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September 2008: Summary of the 60th JASC

July 25– August 21, 2008

Sixty-two curious and enthusiastic students from across the U.S. and Japan gathered in Portland, OR to kickoff the 60^th JASC. On July 29^th the entire delegation as well as Japanese and American alumni gathered at Reed College to celebrate the opening of the landmark 60^th JASC that honored the first U.S. JASC in 1935, also held at Reed. The opening ceremony featured remarks from Executive Committee leaders Naoki Takeda and Samantha Scully, ISC Board Chair Stephen Moss, and Consul General Akio Egawa. As a special commemorative activity, student leaders invited alumni to put their JASC memories into a time capsule to be reopened during the 100^th JASC.

The second week of JASC was held at the University of California, Los Angeles. Highlights included a variety of activities from field trips and academic panels to surfing lessons. Key events in LA were a forum on minority issues at the Japanese-American National Museum in Little Tokyo and visits to local companies for Business Day.

After the fast-pace of Los Angeles, the group traveled to Missoula, Montana for a different view of American life. The site began with a weekend of homestays, which provided delegates with an unforgettable dose of local hospitality and heartfelt memories. The rest of the week featured roundtable discussions, field trips focused on environmental concerns and hands-on activities such as making bicycles from recycled materials.

JASCers were pleased to spend their final week at Harvard, enjoying field trips in Boston, a visit to City Hall, and tours of historic sites. Also in Cambridge, the delegates elected a team of 16 new Executive Committee leaders. In their first meetings the group selected seven roundtables and began to plan the 61^st JASC in Japan, which will also be the 75^th anniversary of JASC’s founding in 1934.

61^st JASC Roundtables:

Educating a Global Citizenry

Development and Power Politics

Food Politics

Globalizing Economies: The Rise of BRICs in Relation to Japan and the U.S.

Modernized Technology and Health Issues

Public Interest v. Individual Rights

Environment and Sustainable Development

AEC:

Colin Moreshead, Wesleyan Univ*

Ji Eun Jung, Dickinson College**

Jon-Michael Durkin, Univ of Akron

Fausia Mahama, Dickinson College

Edward Phillips, Univ of Washington

Rachel Staum, Harvard Univ

Kayoko Hirata, Cornell Univ

Yoshihiro Kanemitsu, Univ of Tokyo

(via University of Toronto)

JEC:

Hideya Matsumoto, Keio Univ*

Yuri Takeuchi, Univ of Tokyo**

Yuri Honda, Keio Univ

Koji Jimba, International Christian Univ

Keisuke Matsuo, Waseda Univ

Moto Ono, Kyoto Univ

Takuma Tanaka, Univ of Tokyo

Emi Yasukawa, Keio Univ

* Chairperson

** Vice Chairperson

September 2008: Farewell Message from ISC President Robin White

My warmest greetings to the many JASC alumni -- and this year to the first group of KASC alumni. I am writing to announce that I am resigning my position as President of International Student Conferences.

It has been a fascinating four years and a wonderful experience to work with eager, curious college students and dedicated alumni. I am honored to have been a part of the 75-year-old Japan-America Student Conference tradition. The creation this year of the Korea-America Student Conference was a meaningful next step to bring this outstanding model of student-run conferences to other countries.

Working with Regina, Hiroko, Ashley, and Ju-Young, I am proud of all that we’ve accomplished. JASC is now preparing for its 61^st gathering, and its dedicated alumni continue to use their JASC experience in their work in business, government and social fields. The tears and emotions of the 60^th JASCers as they reached the end of this year’s conference make clear that the tradition will continue.

The 34 delegates to the first KASC showed the same dedication, and I am confident that the second KASC next year in Korea will ensure that this great program will benefit our relationship with Korea in many ways. Working with both programs, it is gratifying to see how these young people change, grow and find new strengths as they confront the challenges of planning, coordinating and reaching agreement across cultural divides.

Thank you for your support and your commitment to international student programs. I will continue to teach the Japan class at the Foreign Service Institute and stay involved with developments in Northeast Asia, and I will certainly follow with interest the work of ISC as its dedicated staff and Board of Directors plan the JASC 75^th anniversary and the second KASC in Korea.

September 2008: Summary of the 1st KASC

July 5 – 30, 2008

The inaugural KASC got off to a great start on July 7^th with 15 Americans and 19 Koreans who were involved, eager, and interesting. The Opening Ceremony at the US Chamber of Commerce on July 8^th featured a good crowd and welcomes by the Executive Committee leaders Florence Maher and Shinhye Kang, ISC Board Chair Stephen Moss, Minister Kim of the Korean Embassy, Director General Suh of the Korea Foundation and Ambassador Tom Hubbard. Congressman Gary Ackerman dropped by after a vote and was featured in many photos with delegates.

The first week in DC was packed with discussions at the State Department, a Capitol tour, a Six- Party Talks simulation, and a reception at the KORUS House hosted by the Korean Embassy. The second week of KASC was spent at Brown University where the students spent time concentrating on roundtables. They put on a talent show, visited Newport, and had dinner at the Faculty Club with a presentation by Columbia University's Dr. Charles Armstrong.

After Brown the group moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. Delegates enjoyed a trip to a mega church, a community conservation service project, a visit to Oak Ridge National Labs and the National Forensic Academy. Also, one of the local volunteers invited the entire group to their house for dinner where the hosts had a show of their own, which introduced everyone to the local folk instruments - mountain dulcimers and guitars.

KASC had a successful conclusion with student Final Forum presentations at the UC Berkeley Alumni house and an evening reception hosted by the San Francisco Korean consulate. The closing ceremony completed the Conference with messages read from both US President Bush and Korean President Lee. Plans for 2009 are already under way as the delegates elected a new slate of 10 Executive Committee leaders, five from each country. Their first set of meetings went well and the group decided on 5 roundtables (50 Delegates) for 2009.

2^nd KASC Roundtables:

Going Green: Environmental Policy

Shared Defense: National Security

Larger than Life: Creating Global Citizens

Innovative Solutions: Science and Technology

Dynamic Duo: Media & Entertainment

AEC:

Shane Reil, Brown Univ*

Linda Gregory, Boston Univ alum*

Tony Cardell, Cornell Univ alum

Alice Jeong, Macalester College

Michelle Hughes, Ohio State Univ

KEC:

Seung Shik Yeom, Kyung Hee Cyber Univ*

Jiwon Hwang, Pusan Nat'l Univ*

Junic Kim, Hanguk Univ of Foreign Studies

Min Kyung Kim, Korea Univ

Jiyoon Bae, Hanguk Univ of Foreign Studies

*Co-chair person

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JASC celebrates 60th

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