U.S.-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program
In 1973, JCIE and the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) jointly launched the U.S.-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program, an annual bilateral exchange program designed to expose young leaders of each country to the politics and policy-making process of the other country and to enhance their understanding of U.S.-Japan relations. These two-week intensive study programs involve travel to at least two cities where delegates meet with senior government officials, representatives from political parties, industry executives, and community leaders. U.S. delegations, split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, include state and local elected officials, federal and state officials, party officers, and Congressional staff. Japanese delegations consist of prefectural and local officials, assistants to Diet members, and policy staff from the governing and opposition parties. Over the years, the U.S.-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program has helped create personal networks among leaders from both countries. U.S. alumni of the program include Elizabeth Dole (U.S. senator), Wyche Fowler (former senator and former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia), Bill Graves (former Governor of Kansas) and Doug Sosnik (advisor to former President Bill Clinton). On the Japan side, founding members and early participants include Keizo Obuchi (former prime minister), Koichi Kato (former defense minister and secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party), and Morihiro Hosokawa (former prime minister).
U.S. Delegations to Japan
- 26th U.S. Delegation (2009)
- 25th U.S. Delegation (2008)
- 24th U.S. Delegation (2007)
- 23rd U.S. Delegation (2005)
- 22nd U.S. Delegation (2003)
- 21st U.S. Delegation (2002)
- 20th U.S. Delegation (2001)
- 19th U.S. Delegation (2000)
- 18th U.S. Delegation (1999)
- 17th U.S. Delegation (1998)
- 16th U.S. Delegation (1997)
- 15th U.S. Delegation (1996)
- 1st–14th U.S. Delegations (1973–1994)
Japanese Delegation to the United States
- 22nd Japanese Delegation to the United States (2010)
- 21st Japanese Delegation to the United States (2008)
- 20th Japanese Delegation to the United States (2007)
- 19th Japanese Delegation to the United States (2004)
- 18th Japanese Delegation to the United States (2003)
- 17th Japanese Delegation to the United States (2002)
- 16th Japanese Delegation to the United States (2001)
- 15th Japanese Delegation to the United States (2000)
- 14th Japanese Delegation to the United States (1999)
- 13th Japanese Delegation to the United States (1998)
- 12th Japanese Delegation to the United States (1997)
- 11th Japanese Delegation to the United States (1996)
- 1st–10th Japanese Delegations (1981–1994)