Led by Soichiro Tezuka 🇯🇵 & Zoë Hoksbergen 🇺🇸

The global stage is shifting fast — and Japan and the U.S. are right at the center of it. From regional security to global cooperation, delegates in this roundtable will explore how these two nations navigate the balance between partnership and power in a time of growing uncertainty.

Through open discussion, students will dive into today’s biggest geopolitical challenges — from the South and East China Seas to the war in Ukraine — while also tackling emerging issues like climate security, trade, and disinformation. Together, they’ll examine how history, culture, and shared values shape the choices both countries make on the world stage.

What does responsible leadership look like in an era of change? This roundtable invites delegates to question assumptions, debate tough ideas, and imagine how diplomacy can evolve to meet the challenges ahead.

Led by Mako Imada 🇯🇵 & Gerald Reiling 🇺🇸

Art doesn’t just reflect culture — it shapes it. From music and film to design and manga, creative expression is a powerful way to understand how societies see themselves and how they change over time.

In this roundtable, delegates will explore how art becomes a bridge across borders and generations, even when language or politics divide us. Through discussion and discovery, students will examine how creativity can both challenge and preserve cultural identity — and how artistic movements influence the way we remember, connect, and imagine the future.

Whether your background is in the arts, social sciences, or something entirely different, this roundtable invites you to think broadly about the power of artistic storytelling to inspire empathy and spark social change.

Led by Ryoya Tanaka 🇯🇵 & Gerald Reiling 🇺🇸

Human progress has always depended on nature — from the farmlands that fed early civilizations to the energy systems that power modern life. But today, that relationship faces breaking points: climate change, resource depletion, and environmental inequality. How can we meet human needs without exhausting the planet?

This roundtable explores how societies can balance use and preservation through innovation, policy, and cultural understanding. Delegates will draw from diverse fields — from engineering and environmental science to economics, politics, and history — to examine how different nations manage resources and define sustainability.

By comparing Japan and the United States, participants will challenge assumptions about growth, responsibility, and coexistence with nature. Together, they’ll ask the critical question: what does sustainable living truly look like in the 21st century?

Led by Rio Ohashi 🇯🇵 & Nil Nyah 🇺🇸

From wearable tech to genetic engineering, advances in medical science are transforming how we live — and how we define “health.” Yet with progress comes new questions: How do we ensure these innovations benefit everyone? And what happens when technology outpaces ethics?

This roundtable explores the future of health through both scientific and social lenses, comparing how Japan and the United States approach wellness, equity, and reform. Delegates will examine the intersections of biodesign, bioethics, and public health — and consider how governments, researchers, and individuals can shape systems that prioritize holistic well-being.

Through cross-disciplinary discussion, participants will imagine what it means to create a healthier, more inclusive future — one where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.

Led by Risa Ueda 🇯🇵 & Lucie Freeman 🇺🇸

Across the world, rising inequality and political turmoil have deepened a sense of loneliness and division. In both Japan and the United States, polarization and identity politics often push people apart — yet they also reveal how deeply we long to belong.

This roundtable will focus on individual experiences and identities in order to search for moments of resilience and mutual understanding. Together, delegates will explore how community forms in the face of disconnection, how civic participation can bridge divides, and how everyday spaces — from neighborhoods to online networks — shape our sense of belonging.

Through honest dialogue and shared reflection, delegates will examine how empathy and open conversation can begin to mend fractured communities.

Led by Koharu Yamakawa 🇯🇵 & Maya Sasaki-George 🇺🇸

In a world where anyone can publish a story and algorithms shape what we see, media has never been more powerful—or more complicated. From social movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter to the rise of misinformation and generative AI, the digital landscape has transformed how truth is created, shared, and challenged.

This roundtable examines the role of news and media in shaping public perception and social justice. How can we amplify diverse voices without amplifying falsehoods? What responsibilities do journalists, platforms, and audiences share in an age of instant information?

Through cross-cultural perspectives from Japan and the United States, delegates will explore how societies balance freedom of expression, ethical communication, and the collective pursuit of truth in the digital age.

Led by Asuka Fushitani 🇯🇵 & Eleanor Meunier 🇺🇸

Science doesn’t just shape the world — it reflects it. From the technologies that define daily life to the systems that decide what research gets funded, innovation is deeply connected to our social values, policies, and priorities.

In this roundtable, delegates will explore the dynamic relationship between science and society: how innovation emerges, who it serves, and how cultural and ethical norms influence its direction. Together, we’ll look at examples ranging from sustainability and energy to digital transformation and public trust in science.

By drawing from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, delegates will examine how progress can be both forward-thinking and responsible — and imagine what it means to build a future where discovery and humanity advance together.