The 2010 Japanese American Leadership Delegation met in Los Angeles on January 22 – 23, 2010 for an orientation sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Japan Foundation for Global Partnership, co-organized by the US-Japan Council. The thirteen Japanese American leaders from throughout the country attended a two-day briefing at the Japanese American National Museum on their upcoming visit to Japan from February 26th (Saturday) through March 6th (Saturday). In commemoration of the tenth Anniversary of the Program, the Delegation is comprised of senior leaders from the business, government and education fields.

The orientation program provided a briefing on U.S.-Japan relations, contemporary issues in Japan, and an overview of the Japanese American experience. This year’s presenters included: Consul General Yasumasa Nagamine of San Francisco, Consul General Junichi Ihara of Los Angeles, Dr. Ellis Krauss of the University of California San Diego, Dr. Akemi Kikumura-Yano, President/CEO of the Japanese American National Museum, Thomas Iino and Henry Ota of the US-Japan Council, and Andrew Bender of Japan Intercultural Consulting. A dinner was held at Consul General Ihara’s residence on the opening day of the orientation, attended by several of the Japanese American Delegation Alumni from Los Angeles, and special community guests.

The 10th anniversary delegation will visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka for a variety of exchanges with high level leaders. A symposium sponsored by the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, the US-Japan Council, and the Tokyo American Center of the U.S. Embassy in Japan will be held March 3rd (Wednesday) at the International House of Japan in Tokyo. The symposium will feature delegates Stuart Ishimaru, Moni Miyashita, and Jan Yanehiro as panelists.

The 2010 delegates are active Japanese American leaders engaged in US-Japan relations and committed to furthering the relationship between Japanese Americans and Japan. As with past delegations, Irene Hirano Inouye, President of the US-Japan Council, will lead the delegation.

Members of the 2010 Japanese American Leadership Delegation:

Charles Allcock, Oregon
Director, Economic Development, Portland General Electric

Tracey Doi, California
Group Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Stuart J. Ishimaru, District of Columbia
Acting Chairman and Commissioner, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

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

Duane Kurisu, Hawaii
Chairman, aio Group

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

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

Jill Nishi, Washington
Deputy Director, U.S. Libraries Program, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Janet Nuzum, District of Columbia
Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Agriculture

John Okamoto, Washington
Executive Director, Washington Education Association

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

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

Jan Yanehiro, California
President, Jan Yanehiro, Inc.