About Us

Commission & Secretariat

The Commission is composed of ten members, five Americans and five Japanese, who are appointed annually by their respective governments. Two members on each side represent the government while the remaining members come from the private sector. The Commission plays an important role in devising plans and setting policies regarding Japan-U.S. exchanges.

Commission Members

Japanese Honorary Co-Chairman American Honorary Co-Chairman
OKANO Masataka
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Rahm EMANUEL
U.S. Ambassador to Japan

Embassy of the United States of America
Japanese Members (Alphabetical Order) American Members (Alphabetical Order)
AKATSU Haruko
Vice President /
Professor of Medicine
International University of Health and Welfare
Daniel ERNST
Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs

Embassy of the United States of America
EGAWA Masako
Chancellor

Seikei Gakuen
Lauren HA
Associate Vice President
Office for Technology Development and Innovation
Okinawa Inst of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST)
KANEKO Mariko
Deputy Press Secretary /
Deputy Director-General for Press and Public Diplomacy
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
A. Sunshine ISON
Cultural Attaché
Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
NAITO Akio
President

Seiko Watch Corporation
Hans KLEMM
Japan Representative

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
WATANABE Sonoko [Chair]
Assistant Minister /
Director-General for International Affairs

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

David SEMAYA [Treasurer] 
Executive Chairman and Representative Director

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management Co., Ltd.