U.S.-Japan Council

Seven & i Holdings, the company managing all 7-Eleven convenience stores across the world, recently appointed USJC member Stephen Hayes Dacus as its new president. USJC Board of Councilor member and former USJC board Chairman Paul Yonamine will succeed Dacus as chairman of the special committee, tasked with evaluating expansion efforts and future plans for the company. Congratulations, Stephen and Paul! Read the whole story from Nikkei Asia’s March 3 release: https://buff.ly/57Ouqke

The USJC was honored and grateful to welcome back Japanese American incarceration survivor Sally Ohno Sudo as a speaker — this time sharing her family story with both USJC and Portland Shokookai members. On January 24, the USJC Portland Region and Portland Shokookai hosted a hybrid webinar to learn more about Japanese American incarceration during World War II. Sally is a Nisei who experienced life in an American concentration camp and has been speaking about her personal story since the mid-90s. The USJC extends its sincere gratitude to Sally Ohno Sudo for sharing her story. For more upcoming events, please visit https://buff.ly/1IDJmDH.

Our 2025 Japanese American Leadership Delegation is visiting Japan, where they recently met Foreign Minister Iwaya. Read more about their meeting: https://buff.ly/2ZfFLqy

I felt hopeful for Japan’s future at last night’s Go for Gold reception. Lots of inspiring students pushing through challenges to maximize their study tour of the U.S. sports industry. Thank you, LA84 Foundation, for hosting U.S.-Japan Council members to celebrate the experiences of our TOMODACHI Initiative delegates. The TOMODACHI-U.S. Embassy Go for Gold Leadership Program aims to increase the understanding and knowledge of the sports industry in the United States, with a focus on facility management, community engagement, and business of sports management among Japanese youth. The goal of the program is to encourage participants to be global leaders in their respective fields and utilize their knowledge acquired in the United States to advance the sports industry in Japan and promote the importance of collaboration between the two countries. The program consists of three components: a virtual program, two-week travel to the United States, and a final presentation in Tokyo, Japan. (Shoutout to Takuto Uchida, at the podium in photo, for giving an inspiring and memorable speech)

One of the U.S.-Japan Council’s greatest strengths is our incredible members, which was on full display earlier this week at our NorCal region’s Visionary Voices Leadership series featuring Michael Kobori (he/him) and John Onoda. Expertly moderated by Sydney Dake, they shared insights on what it means to be a leader, including the importance of building trust, a strong team, and an inspiring vision. Our superstar regional leads Jaclyn C. Funasaki, Saki Takasu, and Tatsuki Tomita did a phenomenal job of pulling it all together to create a wonderful evening of connection and community. I look forward to future Visionary Voices conversations across our 12 member regions!

Tonight, we heard Visionary Voices from Michael Kobori and John Onoda moderated by Sydney Dake. While their paths may have started from humble origins of academia and non-profit development work, their journey weaving through corporate careers at Levi's, GM, McDonald's, Visa, Charles Schwab, and Starbucks showed a life-long career path in top global companies. A key highlight was the emphasis on visionary leadership. There's a distinction between visionary leaders and managers - visionary leaders change mindsets and move people with a gravitational pull of inspiration. I also loved how Michael underscored the most fundamental part of leadership: Trust. The sense of safety that your leader has your back is essential for any team to thrive and perform beyond expectations (we are both fans of The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle). This was another great evening spent with our community of leaders and aspiring leaders! U.S.-Japan Council Audrey Yamamoto Jaclyn C. Funasaki Tatsuki Tomita Kazuhiro (Kazu) Gomi Lauren Matsumoto

Did you know that some regions create their own quarterly newsletters? Current and prospective members, check out the New York & Vicinity and Midwest regions’ newsletters to keep up-to-date with regional events and find new ways to get involved. Find both live on our website:

Skin Wash is officially a 3x award-winning cleanser! Beyond proud of team Gntl for securing the Cosmopolitan 2025 Clean Beauty Award for Best Body Wash. If you haven't tried it yet, this is your sign! ;)

Feb. 25: Join us for an inspiring evening with visionary leaders Michael Kobori (former CSO, Starbucks) and John Onoda (Principal, iQ 360) in conversation with Sydney Teranishi Dake (Founder, Gntl)! This event is part of our new series highlighting trailblazers in USJC’s network. Learn more: https://buff.ly/3EVUhbu

My grandparents who survived being incarcerated at Poston, Arizona taught me the values of resilience and compassion. They were also my first bridge to Japan, taking my brother and me on our first trip there shortly after I graduated from college. The four of us had the best time sightseeing and visiting our relatives in Hiroshima. They would be so amazed to know that I’m now leading the U.S.-Japan Council, an organization that is dedicated to building bridges between our two countries. They would also be proud that our founders and members—whether Japanese American, Japanese, or allies who all believe in the power of U.S.-Japan relations — honor the importance of our shared history while building a future of even stronger connections.