In FY22, 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 within the United States. Through this initiative, funded by Sasakawa USA and administered by USJETAA, small grants were awarded to two JETAA 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 seventh year of the program—which follows the Japanese fiscal year from April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023—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) and the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of Northern California (JETAANC).

The selected proposals were:

 *Denotes JET alumnus                               

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

“Mentorship Program”

Program dates: September 2022 – February 2023
Location: Washington, DC

JETAADC continued its mentorship program for a third year, matching 6 recently returned JET mentees with 6 professionally established JET alumni mentors, whose career trajectories aligned. The program was conducted virtually, as it included local, out-of-state, and internationally based JET alumni. The program aimed to provide mentees with mentorship on how to pursue professional development opportunities and personal development strategies to pursue their career goals in U.S.-Japan relations, as well as to provide mentors the opportunity to give-back to the community by sharing their experiences and expertise. The program included two virtual career panel discussions, which welcomed the wider JET community, in addition to a resume consultation for interested mentees. The program received positive feedback, and JETAADC intends to continue the Mentorship Program in the future, which has become a model for other chapters to replicate nation-wide.

JET Alumni Association of North Carolina (JETAANC)

“Building your post-JET Career in the San Francisco Bay Area”

Program dates: February 23, 2023

Location: San Francisco, CA

JETAANC’s held an event, which included a panel discussion and small round table talks, followed by a pitch night. The event’s aim was to support next generation JET alumni business leaders, tech professions, and entrepreneurs whose businesses were committed to building relationships with Japan. The event welcomed 26 participants   .

During the panel discussion, panelists discussed how their JET experiences impacted their ability to achieve entrepreneurial success. Panelists included Charmaine Estacio, Software Engineer at Pariveda, Tim Wagner, serial entrepreneur who founded Japan’s first global pitch event, and Stephanie Harris, Global Marketing Director at Argos Multilingual. The small group round-table discussions followed, where attendees had the opportunity to network with each other, panelists, and recruiters. This led into the larger networking opportunity in the second half of the event, where entrepreneurs from Fukuoka and Silicon Valley presented their start-ups in a pitch competition.

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