2027 Japanese American Leadership Delegation
2026/7/17
The Government of Japan is seeking candidates for the 2027 Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) program. Individuals selected for this program must be available to travel to Japan from Saturday, February 6 to saturday, February 13, 2027 and attend the mandatory orientation in Los Angeles on Friday, January 15 – Saturday, January 16, 2027.
Selection criteria include:
For the 2027 delegation, preference will be given to individuals with extensive experience in the following sectors:
In principle, delegates should be between 40 and 55 years of age to ensure long-term opportunities to build U.S.-Japan relations through their professional and community activities. Reflecting the program's goals, priority will be given to sansei, yonsei, and gosei, including Japanese Americans of mixed racial backgrounds, as well as Shin-nisei, individuals whose parents are immigrants from Japan.
The past participants from the Seattle area are as follows:
2003 Kip Tokuda, Former State Representative, State of Washington
2004 Ron Mamiya, Judge, Seattle Municipal Court
2005 Lori Matsukawa, Anchor, KING5-TV
2006 Sharon Tomiko Santos, Representative, State of Washington
2007 Harold Taniguchi, Director, Department of Transportation, Metropolitan King County
2008 Tom Ikeda, Executive Director, Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
2009 Elaine Ko, Executive Director, Hokubei Hochi Foundation
2010 John Okamoto, Executive Director, Washington Education Association
Jill Nishi, Deputy Director, U.S. Libraries Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2011 Phyllis Campbell, Chairman, Pacific Northwest, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
2012 Mark Mitsui, President, North Seattle Community College
2013 Kelly Ogilvie, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor, State of Washington
2014 Brad Miyake, City Manager, City of Bellevue
2015 Lynn Hashimoto, Attorney, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Cooperation
2016 Bruce Harrell, President, Seattle City Council
2017 Patrick Oishi, Judge, King County Superior Court
2018 Denise Moriguchi, President and CEO, Uwajimaya, Inc.
2019 Britt Yamamoto, Founder and President, iLEAP
2023 Calvin J. Terada, Director, Superfund and Emergency Management Division for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 10
2024 Naomi Kawamura, Executive Director, Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
2025 Kendee Yamaguchi, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce
2026 Steve Hobbs, Secretary of State of Washington
If you are interested in participating in this special program, please review the links below and send the requested documents to General-Political Affairs Section at somuseimu@se.mofa.go.jp by Monday, August 17, 2026.
2027 Japanese American Leadership Delegation Fact Sheet
2027 Japanese American Leadership Delegation Application
Selection criteria include:
- Successful and senior leadership in one’s profession
- High level of interest or experience in U.S.-Japan relations
- Commitment to strengthening U.S.-Japan relations in the future
- Interest in expanding the role of Japanese Americans in U.S.-Japan relations
- Representation from geographic areas not included in prior delegations
- Commitment to demonstrating leadership within local Japanese American communities
For the 2027 delegation, preference will be given to individuals with extensive experience in the following sectors:
- Local, state, regional or federal government, including appointed and elected officials
- Philanthropy, nonprofit and education
- Technology/AI, startups
- Sustainability and energy
- Business, finance, investment
In principle, delegates should be between 40 and 55 years of age to ensure long-term opportunities to build U.S.-Japan relations through their professional and community activities. Reflecting the program's goals, priority will be given to sansei, yonsei, and gosei, including Japanese Americans of mixed racial backgrounds, as well as Shin-nisei, individuals whose parents are immigrants from Japan.
The past participants from the Seattle area are as follows:
2003 Kip Tokuda, Former State Representative, State of Washington
2004 Ron Mamiya, Judge, Seattle Municipal Court
2005 Lori Matsukawa, Anchor, KING5-TV
2006 Sharon Tomiko Santos, Representative, State of Washington
2007 Harold Taniguchi, Director, Department of Transportation, Metropolitan King County
2008 Tom Ikeda, Executive Director, Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
2009 Elaine Ko, Executive Director, Hokubei Hochi Foundation
2010 John Okamoto, Executive Director, Washington Education Association
Jill Nishi, Deputy Director, U.S. Libraries Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2011 Phyllis Campbell, Chairman, Pacific Northwest, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
2012 Mark Mitsui, President, North Seattle Community College
2013 Kelly Ogilvie, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor, State of Washington
2014 Brad Miyake, City Manager, City of Bellevue
2015 Lynn Hashimoto, Attorney, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Cooperation
2016 Bruce Harrell, President, Seattle City Council
2017 Patrick Oishi, Judge, King County Superior Court
2018 Denise Moriguchi, President and CEO, Uwajimaya, Inc.
2019 Britt Yamamoto, Founder and President, iLEAP
2023 Calvin J. Terada, Director, Superfund and Emergency Management Division for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 10
2024 Naomi Kawamura, Executive Director, Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
2025 Kendee Yamaguchi, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce
2026 Steve Hobbs, Secretary of State of Washington
If you are interested in participating in this special program, please review the links below and send the requested documents to General-Political Affairs Section at somuseimu@se.mofa.go.jp by Monday, August 17, 2026.
2027 Japanese American Leadership Delegation Fact Sheet
2027 Japanese American Leadership Delegation Application