Political Exchange Program

POLITICAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM POLITICAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM he promotion of closer working relations between Japan’s leaders and their overseas T counterparts through political exchange has long been a core element of JCIE’s activi- ties. The Political Exchange Program dates back to 1968, when the first U.S.-Japan Parliamentary Exchange brought eight Congressional members to Tokyo for an unprece- dented program of meetings and discussion sessions with leading Japanese political and social figures. In the ensuing years, JCIE broadened its programs, establishing additional exchanges for young political leaders from Japan and the United States (1973), for senior U.S. Congressional staff (1982), and for young Australian and Japanese political leaders (1991). To date, nearly 1,000 individual political leaders have taken part in one or more of these exchange programs. While the initial emphasis of these exchanges was generally on deepening mutual understanding and building bilateral networks of leaders, dramatic changes in the international and domestic environment have encouraged JCIE to increasingly stress the objective of offering political leaders the opportunity for dialogue on common challenges. This evolution has been accompanied by a significant expansion in the role of Japanese politicians in policymaking that has made political exchange even more meaningful. Also, in response to the growing needs of political leaders for broader networks and new sources of information, JCIE has further expanded its programs to include frequent study meetings for Diet members with visiting foreign leaders and other experts. It has also increasingly involved political leaders in many of its study and dialogue projects, particularly the younger generation of Diet members and other politicians who are now gaining influence and who have limited experience with substantive international exchange and dialogue. T REPOR ANNUAL JCIE 2001–2003 36 • POLITICAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM U.S.-Japan Parliamentary Exchange Program U.S.-Japan Parliamentary Exchange Program cials spoke with the delegation about Japan’s foreign policy, U.S.-Japan relations, and The U.S.-Japan Parliamentary Exchange regional security issues. In addition, Economy Program was initiated in 1968, making it the Minister Heizo Takenaka, senior Ministry of longest-running exchange of its kind. The Economy and Trade (METI) officials, and sev- annual weeklong exchange visits of Japanese eral Japanese corporate leaders and entrepre- and American parliamentary delegations at the neurs met with the delegates to discuss Japan’s core of this program typically consist of a economic outlook and issues related to infor- series of high-level meetings, briefings, and mation technology. One of the high points of working sessions with leaders from diverse the program was a public symposium, cospon- sectors of society. In response to the evolving sored by the Japan Institute for Social and needs of political leaders, this program has Economic Affairs (Keizai Koho Center), where continued to become more substantive in the delegates shared their views with an audi- nature, shifting in focus from purely bilateral ence of almost 200 opinion leaders in a lively relations to the regional and global role of the panel discussion on “Political and Economic U.S.-Japan partnership. For example, in 1997, Developments in the United States after JCIE initiated the Joint Parliamentary Study and September 11.” Dialogue Project on U.S.-Japan Security Relations in Asia Pacific in order to promote a Participants: deeper understanding of the bilateral security Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) relationship among members of Congress and Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC) the Diet. Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) 25th U.S. Congressional Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) Delegation to Japan Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) The six members of the 25th U.S. Congressional Delegation visited Japan on March 24–30, 2002, Study Group for Young and exchanged views with over 30 Diet mem- Members of the Diet bers, including the top leaders of the three Since 1997, as part of the Joint Parliamentary largest political parties—Taku Yamasaki (sec- Study and Dialogue Project on U.S.-Japan retary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party), Security Relations in Asia Pacific, JCIE has Naoto Kan (secretary-general of the organized multiparty study groups of young, T Democratic Party of Japan), and Tetsuzo emerging Diet members that meet with lead- Fuyushiba (secretary-general of the New ing foreign experts from the fields of REPOR Komeito)—as well as former Prime Minister academia, policy, government, business, and Tsutomu Hata. U.S. Ambassador Howard media in order to enhance their understanding ANNUAL Baker, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, and of international affairs. In FY2001 and FY2002, high-ranking Ministry of Foreign Affairs offi- meetings were held with such notable leaders JCIE 2001–2003 POLITICAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM • 37 U.S.