CEPEX

The Center For Professional Exchange

Established in 2005 in Washington, DC, the Center for Professional Exchange (CEPEX) is a non-profit (501c3) organization, that provides support and collaboration at the professional level between the US and Japan. Recently CEPEX has been exploring a new initiative in the post/with-COVID-19 era. Yukio Tada, Chairman of the Board of CEPEX, visited 6 states on a fact finding and feasibility study tour for a new program.

In autumn 2018 CEPEX launched a seminar series on U.S. workforce development called “Japanese Innovation and Experiences Implementing New Technology in the U.S./From ‘Product Out’ to ‘Market In’”. This initiative was supported by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) under their U.S.-Japan grassroots program. The main concept was how to nurture next-generation workforce development in the 2020s that was beyond “Just in time (Kanban) & Kaizen” ~ vocational training associated with the transfer and expansion of the Japanese auto and auto-parts industry of the 1980s.

CEPEX organized six seminars in the Midwest and Southeast region including Fort Wayne, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Dublin, Ohio; Fayetteville, Arkansas; plus, Memphis and Clarksville, Tennessee. The initiative was expanded to two seminars in Oregon and a seminar in Jacksonville, Mississippi, however they were unfortunately cancelled due to COVID-19.

Today, our society faces a new challenge, as we move from ‘Market In’ to ‘Market Return’. During the COVID-19 lockdown many people were stuck at home and began to buy items online. Increased online sales and deliveries led to more items returned. The total value of returned goods in U.S. retail market dramatically grew from $309 billion in 2019 to $816 billion in 2022 with a return ratio of 16.5% per year. In 2021 the return market size overtook North American automobile industries and is becoming a huge social problem.

In addition to the organization’s existing exchange support program, CEPEX has been seeking new opportunities to promote collaboration with the private sector, government authorities, non-profit organizations and educational institutions, on how to address workforce development issues and the 21st Century workplace. Following Mr. Tada’s fact finding and feasibility study tour, CEPEX would like to create a new initiative “Japan-America Joint Vocational Training Program on all Returns Market. (Responsible Refurbish, Reuse, Recycle and Reduce)”. More details will follow.

Top: With Yoshihiro Sasaki, CEPEX OH Representative in Arkansas

Bottom: With Yasushi Sunouchi, CEPEX Special Advisor in Washington, DC

開催報告:講義「国際関係概論」にて、米国非課税NPO法人CEPEXCenter for Professional Exchange理事長の多田幸雄先生にご登壇いただきました。

長崎大学経済学部では、文部科学省に採択されたグローバル人材育成事業の一環として始めた、「国際関係概論」という1年生向けの授業を開講しています。グローバル社会で活躍するには何が必要なのか。政府機関、民間企業、NGO等、国際舞台の第一線でご活躍の方々にご登壇いただいています。

今年度の最終回となる7月28日(金)には、米国NPO法人CEPEX理事長の多田幸雄先生(経済学部客員教授、元双日ワシントン支店長)にご登壇いただきました。国内外を問わず、そしてビジネスや政治行政などの垣根を越えて、第一線でご活躍されてきたご経験を踏まえた授業内容で、今後の長い人生で何をしたいのかを考え、実現してほしい、と受講生を激励されました。さらには、生成系AIを授業内で実際に使用しつつ、その有用性と注意点などを紹介するとともに、今後の社会の変化や受講生の生き方への指針を示唆して下さいました。また、九州大学ビジネススクールの野崎氏にも登壇いただき、女性公務員としてのご経歴を踏まえて、お話いただきました。授業後には、1対1で話を聞きたい受講生による長い質問の列ができました。本授業は、新入生に今後を考える機会を提供することを目的とするものですが、その最後を締めくくる、非常に有意義な授業となりました。

The Faculty of Economics offers a class called “Introduction to International Relations” as part of the global human resource development project adopted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The class brings in people involved in international arena, such as government agencies, private companies, and NGOs as guest speakers.

