JASC JOURNAL
Welcome JASC’s newest Alumni!
We welcome the latest JASC delegation back from Japan! The 61st JASC
brought together 36 American and 36 Japanese delegates from July
21 through August 21 in Seattle, Tokyo, Hakodate, Nagano and Kyoto.
The American delegation met in Seattle for American Orientation at the
University of Washington. After learning about Japanese architecture from
alumnus Ken Tadashi Oshima, JASC 39 (1987) and meeting with alumni
Sara Woolsey, JASC 32 (1980), David Gallimore, JASC 35 (1983), Allison
Kramer, JASC 52 & 53 (2000 & 2001) and Melissa Burkart, JASC 57 (2005)
at a send-off reception hosted by Seattle Consul General of Japan Mr.
Namba, they flew to Tokyo to meet the Japanese delegation.
JASC 61 visited Tokyo from July 28th through August 4th. American and
Japanese delegates bonded during an exchange of gifts and culture.
Hiroki Shioji, JASC 24 (1972) helped the student Executive Committee
arrange a special lecture from Mr. Naoki Inose, Vice Governor of the Tokyo
Metropolitan Government. Delegates met officials from the U.S. Embassy in
Tokyo and were hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a reception at
Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo.
At the 75th anniversary of JASC, delegates enjoyed commemorative events.
Haruo Yamamoto, JASC 16 & 17 (1964 & 1965) reports, “All the 61st JASC
student delegates and many alumni from both Japan and the U.S. gathered
at the Majima Memorial Hall of Aoyama Gakuin University where the famous
group photo was taken in July 1934. We took a commemorative photo in
the same place this year.” Wataru Umezaki, JASC 19 (1967) led alumni new
and old in singing the JASC Song together.
From August 4th to August 9th, JASCers enjoyed a holiday in Hakodate
during its 150th Anniversary Port Festival. Delegates visited the Hakodate
fish auction and kept up their energy with exercise and games at the Japan
Self-Defense Force Naval Base. Professor Ryuichi Teshima and Air Marshall
Sadamasa Oue attended a forum on the future of U.S.-Japan diplomacy.
Next the delegation traveled to the town of Obuse where they enjoyed a
very warm reception from their host families. The delegation dressed in
yukata and attended a reception at the beautiful Obuse Flower Garden. The
delegates stopped on August 11th in Matsushiro for a day of WWII reflection
to visit the Underground Imperial Headquarters and participated in group
discussions with a local high school club about war and peace.
Continued pg. 2...
Fall 2009
61st JASC Highlights
American Orientation:
• Consulate General reception
Tokyo
• Business visits and field trips
• 75th Anniversary Commemoration
Hakodate
• 150th Anniversary Port Festival
• Fish Auction & Lecture
Nagano
• Homestay in Obuse
• Matsushiro War & Peace Discussion
• Camping and American BBQ
Kyoto
• Final Forum and reception
• Kongou Noh Theater performance
61st JASC 2009 Commemorative Photo
1st JASC 1934 at Aoyama Gakuin
International Student Conferences
1150 18th Street, NW, Suite LL2 • Washington, DC 20036 • (202) 289-4231
jasc@iscdc.org • www.iscdc.org
61st JASC Capstone Project Updates
Globalizing Economies Roundtable
Launches GLOBE
by Michelle Arguelles, JASC 61
The GLOBE website was a project
by 61st JASC delegates to focus
on improving the accessibility of
BRICs markets for foreign investors
and entrepreneurs. Through our
discussions and field trips at JASC,
we discovered the importance of
“localization” in global business.
We hope to bring together people
who care about these issues and
who want to learn about business
practices in globalizing economies.
GLOBE, or Global-Local Online
Business Exchange, is a website
aimed at providing discussion and a
didactic experience for entrepreneurs
all over the world. Visitors are free
to join the forums and discuss topics
ranging from potential business
models to local business etiquette.
We encourage the open exchange
of ideas and information, so that
forum members can support and
learn from each other. We intend to
translate the website into Japanese,
Portuguese, Chinese, and Russian to
allow greater accessibility and extend
our project worldwide.
