USJC Earthquake Relief Fund Report - US-Japan Council

The USJC Earthquake Relief Fund Proudly Supported:
— October 6th-8th, Washington, DC
Held seven months after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the
2011 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference served as a platform
for leaders in the U.S.-Japan arena to convene and discuss next
steps in the rebuilding process. It also allowed community leaders
from across America to come together and be recognized for their
contributions to the relief efforts. The conference featured an
afternoon plenary, titled “Moving Forward with Recovery,” in
which leading subject experts including representatives from the
U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the
Japanese business sector provided updates on the region.
The conference was also a part of the U.S.-Japan Council’s
initiative to grow and support civil society in Japan. Leaders from
some of the Japanese organizations supported by the USJC
Earthquake Relief Fund attended the conference, where they were
able to network and share information with their counterparts in
the United States. The organizations included Peacewinds Japan/
Civic Force, Ashinaga and Japan Platform. Travel expenses were
allocated from the USJC Earthquake Relief Fund in order to make
this possible.
At the conference, there was also a panel dedicated to growing the
NPO/NGO sector in Japan, which included Sam Worthington,
President & CEO of InterAction and Peacewinds Japan CEO
Kensuke Oniishi. According to Mr. Worthington, a disaster in a
developed nation creates an environment in which civil society
can thrive; with public trust and nurtured overhead costs,
Japanese organizations have a great opportunity to grow. At the
end of the conference, Council Members had established enduring
connections with the Japanese non-profit leaders.
Peacewinds Japan CEO
Kensuke Onishi participates
in a panel on Developing the
NGO/NPO Sector in Japan
at the 2011 U.S.-Japan
Council Annual Conference
“A Melting Pot of
America and Japan”
Susie Roos, wife of U.S. Ambassador
John V. Roos, authored a recipe book to
benefit the recovering Tohoku region.
“A Melting Pot of America and Japan,”
was sold at the 2011 U.S.-Japan Council
Annual Conference. All proceeds went
to disaster-stricken Onagawa in Miyagi
Prefecture. The funds will be used to
send middle and high school students
from Onagawa on the “Rainbow for
Japan Kids” Program, sponsored by
the Japan America Society of Hawaii.
The Ambassador and Susie visited
Onagawa and were inspired by the
unflagging spirit of the people there.
Susie created the recipe book with the
aim of raising funds to support them
and inspire them to be part of the
TOMODACHI generation.
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