Since 2002, JOI coordinators have reached more than a million Americans in the South and Midwest of the country. Learn who these impressive cultural ambassadors are and how they have impacted—and continue to impact—their U.S. communities.

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Complete List of Participants

From planting elementary school students’ first seeds of interest in Japan to strengthening sister city/state relationships and linking high schools and colleges with partner institutions in Japan, JOI coordinators bring Japan and the U.S. closer, one person at a time. Learn a bit more about past JOI coordinators along with their activities, impressions, and impact by perusing the biographies and reports below.


Coordinator from Japan in Tennessee to raise awareness about the Japanese culture among Americans

Yumi Shimada was born in Gunma Prefecture in Japan but lived in the U.S. briefly as a child. Since then, she has been interested in travel, international exchange, and cultural identity. In college, Yumi worked at a traditional Japanese restaurant in Sydney, Australia. After graduating from Dokkyo University in Saitama, she spent two years living in Tokyo. In 2017, Yumi spent nine months teaching in Manado, Indonesia with the NIHONGO Partners Program (facilitated by The Japan Foundation). She has visited 15 countries in total. Spending time abroad has helped Yumi realize Japan’s true beauty, deepening her connection to her cultural roots. Looking back, Yumi’s experience living abroad at a young age made her a global citizen: she had the opportunity early on to think about stereotypes, cultural differences, and international friendship. Now she is happy to be contributing to a better understanding of Japan in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Through the JOI program, Yumi hopes to increase awareness about Japan and build a mutually beneficial relationship with her community.

Participants of the Japan Outreach Initiative sharing the Japanese culture in Alabama

Yoko Minami was born and raised in Fukuoka, Japan. She had her first international experience at a young age, when she took a family vacation to Hawaii. She was extremely impressed by the local culture, people and natural beauty, sparking a strong interest in learning English. Yoko went on to major in English at university. While studying abroad in Sydney, Australia, she volunteered at a Japanese club to teach Japanese language and culture at the local university. This brief experience with teaching led her to pursue a career teaching Japanese in other countries. After graduating from university, Yoko attended a technical college to learn how to teach Japanese as a second language. As a JOI Coordinator in Alabama, Yoko hopes to inspire as many people as possible to learn about Japanese language and culture in the hope that they might visit Japan in the future.

Cultural exchange program participant from Japan pointing at her host state Ohio on a map

Hirashita was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. She became interested in other cultures and languages because she grew up with a Korean-Japanese family living next-door. During her high school years, she had the chance to visit Germany and Australia on a sister-school program, and she became even more interested in getting to know people from all around the world. She graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies. Mai studied at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska, as an exchange student for two semesters. During the time studying abroad, she learned that many people had only a vague idea of what Japan is like because they didn’t have the opportunity to interact with people from Japan. While working with K-12 aged children in the Kansai region as an English instructor, Mai applied to the  JOI program, hoping to help more people in the US--as well as people from countries around the world--to feel closer to Japan.

Japanese and Americans sharing their culture in South Dakota as part of the culture program Japan Outreach Initiative

Kirika Shimmei is from Saitama, Japan. She likes exploring and trying new things that people around her have never experienced. She studied abroad in New Zealand for three months during middle school. The experiences she had there were life-changing. Kirika dreamed of becoming a bridge between nations. She loves to interact with people who have different cultures and languages from her own. When she learned about JOI, she thought that the goals of the JOI program perfectly reflected her dream. She loves art, so she hopes to hold art events in the US featuring styles such as chigirie (colored, torn paper), etegami (simple ink paintings with thoughtful words/characters), and suibokuga (ink wash painting). After arriving in South Dakota, Kirika quickly launched a club called Japan Aberdeen Club (JAC) for her local community. She hopes to develop this club as a long-term project and plans to hold a lot of club events for all ages. The JOI Program is giving her many experiences and opportunities to learn about Japan and the U.S.

