Tag: multicultural

Episode 18 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was incredibly honored to welcome the wonderful Glen S. Fukushima. A highly respected and renowned Japanese American leader, he needs no introduction for those of us in the U.S.-Japan space! (I met him through the U.S.-Japan Council, where he is a member of the Board of Councilors.) He is a Visiting Fellow at Stanford University, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, and Vice Chair of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. His previous roles include serving as Director for Japanese Affairs and promoted to Deputy Assistant USTR for Japan and China at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, a senior business executive for five multinational corporations, and President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. Aside from USJC, he is also active in the Japanese American Citizens League and the Japanese American National Museum, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and of the Global Council of the Asia Society as well as co-founder of the Asia Society Japan Center. He is a philanthropist to music, art, film, and education, especially programs promoting U.S.-Japan ties.

We discuss Glen’s upbringing as a Japanese American growing up in postwar Japan and California; the many different types of Japanese Americans; how he has supported U.S.-Japan relations through his many roles in government, business, and think tanks; and his philanthropy and support for education and the arts.

I am very grateful to Glen for taking the time to talk with me amid his busy schedule of moderating discussions, writing books and articles, and supporting stakeholders in the U.S.-Japan space. I enjoyed hearing the way he embraces his unique identity, and learned that we can be authentic even while being selective of which aspects of ourselves we show to others. I also love how he’s always pursued a wide range of fields that interest him, and enjoyed the anecdotes of his friendship with other well known leaders in U.S.-Japan relations.

The video podcast is below, but for more information on Glen, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode18-glen/.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。

今回は、大変光栄なことに、グレン・S・フクシマ氏にご登壇いただきました。多くの方にとってご紹介する必要がないほど著名な日系アメリカ人リーダーですが、今はスタンフォード大学の客員研究員、Center for American Progressの上級研究員、証券投資家保護公社の副会長を務めておられます。これまでは、米国通商代表部（USTR）において日本担当部長、その後通商代表補代理（日本・中国担当）を務め、5つの多国籍企業で経営幹部として活躍し、在日米国商工会議所の会頭なども歴任されました。米日カウンシル、日系アメリカ人市民連盟、全米日系人博物館、外交問題評議会、アジア・ソサエティでも活躍されています。音楽、芸術、映画、教育などに大きく貢献されてきたフィランソロピストでもいらっしゃいます。

本エピソードでは、戦後日本とカリフォルニアで育った日系アメリカ人としてのグレンさんの生い立ち、多様な日系アメリカ人の姿、政府・企業・シンクタンクにおける数々の立場から日米関係に行ってきた支援、教育・芸術分野を中心とした慈善活動について伺いました。

大変お忙しい中時間を割いてくださったグレンさんに深く感謝しています！ご自身のユニークなアイデンティティについてどのように考えていらっしゃるのか、とても興味深く伺いました。幅広い分野を常に追求されてきた姿勢や、日米関係の著名なリーダーたちとの逸話も、多くの方の刺激になるかと思います。ぜひご覧ください！

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

Episode 17 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I really enjoyed this conversation with the wise Sam Ushio, Founder of Ikigai Lab. Sam leads the social enterprise’s commitment to human sustainability and societal impact, and designs purpose-driven ecosystems for individuals and organizations around the world. Prior to founding Ikigai Lab, Sam was Director, Practice Management at Russell Investments, where he led the team that coached approximately 1,000 financial advisors per year. He is a Council Leader at the U.S.-Japan Council (and we met through one of its programs, the Advanced Leaders Collective).

We discuss Sam’s upbringing in Nebraska, including the close-knit community he grew up in; his family history, including his dynamic great-grandparents who came from Japan, and a recent reunion where 36 (!) family members visited Fukuoka; his career in finance and how he decided to found his own business; the meaning of ikigai and qualities of a good leader; and the importance of leaving our comfort zone.

Many thanks to Sam for sharing his powerful story with me. His family history is fascinating, with themes that will resonate with many (including the Japanese American struggle during the war) and figures that are uniquely inspiring and unforgettable (especially the women!). Those who are wavering whether to continue in their current career or embark on a new path will likely find Sam’s 18-month journey of self-exploration prior to founding Ikigai Lab–including many lessons learned–particularly inspiring.

