Michael Attends Talk by Tsunenari Tokugawa

08/26/10- The Japan Society of Northern California and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California (JCCNC)sponsored a talk by Tsunenari Tokugawa in Palo Alto, CA on Thursday, 8/26/10. It was an opportunity to hear a historical perspective of Japan from a direct descendant of the Tokugawa shogun - the eighteenth head of the main lineage of the Tokugawa family, who ruled Japan for 265 years. The author of The Edo Inheritance, Mr. Tokugawa discussed the roots of Japanese innovation and creativity tracing back to the Edo Period, before Japan was opened to the West.

Tsunenari Tokugawa was born in Tokyo in 1940. After graduating from the Faculty of Political Science at Gakushuin University in 1964, he joined the NYK Line, one of the largest shipping companies in the world.

Among the many interesting points in his talk, there were three that struck me as somewhat remarkable.
1. Because there were no wars, Japan was experiencing rapid growth during the Tokugawa period, and by the early 1800's found themselves running out of natural resources, being a relatively small island nation. That need gave birth to a full-scale environmental/recycling movement, that survives to this day.
2. Previous to the Tokugawa rule, Japan experience over a hundred years of war, with various clans vying for the position of ruling the country. The battle of Sekigahara saw the defeat/death of 100,000 soldiers, but the result was 265 years of peace. What nation, including the U.S. can boast that record?
3. Guns were introduced to Japan in the mid 1500s by the West (Dutch). The gun merchants were accompanied by Christian Priests, and as a pre-condition for buying the guns, forced the Japanese buyers to become Christians.

It was a fascinating opportunity to hear and learn history from the perspective of one whose family was so integral and influential in the evolution of this nation. The only allegory I can draw for Americans is that it was like learning history from a direct decendant of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and every American President to date.

Thank you Japan Society and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce for making this memorable event happen.

2010 hashi.org American Scholarships are HERE

Each year, hashi.org awards three $1000 scholarships - one to a Japanese, one to a Korean, and one to an American. The application period for Americans starts today - 07/01/10! The schedule is as follows:

July 1st - August 15th - Application period for American scholarship.
September 1st - American scholarship winner announced.
Travel scholarships are offered on a competitive basis. They are awarded on the basis of need and overall intent for usage as expressed in the application essay. The scholarships could be used for a variety of overseas programs, including but not limited to: home stays, student exchange, volunteering, work, etc.
To be eligible to apply, applicants must:
*Be 16 years of age or older.
*Be interested in participating in the type of international programs that hashi.org promotes between South Korea, Japan, and America.
*Be able to cope with the challenges of adjusting to different cultures.
*Be able to fund the remainder of travel costs not covered by thescholarship.
*Complete the application form.
*Be able to use the scholarship within one year of receiving it.
*Agree to allow hashi.org to use your photograph and selected portions of your bio to encourage others to participate in our scholarship program.

For information and application: http://www.hashi.org/scholarshiphp.html

hashi.orgの旅行奨学金実施のお知らせ!

Hashi.orgは、第4回奨学金、日本人市民の部の受賞者を、厳正な審査の結果決定いたしました。今回も多くの方から応募をいただき、様々な方から素晴らしい小論文を受けとりました。最終選考には、政治学の研究者、世界を舞台にご活躍しておられるのミュージシャンの方などがいらっしゃいました。

第4回奨学金を受賞された方は、劇団四季、文学座などで１２年間ご活躍された経験を持つアーティスト、藤本啓子さんです。藤本さんは、歌手として更に勉強を重ねたいと渡米をされました。現在は、音楽の勉強には英語が必須と考え、語学学校で英語を修学しておられます。藤本さんは、将来、アメリカで学んだことを生かし、アメリカと日本の架け橋になりたいと小論文で述べられています。“アメリカの素晴らしい音楽文化と、日本の素晴らしい繊細な文化を融合した音楽を奏でられるアーティストになり、両国の更なる架け橋に”、そして、日本の音楽文化に貢献したいと考えておられます。

非常に多くの素晴らしい候補者から、類まれな実績と抱負が言及された小論文が寄せられました。その中からお一人の方を選考することは非常に困難な作業でしたが、選考された方の小論文は、hashi.orgの趣旨と目標に沿っていることが顕著でした。藤本啓子さん1000ドルのHashi.奨学金受賞、おめでとうございます。我々はあなたにこの奨学金を御贈りすることを光栄に思います。

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Hashi.org is proud to announce the winner of the 4th annual Travel Scholarship to a Japanese citizen! We received many, fine applications, with essays describing a variety of backgrounds. Semi-finalists included a political science major and a world-class musician.

But our winner is an actress who has been performing at famous Japanese theatrical companies – “Bunngakuza” and “Shiki” for 12 years. She now wants to study singing and has just come to America to learn English and study music. With her education, she hopes to bridge both traditional Japanese culture with modern, Western music culture, and in turn, contribute to Japanese music culture.

With so many worthy applicants, with admirable accomplishments and aspirations, it was extremely difficult to choose just one. But the winner’s application proved to be the finest example of the ideals and goals of hashi.org. While there were many worthy submissions, Hashi.org is proud to award a $1,000 travel scholarship to Keiko Fujimoto! Congratulations!

