Monika R. Oyama, Principal of Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd., has been selected as a delegate to the 2020 Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) of the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC), a highly competitive leadership program sponsored by the USJC and its corporate sponsors. The ELP identifies, cultivates, and empowers a new generation of Japanese American leaders, and strives to cultivate and empower leaders who are committed to strengthening U.S.-Japan relations. A new cohort aged 24-35 is selected annually to attend the Annual Conference, become USJC Associates, and join program alumni in bridging the future of the U.S.-Japan relationship. By providing access to members and education on relevant topics, the program aims to motivate participants to promote strong and positive U.S.-Japan relations in their personal and professional lives. As a member of the 2020 delegation, Monika will participate in leadership education and training, including an ELP conference in Spring 2021 in Hawaii, design and implement original USJC programming, and establish powerful professional connections and lifelong personal friendships.
The ELP is currently in its eleventh year. Each class has become engaged with and made meaningful contributions to USJC and the ELP community. This year, given the worldwide disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the USJC will hold a series of virtual events in lieu of a traditional in-person conference.
Monika Oyama is an integral member of the firm's Japan practice, representing Japanese corporations and their U.S. subsidiaries throughout North America in all stages of business. George Kobayashi, President of Masuda Funai, said, “Monika has been a tremendous asset to our firm given her unique ability to engage clients and vast network in the Japanese community. We are very proud of her many accomplishments and especially her being selected in the U.S.-Japan Council’s Emerging Leaders Program.”
Monika Oyama is the Chair of Masuda Funai’s Associate Liaison Committee and leads the Visiting Attorney Program at the firm. Ms. Oyama is actively involved in a number of Japanese organizations, including serving as Vice Chair of the Chicago Mita-kai (Keio University alumni group).
The U.S.-Japan Council develops and connects global leaders to create a stronger U.S.-Japan relationship. It is an organization whose members believe people-to-people relationships are a powerful way to bring together leaders in the U.S. and Japan to address and create solutions to mutual concerns. The Council is a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization that was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Washington, DC with staff in California, Hawaii and Tokyo. In 2012, the U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) was created to support the administration of the TOMODACHI Initiative, and in 2013, it became a Public Interest Corporation (koeki zaidan hojin). The U.S.-Japan Council (Japan) maintains an office in Tokyo, Japan.