activities

like writing, reading, drawing, and crafting; and has

been doing them since she was a child. Her enthusiasm

towards creative activities is what led to her wanting to

be a journalist. She wants to write in a way that will

help people to building relationships as well as explain

why they are important. Sai is inspired to join this

TOMODACHI program because of

volunteer experiences in Tohoku, the

region of her mother’s hometown.

She also wants to strengthen her

communication skills, and be a part

of a relationship bridge between

Japan and America.

Yuko YAMAOKA

Missouri Western State

University

English

Yuko has been in the U.S. for

almost one year as an exchange

student from Ritsumeikan

University. She has played

many sports throughout her life including soccer,

softball, gymnastics, and swimming. She also enjoys

dance. Most of her life is with sports. She would like to

work with a sports team in the future. Yuko believes

sports have the power to strengthen and build better

relations around the world. Two years ago, she went to

California to study sports marketing and management for

two weeks and realized that sports are a

large part of life for Americans. From

that time, she became interested in the

relationship between American sports

and American’s life, so she decided to

come to the United States.

19

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

HOTEL MAP

All conference sessions and meals will take place in either the Opus I or Opus II rooms

(located on the 2nd floor) unless otherwise noted on the schedule.

FRIDAY NIGHT (April 8th) DINNER VENUES

Reservation

Time Restaurant Name Address Transportation Type

1. 7:00PM Urban Taco 5331 East Mockingbird Lane

Suite 125

Dallas, TX 75206

On Foot

(2min walk from hotel)

2. 7:00PM Rockfish Grill 5331 E Mockingbird Ln #160 ·

(214) 823-8444 On Foot

(2min walk from hotel)

3. 7:15PM Grub Burger Barn 4925 Greenville Ave #150,

Dallas, TX 75206

(972) 370-3636 Uber

4. 7:15PM Peggy Sue BBQ 6600 Snider Plaza,

Dallas, TX 75205

(214) 987-9188 Uber

20

April 6, 2016

The 2nd TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference:

Program Investing in the Next Generation of U.S.-Japan Leaders To Be Launched

Tokyo, Japan — From April 8 to 10, 2016, the TOMODACHI Initiative, which invests in the next generation

of leaders in the U.S. and Japan, and Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. (hereafter “Daiwa House”) will hold the

second TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas under the theme “U.S.-

Japan Relations in the South: Transforming Communities for the Future.” Thirty-four students attending a

college or university in Texas and Arkansas in the United States—including Japanese exchange students—

were selected to participate in this conference.

The students who will participate in the conference were chosen through a rigorous selection process and

have personal, academic and/or professional interests in U.S.-Japan relations. Following the first conference

that was held in Silicon Valley, California in April 2015, this second conference will feature former U.S.

Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer as the keynote speaker. He will share his experience as ambassador

and his perspectives on the relationship between the U.S. and Japan in the past, present and future.

Furthermore, through panel discussions, the students will learn about establishing a global career, the history

and local community in Texas and Arkansas, and further deepen their understanding about the U.S.-Japan

relationship. Through these discussions, the students will obtain the skills to become forward-thinking, active

next-generation leaders, while learning from and networking with young professionals and industry leaders in

the community.

As part of their corporate social responsibility activities, Daiwa House became a Strategic Partner of the

TOMODACHI Initiative (hereafter “TOMODACHI”), a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan

Council and the U.S. Embassy in Japan that invests in the next generation of Japanese and American

leaders. This is the second of a series of student leadership conferences to be offered by Daiwa House and

TOMODACHI.

About the 2nd TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference

Dates: April 8-10, 2016

Participants: 34 university students from the states of Texas and Arkansas (includes 17 Japanese exchange

students)

Content: The conference will inspire students interested in U.S.-Japan relations to think about “U.S.-Japan

Relations in the South: Transforming Communities for the Future.” Students will build cross-cultural

networking skills and explore leadership values, learn about career opportunities from leaders in a variety of

sectors, and meet like-minded peers from across Texas and Arkansas.