We hope to expand the GLOBE
project by setting up a networking
system in which people with similar
regional and business interests are
grouped together to have a more
personal and intensive discussion.
In these smaller groups, participants
can move their discussion at a faster
pace and at their desired level of
depth.
If you are interested in globalizing
economies, please visit our website
at http://www.globepartnership.net,
join our forums and sign up for our
partnership project.
JASC Partnership on International
Development
In order to achieve their goal of
“creating a medium to engage both
Japanese and American individuals
to foster development in developing
countries,” the International
Development roundtable created
opportunities for online outreach: a
Facebook group titled 61st JASC:
International Development -- A Real
Solution and a team on KIVA, the
person-to-person micro lending
website. So far this group has
attracted 69 fans on Facebook and
collected $125 to be donated via
KIVA to Filipina entrepreneurs. See
www.kiva.org/team/61_jasc for more
information.
(JASC’s Newest Alumni) Continued from page 1.
In Nagano, delegates visited the famous Zenkoji Temple and participated
in a forum with keynote speaker Jin Murai, Governor of Nagano prefecture.
American delegates held a campout night complete with barbeque, s’mores,
scary stories and games in the tradition of summer camp.
JASCers arrived in Kyoto, their final site, on August 14th, and enjoyed a
private demonstration at the Kongou Noh Theater with explanation by Rachel
Straum, JASC 60 & 61 (2008 & 2009). On August 18th, the 61st delegation
presented their final projects at Kyoto City International Cultural Exchange
Hall at the Final Forum after a speech by Keynote Speaker Dr. Koji Murata
of Doshisha University. The audience included JASC alumni, local high
school and university students, local organizations and community members.
Afterward, each round table set up a booth for guests to ask questions and
give feedback on their projects.
Delegates enjoyed a final dinner and Talent Show at Temple Ninnaji to
celebrate their new friendships and success and expressed thanks the 61st
Executive Committee for their hard work planning a great conference. As the
61st JASC came to a close, elections were held and new group of 16 leaders
were chosen to continue the tradition for the 62nd JASC in the U.S. next
summer.
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War and Peace Discussion
Delegates wear yukata in Obuse
Summary of the 62nd JASC
Theme: To Understand, To Unite, To Act: Continuous Evolution through Integrated Perspectives
July 23 - August 21, 2010
Earlham College, Richmond, IN
George Washington University, Washington, DC
New Orleans, LA
San Francisco, CA
JASC 62 Roundtables:
Empowering Today’s Youth: Overcoming Challenges in Society
Revitalizing Education: The Promotion of Individual Character
Security, Military and Peace: The U.S. and Japan
Social Entrepreneurship: The Power to Transform
Spreading Environmental Awareness in Industrial Developing Nations
Sustainable Regionalism: How can urban cities and local communities coexist?
The Role of National Identity in the Globalizing Society
Japanese Executive Committee:
Azusa Kato** Keio University
Mari Nakamura
Tokyo Univ of Foreign Studies
Toru Omiya
University of Tokyo
Natsuki Sakata University of Tokyo
Yuri Sugimoto Kyoto University
Shuta Takada
University of Tokyo
Hiroki Takahashi
Hitotsubashi University
Koichiro Yasukawa* Waseda University
American Executive Committee:
Yudai Chiba Princeton University
Leah Flake**
Smith Colllege
Mariama Holman Wake Forest University
Diane Lee Smith College
David Myers SUNY Geneseo
Ikuno Naka Wellesley College
Marie Watanabe Wellesley College
Naoki John Yoshida* Cornell University
*Chair, **Vice-Chair
For more information please visit www.iscdc.org or the AEC blog at www. jasc62.blogspot.com
Alumnus Named Goodwill Ambassador
JASC Wish List
Larry Ingraham, JASC 26 (1974) was
awarded the title of “Tochigi Goodwill
Ambasssador” in September by Governor
Tomikazu Fukuda of Tochigi Prefecture.