The video podcast is below, but for more information on Sam, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode17-sam/.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。

今回は、「Ikigai Lab」の創設者であるサム・ウシオ氏をお迎えしました。Ikigai Labは、人に焦点を当てた団体で、個人に見合ったパーパスを見つけたり、パーパスを中心とした組織運営の仕方を模索したりすることを支援します。

本エピソードでは、ネブラスカの小さな町におけるサムさんの生い立ち、日系4世としてのアイデンティティや父方の曽祖父が福岡から来た経緯、金融業界でのキャリアと起業、「ikigai」という言葉の意義や優れたリーダーの資質、新しいことに果敢に挑戦することの重要性についてお話しいただきました。

サムさんのご家族の話は本当に興味深く、戦時中の日系アメリカ人の苦難、ひいおばあさまをはじめとするかっこいい女性の活躍など、心に響く点が多いかと思います。また、新たな道へ進むべきか迷っている方々にとって、サムさんが一年半かけて行った自己探求の話は、特に参考になるでしょう。ぜひご覧ください！

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

Episode 16 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was honored to welcome the multitalented Niharika Chibber Joe, a public diplomat with experience across government, corporate, and nonprofit sectors. She currently serves as Deputy Agency Head of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, an independent federal agency strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance through educational and cultural exchange. Previously, she was General Manager at Tata Sons, where she managed corporate sustainability, monitored U.S.-India trade policy, oversaw partnerships, and coordinated public-private initiatives. Earlier, she held leadership roles at the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation. A published poet and writer, she communicates in seven languages and multiple dialects.

We discuss Niharika’s upbringing in India, including the prejudice she’s had to overcome and how she came to command so many languages; how her interest in the Japanese language developed, to the extent that she worked as an interpreter; her move to the United States; increasing diversity in the U.S.-Japan space; and the importance of connecting people. Many will likely find Niharika’s comprehensive view of identities–how we all have multiple identities that are continuously shifting–and kind words for anyone who’s struggling to fit in incredibly powerful.

Many thanks to Niharika for sharing her fascinating story with me. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation as a fellow language enthusiast–time just flew by, and I couldn’t believe at the end that we’d been talking for two hours! She has watched every episode of the podcast, and I really appreciate how she wove into our talk many of the themes other guests touched upon. She is a wonderful role model who’s passionate about helping the next generation, and I’m sure young audience members will find her advice particularly inspiring!

The video podcast is below, but for more information on Niharika, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode16-niharika/.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。

今回は、パブリック・ディプロマシーの専門家であるニハリカ趙（じょう）さんをお迎えしました。インドで生まれ育ち、7か国語を話すニハリカさん。日本語と日本研究それぞれの修士号を取得し、インドにおける日英通訳者としての勤務経験もおありです。米国では非営利団体のマンスフィールド財団で日米交流に携わったほか、タタの子会社で北米担当のゼネラルマネージャーを務め、米印貿易政策を追いました。現在は米連邦政府機関である日米友好基金の専務次長を務め、若者や議員を中心とした教育・文化交流を支援していらっしゃいます。

ニハリカさんのインドでの生い立ち、言語の面白さ（ベンガル語と日本語の共通項、様々な英語のアクセントなど）、日米交流を支援する人々における多様性、人をつなぐことの重要性など、様々なことについて話し合いました。実に2時間インタビューにお付き合いくださり、これまで本ポッドキャストの全エピソード（！）を見てくださった観点から、過去のゲストの方々が取り上げたテーマも織り込んで話してくださったニハリカさん。アイデンティティに関するニハリカさんの寛容な視点（私たち全員が複数のアイデンティティを持ち、それが絶えず変化しているという考え）、そして次世代や視聴者に向けた温かい言葉から刺激を受ける方は多いと思います。ぜひご覧ください！

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

Episode 15 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was honored to welcome the wonderful Mizumi Dutcher, a policy researcher and former journalist specializing in Chinese politics, U.S.-China relations, and East Asian strategic affairs. She most recently served as a Foreign Policy Fellow at the U.S. House of Representatives. Her journalism career spanned more than two decades at Fuji Television, including service as the Washington Bureau Chief and an earlier posting in Beijing. Mizumi is currently a Doctor of International Affairs (DIA) candidate at Johns Hopkins SAIS. Her dissertation examines China-North Korea relations under Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un.

We discuss Mizumi’s upbringing in Japan and the U.S., including cultural adjustments she’s had to make; how her interest in China and journalism developed; some of the stories she covered in Beijing, including the heartbreaking Szechuan Earthquake; her fascinating friendship with Kim Jong-nam, the late brother of Kim Jong-un; and her career transition into academia. Viewers/listeners are sure to be particularly inspired by her courage to embark on a new journey after decades of work as an accomplished journalist–and the idea that when things are changing so quickly, it’s a risk to just stay the way we are.

