Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission

06/11/2026

For five decades the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (Official) has made vital contributions to promoting U.S. interests, peace, prosperity, and security in the Indo-Pacific, and to strengthening the .

The agency is pleased to partner with National Association of Japan-America Societies, Inc., U.S.-Japan Foundation and the Japan Society to offer this discussion on the power of local Partnerships.

Please register to participate in-person or online.: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfw6-G6wNM8PAlKYUfO-BAkU0l6zqJQOllCHCpDyyOOtg9Mpw/viewform

06/05/2026

As part of its 50th anniversary and commitment to promoting legislative exchanges, the agency is proud to feature three leading grantee-partner organizations: FMC, the association of Former Members of Congress, Japan Center for International Exchange, The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation

Through their work, these organizations have been central to building the legislative dimension of the U.S.-Japan Alliance — enabling Members of Congress and their staff to establish cross-sectoral partnerships with Japanese government, business, academic, and civil society leaders that strengthen American leadership in the Indo-Pacific.

Read here: https://www.jusfc.gov/50th-anniversary/jusfc-50th-anniversary-interview-series-u-s-japan-legislative-exchanges-jcie-usa-fmc-and-the-maureen-and-mike-mansfield-foundation/

U.S.-Japan Legislative Exchanges: JUSFC and its Grantee Partners To mark the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission’s (JUSFC) 50-year commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance, JUSFC is featuring the grantee-partners that organize and execute U.S.-Japan legislative exchanges. Promoting legisla...

05/12/2026

JUSFC/CULCON Fall Internship applications are open for graduate or undergraduate students interested in the U.S.-Japan relationship.
Deadline: May 31st, 11:59pm!

JUSFC/CULCON Internship Program Firm Application Deadlines: Summer: March 1st, 11:59pm EDT Fall: May 31st, 2026, 11:59pm EDT Spring: October 1st, 11:59pm EDT The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC), and U.S. CULCON offer a paid internship program for graduate and undergraduate students who are....

05/12/2026

U.S.-Japan Creative Artist Spotlight: Congratulations to U.S.-Japan Creative Artist Cameron McKinney, selected as 2026 Delegate for the U.S.-Japan Leadership Program.

The Japan- United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and the National Endowment for the Arts congratulates 2019-2020 U.S.-Japan Creative Artist Fellow Cameron McKinney on being selected as a Delegate to the 2026 US-Japan Leadership Program (USJLP), a distinguished cross-sector network of American....

05/01/2026

Story Spotlight: Darian David

Meet Darian David, Deputy Chief of Staff and District Director for Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV), who joined the 2022 District Directors Study Tour to Tokyo and Fukuoka organized by our grantee partner Former Members of Congress.

Darian David has a robust background in political campaign and fundraising working in various races in numerous states and a range of experiences working for U.S. Senators. Her experience in Japan showcases the impact of our efforts towards increasing legislative exchange between the U.S. and Japan.



Read her story:

Darian David, Deputy Chief of Staff & District Director for Congresswoman Carol Miller (WV-01): FMC Legislative Exchange Participant For 50 years, The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) has been committed to strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance by promoting U.S.-Japan Legislative Exchanges. L...

04/29/2026

In recognition of Japan’s gift of 250 cherry trees to the U.S. to celebrate America250, JUSFC Executive Director Ms. Paige Cottingham-Streater contributed a blogpost titled: "The Gift That keeps on Giving." It is a reflection on the essential role of public diplomacy exchanges between the U.S. and Japan.

Her blogpost was published on the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication's Smart Power Blog and is now available in the following link:

Written by: Paige Cottingham-Streater Paige Cottingham-Streater is the Executive Director, Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Secretary General, U.S. CULCON As early as mid-March each year, residents and news media in Washington, DC begin the countdown to the peak blooming period for Sakura-Cherry Blo...

03/31/2026

COMMISSIONER SPOTLIGHT | Congratulations to JUSFC Commissioner Trevor A. Dawes, Named 2026 ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the Year

News link: https://www.jusfc.gov/news/commissioner-spotlight-congratulations-to-jusfc-commissioner-trevor-a-dawes-named-2026-acrl-academic-research-librarian-of-the-year/

03/30/2026

🌟 Story Spotlight: Deven Richardson
Meet Deven Richardson, Director of Existing Business and Community Development at the Cabinet for Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In his role, Deven manages critical business relationships across the state and serves as the primary liaison with Japanese and Korean companies—helping strengthen economic ties between Kentucky and Asia.

Deven’s journey with Japan began unexpectedly at summer camp when a childhood friend introduced him to Japanese culture through a Pokémon game. That spark led him to study abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, complete a Fulbright at Waseda University, and later serve as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer at Embassy Tokyo.

📖 Read his full story: https://www.jusfc.gov/50th-anniversary/jusfc-50th-anniversary-interview-series-deven-richardson/

Follow our 50th Anniversary Story Collection Campaign for more inspiring voices!

Deven Richardson, Director of Existing Business and Community Development for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, JUSFC/CULCON Fall Internship 2020 Throughout the years, the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) has stood committed to advancing cross-cultural understanding between the United States and...

03/27/2026

This week, a delegation of eight Congressional District Directors is in Tokyo and Nagasaki as part of a District Director Study Tour to Japan, funded by the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and organized by our grantee-partner the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC). Promoting legislative exchanges that serve the national interests of both the United States and Japan is one of JUSFC's core pillars, and this program demonstrates that commitment.
The bipartisan delegation, representing congressional offices across California, New York, Texas, Arizona, New Jersey, Florida, and Pennsylvania, is engaging with government officials, corporate representatives, and a broad range of civil society voices on themes central to the enduring U.S.-Japan Alliance, including security, trade, energy, and international cooperation. Congressional District Directors occupy a critical role as the link between federal policymaking and the constituents it affects.
This program offers them firsthand engagement in Japan with the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with Japanese counterparts, representing a durable investment in the depth and resilience of the U.S.-Japan Alliance. Among the program's highlights was a March 25th roundtable lunch discussion with Shin Koyamada, Board Member of the Japan United States Sister City Association (JUSSCA) and member of U.S. CULCON's Subnational Diplomacy Working Group. CULCON — the Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange — is a binational advisory panel with oversight by JUSFC.
The Subnational Diplomacy Working Group’s recently released final report provides a substantive framework for advancing subnational ties between the United States and Japan, and its subsequent task force remains actively engaged in translating those recommendations into action. The conversation centered on the vital role of U.S.-Japan Sister City relationships and how people-to-people and local-level exchanges strengthen both local communities and the broader bilateral relationship. We look forward to the insights, relationships, and momentum this delegation will bring back to their districts and to the U.S.-Japan partnership.

To read the Subnational Diplomacy final report, Link here:https://culcon.jusfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SNDWG-Final-Report.pdf