This bipartisan educational certificate program aims to equip congressional staffers with the information and analyses necessary to appreciate the role of Japan and the US-Japan alliance in US foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific, now and in the future. By also focusing on crucial forward-looking issues in US-Japan relations, CPUSJ is designed to provide staffers with a more comprehensive understanding of this relationship and its role in the region.

Key Program Elements:

• A semester-long certificate program consisting of a series of seven, 75-minute interactive discussions, held weekly online or in-person depending on conditions due to the pandemic across September and October 2021. Certificates of Completion are awarded to participants who attend at least four of the seven planned sessions.
• Each session features a single theme/topic, and includes speakers from government agencies, think tanks, universities, and other policy institutions.
• Session topics cover issues with implications for congressional consideration and action, including: The US-Japan Alliance as the Cornerstone of Indo-Pacific Peace, Security, and Stability; US-Japan Technological Partnership and Competition; Economic Challenges & Areas of Cooperation; US-Japan Frontier Defense and Technology Cooperation; Vaccine Diplomacy; US-Japan Engagement with ASEAN; as well as Great Power Competition.

Eligibility Information for Applicants:

• Applicants must be current congressional staff, employed by either a member of congress or congressional committee responsible for Japan-related issues, and can come from either chamber or party. Previous Indo-Pacific experience is preferred.

For queries related to the program or application, please contact Mr. Ross Tokola at [email protected].