-Japan Congressional Staff Exchange Program as Ambassador Howard Baker (former U.S. staffers from almost all of the major Japanese Senate majority leader; former White House parties. The discussion focused on similarities chief of staff), William Cohen (former U.S. sec- and differences in the U.S. and Japanese leg- retary of defense), Ambassador Thomas Foley islative policy advice systems. In addition, they (former ambassador to Japan; former speaker served as speakers for a panel discussion on of the U.S. House of Representatives), political and economic development in the Ambassador Richard Haass (State Department United States after September 11. The event, policy planning director), and Ezra Vogel (pro- which was cosponsored with the Japan fessor, Harvard University). Institute for Social and Economic Affairs (Keizai Koho Center), attracted an audience of U.S.-Japan Congressional Staff more than 200 political, business, and NGO Exchange Program leaders. In recognition of the vital role that Congressional staff play in the U.S. legislative Participants: and policy processes, JCIE established the U.S. Deana Funderburk, Policy Assistant to House Congressional Staff Exchange in 1982 with the Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX) intention of helping them gain a greater under- Mandy Kenney, Deputy Legislative Director to Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) standing of Japan’s policymaking process and Brian MacDonald, Chief of Staff to the current social, political, and economic Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) trends. The participants, typically senior staff Erik Raven, Legislative Assistant to Senator in the fields of security, economics, and for- Robert C. Byrd for Foreign Policy, Defense, eign policy, take part in an intensive one-week and Veterans (D-WV) study program that involves meetings and Ronald Reese, Director of External Affairs to briefings with a wide range of experts. Over Chairman John Boehner (R-OH) its two-decade history, 127 staffers serving Todd Rosenblum, Legislative Assistant to Congressional members from both parties Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) have visited Japan on this program, bringing Lawrence Willcox, Tax Counsel to Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) their heightened understanding of the U.S.- Japan relationship and the politics of Japanese policymaking back to their work in the U.S. Congress. T Seven participants in the 17th U.S. Congressional Staff Exchange visited Tokyo REPOR during the week of February 17–24, 2002. Highlights of their visit included a meeting ANNUAL with Minister Gen Nakatani, head of the Defense Agency, and a roundtable discussion—the first of its kind—with 21 Diet policy JCIE 2001–2003 38 • POLITICAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM U.S.-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program U.S.-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program Kagawa prefecture for a series of meetings and briefings from leaders such as Taku Yamasaki Since 1973, the U.S.-Japan Young Political (secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Leaders Exchange Program has been jointly Party) and Okayama Governor Masahiro Ishii. operated by JCIE and the American Council of In June 2002, members of the 17th Young Political Leaders (ACYPL). This inten- Japanese delegation were briefed on sive two-week study program is designed to Congressional operations by Representative expose young political leaders from each Greg Walden (R-OR), a 1991 delegate, and dis- country to the political, social, and economic cussed U.S.-Japan relations with prominent conditions of the other country, enhance their Japan expert Ezra Vogel (professor emeritus, understanding and appreciation of U.S.-Japan Harvard University) during the course of their relations, and create personal networks among travels through Washington, D.C., Boston, the two nations’ leaders. In addition to visiting Montana, and San Francisco. the host nation’s capitol for meetings with A reciprocal American delegation then trav- national leaders, participants travel to at least eled to Tokyo, Hachioji, Nagoya, and Kyoto two additional cities to gain a more diverse over the course of a two-week visit that perspective on the host country. During the included meetings with 13 Diet members, a course of the program, delegates meet with a lunch with former U.S. Speaker of the House wide range of senior government officials, Tom Foley, and a roundtable discussion with political party representatives, industry exec- Diet policy staff on the role of legislative staff utives, and community leaders. American del- in the policymaking process. The participants egates typically include state and local elected also

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