08/11/2025
Day 1 of the Japan–United States Leadership Summit
United Nations University, Tokyo – November 9, 2025
The opening day of the Japan–United States Leadership Summit brought together distinguished leaders and innovators from both nations for a day of dialogue at the United Nations University in Tokyo.
Speakers included:
- Nicolas du Bois (Project Manager, Office of the Rector, United Nations University)
- Pritzker Laureate Architect Shigeru Ban
- Former Minister of Foreign Affairs & Digital Transformation Taro Kono
- Former Japan Ambassador to the United States Kenichiro Sasae
We were also honored to welcome our California delegation of civic leaders:
Lula Davis-Holmes (City of Carson Mayor)
Arleen Rojas (City of Carson Councilmember)
Adena Ishii (Berkeley Mayor)
Kelly Cox (Santa Clara Vice-Mayor)
Luis A. McArthur (Oxnard Mayor)
Joshua Sweeney (Laguna Hills Mayor)
Catherine Moy (Fairfield Mayor)
Kim Bowman (La Cañada Flintridge Mayor)
Mona Miyasato (Santa Barbara County Executive Officer)
Oscar Gutierrez (Santa Barbara City Councilmember)
Tania Sheyner (San Francisco Principal Environmental Planner)
Jill Hoffman (Sausalito Councilmember)
John Wu (San Gabriel Councilmember)
Jon Kaji (Torrance Councilmember)
Martha Guerrero (West Sacramento Mayor)
Ara Najarian (Glendale Mayor)
A heartfelt thank you to United Nations University, the United States–Japan Foundation, and the Japan Foundation’s CULCON for making today’s program possible.