2023年京都・東京会議

写真上： 7月30日(土)、オークラ東京で開催された閉会イベントでポーズする2023年度USJLPクラスのメンバーたち。

日米リーダーシップ・プログラムは2023年夏、第22回目となる年次会議を久々に日本で開催しました。この年次会議では2023年度日米リーダーシップ・プログラムの新しいクラスが誕生し、京都-広島-東京に亘る7日間のプログラムでは総勢160名の活気に満ちた多彩なメンバーが一堂に会することができました。2023年日本会議は、参加者の素晴らしい才能と実績、ディスカッションの中で形成された洞察と発見、強い絆が各国に影響と変革をもたらす立場にある現役リーダーや新進リーダーたちの間で育まれ、信頼に基づく生涯にわたる関係や意義深い交流を図るという本プログラムの使命の継続的な価値と重要性を再認識させるものとなりました。

災害対応、持続可能性、医学、政治学、公共問題、社会擁護、防衛、コーポレート・ガバナンス、ジャーナリズム、法律、倫理、学術、ベンチャー・キャピタル、舞台芸術、音楽、ビジュアル・メディア、文化、心理学、起業家精神、非営利、エネルギー、ビジネス、テクノロジーなどの各分野で活躍する45名のデリゲート（日本人23名、米国人22名）を中心に、1週間のプログラムが組まれました。この1週間で、共通の対話、共同活動、日本ならではのエクスカーションを通じて、デリゲート達は相互の信頼と理解のための枠組みを築きました。2023年度USJLPクラスについてはこちらをご覧ください。

写真上： 7月25日（火）、貴船神社の階段でポーズを取る2023年度デリゲート達。

ディスカッションでは、日米双方の専門知識や多様な視点から、民主主義の未来、日米同盟が直面する世界的な脅威と混乱、日本の現在の課題と機会、教育とイノベーションの交差点、高齢化社会の意味ともたらされる機会、男女平等、多様性とインクルージョンのあり方など、共通の関心テーマやトピックについて率直かつオープンな対話を行いました。また、クリエイティブなストーリーテリングの練習や、リスクと不確実性を乗り越える方法を学ぶための実践的なワークショップ、リーダーの仕事に関する洞察や、広島での感想の共有など、一連のパーソナル・トークにも時間が割かれました。1週間を通じて少人数のグループディスカッションや1対1のディスカッションの時間が設けられ、公式セッションで提起された重要なアイデアや質問について、深く掘り下げました。

毎日のディスカッションに加え、下鴨神社、龍安寺、妙心寺といった京都の名所を訪れ、また浴衣姿で地元のお祭り、広島のお好み焼き教室、座禅、日本で最も有名な石庭のプライベートツアーに参加するなど、さまざまなユニークな文化体験を通し、デリゲートは日本の歴史や文化遺産に対する理解を深めました。初日のアイスブレイクとして、デリゲートは伝統的な和太鼓のワークショップに参加しました。被爆者の近藤紘子様の講話を聞いた翌7月27日（木）一行は広島で過ごしました。

写真上段： 下鴨神社でのみたらし祭り。中段右：松山大耕師（USJLP 2015-2016）のご尽力により実現した龍安寺の時間外ツアー。中段左：退蔵院でのデリゲート水島敦さんによる狂言。下段左：清らかな貴船の川床。下段中央： 和太鼓ワークショップ。下段右：春光院での座禅体験。

写真上段：広島での集合写真。下段 右：被爆者であり平和活動家の近藤紘子様。写真下段：近藤様の案内により　7月26日（水）の京都での講演後、7月27日（木）の広島を訪問し広島平和記念資料館と公園内のモニュメントを訪れました。

広島での日帰り研修の後、デリゲートは東京に移動し、2000年のプログラム開始以来のUSJLPの全クラスを代表する115名のUSJLPフェローにより大歓迎を受けた。デリゲートとフェローは最後の2日間で有意義な交流を図り、またネットワークを通じて生涯の絆を深めました。フェローズ・ウィークエンドは、2年目のデリゲートがUSJLPの生涯フェローになることを祝う特別セレモニーで幕を閉じました。USJLPは来夏、2024年7月27日～8月3日に米国ワシントン州シアトルで開催される第23回年次大会での再会します。

写真 下段左：大相撲体験。下段中央：国会議事堂見学。下段右：茶道体験）USJLPならではの少人数グループでの体験が盛り込まれました。上段左：ディスカッションでは、司会は櫛田健児氏（USJLP 2014-2015）が務め、河野太郎デジタル大臣（USJLP 2000）とエイミー・ウェッブ氏（USJLP 2017-2018）によるAIに関する基調パネルが行われ、ネットワークの幅広い専門性を生かした議論が展開された。最終日の夜にはオペラ歌手で2023年日本デリゲートの谷本綾香氏（写真右上）とクラシックピアニストの平田真希子氏（USJLP 2017-2018）による特別公演が行われた。

2023年京都・東京会議に参加されたデリゲートの声の一部です:

“USJLP was the first time in my life where I immediately felt 100% seen, appreciated, and comfortable in my own skin. As a gay Asian-American entrepreneur who is passionate about Japanese language, food, and culture, and somehow turned those passions into a fast-growing startup, there aren't too many people or communities out there who understand me right away. However, every single person I've met at USJLP not only understood me and what I was working on, but was genuinely excited for me and celebrated my accomplishments. USJLP is the best community in the world because you get to both level up your career and make meaningful friendships at the same time. I highly recommend anybody who has a passion for US-Japan leadership to join this program.”
– Danny Taing (USJLP 2023-2024), Founder & CEO, Bokksu

