James Auer, director of the Center for U.S.-Japan Studies at Vanderbilt University, met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo Oct. 12.
During their discussion, the prime minister congratulated Auer on the achievements of the U.S.-Japan Center, which began its 26th year of operation in September.
In addition, Auer, who is a lecturer in the Asian Studies program, and Michiko Petersen, cultural relations assistant for the U.S.-Japan Center, were hosted at a reception organized by former center fellows and attended by more than 130 friends of the center Oct. 13 in Tokyo. Akihisa Nagashima, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan’s National Diet and a former center fellow, delivered a congratulatory address on behalf of those former fellows attending the reception.
Since 1990, the U.S.-Japan Center has organized the annual Vanderbilt U.S.-Japan Technology Forum for more than 1,000 American and Japanese executives to discuss dual purpose technology cooperation.
Other programs of the center include hosting research fellows on campus from Japan’s Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry, Ministry of Defense, National Police Agency, newspapers, Fulbright Scholars and others. Many of these fellows have gone on to serve in high-level positions in their nation’s government, media and business. Since 1990, the center has hosted more than 120 research fellows.