Many thanks to Mizumi for kindly sharing her story with me. Her journey is all about following her heart from a very young age–including the time she moved to Beijing in hopes of finding a job (she did, and in her dream career to boot!). She is so humble despite her successes, and isn’t afraid to discuss how she feels vulnerable at times–yet has a quiet confidence when it counts most (like when she negotiated with Kim Jong-un to hear his side of the story).

The video podcast is below, but for more information on Mizumi, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode15-mizumi/.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。

今回は、中国政治の研究者でいらっしゃるダッチャー水美さんをお迎えしました。フジテレビで長らくジャーナリストとしてお務めになり、北京支局、東京本社の後、ワシントンDCでは支局長にまでなられた水美さん。その後学術界へと方向転換し、今はジョンズ・ホプキンズ大学で国際関係の博士課程にいらっしゃいます。

日本人とアメリカ人のご両親のもとで育ち、アイデンティティについて悩む中で、純粋に外国人になれる第3国である中国に関心をもった経緯は非常に興味深いです。北朝鮮の金正男氏と育んだ友情、アカデミアに移った理由も感慨深いものです。躊躇せず興味のあることは追求すべしというアドバイス、また、「変化が激しい今の時代、変わらない方がリスクが大きい」という言葉も、多くの人の心に響くのではないでしょうか。ぜひご覧ください！

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

Episode 14 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was so happy to welcome my wonderful friend Gigi Modrich, who is an Indian law practitioner, roller derby skater, and stand-up comedian. Her mother is Jicarilla Apache and her father is Croatian American. While she is multiracial, her upbringing focused on her Native American culture. After attending Dartmouth College (she and I were roommates during our first year), she earned her Juris Doctorate from Cornell Law School and then joined a law firm to serve Tribal clients. She now lives in Los Angeles, where she teaches beading at a Native non-profit.

We discuss Gigi’s upbringing and her Jicarilla Apache identity; the historic and ongoing challenges that Native Americans grapple with; her fight against stereotypes in her childhood and the friendships she found in college; her legal accomplishments in protecting the rights of other Natives; and her ongoing transition into comedy and how she is building a community through humor.

Many thanks to Gigi for kindly opening up and sharing the journey of her life and career. The story of her identity is heart-wrenching in so many ways, and I have a renewed sense of respect for her kindness for others. (She was always taking care of others in college, and I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t know about most of the experiences she discussed here.) Her story is also about pursuing her dreams while working full-time–a topic that I’m sure many would find inspiring. And her awesome sense of humor is sure to make you laugh!

The video podcast is below, but for more information on Gigi, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode14-gigi/.

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

Episode 13 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

This is a special edition, commemorating one year since the start of the podcast in two ways.

First, (this is a bit embarrassing, but) as the host and producer of CrossWorld Puzzles, I discuss my own journey, attempting to address questions I’ve been asking guests about identity and various life choices I’ve made so far. I also discuss why I started this podcast.

Second, I discuss what I learned from the past 12 episodes, providing some recommendations on which episodes specific listeners might find especially helpful. (Many, many thanks to the 12 wonderful interviewees who took the time and energy to answer my many personal questions, submit photos, review the website, and so much more!)

The video podcast is below, but for more information, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode13-shiori/.

Postscript: Oh my gosh it’s soooo nerve-wracking to talk on my own in front of the camera! I spoke way too quickly (but cannot imagine this video being any longer!) and REALLY need to improve on filler words Still, I hope my story resonates with others!

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。

このポッドキャストを始めてちょうど1年を迎えたことを記念し、今回は、ちょっとした特別編です。

まず（とっても恥ずかしいのですが）私自身の話をさせていただきます。これまでのゲストの皆さんに伺った質問に答えるような形で、アイデンティティやキャリア、人生の岐路に立った時にどんな決断をしたかについてお話しします。ポッドキャストを始めたきっかけについても語ります。

次に、これまでお迎えした12名のゲストのエピソードから何を学んだのかに触れつつ、どんな内容をお探しかによって、どのエピソードが特に心に響きそうかについてもお話しします。

よろしければご笑覧ください！

Episode 12 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was incredibly honored to welcome the wonderful John Onoda, who I respect immensely as a top communications expert–and one of the wisest people I’ve ever known. I met him through the U.S.-Japan Council, where, as a board member, he provides valuable advice about the strategic direction of the organization. He is a principal at iQ 360, a strategic consulting firm with clients in the United States and Japan, and serves on the board of The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication. He has led communications at companies including General Motors, Levi Strauss, Visa USA and Charles Schwab, and has decades of experience providing counsel to other major global corporations, universities, NGOs and government agencies.

