How long have you been working in Boston?
I moved to Boston in July 2021. I first visited Boston in high school, traveling with my family to visit relatives. I remember being impressed by the beautiful campuses of Belmont High School and Harvard University and being surprised by the size of the lobsters. In 2019, I revisited Boston as a Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomat. I have now built strong bonds with many friends and the local community, and I feel that Boston is my “second home.”
What do you do?
As a scholar specializing in global environmental issues, I am researching at Harvard University and the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), a national research institute in Kyoto. RIHN is based on the principle that "human culture—beliefs, values, and actions—are at the root of contemporary global environmental problems. "It is working to solve global-scale issues by bringing together experts from various fields while building on a natural science database.
At Harvard University, I am researching the Green Transformation (GX) of cities based on the "Axis of Peace" that links the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park designed by Kenzo Tange (the original plans of which are held by the Harvard Graduate School of Design) and the Naka Factory designed by Yoshio Taniguchi. Then, in a park where people can discuss the future along this axis, I aim to rebuild the unfinished cenotaph designed by the sculptor Isamu Noguchi as a symbol of the coexistence and co-prosperity of nature and humans.
Additionally, as a member of the expert team at Harvard Law School's Climate Solutions Living Lab, I engage in experimental social projects, including designing an energy microgrid system to support indigenous communities in Oklahoma.
In Japan, I implement inquiry-based learning programs at five schools and promote community development centered around schools. Recently, we have started farming using indigenous species from each region. I also serve as an advisor for DX and GX at multiple companies. In 2024, we started a business with a European company to analyze 3D point cloud data from drone-mounted LiDAR using AI.
In the United States, since 2021, I have been co-organizing the Vogel Juku, which was founded by the late Ezra Vogel, Professor Emeritus at Harvard University. Every year, about 60 participants—including company employees, researchers, and international students—gather in Boston to discuss Japan's role in international society and evolving global relations.
Since 2023, I have been the President of the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Boston Japan Community Hub Inc. As part of this volunteer work, we host the Japan Festival Boston. The festival has three basic principles: to express our gratitude to Boston, to provide an authentic experience of Japanese culture, and to create an opportunity for the community to come together through the event and the preparation process.
The 2024 festival was special in that it marked the revival of the festival after a five-year hiatus due to the pandemic and the absence of the festival president. To make this historic restart a success, we completely overhauled our organizational structure and management methods and reformed how the executive committee operated.
We analyzed past materials and data, compared the festival with other state festivals, and worked to build a stronger operational foundation. We also aimed to create a festival that combined the wisdom of our experienced seniors with the passion and ideas of younger members, such as students. Above all, we prioritized the trust of the executive committee and the local community. We introduced a system to ensure high transparency and took thorough measures to prevent misconduct and harassment.
The festival was a great success, thanks to the support of 80 executive committee members, approximately 400 volunteers, the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston, the Japan Society of Boston, Showa Boston, the Japanese Association of Boston, JB Line, and many others.
The number of visitors over the two days exceeded 120,000, making it the most significant festival to date. Furthermore, in 2024, the festival became the largest Japanese cultural festival in the United States. The Boston City Council and the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston officially recognized and commended this achievement.
This revival was made possible by the efforts of the seniors who have supported the festival for many years, the support of the local community, and the passion of our team.
As we prepare for the 2025 event, we are currently working to build new partnerships with local American societies, American NPOs, and businesses, with the support of the Consulate-General. In addition to events at the Boston Common, we will develop new activities in downtown Boston, increasing the opportunities for people to experience and participate in Japanese culture. In the future, we would also like to collaborate with other Japanese festivals in New England.
What are the benefits and challenges of working in America?
Many people in the United States embody the "noblesse oblige" spirit. I have been fortunate to meet people who contribute to the betterment of society, transcending nationality, generation, and position. In Boston, I had the opportunity to work with someone who has worked for many years to promote cultural exchange between Japan and the United States across academic fields and has made significant contributions as a film producer while also working to deepen understanding of Japanese culture in the United States. I was also impressed by someone boldly considering setting up a program to support women's entrepreneurship, aiming to improve women's social status in Japan. Their dedication has encouraged me many times, and I am proud to work with them.
