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                                 TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars Program

 

 

The TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars Program is a unique 10-day youth exchange that provides a total of 200 American and Japanese university students (100 American and 100 Japanese) an opportunity to learn about each other’s countries and cultures.  Four selected universities in the United States will be paired with a partner Japanese university to facilitate the exchanges.

 

These exchanges are part of the broader Government of Japan’s KAKEHASHI Project which seeks to:

 

1. Promote deeper mutual understanding among the people of Japan and the United States

 

2. Enable future leaders of U.S.-Japan exchanges to form networks, and

 

3. Help young people develop wider perspectives to encourage active roles at the global level in the future.

 

To honor the life and legacy of Senator Daniel K. Inouye, the TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars exchanges were announced on May 28, 2013 by Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at the U.S.-Japan Council’s Symposium in Tokyo.  A unique feature of the TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars Program is that it offers participants an opportunity to learn about Senator Daniel K. Inouye. A portion of the activities during the exchange will introduce scholars to Senator Inouye’s contributions to his state, country, heritage, and to the U.S.-Japan relationship, and to return to their schools inspired by his commitment to public service, justice, and U.S.-Japan cooperation. 

 

The following four universities from the United States were selected to participate in this program:

 

  • DePaul University (Chicago)

 

  • Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles)

 

  • University of Massachusetts Boston (Boston)

 

  • University of Hawaii, Manoa

 

They are matched with Japanese partner institutions that will send their students to the United States for the reciprocal portion of the program. Twenty-three students and two faculty from each university will travel to Japan this summer. The program in Japan will include:

 

  • Visits to important Japanese historic and cultural sites in and around Tokyo (e.g. Miraikan, Asakusa Kannon temple, etc.)

 

  • Site visit to the Japanese partner university to meet Japanese students and participate in activities.

 

  • Specialized activities or meetings reflecting specific aspects of Senator Inouye’s legacy (e.g. leadership, civil rights, etc.)

 

The Japanese students will be visiting the United States during the 2014-2015 academic year. They will visit Los Angeles, CA and Washington D.C. and the local city of their partner university. The students will give presentations about Japan on campus as well as in the local community. They will also learn about the Senator’s contributions in politics and to the Japanese-American community through visits to historic and cultural U. S. sites, particularly those related to Japanese Americans.  

 

The TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars program is carried out under the KAKEHASHI Project, a youth exchange project, promoted by the Ministry Foreign Affairs in Japan. The goals of KAKEHASHI are to heighten potential interest in Japan and increase the number of overseas visitors to the country, as well as enhance international understanding of the “Japan brand,” and the nation’s strengths and attractiveness, such as Japanese-style values and “Cool Japan.” The U.S.-Japan Council is supporting the implementation of this program through coordination with the Japan Foundation and the Laurasian Institution. 

 

For more information please click here to go to the TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars Program official website.

 

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