–Reflecting upon six years at the U.S.-Japan Council
I’m very sad that I will be leaving the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) at the end of the year (which is now today!). I’ve had a wonderful journey of more than six years. Since it was such a big part of my life, it still feels surreal that I will no longer be part of the staff.
When I joined the Council in 2013, I was looking for a way to combine my passion for words with my lifelong desire to connect my two home countries. I got to achieve that goal–and gained so much more. I found close friends, learned about the many different ways of contributing to U.S-Japan relations, and gained confidence in ways that I could not have elsewhere.
Meaningful Relationships
As an introvert, I’ve always been more comfortable writing than interacting face-to-face. I struggled to open up in the past because I was unsure of who I was, caught between two identities. But at USJC, I got to meet and befriend many people who share that experience–and are also very warm, accepting of flaws, and sometimes quirky. Due to the core values we have in common, we often have an innate understanding of each other. At the same time, the differences in the way we approach similar issues (multicultural upbringing, ambiguous identities, code switching, etc.) are what makes these relationships so interesting.
Colleagues at USJC have really become a family. Never have I felt so comfortable around a group of people! I have so much respect for not only their talents, but also the dedication they put into each of their portfolios and U.S.-Japan relations as a whole. Late night conference calls, business trips with red-eye flights, or emailing all hours of the night are everyday occurrences. Battling alongside one another have made us very close, and I know I will continue to be inspired by them no matter where our future paths may take us.
Our members and supporters are equally incredible, since they do so much by volunteering their time and resources. They give us advice (I learned so much from members of the Communications Committee, who are journalists, PR professionals, and marketing experts), host exchange students in their homes, provide financial contributions, organize events in their regions, and more. I’ve heard multiple members say that USJC is the organization that they spend the most time with outside of their full-time jobs. I respect them immensely, not only for their accomplishments, but also for their passion to make the world a better place.
Some people in the USJC community, like president Irene Hirano Inouye, or board members Secretary Norman Mineta or Fred Katayama, are people I’d long admired even before becoming a staff member–and sometimes I’m still in awe that I got to work with them! USJC’s emphasis on people-to-people relations was a big draw when I joined the organization, but I didn’t know I would also benefit from it. Here, I gradually learned to be comfortable and happy with who I am.
Small Staff, Big Scale
The USJC staff of about 30 people accomplish a lot, thanks to not only their own hard work, but also support from dedicated members, talented contractors, and generous sponsors. USJC works on some very large-scale projects, from international conferences with hundreds of people, to delegations of state legislators, to scholarships stemming from a $10 million gift. This far exceeded my expectations I used to have for nonprofit organizations.
The best part was being able to meet TOMODACHI alumni, students, and delegates we’ve supported, and directly see the impact of what USJC does. This was often possible due to travel. I went on about 20 business trips, about half of them to Japan, and the rest to California and Hawaii, with some others to New York, Houston, and Portsmouth.
On a daily basis, it was nice to be one half of a two-person Communications team in the U.S., since the broad portfolio (speechwriting, newsletters, publications, media relations, photos, website, presentations, etc.) kept things dynamic and very busy! I feel proud to have contributed to growing our presence in Japan, especially by creating a Japanese website and Japanese annual report, and making other publications bilingual.
Towards the Next Step
While editing biographies, highlighting member accomplishments, or hearing about the life decisions of stakeholders, I’ve gotten to know the many different ways in which we can contribute to U.S.-Japan relations. And that’s given me the courage to take the next step, and decide to focus more on writing and interpreting. Even though I am leaving staff, I will continue to support USJC as a DC-based contractor. I feel very lucky about that, combined with how flexible my colleagues and bosses have been while I often took time off for interpreting assignments.
Truthfully, I feel very scared to leave this comfortable place for the unknown. This simple post cannot do justice to all that I’ve learned during the past six years, and going through the photos has made me very sad! But I feel that this step is necessary for my career. I am glad–and honored–to remain a part of this wonderful community, be it through my contract work or through personal relationships. I feel that I was able to grow both personally and professionally at USJC, and really appreciate everyone I’ve met through this organization.
