- 2nd TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference -

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., based in Osaka, and the TOMODACHI Initiative, led by Irene Hirano Inouye, President of the U.S.-Japan Council, which invests in next-generation leaders in the U.S. and Japan, will hold the second TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas, on April 8-10, 2016. Thirty-four Japanese and U.S. university students have been selected to partake in the three-day program which is designed to mentor and nurture future leaders.

Daiwa House is a strategic partner of the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Japan that invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders. The company is helping to sponsor the initiative as a part of its corporate social responsibility activities. The student leadership conference is the second in a series being offered by Daiwa House and TOMODACHI from 2015.

The theme for the first conference, which was held in the Silicon Valley, California, in April 2015, focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. The theme of this second conference is "U.S.-Japan Relations in the South: Transforming Communities for the Future." Thomas Schieffer, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, will be the keynote speaker. He will share his experiences as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan and his perspectives on the relationship between the U.S. and Japan in the past, present and future.

The program will also include panel discussions where students can learn about building a global career, study the history of Texas and Arkansas, and find out about the local communities in these two states. In addition, they will have the opportunity to further deepen their understanding about U.S.-Japan relations. The goal of these discussions is for students to experience a positive change.

The students chosen for the program underwent a rigorous selection process. They were selected from students, including Japanese exchange students, currently enrolled in a college or university in Texas and Arkansas, and who have a profound interest in U.S.-Japan relations.

The objective of the program is to offer students an opportunity to obtain the skills required to be an active next-generation leader. It also aims to give students a chance to learn from and network with young professionals and industry leaders in the community.

2nd TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference

- Date: April 8-10, 2016

- Participants: 34 university students from the states of Texas and Arkansas (including 17 Japanese exchange students)

- Location: Highland Dallas Hotel, Dallas, Texas

- Content: The conference theme is "U.S.-Japan Relations in the South Transforming Communities for the Future." The objective is to offer students who are keenly interested in U.S.-Japan relations the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the topic and to learn about career-building, while also having the chance to network with leaders in a variety of sectors.

- Eligibility: University students who demonstrate an interest and passion for global issues, particularly concerning U.S.-Japan relations; and an interest in networking with other students and professionals, and career-building.

- Website: http://usjapantomodachi.org/programs-activities/tomodachi-student-leadership-conference-supported-by-daiwa-house/

1st TOMODACHI Daiwa House Student Leadership Conference

The first conference was held in the Silicon Valley, California, on April 10-12, 2015. Thirty U.S. and Japanese university students participated. Masato Watanabe, the Consul General of the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, and John V. Roos, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, were invited as keynote speakers to discuss their experiences and leadership in the front lines of U.S.-Japan diplomacy. The students also participated in communication workshops where they learned effective entrepreneurship and leadership skills.

About the TOMODACHI Initiative

The TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Japan. It was born out of support for Japan's recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake and invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and cultural exchanges as well as leadership programs. The initiative seeks to foster a "TOMODACHI generation" of young U.S. and Japanese leaders who are committed to and engaged in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, appreciate each other's countries and cultures, and possess the global skills and mindsets needed to contribute to and thrive in a more cooperative, prosperous, and secure world.

TOMODACHI Initiative website: http://tomodachi.org/en/