This document provides the program schedule and descriptions for the TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference II on U.S.-Japan relations in the South from April 8-10, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. The schedule outlines the various sessions to be held over the 3 day conference, including sessions on the U.S.-Japan relationship, Japanese investments in Texas, building global careers, effective communication skills, and responses to the 2011 Japanese earthquake. The document also provides short biographies of the speakers and organizers involved in the conference.

1. 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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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 theylearned 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 18
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.

22. 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

23. 20
April 6, 2016
The2nd TOMODACHIDaiwaHouseStudentLeadershipConference:
ProgramInvestingintheNextGenerationofU.S.-JapanLeadersToBeLaunched
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.

24. 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.

25. 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。

26. 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/

27. 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/

28. ABOUT THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS AND SPONSORS
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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