Now Recruiting for the TOMODACHI Summer SoftBank Leadership Program 2.0

The U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) TOMODACHI Initiative (hereafter “TOMODACHI”) and SoftBank Group Corp. (hereafter “SBG”) are pleased to announce that the "TOMODACHI Summer SoftBank Leadership Program 2.0 -Building Resilient Communities for the Future-” will be held this year. We start accepting applications from March 16, 2023.

This 6-month program starting in June 2023 will be for 18 high school and university students (who were living in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake). Students will learn about community contribution and leadership at the University of California, Berkeley in the United States and other institutions for 3 weeks. They will also learn how to develop ideas to solve social issues, plan and execute them, and create action plans to solve each issue.

In December, the participants will share the process and results of the program at the final presentation. Mentors with experience in entrepreneurship development and regional revitalization in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures will support the participants from planning to implementation of the action plans after their return.

The “TOMODACHI Summer SoftBank Leadership Program 2.0” is an expansion of the “TOMODACHI Summer SoftBank Leadership Program”, which has been held annually since 2012 with funding from SBG. The program has provided more than 1,000 high school students from Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures with opportunities to learn about community service and leadership. It has also nurtured young leaders in the Tohoku region. The program will now be offered to high school and university students.

The TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, with support from the Government of Japan. Born out of support for Japan's recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, TOMODACHI invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and cultural exchanges as well as leadership programs. The initiative seeks to foster a “TOMODACHI Generation” of young American and Japanese leaders who are committed to and engaged in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, appreciate each other's countries and cultures, and possess the global skills and mindsets needed to contribute to and thrive in a more cooperative, prosperous, and secure world. Visit us at  www.tomodachi.org