Larry received the honor while in Japan
for the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association
Conference held at the Imperial Hotel
in Tokyo from September 13-15, the
24th consecutive Midwest U.S.-Japan
Association conference that he has
attended. At the conference, he met Jennifer Eusebio, JASC 59
(2007), who is now the Coordinator for International Relations for the
Tourism Department of Yamanashi Prefecture. Larry was director
of the State of Indiana’s East Asian Office in Tokyo from 1983-1986.
Since 1990, he has operated his own consulting firm, Ingraham &
Associates, to continue to promote business between the U.S. and
Japan. Larry lives in Carmel, IN.
• Adobe Creative Suite 4
Have you seen the beautiful new JASC
posters and brochures? JASC would like
to upgrade our design software from CS2
to CS4 so that we can continue to produce
print materials to promote JASC. As the
software is expensive, we’re looking for
your support in legally securing a donation
of CS4 software or funds to purchase the
program. If you haven’t seen the new JASC
62 brochure, check out the web version at
www.iscdc.org.
• Humidifier
If you have a gently used humidifier that you
would like to donate, please contact us at
jasc@iscdc.org.
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2009 Roundtable Paper Contest Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the 61st RT Paper Contest!
First place was awarded to Dylan Tracy of University of Idaho, and second place was awarded to Michelle Arguelles
of Boston College. Congratulations are also in order to the winners of honorable mention: Leah Flake of Smith
College and Katherine Marshall of Columbia University.
Paper Titles
• Dylan: Antibiotics and Pharmaceutical Drugs: Our Best Friend or Worst Enemy?
• Michelle: How Green is the BRICs Dream?
• Leah: Corporate Social Responsibility: Profit, PR, and Pressure in the Face of an Environmental Crisis
• Katy: Cracking “The Culture Code”: Balancing Curricular Reform in Japan and the United States
Robin Berrington Elected to ISC Board
Thanks to our Retiring Board Members
ISC is excited to welcome Mr. Robin Berrington to our
Board of Directors.
Dr. Marlene Mayo has been a member of the ISC Board
since the very beginning of JASC, Inc. itself. Shortly
after recruiting her first JASC delegate, Steven Fuller,
in 1979 Mr. Earl Cook recruited Dr. Mayo to join the
Board. Since then she has been an extremely dedicated
member and assisted with so many projects from setting
up our archives at the University of Maryland College
Park to recruiting students and giving advice on all things
academic. We are truly grateful for Dr. Mayo’s service.
Robin Berrington retired from the U.S. Foreign Service
after a 32-year career. He had five assignments in Japan,
including cultural attaché at the American Embassy in
Tokyo from 1989 to 1993, and again from 2001 to 2002.
In the 1970’s and 80’s, he was the director of the Fukuoka
American Center and the Tokyo American Center. He
received the U.S. government’s superior honor award for
his work in Japan. After leaving the Foreign Service Mr.
Berrington was asked by the Clinton Administration to be
the deputy director of the President’s Committee on the
Arts and the Humanities.
Mr. Robert Sigler first joined the ISC Board in June 2000.
In his 9 years of service, Mr. Sigler has been part of an
ad-hoc committee on JASC’s future, our nominating
committee and supported us with in kind and personal
donations. We sincerely thank him for his service.
Mr. Berrington was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and received
a B.A. from Wesleyan University and an M.A. in Japanese
Studies from Harvard University. From 1963 to 1965 he
was a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand. Mr. Berrington
is a fellow at the Royal Academy of Arts in London; serves
on the international board of Kodo, the Japanese drum
troupe, and the advisory board of the Isamu Noguchi
Foundation; assists the Japan America Society of Washington with its annual nation-wide Japan Bowl competition; is a senior director of the Fund for Arts and Culture;
and is currently a volunteer at the Reptile Discovery
Center at the National Zoo. He is the former president of
the board of the DC Youth Orchestra Program. His hobbies include music and hiking, his languages are Thai and
Japanese. He currently resides in Washington, DC.
