Five Major Japanese Companies Join the TOMODACHI Initiative

Five leading Japanese companies today become the newest partners in the TOMODACHI Initiative, the bilateral public-private partnership launched in 2011 by the U.S. Embassy and the U.S.-Japan Council.

Toyota Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd., Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited are the latest companies to contribute to TOMODACHI, which seeks to support Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake and invest in the next generation of leaders on both sides of the Pacific to strengthen the cultural and economic ties between the United States and Japan.

The contributions from these five top Japanese firms - amounting to approximately $4.5 million - will be used to create a new "TOMODACHI Fund for Exchanges," as well as to strengthen TOMODACHI’s administrative capabilities. Under the new Fund, hundreds of young Japanese students will be given enhanced opportunities to participate in high-quality educational and cultural exchange programs with their American counterparts.

Senior executives from the five companies - including Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda, Mitsubishi Corporation Chairman Yorihiko Kojima, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Chairman Takamune Okihara, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited President and CEO Yasuchika Hasegawa - joined Ambassador John V. Roos and U.S.-Japan Council President Irene Hirano Inouye at the Ambassador's Residence in Tokyo for a special event on April 18 to announce the new commitments.

One young lady, Ayaka Ogawa from Iwate Prefecture, spoke at the event on behalf of the Japanese youth who will benefit from TOMODACHI programs. Ms. Ogawa said:

"The earthquake took away every one of my treasured family, I lost my parents, older sister, and grandparents ... in a single day, I lost too many things that matter to me. I wondered why I was the only one that survived. Through exchanges (with Ambassador Roos) I came to hold a dream of studying in the United States. Through the support offered by organizations such as the TOMODACHI Initiative, this dream is about to come true. I think ties between people create ties between regions, and ties between nations create ties throughout the world. I hope to be active on the world stage, and contribute to the world in the future. That is my new dream."

Additional information can be found at the TOMODACHI website: www.usjapantomodachi.org