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-Chair American Honorary Co-Chair
FUNAKOSHI Takehiro
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
George GLASS
U.S. Ambassador to Japan
Embassy of the United States of America
Japanese Members (Alphabetical Order) American Members (Alphabetical Order)
EGAWA Masako
Chancellor
Seikei Gakuen
Meghan Elizabeth BARSTOW
President & Representative Director
Edelman Japan K.K.

KITAYAMA Koji 
Assistant Minister /
Director-General for International Affairs
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

Daniel ERNST [Chair]
Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs
Embassy of the United States of America
 

KUNII Osamu
CEO and Executive Director
Global Health Innovative Technology Fund
 

Lauren HA
Associate Vice President
Office for Technology Development and Innovation
Okinawa Inst of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST)
NAITO Akio
President
Seiko Watch Corporation
 
A. Sunshine ISON
Cultural Attaché
Public Affairs Section
Embassy of the United States of America
SAKATA Natsuko
Deputy Press Secretary /
Deputy Director-General for Press and Public Diplomacy /
Deputy Assistant Minister for Evidence-based Policymaking
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
David SEMAYA [Treasurer] 
Executive Chairman and Representative Director
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management Co., Ltd.