2014–2015
JCIE’s Dr. Atsuko Geiger conducted a yearlong study to examine the grassroots impact of the massive disaster that struck Japan on March 11, 2011. Her finding was that the devastating events triggered a flurry of US-Japan grassroots exchanges that have had a surprisingly large impact on bilateral relations. While there have been some historical cases of exchanges being launched after other disasters, the burst of activity seen after 3/11 has been unprecedented in both scope and intensity, reflecting the depth of preexisting US-Japan grassroots ties and building a broader foundation for greater people-to-people exchanges between the two societies.
Executive Summary [99kb]
Full Report [960kb]
The report’s key findings include the following:
At least 151 US-Japan grassroots exchanges between 2011 and 2014 were inspired by 3/11 or operated with a thematic focus related to the disaster. Of these, 83 were new exchanges and the rest represented a refocusing and reenergizing of existing programs.- More than $52 million—a stunning amount—has been mobilized in Japan and the United States for nonprofit organizations to run these programs, with funds coming from government agencies, businesses, and individual donors.
- These exchanges have been playing a substantial role in building a stronger base of grassroots connections between different sectors of Japanese and US society and in improving perceptions of the relationship at the highest levels of national leadership.
- A key challenge now involves the sustainability of these programs after such a large, one-time influx of funding. While some organizations have tried to budget funding for the next several years, it is unclear how many of these new initiatives can be sustained.
- The funding bubble has allowed many longstanding US-Japan organizations to carry out programs to help their communities while supporting the Tohoku area’s recovery, but there needs to be more focus on strengthening the institutional infrastructure of US-Japan grassroots exchange so that experienced organizations dedicated to bilateral exchange can continue to play this role in the future.
Events
Strengthening Civil Society Ties after 3.11—Lessons from the US-Japan Experience
WASHINGTON DC | MARCH 20, 2015