Japan Outreach Initiative coordinator sharing the Japanese culture with U.S. Americans in Mississippi

Daiki Suematsu is originally from Osaka, Japan. Through a volunteer opportunity in his middle school boy scout troop, he meet other scouts from around the world. This sparked his interest in international travel. Since his school days, his personal travels to various countries have inspired him to share Japanese culture with other people. Daiki also wants to inspire Japanese students to think globally. After a few years working at an auto-parts company, he discovered the JOI Program. His goal is to promote positive relationships between the US and Japan at the grassroots level through his work as a JOI Coordinator in Mississippi. Daiki also hopes to learn about the various peoples and cultures of the US. When he returns to Japan after JOI, he hopes his experiences will better prepare him to pursue his long-term goal of becoming a world-class teacher.


Japan Outreach Initiative coordinator in Texas teaches young Americans about Japan

Nina was born in Osaka, Japan. When she was seven, she had her first opportunity to speak with English-speaking people. Though she could only introduce herself, she was surprised and happy to communicate in another language. Nina became interested in English and pursued international studies. While a student at Ritsumeikan University, she joined a program for international students to study Japanese and experience Japanese culture. As a result of this enjoyable volunteer experience, she went on to work in customer service for a hotel in Kyoto after graduation, helping to introduce Japanese culture to visitors from around the world. However, eventually she felt she wanted to share Japanese culture on a greater and deeper scale. Now, her aim is to create as many fans of Japan in Texas as possible and help people enjoy experiencing Japanese culture. Nina ultimately hopes that through her programs, more people will want to visit Japan.


Virginia coordinator teaches young children about Japan during a cultural presentation

Minae is from Okinawa, the beautiful southernmost islands in Japan. She studied English culture and communication at Okinawa International University. During university, she studied abroad in Victoria, Canada for a year. From that experience, Minae became more interested in Japanese culture and international cultural differences. She also studied Japanese teaching as her minor and worked as an English teacher at an elementary school in Japan. This gave her the opportunity introduce cultures from other countries to Japanese children in the class, and she realized it would be exciting to promote Japanese culture overseas as well. She believes that exchanging culture broadens our horizons and helps us be more open-minded. As a JOI coordinator, Minae aims to reach people of different generations through her activities, and improve understanding between the U.S and Japan in Virginia.


Japanese coordinator presents his culture to Americans in West Virginia

Masahiro Yamaguchi is from the Kansai region and spent most of his time in Kyoto and Shiga. Growing up, he was encouraged to learn about other cultures and to contribute to his community through volunteering and rescuing animals (11 dogs and 20 cats, so far). In addition, he has visited 15 countries, including studying abroad in Moscow when he was a student at Kyoto Sangyo University. After graduating from university, he worked in business in Kyoto and Tokyo for two years but wanted to do more as a volunteer or cultural ambassador. Masahiro was motivated by interacting with expatriates and tourists as they faced various challenges in Japan. When he discovered JOI, it seemed like an ideal opportunity. As a JOI coordinator, he hopes to serve as a bridge between Japan and West Virginia and to nurture cultural awareness. Currently, he is working with local educators to improve Japanese cultural studies in the region.


Japanese coordinator wearing a traditional kimono during a culture program in Arkansas

Chiemi is originally from Yamanashi Prefecture. Inspired by her junior high school English teacher, she became interested in other cultures and speaking English. After studying Music Education at Shinshu University, she was a music teacher and children's event organizer for over seven years at an elementary school and outdoor activities company. She then volunteered as a teacher in Cambodia with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), an agency similar to the Peace Corps. She learned the importance of respecting the lives and cultures of other people. She also practiced Japanese culture, primarily traditional Japanese musical instruments, since she was a child. She would like to share these experiences with many people of various generations and backgrounds in Arkansas. Chiemi hopes that by teaching about Japan, people will develop more global and kind perspectives. She believes that having an interest in one's own culture is the first step for the world.


