On Monday, B’nai B’rith International announced the completion of a week-long trip organized by the Japan International Cooperation Center as part of the Japanese government’s annual Kakehashi Project.
The project, funded by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brings selected groups of Americans to Japan for “engaging, focused, and customized experiences,” according to the Japanese embassy in Washington.
A group of 15 American Jews from the B’nai B’rith Young Leadership Network participated in the trip, which ran Nov. 5-12. They represented the Jewish-American community and used the experience to nurture Jewish-Japanese relationships and develop a greater understanding of Japanese culture.
Liz Krebs, program manager for B’nai B’rith Connect, told JNS the Kakehashi Project “has been a cornerstone initiative since 2016, fostering stronger ties between Jewish Americans, Japan, and the United States.”
She said participants came from “diverse professional backgrounds—ranging from corporate strategy to venture capital and emergency management—nominated by prior Kakehashi alumni and B’nai B’rith staff.”
Delegates met with Rahm Emanuel, U.S. ambassador to Japan, at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo and Hosaka Yasushi, Japan’s parliamentary vice minister for foreign affairs, at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They discussed the Japanese-American military alliance and Japan’s efforts to aid Israeli communities during the war in Gaza. Delegates also attended a briefing at Israel’s embassy in Tokyo, delivered by Asaf Segev, deputy chief of mission.
The Jewish-American visitors joined the local Jewish community to participate in Shabbat dinner and attend services at the Jewish Community Center of Kansai. They visited cultural sites such as Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Yasaka Shrine and the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial.
Delegates also spent a day with different Japanese families in Kobe to experience local life, sample authentic cuisine and connect with the community.
At the conclusion of their trip, attendees offered their plans and ideas to further strengthen both Jewish-Japanese cultural relations and U.S.-Japanese diplomatic ties.
Krebs told JNS that “this mission highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Japan while deepening participants’ understanding of the shared histories and relationships among Japan, Israel and the Jewish-American community.”
“Through this immersive diplomacy experience, participants advanced their skills in advocacy and strengthened bonds of mutual respect and understanding, furthering the mission of B’nai B’rith International on a global scale,” she added.