We discuss how John’s upbringing in Gary, IN (where the only other Asians were his family members) affected his identity; how he taught himself to succeed in communications as an introvert; the importance of cultivating our humanity to thrive as individuals and workers even while technology increasingly takes over our jobs; how reading trains us to empathize with others and helps us fight forces that divide us; and how we can “find our tribe” by exploring different lifestyles.

Many thanks to John for kindly taking the time to share his fascinating life journey (as a fellow introvert, I especially loved the story of “Robot John”!) and great insight into strategic communications. He’s always been decades ahead of others, and I learned so much from his advice that no matter what happens with technology in the future, the best way to succeed long-term is to cherish and continue to foster human qualities like integrity and empathy.

The video podcast is below, but for more information on John, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode12-john/.

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。

今回は、私が尊敬してやまない広報専門家であるジョン・オノダ氏をお迎えしました。ジョンさんは私の前の職場、米日カウンシルの評議員で、広報活動のみならず、組織全体の戦略的方向性についていつも貴重なアドバイスをくださっていました。日米を拠点とする戦略コンサルティング会社、iQ 360のプリンシパルであり、広報活動のインテグリティ（誠実性）を促進する組織、Page Center for Integrity in Public Communicationの理事も務めています。ゼネラルモーターズ、リーバイス、ビザ、チャールズ・シュワブなど、数多くの大手企業でコミュニケーション部門を率いてきたほか、大学、NGO、政府機関に対しても、数十年にわたってコンサルティングを行ってきた方です。

ジョンさんが育ったインディアナ州の町には、日系人はおろか、アジア系の人もご自分の家族以外いませんでした。そのような環境で育ったことが彼のアイデンティティにどう影響したかについて、大変興味深いお話が聞けました。また、内向的な性格ながら広報の分野で成功するための自己流の方法をどう模索していったかについても、いろいろなご苦労をされてきたであろう中、ユーモアを交えて共有してくださいました。人間性を育むことが個人と人類の双方にとっていかに重要か、本を読むことが他者に共感する力を養い人の分断を防ぐのにどう役立つか、いろいろなことを試すことでいかに自分の「仲間」を見つけていけるかなど、他にも素晴らしいお話をたくさんいただきました。

本当に興味深く示唆に富んだお話ですので（同じく内向的な私としては、「ロボット・ジョン」のくだりが特に印象的でした！）ぜひご覧ください！

Episode 11 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was so happy to welcome the wonderful Kazuyo Kato, who I respect immensely as the Executive Director of Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) USA, and who I’m proud to call a friend. Born in Australia and raised in Egypt until she was three years old, Kazuyo moved between the U.S. (Washington, DC and San Francisco) and Japan throughout her elementary to high school years. She has built her career at organizations focused on U.S.-Japan relations and international affairs, including the Japan Society in New York, the U.S. and Japan entities of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, CSIS, and Armitage International.

We discuss Kazuyo’s upbringing in multiple countries; how she overcame the challenge of learning languages and societal expectations; why she decided to work in the nonprofit sector and the importance of people-to-people exchange; and how she developed her own leadership style and what she learned from great leaders like Richard Armitage.

Many thanks to Kazuyo for kindly answering my very personal questions! I appreciate her being open about the struggles of navigating friendships while learning languages. Her advice on leadership is particularly touching when considering how she built her career and confidence over time, and I’m sure many people will find her words encouraging and inspiring.

The video podcast is below, but for more information on Kazuyo, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode11-kazuyo/.

