JCIE May 2013 updates

May 2013 Update: 

Japan 3/11 Disaster Recovery Events & News

Upcoming Activities & Events

• Exhibition: “How Did Architects Respond Immediately After 3/11?” Japan Foundation, Consulate General of Japan in Boston (May 8–June 12, 2013, Boston, MA)—A touring exhibition at the International Village of Northeastern University introduces the diverse range of projects launched by architects throughout the devastated regions.

• NPO Summit: “Investing in the Future of Japan through Non-Profit Organizations” US-Japan Council (May 29, 2013, Tokyo, Japan)—Leaders from the business and non-profit sectors take part in a panel discussion followed by smaller group discussions to develop the next plans of action for securing the success for Japan’s NPOs and strengthening the relationship between the non-profit and the business sectors.

Recent Activities & Events

• Film Screening: “Live Your Dream: The Taylor Anderson Story,” JETAADC, Embassy of Japan, JCAW (May 23, 2013, Washington, DC)

•  Roundtable & Public Symposium: “Innovation Through Reconstruction: Lessons from New Orleans,” Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation (May 20 & 21, 2013, Kamaishi & Morioka City, Iwate)—Representatives from the private sector of New Orleans involved in the region’s reconstruction efforts after Hurricane Katrina exchange ideas with their Japanese counterparts from the business, government, media and the NGO sectors.

• Roundtable: Lessons from the Response to the 3/11 Disaster, Japan Center for International Exchange & Japan Society (May 15, 2013, New York, NY)— NGO representatives from the US involved in the 3/11 recovery efforts discuss the US response to the disaster with Brookings Institution Center for Northeast Asia Policy Studies fellows from Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. 

• Conference: “Mitigating Disasters, Promoting Development: The Sendai Dialogue and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in Asia,” Brookings Institution (May 10, 2013, Washington DC)—The discussion features experts on natural disasters and risk management from the US and Asia. 

• Conference: TOMODACHI NGO Leadership Program, J.P. Morgan, Japan Platform, JANIC, and Mercy Corps (April 28–May 4, 2013, Washington DC)— As part of a three-year program to promote exchanges of ideas and practical training between US and Japanese NGO leaders, 10 Japanese NGO leaders present at the Annual InterAction Conference. 

 Reports & Books of Interest

• “Mitigating Disasters, Promoting Development: The Sendai Dialogue and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in Asia” (May 10, 2013)—Links to the PowerPoint presentations of the panelists at the conference hosted by the Brookings Institution.

• Exploring Innovations in Disaster Education in Kesennuma 1 (March 2013)—This report of the project implemented by the Kesennuma Board of Education, Kyoto University, and SEEDS Asia sheds light on the process of developing new methods for disaster education.

• Civil-Military Lessons Learned in the Response to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (October 2012)—Features insights from civilian and military practitioners, academics, and policy makers to improve disaster response.

Articles of Interest

• “Japan’s Disaster Relief Diplomacy: Fostering Military Cooperation in Asia” (May 13, 2013)—Article by Hideshi Futori on the Asia Pacific Bulletin series produced by the East-West Center.

• “Japanese Disaster Alert Technology to be Exported to Indonesia” (Asahi Shimbun, April 30, 2013)

• “Fukushima University Will Offer the Program, ‘Private School for Reconstruction of Fukushima’ to Develop Young Leaders” (Tohoku Fukkou Shimbun, April 23, 2013)

•  Rebuilding Tohoku—Website launched by JET alumnus Owen Rosa with consolidated information about the recovery efforts in the Tohoku region.

Announcement

• Apply for a paid fellowship at a US non-profit organization—Atlas Corps seeks Japanese non-profit leaders to apply to the year-long Atlas Corps TOMODACHI Fellows Program in the US.