May 26, 2023, Ms. Shuta Lorina, former staff of the Japanese Embassy in Ukraine, and Mr. Yukio Tada, Visiting Professor of Nagasaki University; Chairman of the Board of US 501c3NPO CEPEX; and former General Manager of Sojitz Corporation of America’s Washington Branch, spoke to students in the campus auditorium. In addition, the discussion was opened to the public and three local TV and newspapers covered the event. https://www.ncctv.co.jp/news/115717.html

In the class, Ms. Lorina spoke about “A view from Ukraine: 15 months into the war.” She described various aspects of Ukraine’s history, culture, religion, and economy, and also explained the background and cruelty of the recent Russian invasion. Ms. Lorina was working at the Japanese Embassy in Ukraine at the time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In addition, Professor Tada explained the background and supplementary explanations of Ms. Lorina’s speech, and explained her views on the international situation.

By listening directly to Ms. Lorina, the students learned about the ongoing international situation and peace, and what it means to know other countries. It was a valuable learning opportunity.

We are deeply saddened by the shocking news of the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Throughout his tenure as Japan’s longest-serving prime minister he strengthened the US-Japan bilateral relationship from the grassroots through the senior government level.

CEPEX fondly remembers the strong support from both Prime Minister Abe and his wife, Akie Abe, for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, JET alumni community, and the Japanese elementary school immersion program in Great Falls, VA.

As an organization dedicated to the promotion of US-Japan ties, we honor his memory and send sincere condolences to his family and the people of Japan.

Previous CEPEX posts featuring Prime Minister Abe can be viewed here:

https://www.cepex.org/cepexevents/cepex-brings-together-japanese-politicians-and-future-japan-experts-over-sushi-dinner

http://www.cepex.org/cepexnews/cepex-helps-bring-former-prime-minister-of-japan-to-great-falls-virginia

JET35As the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program celebrates its 35th anniversary, alumni members from across the US, plus a few attendees from Canada and Japan, gathered in Seattle, WA, for a special reunion conference. The JET35 event was a mixture of official programming with speeches and panels, plus off-site excursions and activities arranged by USJETAA with support from the Pacific Northwest JETAA alumni chapter. 150+ attendees representing 41 of the 47 prefectures registered, with Gunma the most represented. The first major gathering for many to attend in-person after the pandemic, attendees wore face masks indoors for the official programming, except for when eating, drinking and the group photo at the Haru Matsuri dinner reception.

CGJ Seattle Inagaki HisaoConsul General Hisao Inagaki welcomed everyone on behalf of the Japanese Consulate in Seattle.

Special video messages were played from Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi and Consul General of the US in Osaka-Kobe, Richard Mei.

MOFA (2)Minister Hayashi noted the roles JET alumni take on in support of the US-Japan relationship and range of careers that build upon their JET experience.

CG Mei Consul General Mei noted how his participation in the JET-precursor program Monbusho English Fellows (MEF) in Tokushima led to his career at the State Department and current role in Osaka.

Community Connections to Japan Panel (2)Shanti Shoji led the panel on Bringing Japan Home: Community Connections to Japan. Discussants included JET alumni Seattle International Affairs Director Stacey Jehlik, and Mountain View, CA city council member Ellen Kamei; plus former Commander US Naval Forces Japan Admiral James D. Kelly, and Japan America Society of the State of Washington Dale Watanabe. Mr. Watanabe shared moving anecdotes of the Japanese Americans who were sent from Bainbridge Island to internment camps, including his own family. The panel recommended alumni volunteer anywhere, get involved, and bring the Japan experience to international activities.

JET 20+Special breakout events included a JET 20+ lunch offsite with attendees who participated on the JET Program before 2002. The alumni represented JETAA chapters including Seattle; Northern California; Southern California; Washington, DC; and Heartland (Kansas City, MO).

Books by JETs One of the exhibit tables displayed a selection of books written by JET alumni. The Creators Panel included JET alumni Zack Davisson, a manga translator and author of Yurei: The Japanese Ghost, and Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan.

