U.S.
Consulate General Osaka-Kobe
Ambassador’s Youth Council Kansai
2024-2025
The American Consulate invites twenty highly motivated Japanese undergraduate students with
demonstrated leadership skills and interest in the United States and U.S.-Japan relations to participate
in a six-month-long seminar. Fourth-year and fifth-year kosen students are also eligible to apply.
Program Period: Once-a-month seminar, October 2024 – June 2025 (Occurring on the 3rd Thursday
of most months - times and dates are TBD)
Session # Date Location Topic
1 Thursday, October 17th Osaka Program introduction
2 Thursday, November 21st Zoom
3 Thursday, December 19th Zoom
4 Thursday, January 16th Zoom
5 Thursday, February 20th Zoom
6 March TBD Tokyo Tokyo trip
7 Thursday, April 17th Zoom
8 May/June TBD Osaka/Online Mini-grant competition
Program Goals:
• Cultivate a greater understanding of the United States and the U.S.-Japan alliance;
• Provide a venue for youth leaders to ask questions and express their views on a wide range of
topics including U.S. foreign policy and other topics of mutual interest, such as pressing
social issues, the role of technology, and the implications of human resources on growing
economies;
• Foster skills characteristic of leaders, skills used in giving presentations, communicating in
English, and articulating one’s thoughts in a public forum;
• Build connections between the Consulate and youth in order for the Consulate to gain insight
into the views and needs of Japan’s young generation;
• Help youth leaders grow their networks so that they, as advocates, can reinforce attitudes and
change behaviors of their peers in favor of strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance.
• Provide funding for innovative, participant-designed programs to inform about and/or enrich
the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Attendance policy: All members are expected to participate in all of the sessions. If the student
cannot make it to a session, s/he must notify program facilitators at least at least two weeks prior to
the session s/he will miss.
Candidate Description and Qualifications:
• Japanese citizen or legal permanent resident;
• Undergraduate student or the fourth year and fifth year kosen student, 25 years of age or
younger (as of October 16, 2024) with an interest in international relations and/or U.S. foreign
policy;
• Attending school in Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Wakayama, Nara, Shiga, Fukui, Ishikawa,
Toyama, Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi;
• English fluency to discuss global issues;
• Sustained high level of academic achievement. Fields of study can vary, and may include the
humanities, sciences, journalism, communications, education, and business;
• Strong leadership qualities and extracurricular participation in school and community;
• Willing and able to participate fully in an intensive academic program including homework
reading assignments, essay assignments, mid-term output projects, a final presentation project
and other extra activities offered by the Embassy.
Application and deadline: Interested students are requested to submit the online application form via
the QR code or URL below by Friday, August 16, noon, JST. Program facilitators will review
applications and contact finalists for interview by August 30th.
https://forms.office.com/r/rFfKk6g2KG
If preferred, a letter of recommendation may be sent directly to us at cgarth@jcmu.org.
------------
