Nurturing the Next Generation Leaders Connecting Japan and the United States: the TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Program Selects 10 Students for its 8th Cohort

The U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) (Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, Suzanne Basalla) and Sumitomo Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer Masayuki Hyodo) have selected 10 Japanese students to participate in the 2021 TOMODACHI Sumitomo Corporation Scholarship Program (hereafter referred to as “the program”).

The program, which was launched in 2014, is one of the educational programs supported by the TOMODACHI Initiative (*1), led by the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and the U.S.-Japan Council. With the support of Sumitomo Corporation, the program provides a scholarship of 1.8 million yen per student who will participate in exchange programs at universities across the United States for a year. In addition, students are also offered various opportunities to broaden their global horizons and develop leadership skills, including the opportunity to participate in training sessions hosted by Sumitomo Corporation of America’s head office in New York. Furthermore, Sumitomo Corporation Group employees with international experience will serve as mentors (*2) to the students in order to help them execute their plans and achieve their goals while studying abroad.

Due to the spread of COVID-19, the program was unable to be offered in 2020. However, thanks to the progress of the vaccination rollout this year, the program will resume for the first time in two years.  Masayuki Hyodo, Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sumitomo Corporation, awarded scholarship certificates to all 10 students during the award ceremony held on July 27. All of the students delivered acceptance speeches in which they shared the goals they hoped to achieve during their time as exchange students, such comments including their desire to contribute to the further development of U.S.-Japan relations in the future.  

As of 2020, 47 students have studied abroad through this program. Those who have already established their careers continuously contribute to the program as alumni (*3), providing guidance to subsequent exchange students. The U.S.-Japan Council and Sumitomo Corporation continue to support university students through the program in order to help foster the next generation of global leaders connecting the United States and Japan.

Pre-Departure Training

Award Ceremony

*1: The TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership between the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, with support from the Government of Japan. Born out of support for Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, TOMODACHI invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and cultural exchanges as well as leadership programs. The initiative seeks to foster a “TOMODACHI Generation” of young American and Japanese leaders who are committed to and engaged in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, appreciate each other’s countries and cultures, and possess the global skills and mindsets needed to contribute to and thrive in a more cooperative, prosperous, and secure world. Visit us at www.tomodachi.org（www.tomodachi.org）

*2: ‘Mentor’ refers to the advisers and people with whom the students can consult.

*3: ‘Alumni’ refers to past participants of the TOMODACHI programs.

Sumitomo Corporation’s Material Issues

Sumitomo Corporation Group positions “Six Material Issues to Achieve Sustainable Growth with Society” as an important factor in developing business strategies and in the decision-making process for individual businesses. Going forward, we will pursue sustainable growth by resolving these issues through our business activities. This project especially contributes to the following material Issues.

Achieving Harmony with the Global Environment

To realize recycling-oriented society and mitigate climate change, we are working to establish frameworks for the efficient use of resources and stable supply of renewable energy. In doing so, we will achieve growth in harmony with the global environment.

Contributing to the Development of Local Communities and Industries

We steadily procure and provide goods and services to meet the needs of people in various countries and regions and contribute to developing industrial platforms. Through these means, we will create a virtuous cycle in which we can grow and develop together with local communities.

Establishing a Foundation for Comfortable and Enriching Lifestyles

We strive to realize more convenient and comfortable lifestyles by providing goods and services for daily use while also responding to needs for high-quality lifestyles in order to support the physical and mental health of people around the world.

Providing Diverse “Accessibility”

We provide diverse accessibility to open up the possibility of creating new value. To this end, we will improve mobility for safe and efficient flow of people and goods, and expand the network connecting information and finance.

Developing Human Resources and Promoting Diversity

In order to create new value and innovation by allowing our diverse personnel to fully exercise their abilities in a variety of fields, we will promote the development and empowerment of human resources, which represent our most important management resources.

Enhancing Governance

We will enhance our ability to draft and implement strategies for achieving sustainable growth and to provide appropriate supervision of these strategies, all while maintaining transparency. In this manner, we will improve management efficiency and maintain sound management.