US Congressional Staff Exchange

1982–Present

As a complement to the ongoing US-Japan Parliamentary Exchange Program, JCIE established the US Congressional Staff Exchange Program in 1982 in recognition of the vital role Congressional staff members play in policymaking. The one-week study program provides senior Congressional staffers with the opportunity to meet Japanese legislators and policymakers and thus give them a sense of the Japanese policymaking process as well as political, economic, and societal trends. Participants also take part in briefings and roundtables with leading experts on bilateral, regional, and global issues, particularly those related to security and trade.

The program is designed to provide these influential staff members with a deeper appreciation of the US-Japan relationship and a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges for US government leaders, businesses, and other key decision makers in their interactions with Japan. By doing so, it helps enhance the quality of policy advice provided to US legislators. It is the longest-running congressional staff exchange with Japan and is operated on an application basis.

2019 Delegation
100
participants to date

PROGRAM NEWS


2023 US Congressional Staff Exchange

October 9–October 15, 2023 | Tokyo and Hiroshima

The 2023 US Congressional Staff Exchange Program gave 7 Congressional Staff the opportunity to travel Japan, where they met with Japanese leaders across politics, media, and academia.


ROUNDTABLE | Discussion with US Congressional Staff on Priorities of the 118th Congress

December 15, 2022 | Washington DC

JCIE/USA hosted a luncheon discussion with alumni of our US-Japan Congressional Staff Exchange Program, to share their thoughts on what to expect from the 118th Congress following the 2022 midterm ele…

Group photo with Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi

2022 US Congressional Staff Delegation

October 10–October 16, 2022 | Tokyo and Okinawa

The 2022 US Congressional Staff Exchange Program will give 8 Congressional Staff to Japan, where they will meet with Japanese leaders across politics, media, and academia.


Congressional Staff Briefing on US-Japan Relations

April 13, 2022 | Washington DC

JCIE/USA hosted a briefing with Minister Ishigaki (Embassy of Japan), Emma Chanlett-Avery, and Mark Manyin (Congressional Research Service) to update Congressional Staff on the latest developments for…


Japan 101 Course: US Japan Relations During the Biden-Suga Era | 2021 Session

March 2–26, 2021 | Online

The Spring 2021 run of JCIE’s online course for Congressional Staff, which provides them with opportunities to meet e world’s top experts on US-Japan security, trade, and political issues.


Japan 101 Course: Understanding US Japan Relations | 2020 Session

September 8–October 6, 2020 | Online

The first run of JCIE’s online course for Congressional Staff, which provides them with opportunities to meet e world’s top experts on US-Japan security, trade, and political issues.


2019 US Congressional Staff Delegation

May 25–June 1, 2019 | Tokyo and Aichi

The 2019 US Congressional Staff Exchange Program brought the 28th delegation of US Congressional Staff to Japan, where they met and engaged in discussions with a wide range of Japanese leaders, cabine…


2018 US Congressional Staff Delegation

May 26–June 2, 2018 | Tokyo and Kyoto

Six US Congressional staff took part in an intensive, weeklong series of roundtables, briefings, and site visits in Tokyo and Kyoto, meeting with a wide range of Japanese leaders, government represent…


2017 US Congressional Staff Delegation

May 27–June 3, 2017 | Tokyo and Hiroshima

The 2017 US Congressional Staff Exchange Program brought the 26th delegation of US Congressional Staff to Japan, where they met and engaged in discussions with a wide range of Japanese leaders, cabine…


2016 US Congressional Staff Delegation

July 23–30, 2016 | Tokyo and Nagoya

The 2016 US Congressional Staff Exchange Program brought the 25th delegation of US Congressional Staff to Tokyo and Nagoya, where they met and engaged in discussions with a wide range of Japanese lead…


2015 US Congressional Staff Delegation

November 7–14, 2015 | Tokyo, Yokohama, Okinawa

The 2015 US Congressional Staff Exchange Program brought the 24th delegation of US Congressional Staff to Japan, where they met and engaged in discussions with policy experts, government officials, an…


2014 US Congressional Staff Delegation

June 28–July 5, 2014 |

The 2014 US Congressional Staff Exchange Program brought the 23rd delegation of US Congressional Staff to Japan, where they met and engaged in discussions with Diet members, US Embassy officials, and…


2013 US Congressional Staff Delegation

August 3–10, 2013 | Tokyo, Yokohama, Okinawa

The 2013 US Congressional Staff Exchange Program brought the 2nd delegation of US Congressional Staff to Japan, where they met and engaged in discussions with corporate and nonprofit sector leaders, g…


2010 US Congressional Staff Delegation

February 13–20, 2010 | Tokyo and Kanagawa

The 2010 US Congressional Staff Exchange Program brought the 21st delegation of US Congressional Staff to Japan, where they met and engaged in discussions with Diet members, US Embassy officials, and…


2008 US Congressional Staff Delegation

August 23–30, 2008 | Tokyo

The 2008 US Congressional Staff Exchange Program brought the 20th delegation of US Congressional Staff to Japan, where they met and engaged in discussions with Japanese business leaders, Diet members,…

This program is made possible thanks to generous funding from the Japan–United States Friendship Commission.