Since 1945, Japan has been the cornerstone of America's alliances in the Indo-Pacific. Recognizing the need for American legislators to better understand our alliance, our trade partnerships, and the geopolitics of the region, the Congressional Study Group on Japan (CSGJ) was created in 1993. Working with institutional partners, including the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA and Japan-US Friendship Commission, CSGJ welcomes Members of the Japanese Diet to the United States, conducts Member of Congress and senior staff study tours to Japan, and has brought Members of Congress to meet the Japanese Prime Minister in Tokyo for more than a decade. CSGJ also provides education on Capitol Hill regarding critical bilateral issues, including security and trade, for both Congressional Members and staff.
CO-CHAIR
PROGRAMMING
Member of Congress Study Tour to Japan
Held over the course of a full week, a CSGJ Study Tour is a deep dive into the social, economic, and political realities of Japan. Each itinerary incorporates Tokyo and a second city to give participants both an overarching view of the U.S.-Japan relationship and a focused look into nuanced concerns affecting local residents. Past second destinations visited include Kyoto, Okinawa, Sapporo, Fukushima, Hiroshima, and more. CSGJ’s Study Tours have become an institution on Capitol Hill, with over 50 Members of Congress being afforded this unique opportunity to build relationships with lawmakers across the Pacific and across the aisle.
Capitol Hill Programming
The Congressional Study Group on Japan convenes a year-round slate of programming that brings together Congress, voices of Japanese business, the diplomatic community, and issue experts to connect and exchange views on the U.S.-Japan relationship. Each engagement is designed to be intimate, candid, and issue driven. The Congressional Study Group on Japan collaborates with the Embassy of Japan, business community, and other like-minded organizations to work together toward our shared goal of promoting international legislative dialogue.
Chief of Staff Study Tour to Japan
Our Chief of Staff Study Tours provide key staffers in the U.S. House and Senate the opportunity to experience first-hand the economic, social, and political realities in Japan: conversing with students, discussing breaking news with local journalists, getting a read on the economic environment from key business leaders, and hearing from critical administration officials in Tokyo on the most pressing issues facing the U.S. and Japan. These experiences give senior staffers a better understanding of bilateral and multilateral trade between the United States and our trading partners, as well as the opportunity to interact with their fellow staffers from across the aisle, providing a sense of camaraderie and cooperation that lasts long after their tour is complete, and which is increasingly hard to find in Washington today.
District Director Study Tour to Japan
The District Director Study Tour to Japan provides senior staff from Members of Congress’ district offices the opportunity to meet and engage with critical stakeholders in Tokyo and other cities across Japan. During these trips, participants meet government officials, students, journalists, and business leaders, and gain a better understanding of the role and importance of the U.S.-Japan relationship across multiple sectors. District Directors also establish relationships with their peers across the country and across the aisle – an opportunity that District Directors do not often have. With this bipartisan, multinational perspective, District Directors become better suited to serve their constituents and face the challenges of their work, where international affairs are increasingly entwined with local concerns and priorities