62nd AEC at ISC Open House
ISC Open House a Success
On October 16th, ISC hosted an open house for the 62nd
JASC AEC to meet with local organizations and alumni. On
a windy and rainy night, roughly 25 local organizations and
alumni braved the weather to attend our Open House. We
were honored by attendance from the Japanese Embassy
by Minister of Public Affairs Mr. Fukushima, as well as
Japan Information and Culture Center First Secretary, Mr.
Odagiri. The AEC presented their plans for the coming
Conference, including roundtable topics and JASC 2010
sites. Afterward, everyone enjoyed the opportunity to
mingle and discuss US and Japanese affairs.
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JASC Presents: December 18 in NYC
Family Foundations and Giving
By Kayoko Hirata, JASC 60 & 61 (2008 & 2009)
By Heather Conahan, JASC 43 (1991)
Most people assume that only very wealthy
families can have family foundations, but that
is not the case. There are currently more than
37,000 family foundations in the U.S., 60% of
which have assets of less than $1 million.
“Towards Global Awareness: Celebrating 75 Years of JASC”
As JASC celebrates its 75th anniversary, we would like to take a
moment to reflect on the long history of promoting friendship and
strengthening the ties between the two countries while reviewing
the contributions of the 61st Conference.
Date: Friday December 18, 2009
Time: 5:00-7:00 PM (Reception following)
Location: 403 Kent Hall, Columbia University, New York, NY
(Between Broadway and 116th Street)
RSVP: jasc@iscdc.org by December 7th
Final Call: Silent Auction
Sharp generously contributed 4 small flat screen TVs to the JASC
Silent Auction last winter. We have one more left to auction off.
If you are interested, please email your bid amount with your
name, address, and phone number to: jasc@iscdc.org.
All bids must be received by midnight on December 30, 2010.
The highest bidder will win! Happy bidding!
Item: 19” Sharp Flat Screen HDTV
High Performance TFT-LCD: Resolution 1366x768
Estimated value: $349.99
5th U.S.-Japan Youth Forum
By Haruo Yamamoto, JASC 16 & 17 (1964 & 1965)
The 5th U.S.-Japan Youth Forum is scheduled for Friday,
November 27th at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan.
The theme of this year’s Forum is “Youth Challenge to Social
Innovation - Dynamicas of Leadership in the Changing Cociety.”
Youth of the world have focused on problems that are yet to be
solved because of the dramatic change occurring in society,
which leads to insufficient institutions and movements. With
their experience, they have motivated themselves to solve the
problems with uniqueness and creativity.
The event will be moderated by Koji Jimba, JASC 60 & 61 (2008
& 2009) and feature six panelists including two JASCers from
Japan, two American alumni, and guest panelists from the U.K.
and Korea.
The Forum was founded in 2005, and is organized by JASC
Japan, America Japan Society and Fulbright Japan.
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Family foundations allow for an immediate
tax deduction for their contributions (with
some limitations based on taxable income),
and then manage the contributions until such
time that contributions are required (by law) or
desired.
There is also another option: the donoradvised fund. These funds are usually set
up and managed through a community
foundation and are basically mutual funds that
allow you to make deductible contributions,
invest the money in mutual fund-type
investments, and then provide input on where
it should go.
The advantages of a donor-advised fund
are that they are generally less expensive to
set up and administer, you can donate up to
either 50% of your adjusted gross income for
cash, and 30% of your AGI for appreciated
assets and donor-advised funds are not
required to make any annual distributions
(unlike foundations which require 5% annual
distributions).
The main drawback of the donor-advised fund
is that you cannot fully control distributions as
you could for a family foundation, as donoradvised funds aren’t legally obligated to follow
the donor’s wishes.
But if you are inclined to make a lifetime or
at-death gift to charity (such as JASC!), the
donor-advised fund is a cheaper and easier
alternative for lower levels of gifting.
If you have any questions, please feel free to
contact Heather K.L. Conahan, Esq., JASC 43
(1991) and she would be happy to give you
guidance. Her phone number is (808) 5248099 and e-mail is Heather@Conahan.com.
Invigorating JASC Symposium & 75th
Anniversary Celebration held in Tokyo
JASCer Notes
Jeff and Vicki Barker, JASC 21 (1969)
are pictured at left with their new
grandson Owen Gregory Moawad.
