Mar. 1-7: Disaster Resilience Study Visit to Japan (Tohoku, Tokyo, and Kobe) by 15 Next-Generation Leaders from Indo-Pacific Nations
The Japan Foundation, in partnership with the Australian Institute of International Affairs(AIIA), will invite 15 young researchers and practitioners from 11 Indo-Pacific countries, including Japan, to participate in a study visit to Japan on the theme of disaster resilience, from Sunday, March 1, through Saturday, March 7. This initiative is conducted under the Japan Foundation Indo-Pacific Partnership Program (JFIPP).
The 15 fellows in this third cohort are young professionals with diverse backgrounds, including researchers, government officials, NGO/NPO staff, and journalists from across the Indo-Pacific. They hail from 11 countries: Japan, Australia, the United States, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia (France), Nauru, and New Zealand. Participants were selected through an open call for applications in cooperation with the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA), an Australian think tank.
Over the course of the one-year program, fellows will deepen their knowledge and build connections through the three in-person study toursin the Indo-Pacific region (Japan, Australia and a Pacific Island nation), and online meetings. The program aims to build lasting networks and advance regional cooperation in disaster prevention, recovery, and resilience.
During the weeklong study tour in Japan, fellows will visit Ishinomaki City and Minamisanriku Town in Miyagi Prefecture, Metropolitan Tokyo, and Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture. They will visit disaster-related facilities and memorial sites, and engage in discussions with a wide range of stakeholders and individuals from government, private sector, and civil society.
Program title: Japan Foundation Indo-Pacific Partnership (JFIPP) / Network Fellowship — “Indo-Pacific Cooperation Network” Study Tour to Japan
Organizers: The Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA), The Japan Foundation
Main Schedule:
Monday, March 2, Tokyo
Visits and meetings with relevant government ministries and media organizations (NHK, etc.)
Tuesday, March 3, Ishinomaki
Meeting with local community members and storytellers (Machizukuri Manbow Co., Ltd, Kawanokami Hyappyokan, Kunio Sunou (former president of Ishinomaki Fish Market), Shin Kimura (director of the Disaster Prevention Section of Ishinomaki City Hall at that time), Yoshie Ishikawa (former resident of kadowaki Town, member of the storytellers’ group “Ishinomaki-Sennennchaya)
Wednesday, March 4, Ishinomaki and Minamisanriku
Tours of earthquake and tsunami–related memorial sites; courtesy call on the Mayor of Minamisanriku Town (Okawa Elementary School Ruins, Minamisanriku 311 Memorial, Shizugawa-Higashi relocation housing complex, discussions with former Minamisanriku Town Mayor Jin Sato and former Vice Mayor Kenji Endo, courtesy call on Mayor Hiraku Chiba)
Thursday, March 5, Tokyo
Visits and discussions with private and social sectors (Mitsubishi Estate CO., LTD., NPO Peace Winds Japan)
Friday, March 6, Tokyo and Kobe
Visit to the Australian Embassy in Tokyo; research meeting
Saturday, March 7, Kobe
Visits to earthquake-related facilities and discussions (KIITO Design and Creative Center Kobe, Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution; lecture by Professor Mayumi Sakamoto, University of Hyogo)
Advisors: Mayumi Sakamoto (Professor, Graduate School of Disaster Resilience and Governance, University of Hyogo)
Hideyuki Miura (Professor, Kyorin University; Producer, Ishinomaki Kawanokami Project)
Hideyuki Sasaki (Professor, Miyagi University) / Tohoku Adviser
Program overview: https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/
* We are currently coordinating media coverage at each venue. Please also feel free to contact us regarding individual interviews with participants.
For more information, please reach out to Public Relations Div., Branding and Communication Dept, at
the Japan Foundation: press@jpf.go.jp.
About Japan Foundation Indo-Pacific Partnership Program
The Japan Foundation is an independent administrative institution whose mission is “Cultivating friendship and ties between Japan and the world.” Through culture, language, and dialogue, the Japan Foundation creates global opportunities to foster friendship, trust, and mutual understanding.
The Japan Foundation launched the Japan Foundation Indo-Pacific Partnership Program (JFIPP) in fiscal 2023.
The program offers training, exchange, and networking opportunities for young professionals who are expected to play a role in policymaking in the Indo-Pacific region in the future, focusing on issues of shared concern across the region. JFIPP seeks to promote international intellectual dialogue, develop next-generation leaders, and build long-term cooperative relationships and a community of stakeholders committed to advancing regional cooperation.
Participants in the first and second cohorts received training in Japan, Australia, Fiji, Tonga (Cohort 1), and New Zealand (Cohort 2), where they learned about the current state of disasters and disaster resilience efforts in each country. Through active discussions and collaborative research among fellows with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise, participants worked to build a sustainable network that will contribute to cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region.
Press Inquiries:
Kumakura (Ms.), Fukushima (Mr.), Branding and Communication Dept. Public Relation Div.,
The Japan Foundation
Tel: +81-(0)3-5369-6075 / Fax: +81-(0)3-5369-6044
E-mail: press@jpf.go.jp
Photos (from the left):
1. Scenes from the JFIPP Cohort 2 study visit to Japan (conducted in 2024; Minamisanriku)
2. Scenes from the JFIPP Cohort 2 study visit to Japan (conducted in 2024; Kobe)
