My warmest greetings to the many JASC 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 planning for its 61st 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 60th JASCers as they reached the end of this year’s conference make clear that the tradition will continue.

The thirty-four delegates to KASC 1 show the same dedication, and I am confident that KASC 2 next year in Korea will ensure that this great program will benefit our relationship with Korea in many ways as JASC has done with Japan.   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 education 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 75th anniversary and the first KASC in Korea. 

With best wishes,

Robin White

Twenty-six curious and enthusiastic students from 19 colleges and universities across the U.S. gathered at Reed College in Portland, OR to begin the 60th JASC.  The Americans spent three days getting acquainted, learning more about JASC and preparing for the arrival of counterparts from Japan.  Alum Leila Wice gave a thought-provoking lecture that inspired students to question what is really American or Japanese.  On July 28, 36 Japanese delegates arrived to applause and an outdoor American-style picnic, which was followed by a reception at Consul General Akio Egawa's residence.

On July 29th delegates and Japanese and American alumni gathered at Reed College to celebrate the opening of the landmark 60th JASC that honored the 1935 Reed JASC, the first to be held in the U.S.  The opening ceremony featured remarks from Executive Committee leaders Naoki Takeda and Samantha Scully, ISC Board Chair Steve Moss, and Consul General Akio Egawa.  Student leaders invited alumni to put their JASC memories into a time capsule.

At a celebratory dinner, President Amano of the Japanese Alumni Association presented International Student Conferences with a commemorative 60th anniversary flag.  Guests reflected on JASC's history and sang several spirited rounds of the 74-year-old JASC song.

As they got acquainted, the seven roundtables opened discussions on the bilateral and global topics they chose to focus on during the Conference.  Other highlights of the Portland site included delegation performances of skits, field trips and cooking okonomiyaki.

The second week of JASC was held at the University of California, Los Angeles.  The schedule included a variety of activities from field trips and academic panels to surfing lessons.  Highlights included a forum on minority issues in the U.S. and Japan at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo and visits to local companies for Business Day.   On their final evening, the delegates enjoyed a reception at the home of Consul General Junichi Ihara.

After the fast-pace of Los Angeles, the group traveled to Missoula, Montana for a different view of life in the U.S.  The site began with a weekend of homestays.  When delegates reconvened they marveled at the local hospitality and traded stories of heartfelt moments of exchange with their new families.  The rest of the week included roundtable discussions as well as activities and field trips focused on environmental concerns.  Delegates got a practical lesson in recycling by building their own bicycles from old parts, learned about natural conservation and clean up by visiting a local Superfund site, and spoke with an organization that works to fight forest fires.  The site's culminating activity was the Environmental Forum featuring student and expert panelists such as the Mayor of Missoula John Engen, Nobel Peace Prize-winner Steven Running, and Libby Asbestos whistle blower Gayla Benefield.

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.  The Final Forum at Harvard University featured Professor Emeritus Ezra Vogel and Dr. Ted Gilman, Associate Director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for Japanese Studies.

Also in Cambridge, the delegates elected a new slate of 16 new Executive Committee leaders, eight from each country.  In their first meetings the group selected 7 Roundtables for 2009 and began to plan JASC 61 in Japan, which will also be the 75th anniversary of JASC's founding in 1934.

61st 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 University*

Ji Eun "Karen" Jung, Dickinson College**

Jon-Michael Durkin, University of Akron

Kayoko Hirata, Cornell University

Yoshihiro Kanemitsu, University of Tokyo (via University of Toronto)

Fausia "Mina" Mahama, Dickinson College

Edward Phillips, University of Washington

Rachel Staum, Harvard University

JEC:

Hideya Matsumoto, Keio University*

Yuri Takeuchi, University of Tokyo**

Yuri Honda, Keio University

Koji Jimba, International Christian University

Keisuke Matsuo, Waseda University

Moto Ono, Kyoto University

Takuma Tanaka, University of Tokyo

Emi Yasukawa, Keio University

* Chairperson

** Vice Chairperson

To see photos from the 60th JASC, please visit the photo gallery featured on the homepage of www.iscdc.org!