Jeff is a retired police lieutenant from
Portland, Oregon and is currently running
for a fifth term in the Oregon House of
Representatives representing Beaverton.
Over 200 alumni came together on November 7th, 2009
to celebrate our 75 years of history, make new friendships
among alumni and learn about the contributions to society
made by our fellow JASC-spirited alumni.
The event began with a symposium featuring Masamoto
Yashiro, JASC 11 & 12 (1950 & 1951), Chariman of
Shinsei Bank, Glen Fukushima, JASC 22 & 23 (1970
& 1971), President of Airbus Japan, Sakie Fukushima,
JASC 22 & 23 (1970 & 1971), Chair of Korn Ferry Japan,
Jonathan Hall, JASC 39 & 40 (1987 & 1988), Professor
at Pomona College, and Nobuyuki Nakamura, JASC 55
(2003), graduate student at Osaka University.
James Wilkinson, JASC 24 (1972) was awarded an
Upper Midwest Human Rights Fellowship from the
University of Minnesota Human Rights Center. He has
been invited to analyze treatment practices for premature
infants at risk of disabilities.
Yoriko Kishimoto, JASC 26 (1974) is a member of the
Palo Alto City Council and also running for California State
Assembly, so check her out at www.yoriko4assembly.org.
Opening the reception
with a Kagamiwari,
event organizers and
ISC Board Chairman
Stephen Moss, JASC
31 (1979) broke a
barrel of sake.
Jon O’Neal, JASC 30 & 31 (1978 & 1979) directed his
first feature film, AU PAIR, KANSAS, a dramedy. The film
should play festival around the world in 2010. See
www.aupairkansas.com for more information.
JASCers enjoyed a visit
from Princess Takamado at the reception following the
symposium. The event was invigorating to alumni, in the
words of Hiroyasu Ichikawa, JASC 44 (1992), “it was
a really inspiring occasion to be at the ceremony. I was
re-charged with the idealism I had during my JASC 17
years ago, meeting with many old and new JASC friends
is always a refreshing experience.”
Andrew Infosino, JASC 34 & 35 (1982 & 1983) is married
to Silvia Cecchini and has a 4 1/2 year-old daughter,
Isabella, and a 3 year-old son, Marco. He is on the
Faculty of Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology
at UC- San Francisco.
With many alumni in attendance, the event was a great
opportunity for early and recent alumni alike to meet and
continue to foster friendship, mutual understanding and
peace across our generations of JASC!
William Byun, JASC 37 & 38 (1985 & 1986) is working for
Asia Renewables, a company that develops and invests
in renewable energy and carbon abatement projects in
emerging Asia.
Kira Bacal, JASC 37 (1985) is happy to announce her
new daughter, Harper Rose Bacal, born October 19, 2009.
Miryam (Silverman) Sas, JASC 39 & 40 (1987 & 1988)
has a new book to be released spring 2010 from Harvard
University Asia Center: Experimental Arts in Postwar
Japan: Moments of Encounter, Engagement, and
Imagined Return.
Standford Lin, JASC 43 (1991) recently joined WalMart China as their new Senior Director of Strategy &
Innovation, based in Shenzhen, China. Previously, he
was a consultant with McKinsey & Company in the United
States and Hong Kong.
Princess Takamado with alumni (from left) Harou Yamamoto, Earl
Cook, Stephen Moss and Yoshinori Imai.
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JASCer Notes
Connie Beson-Steger, JASC 46 & 47 (1994 & 1995)
is teaching at Bay City Central High School. She and
husband Mike are raising two little boys, Andrew and
Zachary, and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their third
child this April.
Aya Spencer, JASC 61 (2009) has joined JASC Presents
as an event organizer for Washington, DC.
Apichai Shipper (National Advisory Committee) had a
new book, Fighting for Foreigners: Immigration and Its
Impact on Japanese Democracy, published by Cornell
University Press in November 2008.
