The Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) promotes substantive dialogue between politicians, policymakers, and researchers around the world. As part of this effort, JCIE operates three US-Japan exchange programs: one for members of the Congress and Diet, another for state and local legislators and district-level Congressional staff, and the US Congressional Staff Exchange for senior legislative aides.

Dates: August 23-30, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan

2004 Hill staffers, (from left to right) Paula Nowakowski,
Amy (Angelier) Shank, Rock Cheung, Patricia Lawler,
Janet Nuzum, Michael Moran, and Steven Perrotta,
meet with Ichiro Aisawa (center), Senior Vice Minister
for Foreign Affairs.

Program Overview: Since 1982, the Congressional Staff Exchange Program has given senior staff the opportunity to visit Japan for an intensive one-week study program involving briefings from leading policy experts and meetings with high-level government, civil society, and private sector leaders. The goal of the program is to provide participants with a deeper understanding of the US-Japan relationship and the dynamics of Japanese policymaking. Ultimately, this is intended to help enhance US policymaking in an increasingly interdependent world by heightening understanding of the opportunities and challenges of close coordination and cooperation between the United States and Japan on the bilateral, regional, and global levels. This year's program is made possible by a generous grant from American International Group (AIG), the generous support of All Nippon Airways (ANA) and JCIE's general funding.

» 2008 Program Overview [PDF 46kb]

For information on recent programs, please click on the links below:
» 2007 Program Report
» 2007 Program Schedule [PDF 26kb]
» Recent Program Participants [PDF 135kb]

Environment Minister Yuriko Koike and
Steven Perrotta (2004).

Participants: The program is designed for senior Congressional staff who work in areas where a deeper understanding of US-Japan relations and Japanese political, socioeconomic, and foreign policy trends can contribute to more informed and effective policymaking. Priority is placed on selecting a balanced group of participants with a strong potential to make substantial and lasting contributions in the policymaking process.

2007 delegates and JCIE staff meet with Seihan Mori,
chief abbot of Kiyomizu Temple.

Applying: The application period for 2008 has concluded. For information on future delegations please contact David Monico.

About JCIE : Founded in 1970, the Japan Center for International Exchange is a wholly nongovernmental, nonpartisan, and nonprofit organization headquartered in Tokyo. One of the leading independent institutions in the field of international relations in Japan, JCIE conducts political exchange programs for top American and Japanese policymakers, carries out policy research and dialogue projects on pressing international issues, and works to promote a greater understanding of civil society and philanthropy in Japan and the Asia Pacific region. The Congressional Staff Exchange Program is operated by its American counterpart, JCIE/USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York City which focuses specifically on strengthening US-Asia cooperation and mutual understanding on a wide range of regional and global issues, including nontraditional security threats, regional community building, and communicable diseases. For more information, please contact JCIE/USA:

James Gannon
Executive Director

David Monico
Program Assistant

Japan Center for International Exchange USA (JCIE/USA)
274 Madison Avenue, Suite 1102
New York, NY 10016
TEL: (212) 679-4130
FAX: (212) 679-8410
URL: www.jcie.org

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