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 JCCI presented its award to descendants of Manjiro and Captain Whitfield [ 2009.12.14 ]
Special Commemorative Award was presented to descendants of John Manjiro Nakahama and Captain William H. Whitfield.
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York (JCCI) celebrated its 25th anniversary of its Annual Dinner on November 10th at the Hilton New York by paying tribute to friendship between John Manjiro and Captain Whitfield. Their 5th generation descendants, Ms. Kyo Nakahama and Mr. Bob Whitfield accepted the award at the dinner.
The Chamber bestowed its highest honor, the Eagle on the World Award, upon Charles O. Holiday, DuPont's Chairman of the Board, and former MLB star Hideo Nomo during the event.
The distinguished senior senator from Hawaii, Daniel K. Inouye, delivered keynote address in the event.
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JAPAN HONORS GOV .COLLINS & DR. RICHARD WOOD [ 2009.11.6 ]
 On November 3rd, the Government of Japan officially announced that the Honorable Martha Layne Collins, former Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and Dr. Richard Wood, Professor and Dean Emeritus, Yale University Divinity School and Former President of Japan Society, will be honored with a prestigious decoration, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to U.S. - Japan positive relations.
Gov. Collins was Chair of "Kentucky Grassroots Summit Volunteer Committee 2008", and Dr. Wood is serving as President of CIE-US.
The Order of the Rising Sun was established in 1875 as the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government.
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Introduction to Grassroots Summits now available on Youtube. [ 2009.1.30 ]
A video of highlights from the 18th Ameri ca Japan Grassroots Summit, held in Kentucky in October 2008 can now be viewed on Youtube.
From T.Y. / 15 years student
Everything was new for me.
It was a series of surprises, and the trip was some of the most meaningful days of my life so far.
I'm so happy I decided to take part in this program.
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From Ms. I.
My heart is full of appreciation to everyone who contributed to this program.
I would like to help at the next summit in Japan next year.
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From Mr. H.
The 8 days flew by with continuous exciting opportunities.
As I spoke a lot with young people, I now feel like I have granddaughters in America!
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→ Please click here for the Japanese version .
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The Election of President Obama and the John Manjiro Grassroots Exchange [2009.1.20]
Taizo Watanabe, Chairman of CIE Japan has written an article entitled "The
Election of President Obama and the John Manjiro Grassroots Exchange."
On the 20th January 2009, Barack Obama was officially-inaugurated as President of the United States of America. The article focuses on this turning point in American history and its link with future grassroots exchange with Japan.
The Election of President Obama and the John Manjiro Grassroots Exchange
1. John Manjiro Whitfield Commemorative Project for International Grassroots Exchange
On April 4th 1987, their Majesties the Japanese Emperor and Empress (Crown Prince and Princess at that time) on the occasion of their visit to the United States visited a private house in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. The house was the house in which William Whitfield was born. He was the whaling master who, out of good intentions and human love, took home the 16 year old ship-wrecked fisherman John Manjiro to the United States and gave him an American education. John Manjiro was a sensible and very diligent person and in recent years it has been widely recognized that the knowledge and experience he gained during his stay in the United States enabled him to exert immeasurable influence on the leaders of the Japanese feudal government just before the opening of the country, and the then emerging leaders of the Meiji Restoration. Furthermore, the friendship between John Manjiro (Manjiro Nakahama) and William Whitfield’s families that has been fostered across international borders for so many years has moved the hearts of many people.
→ For a PDF version of the article, please click here. [ PDF 92KB ]
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Appointment of Dr Richard Wood as President of CIE US [ 2009.1.20 ]
 On 1st December 2008, Dr Richard Wood was appointed President of Center for International Exchange (US), our counterpart office in America. He will support our exchange activities in America.
Dr Wood received his PhD in philosophy from Yale University and has served as President of Earlham College and Dean of Yale University's Divinity School. He was also founding Chair of the US-Japan Bridging Foundation and is currently President of the Japan Society.
