Mansfield Fellowship Program

The Mansfield Fellowship Program—named after Mike Mansfield, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Senate Majority Leader, U.S. Senator and U.S. Congressman from Montana—is a first-of-its-kind program for both the United States and Japan. The two-year Fellowships enable U.S. federal government employees to develop an in-depth
understanding of Japan, learn how its government works, and establish relationships with their counterparts in the government of Japan as well as in the business, professional and academic communities.

TAC Young Economists Washington Seminar

The Mansfield Foundation, in collaboration with the Tokyo American Center (TAC) at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, hosted a program that involved organizing a visit to the United States for a delegation of six Japanese economists. A week of seminar discussions and on-site visits allowed the participants to get an inside look at the U.S. economic system and to exchange views on important issues impacting the U.S. and Japan.

U.S.-Japan Healthcare and Medical Devices Exchange

The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation welcomed eight civil servants from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) to Washington January 24-30, 2009 as part of a new exchange program. The U.S.-Japan Healthcare and Medical Device Exchange is bringing Japanese civil servants in the healthcare regulatory field to the United States to learn about U.S. healthcare policy and regulatory practices. During the January study trip, the Japanese participants met with their counterparts in the U.S. government, congressional staff, and U.S. healthcare professionals and engaged in information exchanges intended to contribute to the implementation of regulatory and health policies that promote innovation and favorable health outcomes.

U.S.-Japan Financial and Economic Cooperation Exchange

The U.S.-Japan Finance and Economic Cooperation Exchange is a program that enables Japanese government officials from six ministries to travel to the United States to meet their counterparts in the United States government; engage in policy dialogues with decision makers in Washington, D.C. and New York, and learn “best practices” in financial and economic policymaking.

ROK National Assembly Exchange

The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation welcomed five members of Korea’s National Assembly to Washington August 18-22, 2008 to discuss issues of importance to U.S.-Korea relations. Members of the delegation included: Chin Young (Grand National Party);Jeon Hye-Sook (Democratic Party); Lee Dal-gon(Grand National Party); Lim Hae-kyu(Grand National Party); and Park Sang-Eun(Grand National Party).

The study visit was supported by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and the Korea Foundation. During five days of meetings, the Korean lawmakers met with U.S. government officials and Asia experts to discuss issues including: U.S. policy and perspectives on North Korea; U.S. relations with China and other Asian nations; the presidential candidates’ views on Asia; and the process and politics involved in U.S. ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).

All China Youth Federation

The Foundation organized visits to Washington, D.C., for leaders from youth federations across Chinese cities, including members from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of Communications, and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

Women in Politics and Public Service

The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation (MMMF) in cooperation with the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) organized this two-phase program during which two delegations—American and Japanese—of influential women visited each others’ country and examined the policymaking processes. During the first phase of the program in December 2004, the U.S. delegation spent a week in Japan meeting their Japanese counterparts in public service; visiting public and non-governmental organizations whose mission is to focus on social policy; and sharing their experiences. Our collaborators in Japan were the Women’s Association for a Better Aging Society, The Dawn Center and the Fusae Ichikawa Memorial Association. In July 2005, the Japanese delegation spent a week in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Washington, D.C. visiting their American counterparts.