July 30, 2026
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL JULY 27, 2026
NAJAS and American Friends of the International House of Japan (AFIHJ) Launch JapanHands Online Hub
NEW ORLEANS, La. — July 30, 2026 - The National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS), in partnership with the American Friends of the International House of Japan (AFIHJ), today announced the launch of JapanHands.org, a new digital platform designed to connect and strengthen the leaders, volunteers, organizations, and interested public engaged in U.S.-Japan affairs at a time when deeper collaboration across sectors is increasingly essential.
The first phase of JapanHands features a comprehensive calendar of hundreds of Japan-related events taking place across North America and beyond. Future phases will introduce additional tools and applications that make it easier for organizations to discover one another, share information, coordinate activities, and build partnerships across the U.S.-Japan ecosystem.
Developed with generous seed funding from the United States-Japan Foundation, JapanHands represents a long-term investment in the connective infrastructure that supports U.S.-Japan engagement. Designed with crowdsourcing and automated features, the platform aims to help the community save time, reduce duplication, and cultivate a wider, more inclusive generation of "Japan Hands" with the knowledge, relationships, and experience to advance U.S.-Japan engagement. Additional philanthropic partners are invited to help expand the platform's capabilities and training reach.
The announcement was made during the second day of the National Association of Japan-America Societies' Annual Conference in New Orleans, hosted this year by the 98-year-old Japan Society of New Orleans. The gathering brought together approximately 140 leaders from across the U.S.-Japan community, including Japanese Ambassador Shigeo Yamada and Admiral Dennis C. Blair (USN, Ret.).
In a related step to strengthen the community's connective infrastructure, NAJAS also announced that beginning in 2027 it will relocate its headquarters to the newly established Transpacific Future Center (TPFC) in Washington, D.C., a mission-driven nonprofit organization that operates an elegant D.C. townhome turned office in the city's DuPont Circle South neighborhood. In addition to hosting permanent tenants, TPFC offers coworking and event space amenities to members. TPFC is also developing programs and partnerships that advance opportunities for mission-aligned individuals and organizations, including the dynamic new actors JapanHands will serve.
Together, JapanHands and the Transpacific Future Center represent a new digital and physical infrastructure for strengthening collaboration across the U.S.-Japan community and the broader Transpacific region.
"Strong relationships have always been the foundation of the U.S.-Japan partnership," said Andrew Wylegala, President of NAJAS. "As our community continues to grow, we need better ways to discover one another, share information, collaborate across institutions, and amplify our collective impact. JapanHands and our move to the Transpacific Future Center are important investments in building that future."
For more than a decade, NAJAS has operated from the headquarters of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, another leading center for U.S.-Japan and Asia-focused organizations in Washington, D.C.; the move to TPFC marks the next stage in NAJAS's effort to build stronger connective infrastructure for the community.
America and beyond. The system was user-tested and populated in significant part by a cohort of three Washington, D.C. undergraduate interns, underscoring its role as a practical next-generation investment in the U.S. -Japan community.
About the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS)
The National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) is the umbrella organization for 40 Japan-America Societies and 10 affiliate organizations throughout North America. Through networking, professional development, collaborative programming, and shared resources, NAJAS empowers its members to promote educational exchange, economic cooperation, cultural understanding, and enduring people-to-people relationships between the United States and Japan.
For more information, visit www.us-japan.org.
About the American Friends of the International House of Japan (AFIHJ)
The American Friends of the International House of Japan (AFIH) promotes international understanding and cooperation by strengthening relationships among scholars, educators, scientists, business leaders, policymakers, philanthropists, and civic organizations in partnership with the International House of Japan.
Through leadership initiatives, educational programming, research, and strategic partnerships, AFIHJ advances dialogue and collaboration between Japan, the United States, and the international community. The International House of Japan is a private, non-profit organization incorporated, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and other private institutions and individuals, in 1952 for the purpose of promoting cultural exchange and intellectual cooperation between the peoples of Japan and those of other countries.
For more information, visit www.afihj.org.
