Boston Children’s Museum (BCM). Boston,
MA
Kyo no Machiya Website (Year 1)
Project Director: Leslie Swartz
$67,210
This project’s objective is to develop an innovative, interactive web-based exploration of the Kyo no
Machiya, the historically-significant Japanese house built at BCM in 1979, and all of its many artifacts by
3-D digitalization of all the key objects in the house and the extensive BCM Japanese collection. With the
development of this website, created over three years with significant professional support and input, BCM
hopes to launch a participatory global network among children and adults interested in learning about Japan,
thereby providing a place for Japan experts and specialists to share their insights, knowledge and
ideas.
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR). San Francisco,
CA
Japan-US Sustainability Dialogues: An Educational Exchange
Project Director: Chad Bolick
$22,264
BSR’s project is to create a meaningful dialogue on social and environmental sustainability, including
corporate social responsibility (CSR), which will promote collaboration between Japan and US. This project
will determine the appetite for this engagement among Japanese companies and other CSR stakeholders as well
as identify barriers preventing participation. Utilizing contacts developed and strengthened in the research
phase, BSR will launch a series of networking events and activities around Japan.
Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, California State University, Long Beach. Long Beach, California
North American Japanese Garden Network (Year 1)
Project Director: Jeanette Schelin
$87,346
The objective is to create a network of North American Japanese gardens to foster cultural education and
friendship with Japan. This plan was created by leaders in the field from Japan, Canada and the US via the
2010 North American Japanese Garden Initiative (NAJGI) funded in part by CGP. Strategic objectives for the
project include: development of a North American Japanese Garden Association, regional network committees,
an e-communications system, a research study of Japanese gardens and regional programs to promote
information sharing and networking amongst the garden and their many constituents including Japan related
societies, cultural organizations and the public.
Five College Center for East Asian Studies
(FCCEAS). Northampton, MA
JAID (Japan Artists Information Directory) (Year 1)
Project Director: Anne Prescott
$20,264
The Japan Artist Information Directory (JAID) will establish a database of information about performers of
traditional Japanese arts that will be disseminated through a web-based directory which will be available on
the Five Colleges website. Particular attention will be paid to underserved areas (Midwest, South and
Mountain states), and a concerted effort will be made to collect information about artists and to publicize
JAID to organizations in those areas. This directory will enhance mutual understanding between the US and
Japan by improving visibility for traditional Japanese performing artists and their arts.
Idaho Human Rights Education Center (IHREC).
Boise, ID
International Education Leadership Program and Exchange (Year 1)
Project Director: Dan Prinzing
$71,544
IHREC will conduct a 36 month international education leadership program and exchange that links students
and teachers in Idaho with the study of cultural heritage and global partnership with Japan. Building upon
IHREC’s international Youth LEAD online forum, teachers and students in the US and Japan will explore
cultural heritage and global partnership through the lens of the Idaho Content Learning Standards for
Geography and Culture.
Japan Society, Inc. New York, NY
International Youth Electronic Exchange Project (Year 1)
Project Director: Rob Fish
$70,723
Japan Society will create a digital social network initially linking Japanese and American (and possibly
Pakistani) junior high school and high school classrooms to promote cultural exchange utilizing digital
media. Distinguishing itself from other international social networks available for teens, this project will
be particularly sensitive to the manner in which Japanese youth utilize social networking services (SNS) in
both its design and content. A hybrid of both traditional person to person exchange and 21st century virtual
electronic exchange, the project will feature face-to-face working meetings of a core group of educators
participating in the project in both its first and third years for the purposes of planning, evaluation, and
helping the project to grow and be sustainable over the long term.
National Association of Japan-America Societies
(NAJAS). Washington, DC
NAJAS Network Support (Year 1)
Project Director: Makiko Murotani
$74,321
This project will provide an integrated program for small and mid-sized Japan-America Societies by combining
structural and program support from the network and NAJAS. The structural component will focus on JAS
management and board capacity building and the program component will focus on providing speaker resources
to JAS to help with their membership retention and development. The program of structural and program
support will strengthen small and mid-sized JAS, and the NAJAS network itself, at a crucial point in
US-Japan relations.
National Performance Network (NPN). New Orleans,
LA
Japan Connection (Year 1)
Project Director: Renata Petroni
$43,000
This project is a partnership between the NPN and the Japan Contemporary Dance Network (JCDN) to build
knowledge about the cultural and artistic fabric of the US and Japan through networking connections and
digital information as well as develop a systemic and reciprocal artistic connection between the two
countries. NPN will achieve this through a series of curatorial travel, attendance at convenings,and
planning sessions both in Japan and the US, as well as information sharing through new technologies and
artistic innovations.
Primary Source. Watertown, MA
Accessible Japan: Primary Source’s Online Offerings for Educators (Year 1)
Project Director: Deborah Cunningham
$67,323
This project will introduce new programming and resources on Japan that will be easily accessible to both
national and international audiences. Primary Source intends to create and offer a replicable online course,
an online curriculum cluster of multiple activities for use in the classroom, and an international
discussion group. A series of webinars will support this work. Key Primary Source staff will travel to Japan
to build partnerships with Japanese educators. Staff will also use technology-based networking tools to
conduct outreach efforts and will share their expertise at a US-based conference that focuses on Japan, Asia
and/or global studies. While all of these resources, activities, and outreach efforts will be planned and
completed during the funding period, access to this work will exist long beyond the duration of the grant,
ensuring maximum impact.
Sister Cities International (SCI). Washington,
DC
Leading Asia: Renewing the US and Japan Sister Cities Network (Year 1)
Project Director: Jennelle Root
$77,300
This project will disseminate best practice models, share innovation and progress, and help US and Japan
sister cities expand relationships by offering a variety of programs and resources. The project will provide
the information and resources needed to improve and broaden the range of activities within US-Japan sister
city partnerships with a focus on youth and young professional development, creative economy, and
sustainable development. Leading Asia will provide more opportunity for face-to-face exchanges for the next
generation of citizen diplomats.
United Planet. Boston, MA
Volunteer Leaders2 Program (Year 1)
Project Director: Dave Santulli
$70,273
The United Planet Volunteer Leaders2 will create new networks of US and Japanese volunteers, schools,
universities, and organizations to address global issues, foster cross-cultural understanding and promote
transnational cooperation and civic leadership, especially among the next generation. United Planet will
achieve these objectives through the establishment of an innovative and sustainable voluntary exchange
program focused on underserved populations. Cross-sector collaboration and ongoing engagement will be
promoted through innovative technologies. Ambassador Clubs and programs for NPO professionals and social
entrepreneurs will also be introduced to empower globally-minded leadership.
US Center for Citizen Diplomacy
(USCCD). Des Moines, IA
J Center: Strengthening Japan/US Relations in the Midwest Region of the United States (Year 1)
Project Director: Ann Schodde
$72,363
The objective of the project is to create a center that will serve to increase awareness of existing
organizations and opportunities for engagement in citizen diplomacy activities focused on Japan, among
Americans of all ages living in the Midwest region of the United States. The ten Midwest region states to be
the focus of the center include Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, North
Dakota and South Dakota. One planning trip to Japan will be conducted in Year 1 to identify appropriate
organizational partners to work with.