News – Japan-United States Sister City Association

JUSSCA Highlights Power of Subnational Diplomacy at U.S.–Japan CULCON Symposium in Washington, D.C.

Shin Koyamada, Board Chairman of the Japan-U.S. Sister Cities Association (JUSSCA) and a member of the Subnational Committee of CULCON (The U.S.–Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange), participated in the CULCON Symposium held on February 18, 2025, at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. During the symposium, Koyamada emphasized the critical role of subnational diplomacy, underscoring how sister city programs serve as powerful bridges that foster grassroots-level, people-to-people exchange between Japan and the United States. He also shared his broader vision and ongoing efforts through JUSSCA to further strengthen cultural, educational, economic, and municipal ties between communities in both nations.

The UN University & JUSSCA Sign MOU to Promote U.S.-Japan Partnerships and SDGs

The United Nations University (UNU) and the Japan-United States Sister City Association (JUSSCA) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking a new strategic partnership aimed at fostering subnational diplomacy and advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and Shin Koyamada, Chairman of JUSSCA signed the agreement.

The agreement underscores the shared commitment of UNU and JUSSCA to strengthen people-to-people connections between Japan and the United States, enhance mutual understanding, and promote collaborative solutions to global challenges.

Under the framework of this MOU, UNU and JUSSCA will jointly host the Japan-United States Leadership Summit (SUMMIT), a flagship event convening elected officials, government representatives, academics, and key stakeholders from both countries. The SUMMIT will serve as a platform to discuss pressing issues related to the SDGs, explore cross-cultural partnerships, and identify pathways for local and global development.

Japan-U.S. Sister City Association and the U.S. Embassy Tokyo Unite to Enhance Japan-U.S. Subnational Diplomacy

Tokyo, Japan – September 3, 2024 – In an effort to foster peace and understanding between our nations, the Japan-United States Sister City Association (JUSSCA), chaired by actor and philanthropist Shin Koyamada (The Last Samurai), announced a special event aimed at strengthening the vital connections between Japan and the United States through over 450 existing sister city partnerships. Sister-city relationships serve as a cornerstone of citizen diplomacy, creating lasting bonds between communities around the world. Recognizing this, JUSSCA is thrilled to announce the launch of the JUSSCA Alumni (a new student exchange program), Subnational Diplomacy Grant, Japan-United States Leadership Summit, and annual conference initiatives specifically designed to strengthen people-to-people ties between Japan and US cities.

The event on September 3^rd, 2024, at the U.S. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel’s residence brought together a diverse group of stakeholders invested in strengthening Japan-US relations, including Japanese governors and mayors, business executives, government officials, university presidents and community leaders from both Japan and the United States. “Relations between countries are built on relations between people. Through the more than 450 partnerships between cities across the United States and Japan, citizens, local leaders, and communities are forging friendships and deepening ties between our two nations,” said U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel. “What started as a peace initiative nearly 70 years ago has evolved into a program that empowers people, promotes business and educational exchange, and highlights the capacity of citizens and local communities to build bridges and bonds across borders and boundaries.”

Shin Koyamada stated, “We are honored to launch the inaugural JUSSCA event in Japan, a platform dedicated to enhancing people-to-people ties. Our mission is to promote sister city partnerships, revitalize exchange programs, and connect leaders, especially focusing on strengthening youth connections between our two great nations at the subnational level.”

The sister city program was instituted in the United States on September 11, 1956, at the White House Conference when then-U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed a national citizen diplomacy initiative.

The event was sponsored by the United States-Japan Foundation.

For further information on JUSSCA and the microgrant initiative, please visit:

https://jussca.org/en

Media Contacts:

JUSSCA

info@jussca.org

Patrick McEachern

Embassy of the United States of America Assistant Press Attaché

TokyoPress@state.gov

Category: News

Rahm Emmanuel

Shin Koyamada

Taro Kono

Ichiro Aisawa

Katsunobu Kato

Toast

Event Organizers

JUSSCA Directors

UNU & JUSSCA

Masakatsu Mori

US Embassy staff & former Japan Ambassador

Adam Gallagher