About the Transpacific Future Center (TPFC)
The Transpacific Future Center was formally launched June 2026 and founded to provide a platform for current and rising leaders across diverse fields to debate public policy and social issues, build relationships with business, government, and civic leaders, and serve as connectors advancing not only U.S.-Japan relations, but partnerships throughout the Transpacific region. TPFC is led by Executive Director Danielle Reed.
For more information, visit https:/pfcenter.org/about.
Media Contacts
National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS)
Bianca Sanchez-Alvarez
Program Manager, Membership, Development & Communications
sanchezalvarez@us-japan.org
American Friends of the International House of Japan (AFIHJ)
Natalia Janssen, Communications
media@afihj.org
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For Immediate Release – 9/20/2025
Strategic Frontiers: Japan–U.S. Leadership in a Fragmenting World - September 22Amid intensifying geopolitical rivalry, rapid technological disruption, and strains on the post–Cold War order, the International House of Japan (IHJ) and Japan Society will host a high-level dialogue, Strategic Frontiers: Japan–U.S. Leadership in a Fragmenting World — signifying a new era of partnership between the two institutions, on September 22, 2025, in New York City during United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Week.
This invitation-only event will convene global thought leaders, senior government officials, and leading experts for strategic discussions on two critical challenges:
· The geoeconomic foundations of the U.S.–Japan partnership
· The global security and economic implications of artificial intelligence
The program will feature a keynote address by Japan’s Foreign Minister, HE Mr. Takeshi Iwaya (TBC), offering perspectives on Japan’s evolving role in global affairs.
“As the international system faces unprecedented fragmentation, the United States and Japan must lead together to shape a more stable and inclusive future,” said Dr. Joshua Walker, President & CEO, Japan Society. “This dialogue builds on decades of collaboration between our institutions and reflects our shared commitment to advancing strategic frontiers and cooperation.”
Program Highlights
2:20 p.m. Media Registration
2:50 p.m. Opening Remarks by Merit Janow, Chair, Japan Society Board of Directors
2:55 p.m. Keynote Address by HE Mr. Takeshi Iwaya, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan (TBC)
3:45–4:45 p.m. “Geoeconomic Statecraft: Renewing the U.S.–Japan Partnership” moderated by Maria Aspan, Finance Correspondent, NPR
Speakers:· Matthew P. Goodman, Distinguished Fellow and Director of the CFR RealEcon Initiative, Council on Foreign Relations
· Reta Jo Lewis, Esq., Former Chair of the Board of Directors, President and CEO of the Export Import Bank of the United States
· Dr. Paul Sheard, Executive Advisor to the Group CEO, Sompo Holdings, Inc., and Director, Foreign Policy Association
· Dr. Kazuto Suzuki, Director, Institute of Geoeconomics, IHJ
This session will consider how the U.S. and Japan can reinforce economic resilience, secure supply chains, and coordinate on industrial policy to sustain a rules-based economic order.5:00–6:00 p.m. “AI and Global Security: Balancing Innovation, Security, and Responsibility” moderated by Dr. Ken Jimbo, Managing Director, IHJ
Speakers:· Kenneth Cukier, Deputy Executive Editor, The Economist
· Dr. Linda Kirkpatrick, President, Americas, Mastercard
· Izumi Nakamitsu, Under Secretary General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations
· Vivian Schiller, VP and Executive Director, Aspen Digital
Panelists will examine AI’s transformative impact on defense, arms control, and global stability, and how innovation can be advanced while avoiding conflict escalation.Building on a Legacy of Collaboration
Japan Society and IHJ share a common heritage dating to 1952, when John D. Rockefeller 3rd co-founded IHJ and revived Japan Society to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation.
Earlier this year, the two organizations deepened this partnership by opening offices in each other’s buildings and launching Global Japan, a pillar of Japan Society’s Mirai strategic vision, which expands their international reach and collaboration. “Our collaboration reflects JDR3’s vision and our conviction that the U.S.–Japan partnership is essential to addressing global challenges. With new shared offices and joint initiatives, we are building a dynamic platform for transpacific dialogue,” said Dr. Ken Jimbo, Managing Director of IHJ.
Event Partners
Strategic Frontiers: Japan–U.S. Leadership in a Fragmenting World is co-organized by the International House of Japan and Japan Society, in partnership with the Institute of Geoeconomics and Asia Pacific Initiative, and support from American Friends of the International House of Japan (AFIHJ).
