TOMODACHI Initiative Celebrates 15-Year Milestone; Over 10,000 Participants Foster Stronger Japan-U.S. Ties

By Akiko Inoue / Japan News Staff Writer

2:00 JST, March 17, 2026

With this year marking the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the TOMODACHI Initiative also marks an important milestone.

The initiative is a public-private partnership that was launched by the U.S. Embassy in Japan and the U.S.-Japan Council, a U.S. organization with ties to Japanese-American communities to support the young generations in disaster-affected areas. It got its name from Operation Tomodachi, an assistance operation in which the U.S. Army in Japan and the Japan Self-Defense Forces cooperated to provide relief to areas affected by the quake.

The TOMODACHI Initiative was inspired by memories of the operation, which was praised for helping to deepen the two countries’ friendship and cooperation.

As the initiative became a reality, the U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) was established in Japan in 2012 to run its activities.

The initiative aims to support future generations and foster new leaders in Japan and the United States. The scope of the initiative has been expanded since its launch, both in terms of geography and objectives, and now comprises a variety of exchange programs for young generations nationwide.

With more than a decade having passed since its establishment, the initiative now engages in such topics as climate change, women’s empowerment and sustainability, with support coming from various private companies and public entities.

By the end of 2025, the initiative had launched about 400 projects comprising around 11,000 participants, 81% of whom were from Japan, with 44% coming from the Tohoku region.

According to the U.S.-Japan Council (Japan), 90% of the participants said the program had made a positive impact on their motivation, while 95% said they had become more interested in local and global issues.

Alumni of the initiative have taken on active roles worldwide, including as entrepreneurs and elected officials both in Japan and the United States. Moreover, when the Noto Peninsula Earthquake hit in 2024, some former participants took part in relief activities. And in the aftermath of the tragic wildfires in Hawaii in 2023, which devastated residential areas on Maui, the initiative gave local high school students the opportunity to visit Miyagi Prefecture to learn about its reconstruction efforts.

Haruka Noguchi from Japan and Bryson Torgovitsky from the United States, two former participants in the TOMODACHI Initiative, recently shared with The Japan News their experiences and the lessons they learned through the program.

A ceremony celebrating the 15th anniversary of the TOMODACHI Initiative is scheduled to be held on Wednesday at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence in Tokyo.