In 1968, Dr Wood was a Fulbright Fellow at Waseda University, and has long had a deep involvement with Japan. He is fluent in Japanese.
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Kentucky Success Initial Announcement [ 2008.11.13 ]
We are delighted to announce that the 18th Japan America Grassroots Summit, held in Kentucky from October 23rd to 27th was a great success! Over 180 participants flew from Japan to the US, where a very enjoyable week was spent with hundreds participants in Kentucky. Below are just some snapshots of the activities held during the summit, we will issue a full report soon!
We are now busy preparing for the next summit, to be held in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan from July 27th to August 3rd 2009. Please keep checking the website for information about the summit and application process!
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The 19th Japan-America Grassroots Summit 2009 in Miyagi [ 2008.09.08 ]
Beautiful, untouched nature, historical summer festivals, relaxing hot springs and delicious local delicacies. Experience traditional Japan next summer in Miyagi.
Miyagi has a long, interesting history and is famous for its abundant beautiful nature. We hope you can experience the warm hospitality of the people of Northern Japan whilst exploring the many stunning parts of Miyagi - from the countless tiny islands lining Matsushima Bay to Sendai, "City of Trees" to the Zao Mountain, complete with volcanic lake. Along with numerous historic and religious sites, the chance to attend traditional Japanese summer festivals and relax in natural hot springs, Miyagi prefecture is the perfect location for you to have a once in a lifetime experience.
| 7/27 |
Depart US |
| 7/28 |
Arrive Tokyo, Japan and transfer to Matsushima, Miyagi (hotel stay) |
| 7/29 |
Opening Ceremony and Welcome Party (hotel stay) |
| 7/30 - 8/1 |
Local session (homestay) |
| 8/2 |
Closing Ceremony and Farewell Party in Sendai (hotel stay) |
| 8/3 |
3 Depart Sendai for Tokyo and US |
We will also offer a number of Optional Programs (both hotel stay and homestay types), including a tour of traditional Japanese festivals in the Tohoku region of Japan. They will run from August 3rd to August 5th.
More information on the summit will be on our website from October 2008.
→ www.manjiro.or.jp
Alternatively, please contact
→ 
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Paul Rusch - A Great Contributor to International Exchange
[ 2008.05.27 ]
 Here at CIE we would like to introduce to you others who have contributed to the US-Japan friendship, as we are trying to. Today we would like to introduce Paul Rusch, who first came to Japan over 75 years ago and whose legacy still today helps foster friendship between Japan and the US.
Paul Rusch grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. After the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923, he was asked to come to Japan by the YMCA to help rebuild the YMCA halls in Tokyo and Yokohama that had been destroyed in the quake. He had planned to return to America once the halls had been reconstructed, but he was so well liked and respected in Japan, his fellows persuaded him to stay and he became an economics lecturer at Rikkyo University in north-west Tokyo.
In 1927, Rusch established a Japanese branch of the Brotherhood of St Andrew as a youth group for students.
The Brotherhood of St Andrew in the US decided to establish a training camp for their young missionary leaders in Japan and Paul Rusch decided that the town of Kiyosato would be perfect as it was overlooked by Mount Fuji and the natural beauty of the Yatsugatake ridge. He bought the land from Yamanashi prefecture and set about raising money. The camp was named Seisen-Ryo.
Just before the onset of World War II, he returned to America to try and raise funds there. As Japan and America were enemies at this time, he was criticized but argued that the Christian spirit could save Japan. The construction of Seisan-Ryo hit many difficulties-weather problems, lack of materials and lack of transportation. However, thanks to student volunteers from Rikkyo University and donations from church members and businesses, Seisan-ryo was finally complete in July 1938.
