U.S.-Japan Network for the Future

日本語はこちらへ | Meet our Scholars | Publications from our Scholars | Program Purpose | Eligibility | Organizers

Members of Cohort 3 and Cohort 4 of the U.S.-Japan Network for the Future gather with then-Advisory Committee members Ezra Vogel and Leonard Schoppa and representatives of the Japan Foundation in Washington in June 2016.

The U.S.-Japan Network for the Future is designed to support the next generations of public policy intellectuals working within the fields of Japan studies and/or policy issues pertinent to U.S.-Japan relations that lay the groundwork for a stable and prosperous world, a necessary component in solving the problems of the future.

The program brings together a network of these next-generation specialists—including academics and policy practitioners—who can bring diverse expertise and perspectives to the bilateral policy-making process in the mid- and long-term

This will lead to deeper and more vigorous dialogue and research on topics of immediate concern as well as on ways to strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship through cooperation and shared goals in the global arena.

The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation and the Japan Foundation, together with the program Advisory Committee, have completed six cohorts of this program, with a seventh and eighth in progress.

The purpose of the U.S.-Japan Network for the Future is to identify professionals specializing in Japan and/or policy issues pertinent to the U.S.-Japan relationship who demonstrate an interest in and potential for becoming policy intellectuals, and to support them in this effort.

The network includes U.S.-Japan specialists from all regions of the United States and Japan with diverse expertise and perspectives, and the ability to participate constructively in the bilateral policymaking process and to contribute to U.S.-Japan understanding.

Participants are expected to attend and actively participate in five meetings across two years. Programming includes study trips in Washington, DC, a retreat in Montana, and a study trip in Japan. During the final event in Washington, DC, the participants will have opportunities to present their research and discuss current issues impacting the U.S.-Japan relationship.

Cohort 8’s planned program agenda is as follows:

• A workshop in Washington, DC (June 1-5, 2026)
• A retreat in Montana (October 2-5, 2026)
• A week-long study trip in Washington, DC (January 10-15, 2027)
• A week-long Japan study trip (June 6-13, 2027)
• Public symposium and current issues panel discussions (June 2028)
• Note: please ensure your availability allows for traveling to/from events on these dates

This program is designed to help next-generation public policy intellectuals expand their understanding of policy issues pertinent to U.S.-Japan relations and strengthen their ability to participate constructively in the bilateral policymaking process in the mid- and long-term and to contribute to U.S.-Japan understanding more broadly.

Throughout the two-year program, participants are expected to:

• Develop their network of contacts;
• Engage with other Network members;
• Engage others in the academic and policy fields with what they have learned through the program;
• Prepare for and actively participate in the program’s meetings, workshops, group activities, and study trips;
• Support the program’s larger goals and objectives;
• Conduct independent research on key issues of particular interest to them;
• Produce and seek to publish or otherwise disseminate op-ed pieces and commentary/blog posts on important policy issues related to Japan studies and/or U.S.-Japan relations;
• Have the option to be featured in a Mansfield Foundation-produced podcast;
• Present their research and discuss current issues during the program’s last meeting, a public symposium in Washington, DC.

All applicants must be currently and actively involved in Japan studies and/or the U.S.-Japan dialogue. The program is targeted towards scholars and practitioners with a professional interest in and engagement with Japan and/or policy issues pertinent to the U.S.-Japan relationship and work experience in policy-relevant fields. In addition to having an interest in public policy, successful applicants will be able to demonstrate their interest in and potential for becoming future leaders in the U.S.-Japan relationship.

The working language for this program is English, and as such, requires that all members be able to comfortably participate and engage in the meetings and discussions in English. Additionally:

• S.-based applicants must be American citizens or permanent residents who ideally have a working knowledge of the Japanese language.
• Japan-based applicants must be Japanese nationals.

Because we are seeking to identify a future generation of leaders, ideal candidates are in the early- to mid-career stage. In the academic context, normally this translates into scholars at the advanced assistant- or early associate-professor levels. Policy professionals or practitioners should have a Master’s degree and at least five years of Japan experience.

The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation is a 501(c) (3) organization that promotes understanding and cooperation in U.S.-Asia relations. Maureen and Mike Mansfield’s values, ideals, and vision for U.S.-Asia relations continue through the Foundation’s exchanges, dialogues, research, and educational programs, which create networks among U.S. and Asian leaders, explore the underlying issues influencing public policies, and increase awareness about the nations and peoples of Asia. The Foundation has offices in Washington, DC, Tokyo, Japan, and Missoula, Montana.

Co-organizer and Headline Funder

The Japan Foundation is Japan’s only institution dedicated to carrying out comprehensive international cultural exchange programs throughout the world. The three key pillars of activities are Arts and Cultural Exchange, Japanese-Language Education Overseas, and Japanese Studies and Global Partnerships. The Japan Foundation has a global network consisting of the Tokyo Headquarters, the Kyoto Office, two affiliated organizations (the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa; and the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai), and 26 overseas offices. The Foundation facilitates exchange in a variety of fields with the aim of further deepening mutual understanding and ties between Japanese people and the world.

Additional Support Provided by:

The Toshiba International Foundation, based in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting understanding of Japan through international exchanges while contributing to local and global community development.

Through support for a wide range of initiatives and projects by public grants and its own programs, the foundation encourages exploration of Japan in its many facets: its history, culture and arts, its politics, economy and technology, and combinations thereof.

For further information, please contact Ms. Leah Klaas at (202) 347-1994 or usjnetworkinfo [at]mansfieldfdn.org.

Program Updates