"USJLP is unique because it is a 'potential space' where we can be spontaneous, authentic, and free to exchange and explore creatively on both the individual and collective levels. It is truly a magical space! From being a part of USJLP, I gained friendships, inspiration, and the courage to take action to make the world better. My life-long journey as a USJLP fellow just started, and I am thrilled to take this journey with my amazing USJLP friends."
– Sayaka Machizawa (USJLP 2022-2023), Associate Director-APAC Lead, Science & Medicine-Digital Health Sciences, Signant Health

“USJLP is a catalyst for deeply thinking about range of social challenges that each of the countries is facing, and for making a tight-knit team across the border to tackle with such challenges.”
– Atsushi Mizushima (USJLP 2023-2024), Partner, Nishimura & Asahi

“The type of diplomacy needed now is one built on genuine care and friendship. When you care about someone you are able to do things that you didn't think were possible, including understanding how collective well-being and individual well-being can exist together. USJLP is a training ground for developing the skills and mindset to navigate the self and society. This is a life-long journey that requires friends to accompany each other on the path for great things not just for both nations, but also all of humanity.”
– Roxann Stafford (USJLP 2023-2024), Managing and Creative Director, BluePrint FTC

“USJLP expanded my understanding of the US-Japan relationship and introduced me to a range of astounding Japanese peers in the public and private sectors. The program left me so much more optimistic about what we can accomplish together.”
– John Farmer (USJLP 2022-2023), President of WeLink Cities and Chief Innovation Officer, WeLink

“I found and proudly belong to a community of friends and allies that I didn't know that I needed. I now have a place to return to for both good and bad days, knowing that I will be embraced for both occasions. USJLP now holds a special place in my heart that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I will continue to return to this special place for lifelong friendship, connections, inspiration, and encouragement.”
– Kozue Sawame (USJLP 2023-2024), President, JWLI Ecosystem, Fish Family Foundation

“John Steinbeck once said that we often spend so much time planning for a trip not to realize that the trip really plans us. This to me encapsulates my experience with USJLP. My trip started in Seattle, Washington in '22 and ended in Tokyo, Japan in '23. Over the course of a year and meeting two delegate classes, my perspective on US-Japan relations significantly expanded. I gained a family of global changemakers and grew so much personally. I leave the program a better leader ready and equipped to make our world a better, stronger and inclusive place for generations to come.”
– Jean Accius (USJLP 2022-2023), President & CEO, CHC: Creating Healthier Communities

"USJLP is a community that never fails to inspire and energize me - through the positive change that delegates and fellows are striving to create, to how humble and kind humans they are. USJLP makes me feel welcome and at home, but also challenges me to ask myself what more I can do to give back to the world. Knowing USJLP delegates and fellows are out there working for change everyday, inspires me to keep taking on the global and daily challenges!"
– Yuko Hirose (USJLP 2022-2023), Economic and Enterprise Recovery Policy Specialist, United Nations Development Programme

“USJLP is so unique because it is simultaneously super high-level and also independent from government and political agendas. It allows for true relationship building in a free, fun, and intellectually stimulating environment that simply does not exist elsewhere. Probably the most important thing I've gained is a new network of highly accomplished and caring friends who I can go to for basically anything, be it professional advice, a good laugh, or a favor. With the majority of the group being in their late 30s or early 40s, it seems like this is a period in our lives when making new connections is a little harder. So, this new network has been a real gift for me.”
– Chad Cannon (USJLP 2022-2023), Composer / Producer, Invisible Sea Productions

“USJLP is a large family unit [where I have gained] friends and mentors and the opportunity to meet many women leaders. The fact that women leaders, who are still few in Japan, can get together in Japan and the U.S. to share different careers and common concerns and understandings [is what makes USJLP unique].”
– Sachiko Koyama (USJLP 2022-2023), Director, Aoyagi

“As we have come to be called leaders in society and organizations, we are increasingly forced to interact with new people we meet who also carry each other's organizations on their shoulders. At USJLP, however, all participants can be individuals. There will be few opportunities in the future to deepen relationships that transcend positions and borders without regard for profit or loss, as we did when we were college students.”
– Daisuke Furuta (USJLP 2022-2023), Editor-in-Chief, Japan Fact-check Center

“USJLP is a change maker's 'school trip' - laughs, smiles, tears, sorrows and lots of learnings. Like you had it in your childhood, you will experience unforgettable and life-changing one week with colleagues. It is very unique and special.”
– Hana Hayashi (USJLP 2023-2024), Founder & CEO, Down to Earth, Inc.

“USJLP is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make the deepest of friends in Japan/US. These friendships become the foundations for so many more possibilities that we can't even image.”
– Tricia Wang (USJLP 2022-2023), Co-Founder, Sudden Compass

“USJLP serves as both a testament to friendship and a foundation for future collaboration.  Through USJLP, I've secured mentors, friends, and potential collaborators, enriching my perspective on careers, social dynamics, personal life, work motivations, and the significance of immersing in sports, arts and culture. With participants from a plethora of fields and diverse accomplishments, the program reinforces the idea that success is multifaceted and truly self-defined.”
– Masa Haraguchi (USJLP 2022-2023), Research Fellow, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University

“USJLP brings together young, brilliant, diverse field leaders from both countries [and is] a great community to foster great friends who inspire each other and provides chemical reactions multiply to increase experiences. I have received inspiration and motivation to continue challenging myself to achieve my goals from leaders in various fields that I would not normally know.”
– Kotaro Kitahara (USJLP 2023-2024), Commander, Maritime Office, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force