Tomodachi Inouye Scholars Program
The TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars Program is a unique 8-day youth exchange that provides a total of 200 American and Japanese university students (100 American and 100 Japanese) an opportunity to learn about each other’s countries and cultures. Four selected universities in the United States were paired with a partner Japanese university to facilitate the exchanges.
To honor the life and legacy of Senator Daniel K. Inouye, the TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars exchanges were announced on May 28, 2013 by Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at the U.S.-Japan Council’s Symposium in Tokyo. A unique feature of the TOMODACHI Inouye Scholars Program is that it offers participants an opportunity to learn about Senator Daniel K. Inouye. A portion of the activities during the exchange will introduce scholars to Senator Inouye’s contributions to his state, country, heritage, and to the U.S.-Japan relationship, and to return to their schools inspired by his commitment to public service, justice, and U.S.-Japan cooperation.
Introducing Our Team
Transpacific Japan
Using a diasporic lens, this course has closely examined the histories, lives and experiences of Japanese Americans and Japanese while exploring the concepts of resilience, resistance and reconciliation. using this broader lens the class has explored a wide range of Japanese American history from the initial migration to the U.S. in the mid-19th century to current day. In this study the course has afforded students the opportunity to explore the numerous challenges and celebrations of establishing Japanese American communities, while taking note of simultaneous events in homeland Japan and their transnational implications.
As part of the global Immersion program through the Bellermine College of Liberal Arts at Loyola Marymount University the course culminates with a ten day experiential learning program in Japan. Collaborating with students and professors from Sophia University, Aoyoma Gakuien, and Doshisha University students have had the opportunity to learn about and explore Japanese culture and society while creating knew knowledge in the process.
As part of the course students are required to present a research project to be presented at Sophia University (LMU's Jesuit sister school) that looks at and analyzes the 'Japaneseness' of 'Japanese America'. Additionally students are required to compile a photo essay that documents their trip while telling a compelling story about Japanese culture and society. Both can be found on this site. In the spirit of LMU's rich Jesuit traditional series of student blog postings, or reflections can also be found here.