The Breakout Session on Sister Cities, KenJETKai, and other Innovative Exchanges: Sustaining Ties with Communities in Japan, highlighted the existence of 457 US-Japan sister cities according to the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Many of the US Sister Cities are NPOs, run by volunteers who do not know protocol, Japanese language, social media or technology. Sister Cities need new energy and new people to join. Independence, Missouri became a sister city with Higashimurayama in 1978. The relationship was started after some Japanese tourists became lost in former President Truman’s hometown of Independence, MO. The townspeople were kind and helped the tourists. In 1979 students from Higashimurayama visited Independence for a two-week home stay, and a student group has visited every year since. In 1981 six students went to Higashimurayama, and student exchanges have been conducted every year since. JET alumni who return to their communities can help play a role energizing US-Japan sister city relationships, continuing the investment in grassroots, people-to-people exchanges first experienced on the JET Program.

 

Fluctuating International Situation – What is the Real Intention of the United States, China, and Europe?” was an online panel discussion in Japanese co-organized by the Consulate General of Japan in Nashville and CEPEX.

The video of the virtual event is available to everyone in the Americas region as part of the Human Resources Development Seminar of the Grass-Root Exchange Program funded by Japanese MOFA.

The video will be available  until the end of September 2021.

シーペックス(CEPEX)オンラインセミナーの動画紹介

今般、在ナッシュビル日本国総領事館と在米NPO団体CEPEX (Center for Professional Exchange)が、令和3年度の人材開発セミナーの一環として、全米地域を対象に初のオンラインで共催したパネルディスカッション「揺らぐ国際情勢~米中欧のホンネ~」の動画をお届けします。9月末までの公開です。

July 16

*実施時期: 2021年7月16日
*参加地域: 全米30州+カナダ、ブラジル、ペルー及び日本国内より参加
*関係機関: 在米公館、JETRO、全米日本語協会、双日総合研究所、CEPEX
*訴求対象: 米州進出日系企業、日本語の履修生・教員関係者、日米協会、

【別紙1】動画の解説

Event July 16

事前説明動画
(5 分) https://youtu.be/DbR7RWMuT_o
【本編】講義と
パネルディスカッション (120分)  https://youtu.be/sJsknzdPUBE

July 16

Date: Friday, July 16, 2021

Time: 19:00-20:20 (CST)

Agenda:

18:55 (CST): Introduction of the Speakers

19:00 (CST): Welcome, Center for Professional Exchange (CEPEX) Chairman Yukio Tada (Moderator)

Opening Remarks: Kayoko Fukushima, Consul General of Japan in Nashville

19:05 (CST) Panel Discussion: Fluctuating International Situation – ‘Honne’ of the U.S., China, and Europe

  • Asuka Tatebayashi, Manager & Chief Analyst, Consulting & Research Group, Sojitz Research Institute
  • Sawako Yasuda, Assistant Manager/Analyst, Public & Government Relations, Sojitz Research Institute
  • Akihiko Yokoo, Analyst, Consulting & Research Group, Sojitz Research Institute

19:50 (CST) Q&A [Japanese/English]

20:20 (CST) Closing

Closing Remarks: Kazuomi Sakai, President, Sojitz Research Institute

Languages: Lectures are in Japanese; Q&A available in Japanese and English

Capacity: 300 people, no participation fee

Heiwa Games” Seminar: Promoting Conceptual Thinking toward Peace.

CEPEX Nagasaki Representative: Prof. Masayuki Susai

NagasakiNagasaki University Faculty of Economics offers a course called “Global Social Responsibility (GSR)” as part of its global human resource development program. Yukio Tada, Chairman of the Board of CEPEX, concurrently Visiting Professor of Nagasaki University, took the final stage of 2020 academic year on July 17.

Tada PresentationDue to precautionary countermeasures against COVID-19, the course was offered as a hybrid online-offline lesson. The course had 250 enrolled students, with 235 students online and 15 students in the classroom.

