On June 26, U.S. CULCON, together with the U.S.-Japan Council, convened the third summit of organizations involved in U.S.-Japan legislative exchange.  The purpose of the meeting was to share information about upcoming exchanges, develop a strategy to increase the number of U.S. congressional members participating in legislative exchange and to strengthen U.S. congressional interest in […]

CULCON’s Higher Education Task Force establishes a goal of doubling the number of study abroad students in each country by 2020.
Washington DC, June 13, 2013 — CULCON co-chairmen Thierry Porté and Minoru Makihara today presented a report in Tokyo to Prime Minister Abe that detailed recommendations for improving intellectual exchange between Japan and the United States. The same report was presented to Undersecretary Tara Sonenshine by CULCON panelists Deputy Assistant Secretary Susan Stevenson and Dr. Edward Lincoln. This Report is the result of a binational Educational Task Force which, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Secretary Norman Mineta, convened to examine an alarming decrease in the number of Japanese students in the United States and to make recommendations to leaders in both nations towards an ambitious goal: to double the number of study abroad students in each country by 2020.
“Study abroad and international exchange are crucial for nurturing the bonds between Japan and the United States,” says Secretary Norman Mineta. “The language proficiency, communication and problem-solving skills our young people gain when they are introduced to other cultures are invaluable and prepare them well for the globalized marketplace.”

The U.S. CULCON Panel today announced that five Japan specialists and scholars will become new members of the bi-national panel.  They are:  Dr. Edward Lincoln, Professorial Lecturer, George Washington University; Dr. Patricia Maclachlan, Associate Professor of Government and Asian Studies, University of Texas; Dr. Deanna Marcum, Managing Director, Ithaka; Dr. Leonard J. Schoppa, Jr., Woodrow Wilson Department of […]

In commemoration of Japan’s gift of 3,000 cherry trees to the people of the United States in 1912, the United States- Japan Bridging Foundation and the United States government have partnered to gift 3,000 dogwood trees to the people of Japan. These Friendship Blossoms symbolize the friendship between our countries and people. On April 23, […]

Take a peek on the Cherry Blossom Webcam: http://www.earthcam.com/usa/dc/cherryblossoms/

Ambassador Sasae hosted more than 450 Japanese high school students from the Tohoku area in the U.S. for a week on the Kizuna program. CULCON staff attended the exuberant gathering. One student told the crowd that although the trauma of the earthquake and tsunami was extreme, the “…young people have stepped forward to rebuild an […]

Posting for JUSFC and USJBF: The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation in Washington, DC are seeking a summer intern to support current initiatives, especially the Friendship Blossoms Initiative, a public-private gift of 3,000 dogwood trees to the people of Japan in reciprocation to the gift of cherry trees 100 years ago. Intern […]

This is a helpful comparison of the three organizations that share offices in Washington, DC – CULCON, JUSFC and USJBF: For a comparison table of mission statements, membership, contact information, etc, please click here.  

Two years ago, on March 11, 2011, Japan’s Tohoku coastal region was devastated by a 9.0  magnitude earthquake and tsunami.  The two years following these disasters have brought to the forefront incredible stories of resilience and generosity as Japan continues its recovery efforts. The two-year anniversary of March 11, 2011 is a time for reflection […]