The 18th Japanese Delegation of the US-Japan Young Political Leaders Exchange Program visited the United States from July 19–August 1, 2003. Participants traveled to Washington DC, Maryland, Alabama, and Los Angeles where they met with senior government officials, representatives from political parties, local elected officials, and leaders from the business and nonprofit sectors. In Washington DC, the delegation met with various congressmen, including Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), and Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), to learn about local issues facing their constituencies and to discuss foreign policy issues and US-Japan relations. In Maryland, the delegation learned about local and state efforts to build a healthy economy, healthy environment, and healthy communities, through various meetings with nonprofit representatives, county officials, and city council members.
Participants
SHUSAKU INOUE, City Councilor, Kita-Kyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
ICHIRO KATO, Professional Staff Member, Party Organization Bureau (LDP)
TAIZOH MATSUBARA, Assistant to the Honorable Takashi Kosugi, former Member of the House of Representatives (LDP)
MOTOSHI MORII, Assembly Member, Aichi Prefecture, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
MUNEAKI MURAI, Professional Staff Member, Youth Division, Party Organization Committee (DPJ)
MASAKI TAKANO, Assistant to the Honorable Shingo Nishimura, Member of the House of Representatives, Liberal Party
HISAYUKI TAKEDA, Reporter, Political News Division, Komei Shimbun, New Komeito Party
MIKI WAJIMA, Assembly Member, Yamagata Prefecture (DPJ)