With the onset of war between American and Japan in 1941, Paul Rusch was deported to America but returned in 1945 as part of the American military that were occupying Japan at the time. He left the military office in 1949 and returned to Seisen-ryo, which became the centre of a new project-the Kiyosato Farm Village Centre (now known as the Kiyasato Educational Experiment Project). It was a model of a farm community, with 4key ideals-food, health, belief and youth education and was supported by American and Canadian citizens. A church was completed in 1948 and subsequently a clinic, a nursery and farm school were added. Paul Rusch died in Tokyo in 1979. The house where he lived is a museum commemorating both his life and the development of KEEP.
Some members of the office recently visited KEEP in Yamanashi-prefecture. It is in a beautiful location, surrounded by mountains and with a perfect view of Mount Fuji. It is a true site of cooperation between Japan and other countries, and contained lots of fascinating information about Paul Rusch and his contribution to internationalizing Japan. The church and farm school were true examples of international cooperation. Paul Rusch's house has also been kept as it was, and it was very interesting to see how a foreigner lived in Japan decades ago. KEEP is also trying to tackle global problems, such as environmental degradation, by supporting international cooperation.
We here at CIE hope that we are also able to contribute to world peace and cooperation like Paul Rusch and KEEP. We intend to introduce Paul Rusch and his great achievements towards grassroots exchange to participants at this year's summit, which is being held in his home state of Kentucky.
Katie Dingley
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John Manjiro's House in Fairhaven to become museum [ 2008.03.28 ]
We were delighted to learn that the house that John Manjiro resided in during his time in America has been acquired by a Japanese citizens group and will be renovated into a museum for the town of Fairhaven. A number of well known Japanese founded the group, which is headed by Dr Shigeaki Hinohara, aged 96, head of St Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo.
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Introducing one of our supporters − Mr.Rooney [ 2008.03.28 ]
Here at CIE we have a number of supporters that have helped make the last 17 summits the successes they were. Two people who have helped further friendship between the US and Japan and supported our activities are Gerry and Ayako Rooney. In fact, Gerry has been recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan, for "furthering friendship and understanding between the United States and Japan."
We are very thankful to have Gerry as a supporter of CIE, and would like to introduce him and his very interesting story of his relations with Japan to you!
I first became directly involved with Japan during my three and a half year solo trip around the world. I decided to spend a significant amount of time in one Far East country and I selected Japan and started to teach myself a useful level of the language. On April 12th of 1967 I entered Japan for the first time and started my five and one half month tour of the country on my motor scooter. Although I had been received with great hospitality in the other 30 countries I had visited the Japanese people were outstanding in this respect. Of the 165 days I spent in Japan, 140 of those days were spent in the private homes of new-found friends. Obviously I was tremendously impressed with the gentleness and hospitality of the average citizens of this culture.
Upon my return to the USA I moved to New Bedford to work with an American missionary priest I had met in Japan. It was here that I met my wife, Ayako, and had two children.
My wife Ayako became involved in a sister-city agreement between Tosashimizu and the Fairhaven-New Bedford area and through her participation I became familiar with the activities involved. I was present with her when the, then, Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko visited Fairhaven in October of 1987. I joined the committee in 1991 and became Chairman in 1993. We have a wide range of activities, including the Manjiro Festival that is held every other year in the first week of October. As well, the Sister City Committee is ready to host any visitor who expresses an interest in Manjiro or the Japanese culture. The "Manjiro Trail" and the New Bedford Whaling Museum bring people closer to understanding the surroundings of Manjiro's time in the USA and the great effect he and Captain Whitfield had on the establishment of strong and lasting ties between two areas of the world that are geographically distant but increasingly close in spirit.
As Chairman (or member) of the Sister City Committee I will continue to offer my assistance to any event which has as its intention, the goal of greater understanding between peoples of the world community.
Those of you who wish to take part in the optional programme after the Kentucky summit in the Fairhaven area, Mr and Mrs Rooney have very kindly offered to guide you around the area and show you the places Manjiro used to go to. We sincerely thank them for there continuous support of our activities.
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Please click on the following links to access the report (PDF files).
