Unfortunately the 2020 & 2021 Japan-America Grassroots Summit in Wakayama, Japan has been postponed due to the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Visit the links below for updates regarding the 2022 Summit and other Center for International Exchage activities.
2022 Summit: www.manjiro.or.jp/e/activities/img/GS2021inWakayama_2022.pdf
CIE Activities & Events: www.manjiro.or.jp/e/activities/index.html
2016 Japan-America Grassroots Summit in Greater Atlanta |
October 4 ~ 11, 2016 The Japan‐America Grassroots Summit is an annual 1 week cultural exchange program for Japanese and American citizens of all ages, held alternately each year in Japan and the United States. An average of 200 people travel across the Pacific to take part in strengthening the peaceful relationship between the two countries by fostering peace and friendship at the grassroots level. |
Metro-Atlanta and the surrounding areas in Georgia will be the host for The 26th Japan-America Grassroots Summit 2016 taking place October 4-11, 2016. Residents of 15 greater Atlanta cities will open their homes and hearts to the Japanese visitors for a three‐day local home-stay program after the opening in Atlanta. The host cities are:
The Summit honors one of the first friendships between an American and a Japanese – Captain William H. Whitfield, a whaler, and John Manjiro Nakahama, a young fisherman and the first Japanese citizen to be educated in America. Their life‐long friendship, a unique bond begun in 1841, continues through their descendants to the present day. Manjiro’s knowledge of America facilitated the opening of Japan to trade with the western world following the arrival of Commodore Matthew C. Perry in 1853. Manjiro taught English, navigation, ship‐ building and American ideas, such as democracy, to young Japanese samurai who led Japan to modernize and join the developed world. The 2016 Japan‐America Grassroots Summit is organized by the Japan‐America Society of Georgia and the John Manjiro Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange, and presented in cooperation with the Consulate‐General of Japan in Atlanta, host cities, and partnering community organizations. Help make this year's Grassroots Summit a huge success by supporting our KickStarter Campaign & making a contribution at http://kck.st/29U4X8E | 日米草の根交流サミット大会は、ジョン万次郎ホイットフィールド記念国際草の根交流センター (CIE)が毎年日本とアメリカで交互に開催している約一週間の交流イベントです。この大会の目的は、日本とアメリカの市民一人ひとりが国境・言葉・生活習慣などの違いを超え、同じ人間として互いに心を通わせ合い、理解し合い、友情を深め合うことによって、日本とアメリカの良好な友好関係を築き上げていくことにあります。
日本からの参加者、開催地の来賓者、ボランティアなど運営に携わる方などが参加。歓迎の挨拶や講演などで構成される式典の後、歓迎レセプション(パーティー)で大会開始を祝います。そして、いくつかの地域に分かれて、それぞれ個性あふれる3泊4日の分科会に参加。この期間はホームステイですので、ホストファミリーやボランティアとじっくり生活レベルで草の根交流を深めることができます。その後、ホストファミリーや、全ての関係者が参加する締めのプログラム。ここでしばしのお別れとなりますが、本当の交流はここからがスタートです。今年は広域アトランタ大会で26回を数えます。第26回大会は、CIEとアトランタに本拠を置くジョージア日米協会との協力で運営されます。 2016 Grassroots Summit Sponsors |