Prime Minister Takaichi’s Message to the 2026 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference
Overview
At the 2026 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference held in Tokyo on October 15, a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was delivered by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kosei Ozora. The message paid tribute to the U.S.-Japan Council for connecting the peoples of Japan and the United States and contributing to bilateral relations by developing the next generation of leaders. In light of uncertainty in the international order, it underscored the need to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, deepen intergovernmental cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and develop future leaders. The Japanese government also said it would deepen its cooperation with Japanese Americans and the Council. Reference information describes the Council’s founding, the TOMODACHI Initiative, and the appointment of its chair.
Key points
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s congratulatory message was read aloud by Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kosei Ozora.
- The message said the Japan-U.S. alliance is more important than ever amid uncertainty in the international order, and that cooperation between the two countries is vital.
- It said that, alongside intergovernmental cooperation, exchanges between the peoples of the two countries and the development of next-generation leaders are important to advancing Japan-U.S. relations.
- The reference information describes the founding of the U.S.-Japan Council, the TOMODACHI Initiative, and the appointment of its chair.
Overview
On October 15, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a congratulatory message to the 2026 U.S.-Japan Council Annual Conference held in Tokyo, which Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kosei Ozora read aloud.
The message noted that since its establishment in 2009, the U.S.-Japan Council has connected the peoples of Japan and the United States and contributed to the development of bilateral relations by cultivating people who will lead the next generation. It paid tribute to those involved.
Details
The Prime Minister said in her address at the United Nations General Assembly’s General Debate that Japan had expressed its determination to fulfill greater responsibilities for the peace and prosperity of the international community. This was against a backdrop of major uncertainty in the international order and significant changes in the international community.
According to the message, at last month’s summit meeting with President Trump, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation across a broad range of fields and further solidify the Japan-U.S. alliance.
The message said the U.S.-Japan Council connects people across generations and fields and plays a role in developing next-generation leaders. It expressed hope that the Council’s network would produce new contributors to Japan-U.S. cooperation and fresh ideas. The Japanese government also stated its intention to deepen cooperation with Japanese Americans and the Council to further advance Japan-U.S. relations, and expressed the hope that the annual conference would strengthen the bond between the two countries and create opportunities for new cooperation.
According to the reference information, the U.S.-Japan Council was established with Japanese Americans, including the late former chair Irene Hirano Inouye, playing a central role, to cultivate and connect international leaders who contribute to Japan-U.S. relations. Soon after the Great East Japan Earthquake, it launched the TOMODACHI Initiative, a program to develop next-generation leaders in Japan and the United States. Audrey Yamamoto became chair in April 2024.