Event Details
Title: Strategic Frontiers: Japan–U.S. Leadership in a Fragmenting World
Date: September 22, 2025
Time: 2:45–6:00 p.m (Registration required and press must arrive by 2:20 p.m.)
Location: Japan Society, New York City###
About Japan Society
Founded in 1907, Japan Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to deepening U.S.–Japan understanding between the two countries. Through arts, culture, and policy programs, it fosters dialogue and collaboration to address shared global challenges and opportunities.
About the International House of Japan (IHJ)
Established in 1952, IHJ advances cultural exchange and intellectual dialogue to strengthen understanding and cooperation between Japan and the global community.
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May 14, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The National Association of Japan-America Societies & International House of Japan to Create an Interactive Website to Promote Deeper U.S.-Japan Collaboration
The National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) has received funding to launch an interactive website which will serve as an information hub to encourage United States-Japan collaboration. The International House of Japan (IHJ) and the American Friends of the International House of Japan (AFIHJ) will contribute their networks and intellectual firepower to the project. We invite the extended community of Japan-related organizations and the public to shape and sustain this portal, which in turn will further enhance the most consequential partnership in the world today – that between the United States and Japan.
On April 30, the United States-Japan Foundation (USJF), a prestigious private foundation at the forefront of U.S.-Japan relations, notified NAJAS of its award. The grant to NAJAS enables the project’s first phase, while a search for additional funding begins.
The fact that a sprawling, bilateral community has emerged to support this relationship presents an enormous strength. However, the sheer size and breadth of the community makes effective coordination and maintenance of appropriate scale challenging. The website hub (or portal) will facilitate collaboration through internet “crowd-sourced” ever-greening of content to include a comprehensive calendar of events, lists of expert speakers, U.S-Japan program alumni, and grant and scholarship information, among other applications that will boost efficient, well scaled collaboration. The operation of the hub and the activities promoted will be limited to charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes.
The project is an expanded, interactive version of The NAJAS-99, a printed volume of organizations driving the U.S.-Japan partnership. “Our network of 41 independent non-profit organizations is positioned to bring together a wide range of entities in the U.S. Japan space, and what we at NAJAS envision as an interactive Japanhands website will exponentially increase coordination and partnerships. The community has long sought this type of tool, as reflected in our stakeholders’ testimonials on behalf of the print directory (https://us-japan.org/Beyond-NAJAS,) noted NAJAS President Wylegala.
“As an entity with transpacific reach that was co-founded by J.D. Rockefeller 3rd and Shigeharu Matsumoto in the post-war period, we are so excited to engage with NAJAS to bring this project to life,” noted Dr. David Janes, Vice President, North America, and Executive Director of the American Friends of the International House of Japan (AFIHJ).
USJF CEO Jacob Schlesinger said of the project: “We love this idea. It's exactly along the lines of what we think is needed to create a more coherent framework for a fragmented ecosystem, and to better position these organizations to work together for social impact in the U.S. and Japan. “
To realize the full project, matching funds in the amount of $60,000 are needed. Potential donors should reach out to the contacts provided below.
About NAJAS … By providing resources, networking and guidance, NAJAS empowers 41-member organizations to foster exchange, enhance economic collaboration and build lasting friendships that deepen understanding through over 1,500 activities conducted annually across 30 states, a province of Canada and 29 cities in Japan. For details about NAJAS’ mission and the work of our members, please visit https://us-japan.org .
About IHJ … The International House of Japan is a private, nonprofit organization incorporated in 1952 with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and other private institutions and individuals for the purpose of promoting cultural exchange and intellectual cooperation between the peoples of Japan and those of other countries.
Learn more about the International House of Japan here: https://ihj.global/en/ and the American Friends of the International House of Japan here: https://www.afihj.org/
Learn more about USJF at: https://us-jf.org/en/
Contact Information
Misha D. Clive (they/them)
Sr. Manager for Operations & Communications
misha@us-japan.org***
Dr. David Janes
Vice President, North America, International House of Japan
Executive Director, American Friends of the International House of Japan
djanes@ihj.global