プレスリリース Hashi.org（カリフォルニア州のNPO）奨学金のお知らせ

カリフォルニアＮＰＯ　Hashi.org　旅行奨学金、応募受付始まる

Hashi.org （http://hashi.org/）は、カリフォルニア州のNPOです。アメリカと東南アジア間の 文 化 交流の 促進を目的として設立されました。その一環として、毎年、旅行奨学金（1,000ドル）を実施しています。
日本国籍を所有し、韓国またはアメリカ合衆国との文化交流に興味を持つ方が対象です。奨学金受給者は1名で、厳選な選考によって決められます。奨学金は、ホームステイや留学、ボランティアなどの様々な目的に支給されます。
応募期間は2010年5月1日から2010年6月15日まで、受給者の発表は2010年7月1日です。申し込みに関する詳細は、http://www.hashi.org/scholarshipjp.html　をご覧ください。

この件に関するお問い合わせ(日本語、英語) Hashi.org
info@hashi.org223 River street, Suite B Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA

Hashi.org Attends Luncheon Featuring Ambassdor Roos

01/20/10 - San Francisco - Michael Downey -

As a member of the Japan Society of Northern California and as a representative of hashi.org, I was honored to attend a luncheon at the Nikko Hotel in San Francisco featuring a talk by the newly-appointed US Ambassador to Japan, John V. Roos.

The luncheon was well-attended by around 200 people. As I looked around the room, it occured to me, these people represent the core of America's contribution to this most-important alliance of two nations.

I was truly humbled and honored to be there. I met international business owners, administrators from the Japan Society, a woman that arranges home-stay opportunities in San Francisco, the Consul General, and finally, the Ambassador himself. In our brief talk, I introduced myself and hashi.org and gave him a brochure to learn more about us. He was gracious and seemed genuinely interested in what we're doing.

And it was refreshing to hear his first-hand impressions of what's going on in East Asia, as opposed to the (sometimes biased) sound bytes we get on our news.

Many thanks to Dana, at the Japan Society, for arranging this important, informative, and enjoyable event. CLICK HERE for more info.

Hashi.org Announces Korean Scholarship 2009 Winner

올해로 세번째 Hashi.org 대한한국 대학생 대상 여행장학금 수혜자를 발표합니다.

신청서접수기간동안 수 많은 신청서와 함께 다양한 전공과 배경의 에세이들이 접수되었습니다. 올해 최종 선발 후보자들 중으로는 사회복지학 전공 학생분, 현재 일본 교환학생중인 컴퓨터전공 학생분, 러시아와 미국 교환학생 경험이 있는 분, 미국 연방정부에서 인턴활동 및 미국에서 학업예정인 학생분등이었습니다.

올해 장학금 수혜자로 최종 선발된 분은 경북대학교 정치외교학과 4학년 학생입니다. 영어학원에서 학생지도 경험 및 한-중-러 3국 대학생 친선 프로그램에 참여, 미국 연방정부에서 인턴 예정으로 "국제 정치의 미연방정부도입" 논문 계획중입니다.

올해만큼 후보자들 워낙 뛰어나서 심사위원들이 중 최종 수혜자를 선발하는 것이 힘들었던 적이 없었습니다. 고심 끝에 저희 Hashi.org 의 이상과 목표를 몸소 실천할 수 있는 최적임자로 판단되어 김은영님으로 장학금 수혜자로 결정하게 되었습니다. 축하드립니다.

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Hashi.org is proud to announce the winner of the 3rd annual Travel Scholarship to a Korean citizen!

The number of applications received exceeded previous application periods, and we received many, fine applications, with essays describing a variety of backgrounds. Semi-finalists included a Social Welfare major, a computer-major exchange student studying in Japan, an exchange student with ties to both Russian and American experiences, and a student who is currently participating in an internship at the US embassy and wants to study in America.

But our winner is in her senior year at University majoring in political science and diplomacy. She has taught children, participated in cultural exchange programs between Korea, China, and Russia, and wants to intern in America and write her thesis on applying ‘American Federal Government’ to international politics.

Our judges of the applications found this scholarship decision one of the hardest one yet. With so many worthy applicants, with admirable accomplishments and aspirations, it was extremely difficult to choose just one. But the winner’s application proved to be the finest example of the ideals and goals of hashi.org. While there were many worthy submissions, Hashi.org is proud to award a $1,000 travel scholarship to Kim Eun Young! Congratulations!

Hashi.org in Osaka, Japan

In mid-September, I was asked to represent hashi.org at an international music conference in Osaka, Japan, speaking on a panel, and we had a booth at the trade show there to promote hashi.org.

Walking into the Conference this morning, they made me feel quite welcome, and as I walked through the meet-and-greet room, could here whispers, in Japanese accents, “ that’s Ma-i-kel J Da-u-ney” as if I was some celebrity or something. If they only knew. But I find it extremely easy to reach out my hand and meet many new friends this morning.

Atusko arrives, and we set up the hashi.org booth, and immediately start spreading the word about hashi.org - explaining how we seek to further cultural exchange by giving scholarships and guiding people towards these opportunities on our website.

The conference itself was organized extremely well, and I met people from all over the world – Austrailia, New Zealand, England, Cleveland!...and from all over the United States and Japan.

The panel I spoke on started around 3pm, and went over an hour. With about 150 people in attendance, I talk about the personal reasons I come here to play and the ability we all have as musicians to use what we can do in an effort to ‘bridge’ between cultures - that this universal language has the ability to reach out around the world and make friends – between people and between countries.

It was a great opportunity to promote hashi.org not only to the Japanese, but to people from all over the world.