US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange

1973–Present

In 1973, JCIE and the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) jointly launched the US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program, an annual bilateral exchange program designed to expose young leaders of each country to the politics and policymaking processes of the other country and to enhance their understanding of US-Japan relations. These two-week intensive study programs involve travel to at least two cities where delegates meet with senior government officials, representatives from political parties, industry executives, and community leaders. US delegations, split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, include state and local elected officials, federal and state officials, party officers, and Congressional staff. Japanese delegations consist of prefectural and local officials, assistants to Diet members, and policy staff from the governing and opposition parties. Over the years, the US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program has helped create personal networks among leaders from both countries.

The 2018 delegation meeting with Diet Member Kuniko Inoguchi, who served as Japan's first Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs
US alumni include:
Elizabeth Dole (former senator), Wyche Fowler (former senator and former ambassador to Saudi Arabia), Bill Graves (former governor of Kansas), Rep. Greg Walden, and Rep. Stephen Cohen.
100
participants to date
Early Japan alumni include:
Keizo Obuchi (former prime minister), Koichi Kato (former defense minister and secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party), and Morihiro Hosokawa (former prime minister).

PROGRAM NEWS


2023 US Young Political Leaders 50th Anniversary Delegation to Japan

January 21–28, 2023 | Tokyo, Nagano

Celebrating 50 years of partnership between JCIE and the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), a delegation of 5 US Young Political Leaders traveled to Japan to meet with a variety of p…


2022 Japanese Young Political Leaders Virtual Exchange

March 1–25, 2022 | Online

The 2022 US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program was held virtually, allowing the 31st Japanese delegation to explore US-Japanese relations and build global relationships.


ACYPL Virtual Town Hall | From the Pandemic to the Podium: Perspectives from Japan

July 20, 2021 | Online

In the lead up to the Tokyo Olympics JCIE co-hosted a virtual town hall meeting that brought together Japanese legislators and media persons to discuss the event.


2021 US Young Political Leaders Virtual Exchange

May 18–June 4, 2021 | Online

The 2021 US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program was held virtually, allowing the US delegation to explore US-Japanese relations and build global relationships.


2021 Japanese Young Political Leaders Virtual Exchange

March 9–31, 2021 | Online

The 2021 US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program was held virtually, allowing the 30th Japanese delegation to explore US-Japanese relations and build global relationships.


2019 US Young Political Leaders Delegation to Japan

November 16–26, 2019 | Tokyo, Kochi, Aichi

A bipartisan delegation of six state and local-level US political leaders visited Tokyo, Kochi Prefecture, and Aichi Prefecture for a series of meetings and roundtables with a variety of policymakers,…


December 2018 US Young Political Leaders Delegation to Japan

December 1–11, 2018 | Tokyo, Gunma, Fukuoka

The 2018 US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program brought US state and local officials to Tokyo, Gunma, and Fukuoka to meet with Diet members, prefectural and local-level officials, policy ex…


2018 Japanese Young Political Leaders Delegation to US

June 9–19, 2018 | Washington DC, Oklahoma, Colorado

The 2018 US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program brought the 29th Japanese delegation to the US, providing an opportunity for them to meet and engage in discussions with government officials…


March 2018 US Young Political Leaders Delegation to Japan

February 24–March 8, 2018 | Tokyo, Sagamihara, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi

A bipartisan delegation of six local-level legislators and political leaders from the US visited Tokyo, Sagamihara, Hiroshima, and Yamaguchi Prefecture for meetings with policy experts, policymakers,…


2017 Japanese Young Political Leaders Delegation to the US

October 24–November 2, 2017 | Washington DC; Orange County, CA

The 2017 US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program brought the 28th Japanese delegation to the US, providing an opportunity for them to meet and engage in discussions with government officials…


2016 US Young Political Leaders Delegation to Japan

December 3–15, 2016 | Tokyo, Kochi, Gifu

The 2016 US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program brought US state and local officials to Japan, providing an opportunity for them to meet and engage in discussions with Diet members, prefect…


2016 Japanese Young Political Leaders Delegation to the US

September 11–23, 2016 | Washington DC, Michigan, Colorado

The 2016 US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program brought Japanese local legislators and Diet staffers to Washington DC, Michigan, and Colorado to meet with government officials, policy exper…


2015 Japanese Young Political Leaders Delegation to the US

July 26–August 6, 2015 | Washington DC, North Carolina, Seattle

The 26th Japanese young political leaders delegation to the US visited DC, North Carolina, and Seattle to meet with US national and local policymakers, experts, Japanese embassy officials, business le…


2014 US Young Political Leaders Delegation to Japan

September 20–October 2, 2014 | Tokyo, Ibaraki, Okayama, Kyoto

Six local-level legislators and political leaders from the United States visited Tokyo, Ibaraki, Okayama, and Kyoto for meetings with policy experts, policymakers, business and NGO leaders, and others…


2013 US Young Political Leaders Delegation to Japan

September 28–October 11, 2013 | Tokyo, Kumamoto, Kanagawa

The 2013 delegation of six state and local-level US political leaders visited Tokyo, Kumamoto Prefecture, and Kanagawa Prefecture for a series of meetings and roundtables with national policymakers, b…

This program is made possible thanks to generous funding from the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership (CGP).