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。

今回は、とても尊敬する友人である加藤和世さんの話を伺いました。オーストラリアで生まれ、エジプトで幼少時代を過ごし、日米を行ったり来たりして育った和世さん。今は人的交流を通じて日米関係の強化に努める組織、JCIE USA（日本国際交流センターの米国におけるパートナー組織）のエグゼクティブ・ディレクターを務めていらっしゃいます。

和世さんがいかに日米の言語や慣習の違いを乗り越えたか、今こそなぜ人的交流が重要なのか、ご自身のリーダーシップスタイルをどのように築き、リチャード・アーミテージ氏をはじめとするリーダーから何を学んだかなど、多岐にわたるお話を伺いました。

和世さんは、極めて個人的な質問にも辛抱強く答えてくださり、言語を学びながら友人関係を築く大変さなどについても率直に語ってくださいました。徐々にキャリアを築き自信をつけていったお話を踏まえると、リーダーシップに関する彼女のアドバイスは特に貴重です。ぜひご覧ください！

Episode 10 of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was so happy to welcome interpreter and analyst Lefteris Kafatos, who I’ve long looked up to. Lefteris went on the JET (Japanese Exchange & Teaching) Program in Okinawa and served as a diplomatic interpreter at the U.S. Department of State, interpreting for Presidents Obama and Trump on several occasions. He now writes (in both English and Japanese!) for The Japan Lens, where his focus is the U.S.-Japan alliance, Japanese politics and foreign policy, and regional dynamics in the Asia-Pacific. Lefteris has master’s degrees in Japanese-English Conference Interpreting from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), as well as in International Affairs from UC San Diego.

We discuss his upbringing and identity as a Greek American; how his interest in Japan evolved over time as a student, interpreter, and analyst of U.S.-Japan relations; how he stays calm when interpreting for heads of state and other high-powered individuals; and how we can continue to maintain and strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship despite recent uncertainties like tariffs. I’m amazed by not only his linguistic talent and hard work that brought him to where he is, but also his willingness to continue to study and grow.

The video podcast with Lefteris is below, but for more information, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode10-lefteris/.

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。今回は、通訳の先輩であるレフテリス・カファトさんの話を伺いました。大学で日本語を勉強し始めた後、JETプログラムや日本での勉強・勤務を経て通訳となり、国務省の日本語通訳者となってオバマ・トランプ両大統領の通訳も務めたレフテリスさん。今は「The Japan Lens」と呼ばれるウェブサイトを運営し、日米同盟や日米関係を様々な観点から分析して、両方の言語で記事を書いています。

ギリシャ系アメリカ人としての子供時代、日本語や日米同盟に対する関心がどのように強まっていったか、首脳会談などでどのように緊張せずに通訳に臨んでいるか、関税等で日米間の信頼が揺らぐ中で私たちがどのように同盟関係を維持・強化し続けられるかなど、多岐にわたるお話を伺いました。とにかく素晴らしい語学の才能があり、凄まじい努力をされてきたレフテリスさん。いろいろな分野を勉強し続けるその姿勢に刺激を受ける方も多いと思います。ぜひご覧ください！

The ninth episode of the podcast CrossWorld Puzzles is now out!

I was super excited to welcome my longtime friend Mari Yobp, who I’ve known since middle school! Mari is an artist and poet raised in Japan. After graduating from Musashino Art University, she worked as an art teacher at a school in Osaka (where she met her future husband) and immigrated to the U.S. She is currently based in Pittsburgh, PA, and has also lived in Idaho. Mari draws and paints mostly flowers in watercolor. She also writes Tanka poetry and publishes her work in a poetry magazine.

We discuss her philosophy in creating art; how she met her husband and built her own community in the U.S.; how she keeps in touch with the Japanese language and writes poetry; how she has contended with her child’s medical challenges; and how she stays positive no matter what challenges come her way.

Many thanks to Mari for sharing her wisdom. She’s always been an inspiration and source of strength for me, and I’m sure many will find her words and kind demeanor comforting.

The video podcast with Mari is below, but for more information, please see photos (and the episode transcript) here: https://crossworld-puzzles.com/episode9-mari/. This webpage includes a lot of Mari’s art, and should not be missed!

The podcast can be followed on YouTube, Spotify, and (for audio only) Apple Podcasts.

ポッドキャスト「CrossWorld Puzzles」の最新エピソードです。今回は、中学校からの良き友人であるヨープ真理さんの話を伺いました。日本で育ち、美大を卒業してアーティストとしてのキャリアを歩んできた真理さん。大阪でアートを教えている中で、アメリカ人である今のご主人に出会い、アメリカに移住します。今はピッツバーグを拠点として絵を描きつつ、子育てに力を入れ、短歌も詠んで出版しています。

絵を描く際の哲学、アメリカにおけるコミュニティの構築、日本語の美しさや語彙の維持の仕方、家族として乗り越えてきた課題など、多岐にわたるお話を伺いました。ぜひご覧ください！