a A “historic” visit The ceremony will take place on April 10, when President Joe Biden welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as a state guest, according to the US deputy secretary of state. This will be Prime Minister Kishida’s second state visit since 2015, and he plans to make it at the request of Prime Minister Kishida. bipartisan group of senators, will speak at a joint session of the U.S. Congress and attend the first-ever Japan-U.S.-Philippines trilateral summit meeting. This visit signifies the critical importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic competition in the Indo-Pacific region.
Unfortunately, as Japan’s expertise in the United States declines, we cannot take our current strong partnership for granted. Few U.S. donors have a nuanced understanding of Japan, personal connections to Japanese intellectuals and decision-makers, and the ability to help develop future American leaders. This is despite strong foundations for doing so, including long-standing historical and cultural ties. The global challenge of “competitiveness and resilience” America’s goodwill toward Japan as two major democracies; poll It turns out that 80% of Americans view Japan favorably. Both countries also have ongoing programs to help build informal relationships between people. Japan Exchange Education Program, Funded by the Japanese government, 38 Japan America Society and national and other non-governmental organizations. 450 sister city relationships.
Currently, Japan-focused programs in the United States foster intellectual exchange and policy dialogue between the two countries, and develop a new generation of experts who will learn together and forge bonds that lead to shared global leadership. There are only a few programs. In the past, internationally minded donors like the Ford Foundation supported American intellectual exchange and Japanese studies, and their participants were the backbone and shared of our alliance-building. agenda. Their support helped our country realize its growing economic power. The current low level of philanthropic support reflects the fact that Japan is no longer “the problem.” China has bigger concerns. And serious domestic issues such as racism, gender inequality, and poverty require urgent attention.
Japanese support for philanthropy has also declined compared to the postwar period, when Japanese companies often matched American donations. Due to changes in the tax system, etc. Ended support from companies and private foundations. Looking ahead, despite recent stock price gains, there is little hope for new funds due to slowing economic growth and a weak yen.
In addition to scholarships and fellowships, short-term exchange programs can provide future American leaders with the opportunities they need to witness Japan firsthand and interact directly with Japanese leaders and counterparts. These programs can be presented as a week-long study trip to Japan for a delegation of emerging experts from the United States, or between leading and emerging experts from both countries and across sectors on key issues in the region. It can be planned as a strategic dialogue to exchange and coordinate views. Some of the current leaders of U.S.-Japan relations were certainly young enough to have participated in this type of program in the past few decades.
Programs for members and staff of the U.S. Congress would particularly benefit from the support of U.S. private foundations, as Congressional Ethics Rules limit who can sponsor Congressional trips abroad. However, the Japan-US program should also reach participants beyond the policy community in Washington and the business community in New York. The foundations of the U.S.-Japan relationship can be strengthened through investments in regional leadership beyond these traditional goals.
Providing seasoned but busy professionals with the opportunity to spend time with Japanese people in Japan, away from domestic distractions, will go a long way in increasing their awareness of Japan. Unfortunately, these opportunities are difficult to obtain. Although most Americans have a general affinity for Japan, given the geographic distance, language, and cultural differences, it is difficult to travel to Japan of their own volition and have no substantive dialogue. You may find it difficult to engage in research.
Japan may not be a pressing issue for the United States, but the relationship between the two countries will become problematic if it does not invest in the expertise needed to foster cooperation with Japan. Does Japan need to be an issue to get our attention? What better country for America to partner with than Japan to protect America’s vital interests in the region? ? The United States needs more American experts in a variety of fields to build cooperation with Japan on many common issues. They don’t grow overnight. We need long-term, sustained and strategic investment in non-governmental efforts to develop them.
This article was originally published by The Alliance Magazine and is reprinted with permission.
