To say that ELP has been a bright spot in 2020 - 2021 would be an understatement. During this unprecedented time while many of us have been isolated at home, we are beyond grateful for the opportunity to build connections with the USJC community and learn new leadership lessons.

Last fall, we all received a warm welcome and introduction to the U.S.-Japan Council and were quickly invited to a series of events, activities, speaker series, and more. Ken Kashiwagi says, “From the first meeting where we zoomed all ELP members from different classes, I felt a heartwarming sense of community. I feel very fortunate to be part of this community especially during this past challenging year.”

While we would have loved to convene in person, we were given the opportunity to meet with the incredible USJC community and learn about an array of topics including mentorship, cross-cultural leadership, and creative networking. Eriko Stronach shares, “Throughout the sessions, I gained a better understanding on how I can capitalize on my bicultural experience in professional development, and be more confident in embracing my bicultural background. My experience at ELP inspired me to be more involved in community development and support the next upcoming generations.”

As many of us adapted to a new ‘normal’ and our jobs shifted dramatically from in-person to fully remote, we were forced to re-examine our lives. Rayfe Gaspar Asaoka explains, “What made the zoom sessions with USJC leaders great was that they not only shared the outcomes, but the decisions and thought process along their own journey. One takeaway that has stuck with me is that leadership is messy by definition because it is uncharted territory, but the best leaders take the time to listen, understand context, calibrate, and only then, execute. While the pandemic isolated us physically, I have never felt more globally connected to my fellow ELP class.”

Some of the members of the class even experienced career changes during ELP and benefited from new leadership insights. Aiko Shimizu reflects, “For me, I’ve recently expanded my scope of work in global policy to tech policy and more specifically, the digital platform and one of my first projects in my new job will be to work with governments from around the world to promote diversity and inclusion during the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. I look forward to applying all the lessons that I’ve learned through the ELP program in my new role.”

One thing is for sure: we are all eager to meet in person, continue to strengthen our relationships, and give back to the community. “When I think of USJC and ELP, the first word that comes to mind is generosity. The people-to-people relationships have exceeded my expectations and everyone I have met has kindly offered to connect, be a thought partner, and share life and leadership lessons. I want to reciprocate this generosity,” says Eiko Tsukamoto. “More than ever, this year has underscored the importance of building cross-cultural connections in order to foster and facilitate understanding and this ELP experience couldn't have come at a better time."

We know this opportunity is not possible without the incredible USJC staff, sponsors, alumni, and community that make ELP a reality. From reflecting on our leadership styles to receiving career advice, we have been able to develop both professionally and personally through this program. A big, sincere heartfelt THANK YOU to you all for expanding our perspective on U.S.-Japan relations and for this life-changing experience.

With Gratitude,

ELP class of 2020