21

Eligibility: University students who demonstrate interest and passion for global issues, particularly

concerning the U.S.-Japan relationship, and have an interest in networking with other professionals and

students for professional development.

Website: http://usjapantomodachi.org/programs-activities/tomodachi-student-leadership-conference-

supported-by-daiwa-house/

For Inquiries Regarding this Program:

U.S.-Japan Council TOMODACHI Initiative Press Office Tel: (+81) 3-4510-3400

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. Tokyo Press Office Tel: (+81) 3-5214-2112

About the TOMODACHI Initiative:

The TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S.

Embassy in Tokyo. Born out of support for Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake,

TOMODACHI invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and

cultural exchanges as well as leadership programs. We seek to foster a “TOMODACHI generation” of young

American and Japanese leaders who are committed to and engaged in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations,

appreciate each other’s countries and cultures, and possess the global skills and mindsets needed to contribute

to and thrive in a more cooperative, prosperous, and secure world. Visit us at www.tomodachi.org.

About Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.:

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. was founded in 1955 with a corporate philosophy of contributing to the

“industrialization of construction.” In more than half a century, the Company expanded across a wide range of

operations, including the construction of single-family houses, rental housing, condominiums, commercial

facilities, and general office buildings. Today, with a focus on “co-creating value for individuals,

communities, and people's lifestyles,” the Daiwa House Group is expanding its operations throughout Japan

in a wide array of business fields, from developing “smart towns,” to logistic facilities, medical and elderly

care facilities. The Daiwa House business model is being applied throughout the world, with operations

expanding to Dallas, Chicago, and a suburb of Boston in the United States. For more information on the

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd, visit: www.daiwahouse.co.jp/English.

