Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama welcomed the 2010 Japanese American Leadership Delegation at his office in a rare meeting between the country’s highest ranking government official and a select group of Japanese American leaders on March 3, 2009. Prime Minister Hatoyama affirmed to the delegation the importance of Japan and the U.S alliance as a cornerstone of security for the Asia Pacific region. Following the meeting, the Prime Minister stated, “I have just met a delegation of Japanese Americans who are in the forefront of their respective fields in the United States. They shared with me their enthusiasm and willingness to work with Japan and the United States. I was very happy to hear that. I really feel that Japanese Americans are enriching the U.S.-Japan relationship.”  

         This is the 10th Anniversary of the Japanese American Leadership Delegation program which promotes the value of sustained people- to-people relationships as a critical factor in assuring the long-term success of Japan-U.S. relations. The delegation is on an 8-day trip to Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo where they are meeting with foremost Japanese leaders from the Parliament, the Foreign Ministry, the U.S. Embassy, and business. During the week, delegation members also met with Her Highness Princess Takamado, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, State Secretary Koichi Takemasa, Ambassador John Roos, and leaders from Nippon Keidanren, Kankeiren, Keizai Doyukai, and Forum 21. Themes that were explored during the week’s discussions included leadership, diversity in the workforce, globalization, economic challenges, and philanthropy. The role of Japanese Americans in promoting closer bilateral relations was a prominent part of each of these discussions. Three members of the delegation presented at a Leadership Symposium in Tokyo on March 3rd - “Leadership: Values in Career, Community and Culture,” organized by the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP), co-organized by the U.S.-Japan Council and supported by the Tokyo American Center and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

         The thirteen delegates are from cities across the US, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Portland, Seattle, Honolulu, Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. They represent the highest levels of leadership and accomplishment in business, government, education and philanthropy, and also in the Japanese American community. Delegates include CEO’s, other senior executives and members of the Obama Administration. The Japanese American Leadership Delegation, founded in 2000, is led by Irene Hirano, President of the U.S.-Japan Council. The Japanese American Leadership Delegation is an official trip sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership in collaboration with the U.S.-Japan Council.

         From the Mid-West, Mr. Dayne Kono was selected as this year’s delegate. His ancestral prefecture in Japan is Hiroshima.

         Members of the 2010 Japanese American Leadership Delegation:

                 Charles Allcock, Portland, Oregon
                                Director, Economic Development, Portland General Electric
               
                Tracey Doi, Los Angeles, California
                                Group Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

                Stuart J. Ishimaru, Washington, DC
                                Acting Chairman and Commissioner, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

                Dayne Kono, Chicago, Illinois
                                President and Managing Director, Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd.

                Duane Kurisu, Honolulu, Hawaii
                                Chairman, aio Group

                Colbert Matsumoto, Honolulu, Hawaii
                                Chairman and President, Island Holdings, Inc.

                Moni Miyashita, New York, New York
                                Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions Strategy, Investments and Relationships, IBM                                 Corporation

                Jill Nishi, Seattle, Washington
                                Deputy Director, U.S. Libraries Program, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
                               
                Janet Nuzum, Washington, DC
                                Associate Administrator and General Sales Manager, Foreign Agricultural Service,
                                U.S. Department of Agriculture

                John Okamoto, Seattle, Washington
                                Executive Director, Washington Education Association

                Judy K. Sakaki, Sacramento, California
                                Vice President, Student Affairs, University of California

                Wendy Shiba, Los Angeles, California
                                Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, KB Home

                Jan Yanehiro, San Francisco, California
                                President, Jan Yanehiro, Inc.

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