Americans learning about the Japanese culture as part of the Japan Outreach Initiative

Airi Mori was born in Hokkaido, northern Japan. She is very active and has been brimming with curiosity since her childhood. Throughout her life, she participated in many international programs. She won first place in an English Oratorical competition in middle school which allowed her to visit Lexington, Kentucky. She won another competition in high school and travelled to Portland, Oregon as a Sister City Cultural Exchange Ambassador. Ms. Mori has a double major in English Education and Japanese Language Education from the Hokkaido University of Education. While in university, she was chosen as a Japanese Language Teaching Intern at Alaska University in Anchorage. After graduation, she went on to work as a teacher at a Japanese elementary school in Singapore.


Young Americans learning about Japan through the Japan Outreach Initiative

Graduating from the Tokyo Institute of Technology with a degree in Engineering, Yoshio spent 42 years working in international development. Earning a Master of Science degree in Economics in Britain, he started working as a consulting economist in overseas development projects, including a three-year posting in Baghdad, Iraq before joining the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as a senior advisor at the age of 40. Over the course of 24 years with JICA, he was stationed in Mexico for four years and in Hungary for two years as a long-term policy advisor. After retiring from JICA, he became a Japanese language teacher, since he likes teaching young people overseas. Yoshio found that JOI is an ideal chance to utilize his past experience. As a JOI Coordinator, his aim is to create links and partnerships between APSU and Japanese businesses in the region, which represent the largest contribution to job creation among foreign businesses in Tennessee. Yoshio also offers a free Japanese Language and Culture class once a week for students and the community.


Students in West Virginia learn about the Japanese culture through a cultural exchange program

Shintaro “Shinn” Takase was born in Kyoto. During his elementary, middle, and high school education, he participated in many international education activities which instilled in him a fondness for international travel, learning new languages, and living in America and other countries. Shinn enjoys practicing karate, playing rugby football, and is passionate about travel and enjoying local foods. In university, Shinn decided to major Education and English with the goal of being an English teacher in Japan. After graduation, he continued his education studies as a graduate student at Kyoto University of Education. In 2015, he taught Japanese to high school students in Portland, Oregon. In 2016, while teaching English at a high school in Japan, he completed his postgraduate thesis and applied for JOI Coordinator. In August of 2017 he returned to the United States as a JOI Coordinator. He aims to expand and strengthen the understanding of Japan at the local level, and to foster networks and capacity-building to support U.S-Japan exchange and outreach.


Japan Outreach Initiative coordinator with her American friends in North Carolina

Nana is from Ibaraki Prefecture, a state-like area north of Tokyo. Interactions with JET Program ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) at junior high school broadened her horizons and made her interested in intercultural exchange and language acquisition. She received a BA in English from Tsuda University, where she pursued her interests in communication, Japanese language education, and translation. After graduation, she worked for a local food factory with people from many different backgrounds. Nana became a JOI Coordinator hoping to inspire others to become interested in Japan and the world, just like the ALTs inspired her years ago.


Americans enjoying a cultural learning activity with a Japanese coordinator in Michigan

Kanako is originally from the city of Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. Her childhood encounter with some children from abroad whose parents worked for Toyota Motor brought her curiosity about the world. After graduating from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University with a bachelor degree of Business Administration, she spent nine years in Tokyo as an international sales representative for a Japanese power equipment manufacturer. Through her business experience mainly in European and Australasian markets, she learned the importance of mutual understanding in global society. Kanako became a JOI Coordinator to take on the challenge of working in citizen diplomacy in the U.S, learning about international relations, and enhancing her skills abroad. During her two-year assignment, the state of Michigan and Shiga Prefecture will celebrate 50 years as sister states. In addition to enriching the sister state relationship, Kanako aims to provide opportunities to people in her area to learn about Japan and foster greater interest in the world.


Japan Outreach Initiative coordinator cooks Japanese food with American students in Texas

Chinatsu was born in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. While in high school, she studied abroad as an exchange student in Australia for 11 months. After studying English Education at Dokkyo University, Chinatsu worked for a travel company in Tokyo as a sales representative for international cruise companies and traveled extensively around Japan organizing shore excursions where she could meet guests and crews from all over the world. Even though working with cruise lines was a great opportunity, only licensed guides were allowed to tour with passengers, many of whom held stereotypes and particular presumptions about Japan. Chinastsu wanted to engage more with people internationally and contribute to a better understanding about Japanese culture. Through the JOI program, she hopes to meet people as many people as possible in the United States and help them gain a better understanding of Japan.


