Global Classmates Summit

Engaging the next generation of international leaders

Global Classmates Summit selects a handful of outstanding students who participated in Kizuna Across Culture’s virtual exchange program to participate in various activities that deepen their mutual understanding and collaboration over the course of about ten days. For this 7th Summit, fourteen high school students (seven from the US and seven from Japan) were selected from a pool of 2,129 participants of our virtual exchange program in the previous year.

Since its launch in 2017 until the third year of the Summit, it was held in Washington, DC; however, due to the global pandemic, it has been a virtual event since 2020. This year’s Summit will take place from late-July to mid-August for a total of twelve days, meeting online for approximately 3-4 hours a day.

During the Summit, the students will expand their perspectives and deepen their thoughts through activities such as meeting with experienced leaders as well as internationally minded professionals and participating in discussions on topics such as cross cultural understanding, U.S.-Japan relations, diversity and international society, media literacy, AI and journalism, and role of public diplomacy.

As the ability to engage in meaningful dialogue and build collaborative relationships with others from different backgrounds in a virtual environment, all while overcoming time differences and language barriers, will continue to be essential in the future, we hope that the Summit experience will be a valuable and life-changing one for the participants.

At the end of the Summit, students will reflect on what they have learned, and as young leaders share their thoughts on building a positive future for U.S.-Japan relations and the broader international community in a virtual group presentation. We hope you will join us!

Summit 2023 Student Presentation

“Youth Voices: Building a Positive Future for U.S.-Japan Relations”

Date: Thursday, August 10th at 8:00 PM ~9:30 PM EDT

Where: Online (Zoom)

Language: English・Japanese (with caption for the student presentation)

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hZkZmxRcSXCTiea6O9eC-A