Malik Rashid, JASC 47 & 48 (1995 & 1996) had a visit
from Masashi Tajiri, JASC 47, 48 & 49 (1995, 1996 &
1997) in October and is enjoying some time off after
ending employment with Merrill Lynch.
OBITUARY
Robert Hartmann, JASC 4 & 5 (1937 & 1938)
Karli (Kreindler) Sherwinter, JASC 49 & 50 (1997 & 1998)
and husband Danny Sherwinter welcomed a new baby
boy, Reuben Lev, into the world on September 27, 2009.
Parents, Reuben and big sister Kayla are all doing well in
Boulder, Colorado.
Robert Hartmann participated in JASC in its’ early and
formative years and we’re grateful for his contribution to
the spirit of friendship that continues to this day. Robert
lived in Bethesda, MD. He died on April 11, 2009 at the
age of 91.
Leona Middleton Konkel, JASC 54 & 55 (2002 &
2003), married Alex Konkel in March. She still works for
the University of Illinois while she builds her freelance
Japanese translation career.
Robert served in the Ford presidency and penned
the notable phrase for Ford’s 1974 address after the
Watergate scandal, “My fellow Americans, our long
national nightmare is over.” Robert is survived by his wife
of 65 years, Roberta Sankey, his son and daughter, four
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Sarah LeBaron von Baeyer, JASC 55 (2003) is in
her second year of a Ph.D. program in sociocultural
anthropology at Yale. She will return to Japan next
summer to conduct preliminary field research amongst
Nikkei Brazilians.
New JASC Program Manager
Former JASC Program Manager Ashley Neeley Lam,
JASC 56 & 57 (2004 & 2005) has left our office to attend
the American University Washington College of Law. Best
wishes to Ashley!
Aziza Zakhidova, JASC 55 & 56 (2003 & 2004) spent two
years in the UK as a Marshall Scholar and has moved to
Kazakhstan with husband, Mohirbek, to work for the Bank
of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ office. She hopes to welcome
JASCers to Central Asia.
Michelle Lee Jones replaces Ashley as JASC Program
Manager. Michelle Jones attended the 56th JASC and
served on the 57th JASC American Executive Commitee.
Michelle graduated from the University of Chicago with
a Bachelor of Arts degree in history emphasizing Asian
American studies. She received a U.S. Department of
State Fulbright Grant to Korea, and later taught English at
Chonnam National University in Gwangju, South Korea.
Michelle is excited to return to JASC and is looking
forward to hearing from alumni at mjones@iscdc.org.
Paul Rockower, JASC 61, (2009) has an exhibit
of photographs, The 21st Century Family of Man:
Photography as Public Diplomacy, on display at the
University of Southern California’s Annenberg Gallery until
May 2010. See his photo from JASC below.
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Office Notes
Help Recruit for the 62nd JASC
Update your Contact Information
Applications are now being collected for the 62nd
JASC in the U.S.! The deadline is February 22, 2009.
If you know of any great applicants or would like to
assist with recruitment, please let us know and refer
them to our website!
Did you know JASC spends more than one hundred
dollars each year on returned and resent mail?
Please help us make efficient use of your donations
and update your contact information today!
Remember, the winter and summer editions of the
JASC Journal are only sent via email so please keep
us updated on your email address as well.
Application materials now available online.
www.iscdc.org
Share your updates throughout the year by emailing
jasc@iscdc.org.
Donate Your Old Phone to a Good Cause
Fellow JASC alumnus, Lucky Gunasekara (JASC 56 & 57), has shared an opportunity for you to think
globally and act locally through his work with FrontlineSMS:Medic which has launched hopephones.org, a
partnership between the Wireless Source, FrontlineSMS:Medic and Wieden+Kennedy, the chief ad agency
behind the “Just Do It” campaign.
The goal is to collect at least 100 phones a day from all over the country as each day nearly 450,000
phones are trashed in the U.S. Through the Wireless Source, each processed phone will be recycled or
refurbished to provide credit for FrontlineSMS:Medic to purchase appropriate low-cost handsets from
Nokia.
Visit www.HopePhones.org for more information.
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