22

公 益財団法人米日カウンシル－ジャ パン

平成２８年４月１日

日米次世代リーダー育成プログラム

第二回「TOMODACHI大和ハウス学生リーダーシップ会議」を開催

次世代リーダーの育成を目指す、TOMODACHI イニシアチブ*（会長：アイリーン・ヒラ

ノ・イノウエ、以下「TOMODACHI」は、大和ハウス工業株式会社**（社長：大野直竹、以

下「大和ハウス工業」）と、２０１６年４月８日～１０日の３日間、アメリカ合衆国テキサ

ス州ダラスにおいて、「アメリカ南部地域における日米関係：未来のコミュニティーの変革」

をテーマに、現在テキサス州およびアーカンソー州の大学に在籍および留学中の日米の学生

３４名を対象に、次世代リーダー育成・教育プログラム「TOMODACHI 大和ハウス学生リー

ダーシップ会議」を開催します。

参加する学生は、日米関係へ強い関心を寄せる学生で、厳正なる選考を経て選出されまし

た。２０１５年４月にカリフォルニア州シリコンバレーで開催された第一回会議に続く、第

二回目の開催となる本年は、基調講演にトーマス・シーファー前在日本米国大使を招聘し、

在職中の経験談や、日米関係の概要を過去、現在、未来の視点で紐解きながらお話しいただ

きます。また、パネルディスカッションを通じて、グローバルなキャリアの構築や、テキサ

ス州やアーカンソー州の歴史や地域社会への学びや、日米関係への理解をを深めることで、

参加者たちに前向きな変化を起こし、積極的に次世代のリーダーとなるために必要な技能を

身につける機会を提供する他、現地で活躍する若手プロフェッショナルや、各界の有識者と

交流の機会を提供します。

大和ハウス工業は、社会貢献活動の一環として、駐日米国大使館と公益財団法人米日カウ

ンシルが主導する、日米の若者の育成を図る TOMODACHIイニシアチブの趣旨に賛同し、ス

トラテジックパートナーとして協賛しており、本プログラムは２０１５年からシリーズとし

て実施されています。

23

記

「TOMODACHI Daiwa House学生リーダーシップ会議」

日程 ： ２０１６年４月８日から１０日（現地時間）

参加人数 ： テキサス州もしくはアーカンソー州の大学に通う大学生３４名

（うち、現地日本人留学生１７名を含む）

場所 ： 米国テキサス州ダラス ハイランドダラスホテル

内容 ： 日米関係に強い関心をもつ学生を対象に、「アメリカ南部地域にお

ける日米関係：未来のコミュニティーの変革」をテーマに考察し、

学びやキャリア形成について理解を深める機会を提供する他、各界

で活躍するリーダーとの交流機会を設ける。

参加資格： 日米をはじめ、グローバルな視野をもち活躍を目指す大学生を対象

とし、専門家や学生とのネットワーキングおよびキャリア構築に関

心の高い大学生を対象とする。

ウェブサイト： http://usjapantomodachi.org/ja/programs-activities/tomodachi-student-leadership-conference-supported-by-daiwa-house/

【本件に関するお問い合わせ先】

米日カウンシル－ジャパン TOMODACHIイニシアチブ広報担当 Tel: 03-4510-3400

大和ハウス工業株式会社 広報企画室 東京広報グループ Tel: 03-5214-2112

以上

*TOMODACHIイニシアチブについて

TOMODACHI イニシアチブは、東日本大震災後の復興支援から生まれ、教育、文化交流、

リーダーシップといったプログラムを通して、日米における次世代のリーダーの育成を目

的としている公益財団法人 米日カウンシル－ジャパンと東京の米国大使館が主導する官民

パートナーシップです。日米関係の強化に深く関わり、互いの文化や国を理解し、より協

調的で繁栄した安全な世界への貢献と、そうした世界での成功に必要な、世界中で通用す

る技能と国際的な視点を備えた日米の若いリーダーである「TOMODACHI 世代」の育成を

目指しています。

TOMODACHIイニシアチブウェブサイト: http://tomodachi.org/ja/

24

**大和ハウス工業株式会社について

大和ハウス工業は、1955 年に「建築の工業化」を企業理念として創業し、半世紀以上にわ

たり戸建住宅・賃貸住宅・分譲マンション・商業施設・一般建築物等を提供し、幅広い事

業展開を進めてきた住宅総合メーカーです。

現在は「人・街・暮らしの価値共創グループ」として、日本国内ではスマートシティの開

発をはじめ、物流施設や医療・介護施設の建築などにも取り組むとともに、アメリカ国内

においては、ダラス・シカゴ・ボストン近郊などで賃貸住宅事業を展開するなど、日本国

内で培った事業モデルを世界各国で展開し始めています。

大和ハウス工業株式会社 ウェブサイト：http://www.daiwahouse.co.jp/

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS AND SPONSORS

25

About the TOMODACHI Initiative

The TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S.

Embassy in Tokyo. Born out of support for Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake,

TOMODACHI invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and

cultural exchanges as well as leadership programs. We seek to foster a “TOMODACHI generation” of young

American and Japanese leaders who are committed to and engaged in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations,

appreciate each other’s countries and cultures, and possess the global skills and mindsets needed to contribute

to and thrive in a more cooperative, prosperous, and secure world. Visit us at www.tomodachi.org.

The U.S.-Japan Council

The U.S.-Japan Council is a 501(c) 3 non-profit educational organization that contributes to strengthening

U.S.-Japan relations by bringing together diverse leadership, engaging stakeholders and exploring issues that

benefit communities, businesses and government entities on both sides of the Pacific. The Council promotes

people-to-people relations as crucial to a strong U.S.-Japan relationship.

Recognizing the catalytic role that Japanese Americans play in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, the

Council cultivates a national network of Japanese American leaders known as Council Members. The U.S.-

Japan Council collaborates with other organizations and institutions to develop programs that allow Council

Members to engage with their Japanese counterparts and leaders in the United States.

The Council was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Washington, DC with a regional office in Los

Angeles, CA. In 2012, the U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) was created to support the administration of

the TOMODACHI Initiative. The U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) maintains an office in Tokyo, Japan. For more

information, visit www.usjapancouncil.org.

About Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd was founded in 1955 with a corporate philosophy of contributing to the

“industrialization of construction.” In more than half a century, the Company expanded across a wide range of

operations, including the construction of single-family houses, rental housing, condominiums, commercial

facilities, and general office buildings. Today, with a focus on “co-creating value for individuals,

communities, and people's lifestyles,” the Daiwa House Group is expanding its operations throughout Japan

in a wide array of business fields, from developing “smart towns,” to logistic facilities, medical and elderly

care facilities. The Daiwa House business model is being applied throughout the world, with operations

expanding to Dallas, Chicago, and a suburb of Boston in the United States. For more information on the

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd, visit: www.daiwahouse.co.jp/English.

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CONFERENCE STAFF

Mya Fisher

Director of Education, U.S.-Japan Council

Mya Fisher is Director of Education for USJC, working out of the Washington, DC office. Her

responsibilities include educational programs, primarily focusing on the portfolio of educational

exchange programs under the TOMODACHI Initiative. Ms. Fisher brings to the Council more than ten

years of professional international experience, particularly in the field of international education,

managing and implementing international programs and supporting the students who participate in them.

She spent two years as an Assistant Language Teacher in Kawasaki City, Japan as a participant on the Japan Exchange and

Teaching Program. She served 10 years as a consultant to Youth for Understanding and managed a Freeman Asian Foundation

grant, in addition to supporting both domestic and international students, as a study abroad advisor at Beloit College. She has

also worked in in the Congressional Affairs Section at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, DC. Ms. Fisher holds a B.A. from

Williams College, an M.A. in International Education from New York University and a Ph.D. in Sociology, with a Minor in

Globalizing Higher Education, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Michiyo Horita

Director of External Communications Program Manager, TOMODACHI Initiative Michiyo Horita joined the TOMODACHI Initiative in October 2014 as a Program Manager. As Program

Manager, she manages TOMODACHI programs that focus mainly on students from junior high to college

and university levels. She has extensive experience in public relations and program management and has

worked in various fields such as education, IT and medical devices in both the private and public

sectors. Prior to joining the TOMODACHI Initiative, she has worked as Japan Manager of Australia-

Japan Foundation of Australian Embassy in Japan, where she was responsible for various exchange

programs and grant management, in addition to projects in Tohoku after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. She is

committed to utilizing those experiences to support the TOMODACHI Generation.

Kaz Maniwa

Senior Vice President, U.S.-Japan Council (San Francisco)

Kaz Maniwa became Senior Vice President of the U.S.-Japan Council in March 2012 after serving on the

Council’s Board of Directors since the organization’s inception in 2009. He has been active in leadership

training and development programs at USJC and is the primary liason between USJC and the SVJP project.

He has led a number of American delegations to Japan and a number of Japanese delegations to America.

He was previously an attorney-at-law with a private practice that has been serving the San Francisco Bay

area for over thirty-five years. His law practice focused on personal injury, trusts and estates and real

estate matters. Mr. Maniwa plays an active role in Japanese American community affairs, currently serving as Chairman of the

Board of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, on the planning committee of the Governor’s

Initiative with Japan and the Executive Committee of the Silicon Valley Japan Platform. Mr. Maniwa has served as a Japan

Exchange and Teaching (JET) interviewer for the past twenty years and he co-chaired the July 2009 Japanese American

Leadership Delegation Summit in San Francisco. He holds a B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a JD

degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law.

Patrick Hall

Conference Coordinator Patrick Hall is from Birmingham, Alabama where he delves into all things epicurean. He spent two years

in Japan teaching English at the Hiroshima National College of Maritime Technology as well as at a local

elementary and junior high school. He has worked as a consultant for Youth For Understanding USA for the past 11 years promoting cultural exchanges between American high school students and Japan. He has

a B.A. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Art History with an

emphasis in Asian and Modern Art and a Double Minor in Biology and Chemistry.

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CONFERENCE NOTES