Japan Society

"Founded in 1907, Japan Society is a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization that brings the people of Japan and the United States closer together through understanding, appreciation and cooperation. Society programs in the arts, business, education and public policy offer opportunities to experience Japanese culture; to foster sustained and open dialogue on issues important to the U.S., Japan and East Asia; and to improve access to information on Japan." 


 * "Despite the Society’s efforts, political crisis exploded into war in 1941. The Society closed its doors, as did all other Japan-American exchange groups. Yet the seeds of cooperation and goodwill were not extinguished by war, and in 1952, at the end of the American Occupation, the Society was reborn, largely through the efforts of President John D. Rockefeller 3rd and Executive Director Douglas Overton. The newly revitalized Society redoubled its efforts to educate Americans about Japan by expanding its lecture series, continuing to publish respected works on Japan, and by facilitating the study of Japanese students in New York.


 * "The foresight of John D. Rockefeller 3rd resulted in the construction of Japan House in 1971 across the street from the United Nations. With a gallery, auditorium, library, and classroom space, the Society during the 1970s and 1980s expanded its programming to include groundbreaking exhibitions, sold-out performances of traditional and classical Japanese dance and music, major film series, a comprehensive language program, and a vibrant lecture series covering topics ranging from corporate and policy issues to Japanese popular culture.


 * "Japan Society today continues to play a leading role in U.S.-Japan relations. Over the past decade it has continued to increase programming, reaching out to business leaders and school children alike. In the future, Japan Society will remain a trendsetter in examining Japan’s changing relations with its neighbors, the issues facing post-industrial societies in Asia and the West, and the emergence of a new Japan in the 21st century."


 * President, Richard J. Wood

Grantees Include

 * National Bureau of Asian Research

Board of Directors

 * James S. McDonald, Chairman
 * Richard S. Lanier, Chairman, Executive Committee
 * Hideyuki Takahashi, Vice Chairman
 * Richard J. Wood, President (Ex officio)
 * Yoroku Adachi
 * Gregory A. Boyko
 * Henry Cornell
 * Michael E. Daniels
 * Susan Dentzer
 * Anne d'Harnoncourt
 * Robert E. Fallon
 * Atsuko Toko Fish
 * Carol Gluck
 * Shinichi Goto
 * Maurice R. Greenberg
 * David W. Heleniak
 * Merit E. Janow
 * Frederick H. Katayama
 * Susumu Kato
 * Stephen H. Long
 * Jun Makihara
 * Deryck C. Maughan
 * Masato Mori
 * Satoru Murase
 * Kyota Omori
 * William G. Parrett
 * Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.
 * Joshua N. Solomon
 * Howard Stringer
 * Ryoichi Ueda
 * Motokazu Yoshida

Life Directors
 * Henry A. McKinnell, Jr.
 * Jiro Murase
 * Peter G. Peterson
 * Michael I. Sovern
 * Paul A. Volcker

As of April 18, 2007 Source

Related SourceWatch

 * Xiaobo Lü
 * Jerome Cohen - Former Corporate Director
 * Raymond A. Lamontagne
 * Thornton F. Bradshaw - former board member

Contact

 * Web: http://www.japansociety.org