February 12, 2015, Los Angeles — Japan America Society of Southern California (JASSC) is accepting applications from high school students to participate in the 4th TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program, a two-week people-to-people exchange and cultural learning program in early summer 2015. Hosted by the U.S.-Japan Council’s TOMODACHI Initiative and sponsored by six affiliates of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), including The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., the exchange program offers a homestay experience with a Japanese family, visits to cities affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and educational and cultural visits to the cities of Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Kyoto. The purpose of the exchange program is to enhance the students’ understanding of Japan, its people, language and culture, and to learn about disaster preparedness strategies. The program expenses are provided by MUFG.
High school students between the ages of 15 to 18 at the time of departure and residing in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside are encouraged to apply for this program. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 30, 2015 at 11:59pm (PDT). Applications and additional information is available online at the JASSC website, www.jas-socal.org/Tomodachi-MUFG.
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The 4th TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program is the fourth U.S.-Japan reciprocal exchange program sponsored by MUFG to promote deeper understanding among Japanese and American youth. The first exchange took place in July-August 2012, when 20 Japanese junior and senior high school students from the earthquake affected areas of Japan visited Southern California for two weeks. In June-July 2013, 26 Southern Californian high school students visited Japan for two weeks. In July-August 2014, another 26 Japanese junior and high school students visited Southern California for two weeks.
The TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program is part of the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership led by the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, and is supported by the Japanese Government. The TOMODACHI Initiative supports Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake and invests in the next generation of Japanese and Americans in ways that strengthen cultural and economic ties and deepen the friendship between the United States and Japan over the long-term.
Additional organizations involved with the 4th TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program include the Japan America Society of Southern California and the Japanese Association of The Experiment in International Living.
For more information about the 4th TOMODACHI MUFG International Exchange Program or questions regarding the program’s application process, please contact Valerie Hwang, program coordinator at Japan American Society of Southern California, by phone at (310) 965-9050, ext. 106, or by email at tomodachi.MUFG@jas-socal.org.
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About Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) is one of the world’s leading financial groups. Headquartered in Tokyo and with approximately 350 years of history, MUFG is a global network with 1,100 offices in over 40 countries. The Group has over 140,000 employees and about 300 entities, offering services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing. The Group’s operating companies include Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (Japan’s leading commercial bank), Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (Japan’s leading trust bank), Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Holdings Co., Ltd., one of Japan’s largest securities firms, Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS Co., Ltd. (Japan’s leading credit cards company), and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Through close partnerships among our operating companies, the Group aims to “be the world’s most trusted financial group,” flexibly responding to all of the financial needs of our customers, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. MUFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: MTU) stock exchanges.
Visit http://www.mufg.jp/english/index.html for more information.
About MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
MUFG Union Bank, N.A., is a full-service bank with offices across the United States. We provide a wide spectrum of corporate, commercial, retail banking and wealth management solutions to meet the needs of customers. The bank also offers an extensive portfolio of value-added solutions for customers, including investment banking, personal trust, capital markets, global treasury management, transaction banking and other services. With assets of $113.7 billion (USD), as of December 31, 2014, the bank has strong capital reserves, credit ratings and capital ratios relative to peer banks. MUFG Union Bank is a proud member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (NYSE: MTU), one of the world’s largest financial organizations with total assets of approximately ¥279 trillion (JPY) or $2.3 trillion (USD)1, as of December 31, 2014. MUFG Americas Holdings Corporation, the financial holding company and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. have corporate headquarters in New York City.
1 Exchange rate of USD=¥119.78 (J-GAAP) as of December 31, 2014
About the TOMODACHI Initiative
The TOMODACHI Initiative invests in the next generation of Japanese and Americans in ways that strengthen ties and deepen the friendship between the United States and Japan over the long term. We seek to foster a “TOMODACHI Generation” of young American and Japanese leaders who are committed to and engaged in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, appreciate each other’s countries and cultures, and possess the global skills and mindsets needed to contribute to and thrive in a more cooperative, prosperous, and secure world.
TOMODACHI is led by the U.S.-Japan Council and the U.S. Embassy Tokyo, and is supported by the Government of Japan, corporations, organizations and individuals from the United States and Japan. Visit www.tomodachi.org for more information.
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About Japan America Society of Southern California
The Japan America Society of Southern California (JASSC) was founded as a membership organization in 1909 to build economic, cultural, governmental, and personal relationships between the people of Japan and America. It has grown to become the West Coast’s premier educational and public affairs forum dedicated to the United States-Japan relationship by offering unique opportunities to become involved in the business and cultural relationship between the two countries. JASSC is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable and educational organization and it is supported by 140 Japanese and American corporation members and over 2,000 individual members. Visit www.jas-socal.org for more information.
About the Japanese Association of The Experiment in International Living
The Experiment in International Living (EIL), founded in 1932, was one of the first programs of its kind to engage individuals in intercultural living and learning. Originating in the United States, EIL introduced the ‘homestay’ concept to the world by carefully preparing and placing “Experimenters” in the homes of host families abroad for a firsthand exposure to culture and language. The Japanese Association of The Experiment in International Living was established in 1956 and has provided various programs including high school exchange programs, short homestay programs and other international and intercultural programs. Visit www.eiljapan.org for more information.
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