The Japan- United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and the National Endowment for the Arts congratulates 2019-2020 U.S.-Japan Creative Artist Fellow Cameron McKinney on being selected as a  Delegate to the 2026 US-Japan Leadership Program (USJLP),  a distinguished cross-sector network of American and Japanese leaders committed to deepening mutual understanding between the two nations.  2026 Delegate […]

The Japan-United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC) congratulates JUSFC Commissioner and U.S. CULCON Panelist Trevor A. Dawes on being named the 2026 ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the Year by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). This is the highest individual award given by ACRL and recognizes significant national or international contributions to academic or […]

March 11, 2026 In its 50th year of strengthening the U.S.-Japan partnership, the Japan-United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC) acknowledges today, March 11, to mark the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami, and the Fukushima nuclear disaster. JUSFC joins the people of Japan and the global community in remembering the lives lost and […]

The Japan-United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and the National Endowment for the Arts are pleased to announce the selection of five U.S. artists for the 2025-26 26 U.S.-Japan Creative Artist Fellowship Program The artist fellows will travel to Japan during 2025 and 2026 to pursue their three to five-month residency. Since 1978, the Japan-US Friendship […]

The Government of Japan has announced that Dr. Sheila A. Smith, former U.S. Chair of the U.S.-Japan Conference on Cultural and Educational Interchange (CULCON) and the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) will receive The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star in recognition of her contributions promoting people-to-people exchange and mutual understanding between the […]

The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and The U.S. Panel of the Conference on Cultural and Education Interchange (CULCON) mourn the loss of Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 100. President Carter will be remembered with admiration for his lifelong commitment to principles of […]

MEDIA CONTACT (UNITED STATES): Ms. Niharika Chibber Joe njoe[at]jusfc[dot]gov MEDIA CONTACT (JAPAN): Ms. Manami Maeda mmaeda[at]I-house[dot]or[dot]jp Five Distinguished U.S. Artists Awarded 2024-25 U.S.-Japan Creative Artist Fellowship Washington, D.C.—The Japan-United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and the National Endowment for the Arts are pleased to announce the selection of five artistic teams for the 2024-2025 U.S.-Japan Creative […]

**Japanese Follows English** Washington, D.C. May 10, 2024: The Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission (JUSFC) and the U.S. CULCON Panel are pleased to announce the appointment of new Chair, Mr. Charles D. Lake II. His term is effective May 15, 2024. Mr. Lake is Representative Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aflac Life Insurance […]