In FY24, Sasakawa USA continued its partnership with the US Japan Exchange & Teaching Programme Alumni Association (USJETAA) in offering a competitive mini-grant program vis-à-vis the JET Alumni Association (JETAA) chapters and sub-chapters within the United States.Through this initiative, funded by Sasakawa USA and administered by USJETAA, small grants were awarded to JETAA chapters and sub-chapters to co-host innovative activities that engaged JET alumni and sought to promote a better understanding on U.S.-Japan relations in their communities. In its eighth year of the program—which follows the Japanese fiscal year from April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024—Sasakawa USA and USJETAA awarded a total of three grants to JETAA chapters.

These chapters were the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of Washington, D.C. (JETAADC), the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of Music City: Bluegrass Subchapter (JETAAMC), and the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of Texoma: Austin Subchapter (JETAA Texoma). USJETAA guided these chapters in the execution of the events, but both the Bluegrass subchapter and the Austin subchapter received additional support from local Japan America Societies, which shared resources and fostered greater community engagement. All chapter grants focused on supporting the career development for recently returned JET alumni entering the job market.

The selected proposals were:

*Denotes JET alumnus

JET Alumni Association of Washington, D.C. (JETAADC)

“Mentorship Program”

Program dates: September 2020 – January 2021
Location: Washington, D.C. (Virtual)

JETAADC launched its pilot mentorship program, a five-month virtual mentorship program designed to support the professional development of JET Program alumni in seeking careers in U.S.-Japan relations in and around Washington, D.C. by connecting recent returning JETs (mentees) with established JET Alumni (mentors). The goal of the program was to provide JETAADC recent returnees and early career professionals with personal and professional developmental support, as well as to provide mid-to-senior JET alumni the opportunity to give back to the JETAADC community by sharing advice, experience, and expertise.

Both mentors and mentees reported benefiting from the program, with mentees reporting increased knowledge and interest in U.S.-Japan career paths. JETAADC plans to continue the program next year.

This program represented how JET alumni can continue to be engaged in U.S.-Japan relations after JET and served as a pilot program that can be looked to as a prototype for mentorship programs across all JETAA chapters in the future.

JET Alumni Association of Chicago (JETAA Chicago)

“J-Talks: Strengthening Ties Through Dialogue”

Program dates: January 28, 2021 and February 18, 2021

Location: Virtual

JETAA Chicago hosted two virtual events as a part of their “J-Talk” series, via the support of the chapter grant from the Sasakawa USA and USJETAA partnership. The event attracted 187 participants, which included JET alumni and friends of JET from across the country and globally.

The first event on January 28, “J-Talks: Finding Japan in the Midwest” was the first part of the “Strengthening Ties Through Dialogue” series by JETAA Chicago. It explored the history of the Japanese community in Chicago and the role the Midwest plays in US-Japan relations. The event attracted 60 online participants. Panelists included: Erik Matsunaga, writer and researcher, “30 Years of Lakeview: A Virtual Tour of Chicago’s Historic Downtown”; Dustin Henrich* (Osaka, 2012-2014), President of the Heartland JET Alumni Association, “Sister City Relations in the Midwest and How to Contribute to Them”, and Jo Oyama-Miller, Board President of Madison-Obihiro Sister Cities, Inc., “Sharing Things with Our Sister City.” Participants came away with a greater understanding of the Midwest’s rich history with Japan and the Japanese American community. Surveys from the event also showed increased community awareness about the JET program and Sasakawa USA organization.

The second event on February 18, “Mixed Multitudes: A Discussion about Identity in the U.S.-Japan Community” brought together six speakers of mixed Japanese descent to share their insights on navigating concepts of mixed-race identity in US-Japan community. The event was divided into two parts. The first part featured remarks from Dr. Mitzi Uehara Carter, Anthropologist and Interim Director for the Global Indigenous Forum at Florida International University. The second part was a panel discussion heard from Dr. Carter, Vinicius Taguchi, President of the Twin Cities Japanese American Citizens League; Cori Lin, Artist; Jason Mattox, Core Leader of A JUST CHI of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago; and Joan Ambo, Programs and Special Events Manager at Japanese American Service Committee. The panel was moderated by Lara (Zara) Espinoza, Vice President of JETAA Chicago. A chapter record of 130 people attended the live webinar. This program provided the opportunity for JETAA Chicago to engage with multiple outside organizations, as well as to reach JET alumni and members of the U.S.-Japan community both locally and beyond. The event also fostered greater understanding of Japanese history in Chicago, the importance of sister city relationships, along with the differences and similarities in US and Japanese ideas on how identity influences relationships and experiences.

JET Alumni Association of Southern California and Arizona (JETAASC)

“Connecting Little Tokyo’s Past and Present”

Program dates: February 10, 2021

Location: Virtual

JETAASC held a webinar panel discussion on the history of Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo community, its contributions to the U.S.-Japan alliance, and its response to the pandemic. Panelists included Scott Oshima, Sustainable Little Tokyo Program Director of Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC); Megan Teramoto, Small Business Counselor at Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC); and Kristin Fukushima, Managing Director of Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC). 69 people attended the event.

This event was JETAASC’s first engagement with local Japanese organizations like Sustainable Little Tokyo, LTSC, and LTCC. The event received positive feedback from participants and inspired many to volunteer in Little Tokyo following the event. Although still recovering from the COVID 19 pandemic, JETAASC hopes to collaborate with these organizations, and possibly incorporate volunteer activity in Little Tokyo in the future.

You can read more about the chapter grant program on the USJETAA website.