Japanese American leaders visit Tokyo and Kobe

The 2016 Japanese American Leadership Delegation. Front, from left: Darren Nakata, Monte Del Mar (Noda) Mesa, Kiyo Matsumoto, Tasha Yorozu, Eric Nakajima, Stan Masamitsu. Back, from left: Mark Yokoyama, Bruce Harrell, Eric Hiraga, Bruce Hollywood. (Photo from U.S.-Japan Council)

Seattle City Council President Bruce Harrell, and Darren T. Nakata, an attorney from Portland, Oregon, joined eight other Japanese American leaders from March 5 to 12 in a visit to Japan.

The Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) program, in its 16th year, is an opportunity for Japanese American leaders from across the U.S. to engage with Japanese leaders in the business, government, academic, nonprofit and cultural sectors, and to strengthen U.S.–Japan relations.

The delegates participated in a panel discussion in Kobe, sponsored by the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership and the U.S.–Japan Council (USJC). Then in Tokyo, the delegation met with the prime minister, foreign minister and top business executives.