American kids learn about Japan through a cultural exchange program in school

From Fukui Prefecture, Ayako's father started teaching her English when she was little, sparking an interest in other cultures. Ayako studied in New Zealand for a year during high school. After finishing at Kyoto University with a degree in Foreign Studies, she worked for a bank for three years. However, she always wanted to go abroad and share Japanese culture, so she decided to work as a cultural representative performer for Disney World in Florida. While there, she noticed Japanese people tend not to speak English. She believes that if people are able to speak English, they have more opportunities to interact with the world. As a JOI Coordinator, Ayako aims to help people in her community become more interested in Japanese language and culture and serve as a connection to Japan and the world for them.


Japan Outreach Initiative coordinator teaches young students in Ohio about his native Japan

Haruhide was born in Abeno, Osaka. When he was in 4th grade, his family moved to Nara, the capital of eighth-century Japan and a city with three world heritage sites. Haruhide graduated from Waseda University with a degree in International Liberal Studies and a minor in Economics. He worked as a system engineer in Tokyo for four years, but his interests shifted to international relations and affairs. After applying to become a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer, Haruhide was sent to Belize in Central America to teach computer skills for two years. His current challenge is to energize American students and the broader community in northeast Ohio with curiosity about Japan.


Japanese and Americans sharing their cultures through a card game

Aya is from Saitama, Japan. She studied Intercultural Communication at Rikkyo University in Tokyo, and studied abroad in New Zealand for seven months. Aya then worked for a Japanese style hotel in Tokyo for three and half years, where she served guests from all over the world, from adults to children, while introducing them to Japanese culture. Through interacting with people from different countries, she grew to understand the importance of multicultural understanding, especially in the field of grassroots exchange. Aya hopes to build her career around connecting people beyond borders, so she is now a JOI coordinator serving as a bridge between Japan and the United States.


Friends from Japan and the U.S. wearing kimonos during a cultural exchange activity

Akira Akiyama was born and raised in Tokyo. He graduated from Keio University and with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering, then joined a US-headquartered multinational IT company. He was stationed in laboratories in MN, FL and NC as a liaison with his family for nearly 5 years in total. Living in the US with his family created many delightful memories that stay forever in his heart. After returning to Japan, Akira set a challenging goal: to pass the National Tour Guide Examination administered by JNTO. Akira passed the examination, and volunteered to take several foreign visitors to Mt. Fuji, Kyoto and Asakusa. Since his retirement last year, Akira has searched for a way to dedicate the rest of his life to cross-cultural exchange and international friendship. Akira decided to apply to the JOI program to give something back to the US people, who gave him such wonderful memories. He is now confident that the JOI program gives him a perfect opportunity to repay their kindness. Because Iowa has had a sister state relationship with Yamanashi 66 years, AKira also hopes to deepen this mutual relationship. Akira is excited to serve as a bridge between Yamanashi and Iowa for the next two years.


American kids learn about Japan through a cultural exchange program in school

Airi is from Hokkaido. She studied Childhood Education at Hokkadio University of Education, and earned an MA in English Education with certificates in Elementary, Jr. High School, and High School Education. Airi has had the opportunity to work and travel in Canada and Australia. While in Australia, she volunteered as a Japanese teacher at an elementary school. Airi loves to travel and experience different cultures. She has experience in and enjoys teaching a wide range of people. She has taught English as a Foreign Language at the elementary and high school levels, and also worked as a Teacher’s Assistant at her former university. She would love to share her interests with American citizens. For example, Airi has experience in karate, calligraphy, tea ceremony, and tying yukata. She feels immense pride in her culture, and it would be wonderful if she could teach Japanese culture through activities to many people in Murray, KY. Also, she is willing to create pen pal exchanges, video projects, and Skype meetings between American and Hokkaido youth.

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