Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission

01/07/2026

As part of our 50th Anniversary Story Collection Campaign, we’re featuring partners who have strengthened U.S.-Japan ties through education, exchange, and collaboration.

Today’s feature: USJETAA (U.S. JET Alumni Association)—an organization that connects and empowers alumni of the JET Program, fostering lifelong friendships and professional networks that bridge cultures.

Discover how USJETAA continues to build community and deepen U.S.-Japan relations through alumni engagement and cultural exchange.

📖 Read the full story here: https://www.jusfc.gov/50th-anniversary/jusfc-50th-anniversary-interview-series-usjetaa/
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories in this series!

12/10/2025

🎉 JUSFC Launches 50th Anniversary Interview Series to Celebrate 50 Years!

For half a century, the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) has strengthened the U.S.-Japan Partnership by promoting Japan Studies, fostering institutional partnerships, and supporting people-to-people exchanges.

Now, we would like to reflect on this journey through the voices of those who made it possible. We’re collecting stories from organizations and individuals who have collaborated with us.

The first story features the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation, which helps U.S. college students study abroad in Japan. Discover how their efforts have deepened U.S.-Japan relations!
The article is available here:
https://www.jusfc.gov/50th-anniversary/jusfc-50th-anniversary-interview-series/

Stay tuned—new stories will be shared regularly! Explore the people behind the partnerships and celebrate 50 years of impact with us.

12/03/2025

🎉 We proudly celebrate 50 years of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC)! 🎉

For half a century, JUSFC has promoted mutual understanding and cooperation between the United States and Japan through cultural, educational, and intellectual exchange.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to strengthening the U.S.-Japan relationship through the Commission’s work. Your support and dedication have made this milestone possible.

JUSFC remains committed to fostering and sustaining this vital partnership for generations to come.

👉 Check our news release here.
https://www.jusfc.gov/uncategorized/for-immediate-release-japan-u-s-friendship-commission-celebrates-50-years-of-strengthening-bilateral-ties/

11/10/2025

J.LIVE Talk Celebrates 10 Years!
The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission congratulates J.LIVE Talk on its 10th anniversary and commends the creativity, passion, and dedication of all students, teachers, volunteers, staff, and organizers. As a longtime funder, JUSFC is delighted to see this program continue building connections between the United States and Japan and empowering the next generation of leaders. Here's to many more decades of inspiring conversations and cultural exchange!
皆さん、本当にお疲れ様でした!素晴らしいイベントをありがとうございました。

07/04/2024

JUSFC and CULCON (U.S.-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange) mourn the passing of Shay Youngblood
https://www.jusfc.gov/uncategorized/jusfc-culcon-mourn-the-passing-of-shay-youngblood/

05/17/2024

Former Commissioner and .s.culcon panelist the indefatigable Dr. Anne Nishimura Morse was recently featured in the - she is the Williams and Helen Pounds Senior Curator of at the

This past weekend the MFA reopened its Arts of Japan galleries after six years of closure. With one of the most comprehensive collections of Japanese art in the world, the museum rededicated the space with Buddhist monks from Japan’s Miidera temple.

The Museum of Fine Arts has what may well be the pre-eminent collection of Japanese art in the world outside Japan itself, with 100,000-plus pieces spanning more than a millennium.

and .s.culcon congratulate Dr. Nishimura Morse for maintaining and supporting this incredible collection!

05/13/2024

The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission and the U.S. CULCON Panel .s.culcon are pleased to announce the appointment of new Chair, Mr. Charles D. Lake II. His term is effective May 15, 2024. Mr. Lake is Representative Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. and President of Aflac International.

Both JUSFC and CULCON extend their deep appreciation to Dr. Sheila A. Smith, outgoing Chair, for her 10 years of dedicated service.

日米友好基金は新委員長として、日米文化教育交流会議カルコン米国側パネルは新議長として、チャールズ D・レイクII氏を選任いたしました。同氏の就任は2024年5月15日付です。レイク氏は、アフラック生命保険株式会社代表取締役会長、取締役会議長およびアフラック・インターナショナル取締役社長を兼務しています。　

また、日米友好基金と日米文化教育交流会議は、シーラ・スミス博士の退任にあたり、これまでの献身的な貢献に深い感謝を表します。

04/15/2024

CULCON and JUSFC Celebrate President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida’s Commitment to the Enduring U.S.-Japan Partnership
https://www.jusfc.gov/uncategorized/culcon-and-jusfc-celebrate-president-biden-and-prime-minister-kishidas-commitment-to-the-enduring-u-s-japan-partnership/

02/05/2024

Bridging Scholarship Applications are Open!

The U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation, in partnership with the American Association of Teachers of Japanese, is excited to open applications for scholarships to study in Japan beginning in Fall 2024. The term of study can be the Fall 2024 semester, the 2024-25 academic year, or the Spring 2025 semester. Please note: There will be no later, separate application deadline for Spring 2025 scholarships.

Bridging Scholarship recipients receive stipends of up to $2,500 for a semester’s study program or up to $4,500 for an academic-year program. Awardees join the Bridging Scholar community and gain access to our extensive alumni, donor, and supporter network. Foundation programming includes in-person and virtual mentorship opportunities as well as career and networking events.

The Bridging Foundation seeks to recruit a diverse cohort of students and has allocated a number of scholarships for students from underrepresented communities.

The deadline to submit completed applications is March 15, 2024.

Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study are eligible to apply for Bridging Scholarships. Japanese language study is not a prerequisite. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must be enrolled as undergraduates in a college or university in the United States before and during the time they are studying abroad. Their study in Japan must last for at least three months and must earn credit that will transfer to their home campus in the US. Students who have already begun their study abroad in Japan are not eligible to apply. For more information about the US-Japan Bridging Foundation, please visit www.bridging foundation.org.
Scholarships for the Bridging Scholars Program are made possible by a dedicated group of individuals, corporations, foundations, and non-profit organizations committed to making study abroad available to any student. The Bridging Foundation is deeply grateful to its donor community for their support.

Please help us spread the word about this exciting opportunity!

https://www.aatj.org/japan-bridging-scholarships/

The Bridging Project offers scholarships to American undergraduate students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan. The United States-Japan Bridging Foundation funds scholarships administered through AATJ to help students study abroad in Japan for a semester or an academic year. Since

12/19/2023

The U.S.-Japan Creative Artist Fellowship Program is Back!
First deadline, February 1, 2024.
Please visit the website for more information on the program and how to apply!

The application process is now open! Application Timeline Please be aware that this is an electronic submission process, and there are two distinct deadlines you must adhere to: January 15, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET: Submit the writeable PDF cover sheet to [email protected]. March 3, 2024: Rec...

10/30/2023