AJC Strengthens Strategic Partnership with Japan in Historic Mission

By Shira Loewenberg, Director, AJC’s Asia Pacific Institute

In an increasingly complex global landscape, Japan has emerged as an indispensable partner to Israel and the Jewish people. The American Jewish Committee‘s recent high-level mission to Japan marks a pivotal moment in fostering this vital relationship.

The American Jewish Committee’s Asia Pacific Institute (API) recently led a landmark delegation to Japan, with AJC CEO Ted Deutch and a dedicated group of AJC leaders engaging in unprecedented diplomatic discussions and partnership-building activities.

The mission epitomizes API’s efforts across the Indo-Pacific region, initiating and strengthening ties with governments, civil society, media, and business leaders, as the organization advocates for and raises awareness about the Jewish people and Israel.

High-Level Diplomatic Engagement

The delegation met with Japan’s most senior government leadership in Tokyo, including National Security Adviser Ichikawa Keiichi and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Funakoshi Takehiro—both AJC Project Interchange alumni—as well as State Minister for Foreign Affairs Horii Iwao, State Minister of Defense Miyazaki Masahisa, and State Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Ino Toshiro.

In September, Japan voted against the UN resolution on unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, underscoring the shared commitment to a negotiated two-state solution. Japan recently supported President Trump’s 20-point Peace Plan for Gaza, reflecting both the depth of the U.S.-Japan relationship and Japan’s commitment to supporting peace efforts in the region.

Remembering Hiroshima: Urgent Lessons for Today

80 Years of Memory, Contemporary Warning

Standing at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the delegation laid a wreath to honor lives lost 80 years after the atomic bombing, reflecting on the devastating human cost of war and nuclear proliferation.

The visit took on urgent contemporary meaning, as Ted Deutch noted that the lessons of the past reverberate today, with the Iranian regime recklessly pursuing nuclear weapons 2,000 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. This solemn moment affirmed both the enduring U.S.-Japan strategic partnership and the shared commitment to preventing such horrors from ever happening again.

A Historic Partnership Formalized

As part of the mission, AJC signed a landmark partnership agreement with the Jewish Community of Japan (JCJ), formalizing decades of collaboration and making JCJ the first Asian community in AJC’s now 41-member global partnership network.

The agreement will open new avenues for exchange, joint programming, and advocacy, while helping to confront the challenges of antisemitism and intolerance. It further demonstrates AJC’s unparalleled ability to build coalitions that transcend borders and strengthen Jewish communities worldwide.

Why This Work Matters Now

As one of the world’s leading democracies and economies, Japan brings enormous influence to international forums and increasingly views Israel as a source of innovation and strategic partnership. Strengthening these ties not only bolsters Israel’s standing in the Indo-Pacific region but also reinforces a global coalition of democracies committed to peace, security, and human rights.

As the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, AJC will continue to build trusted partnerships with leaders at the highest levels around the world, advocating for Israel and the Jewish people at a moment when democratic alliances matter more than ever.