Looking back at history, many Americans and Jewish individuals contributed to Japan's post-war recovery. As U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Edwin O. Reischauer played a pivotal role in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations, fostering mutual understanding, and creating a stable environment that supported Japan's economic growth. A distinguished scholar of Japanese history and culture, he championed cultural and educational exchanges, advocated for a more balanced partnership, and helped lay the foundation for the enduring alliance between the two nations.
Joseph Dodge introduced the Dodge Line in the economic sphere, which implemented strict fiscal discipline, curbing inflation and setting the foundation for financial stability. Meanwhile, W. Edwards Deming reinforced statistical quality control and helped instill a culture of continuous quality improvement (Kaizen) in Japanese manufacturing, significantly enhancing its international competitiveness. Peter Drucker's writings also popularized Japan's "knowledge worker" concept, inspiring management reforms and profoundly influencing business leaders such as Konosuke Matsushita and Soichiro Honda.
The A-bomb survivors of the Japan Confederation of Hidankyo, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024, talk about the support they received from many American citizens and Jews during the difficult post-war period. Journalist John Hersey documented the horrors of war in his groundbreaking article "Hiroshima," which was later published as a book and conveyed the reality of the situation to the world. Norman Cousins organized medical support for young female survivors known as the Hiroshima Maidens, helping them to receive reconstructive surgery in the United States. Throughout history, many American scientists have thought deeply about the impact of scientific and technological development and have advocated the importance of its peaceful use. J. Robert Oppenheimer also thought deeply about the implications of scientific progress on society and emphasized the need for responsible management within an international framework.
Above all, the benefits of working in the United States are that I can meet people who embody the concept of noblesse oblige and learn from a variety of perspectives that Japan's post-war recovery was supported not only by political and economic support but also by the contributions of many people who worked hard in cultural and peace activities.
Furthermore, in the United States, we can learn about traditional knowledge and skills often forgotten in modern Japan from the Japanese people living there and the Japanese community. In January 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the New England Kenjinkai New Year's Celebration and interact with many community members. In the future, I would like to deepen my connections with them, learn from their wisdom, and expand collaborative activities to contribute to Japan.
What is your favorite thing about Boston?
Boston is a global intellectual hub, attracting outstanding experts worldwide and fostering international and interdisciplinary collaboration. Addressing global challenges requires international cooperation and cross-disciplinary approaches, and Boston provides an ideal environment for such endeavors.
In 2023, I organized a symposium at the Harvard Graduate School of Design titled "Dialogue for Our Future on Planet Earth." The event brought together distinguished figures, including Peter Grilli, President Emeritus of the Japan Society of Boston; Shigeaki and Kayoko Mori of the film Paper Lantern; Shinichiro Kurose, the former principal of Hiroshima Jogakuin High School; Dakin Hart from the Isamu Noguchi Museum; as well as professors from Harvard University and experts from various fields.
Through this dialogue, a shared understanding emerged: to safeguard the future of our planet, it is essential to look ahead to generations 100 years into the future and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration among experts to guide the actions we take today. The symposium was featured on NHK World, broadcasting its message to a global audience.
Sustainability and long-term thinking are becoming the pillars of our festival culture. With the bold vision of creating a festival lasting 100 years, we established the 2025 Sustainability Team and set goals for this year's initiatives. We aim to become a model for the sustainability of Japanese festivals worldwide.
Our festival is supported by a committee of volunteers with a wide range of expertise. Professionals from all walks of life are working together across disciplines, including nurses, architects, bureaucrats, former navy commanders, entrepreneurs, business owners, academics, data scientists, engineers, chefs, doctors, dentists, designers, musicians, and students of marketing and art.
Continuing this festival is not easy. However, the altruistic love and passion of the diverse people who gather together, regardless of nationality, occupation, or generation, as well as the cooperation of the local community and the bonds between people, will carry this festival into the future.
I hope that the Japan Festival Boston will continue to grow into a world-class festival that is friendly to both the environment and people while embracing Boston's identity as a "city of learning" and that it will be passed onto future generations of children.
Japan Festival Boston Website
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