Virtual

The session was divided into two parts. Mr. Tada spoke about his 20 years of overseas experience and the recent development of IOT and AI technology. Then he raised the importance of “Heiwa (peace) games”, conceptual thinking toward peace in a Japanese way. In the past in both politics and economics, the point of the game was mainly to win or lose. In contrast, Heiwa games refer to cooperation as the goal. By thinking about “Heiwa games”, students are encouraged to think about “what is peace”; what is a “sustainable peaceful situation”, and what kind of rules and social mechanisms would be required for cooperation toward peace. The second part of the session involved a lively question and answer exchange with the students both in the classroom and online. The thought provoking and lively discussion was extended past the 90-minute lesson.

Tada with StudentsFor Japanese see: http://www.econ.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/news/2020/07/2020.07.17a.html

April 2020

Hokkaido University, Nitobe College Fellow,

Yukio Tada

Toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2045

Conceptual Thinking of the Peace Game

Dossier of the Tada Fellow Seminar 2019

QR Code

https://nitobe-college.academic.hokudai.ac.jp/u/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/nitobe_fellow_zemi1.pdf

This booklet summarizes the results of group study activities of “Tada” seminar, which was conducted as a part of the Nitobe Fellow Seminar, a mandatory course at Nitobe College of Hokkaido University. Hokkaido University is one of the National Universities in Japan, established in 1876, with 12 departments covering natural science to social science, with 19,000 students including 2,200 foreign students. Nitobe College is a cross-over special education program created in2013, open for all students among the 12 departments in order to develop a global human resource. The enrollment capacity is 200 students each year, including the first year and the second year students.

In the 2019 academic year, the overall main subject was SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). “Tada” Fellow Seminar, which I was in charge of, pursued the theme of “Toward the SDGs in 2045 – Thinking about the Peace Game-”.

This booklet is intended to be used by many leaders in primary and secondary education settings as new teaching materials and study guidebooks created by university students.

Why setting the target year as 2045?  It is said to be the year of the Singularity. Additionally, we assume by 2045 that these students, who are freshmen and sophomores, will be active at the forefront of our society.

Why Peace Game? This is not war game which aims at defeating opponents. We selected the goal of realizing a sustainable world. It also shouldn’t be a pick-up game to steal your opponent’s assets. In addition, the game should be interesting not only in classrooms but also outside of class hours of college, elementary, junior high and high school. We hope that you can freely use the records the students have made.

Hokkaido 2 Hokkaido Sasaki Virtual Discussion

Please note this event has been postponed.

Japanese Business Experiences & Innovation  

Implementing New Management Systems in U.S.

Japan and Oregon have built a long-lasting relationship based on trust and cooperation. In an effort to continue strengthening our relationship, we would like to invite you to attend the upcoming Japan Business Experiences & Innovation program conducted by the Center for Professional Exchange Japan (CEPEX).  CEPEX focuses on providing support and collaboration at the professional level for cultural, interpersonal exchange and study between the U.S. and Japan.  The program will focus on ways entrepreneurs in the greater Portland region and business leaders can benefit from learning about how change, driven by the implementation of IoT and robotics, is (1) impacting the corporate culture in Japan, and (2) promoting the next generation of HR and workforce development.  The presentation on this topic will be conducted by Mr. Yukio Tada, Chairman of the Board, CEPEX, Chairman of Keizai Doyukai Americas Japan relations committee (2013-2017).

Date:           Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Time:          8:00am – 10:00am

Location:    Prosper Portland, Commission Room

Address:     222 NW 5th Ave., Portland, OR 97209

Program Overview

8:00am       Welcome Remarks

  • Kevin Johnson, Metals & Machinery Cluster & Japan Initiative Liaison

8:10am        Presentation

  • Yukio Tada, Chairman of the Board, CEPEX

9:00am       Panel Presentation

  •    Yoshihiro Sasaki, Founder, RL Institute, President & CEO, R-Cubes
  •    Herbert Yamamoto, VP, Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs, CEO, CADD & BIM Connections, LLC
  •    Atsunobu Kasagi, Innovation Specialist, Kobe City Government
  •    Nim Chen, Director of Return Center /Logistics of Funai Service Corporation

Please RSVP by sending an email to bunkaportland@se.mofa.go.jp